Chapter 4: Silent War for House

We no talk anything till we reach house.

Na only the sound of our slippers for corridor, and NEPA light wey blink once.

Na so our own be. Sometimes silence dey talk pass words.

As we enter, Ifedike talk, "Halima na my university advisor daughter. She dey do intern for NGO. My advisor beg me make I look after her."

He talk am soft, no raise voice, but e still dey do as if e dey explain too much. For my mind, I just dey side-eye am.

I pull my heels, climb stairs. "Abeg, make another person look after her."

I talk am straight. Na today I no get patience.

Ifedike: "Okay."

Him voice quiet, like person wey no get choice. I see say e dey try do peace.

"Oh, yes." I stop for first step, turn look down at Ifedike. "Halima talk say you be her partner, her contact name for you na 'baby.'"

I talk am loud, make e hit for ear. My eye no blink.

I eye am well. "How far you and her go?"

Ifedike face begin change. "No talk that kind thing. Na only because she be my advisor daughter I dey help am."

He dey shake small. I see say e dey vex, but e dey try hold am. If na another man, e for shout.

"Then clear am well. No let am reason say she fit come between us. She young, but you suppose sabi wetin be adult boundary."

I talk am with finality. My voice no high, but e sharp. I no dey beg.

I turn go my room, enter bathroom.

I lock door, sit for bathtub, cold water for my face. The tears wey dey my eye no gree fall, but my chest dey tight. I dey reason, na so marriage dey spoil?

Later, as I lie for bed, lights off, Ifedike hug me from back.

His body dey warm. The kind hold wey dey say, "No leave me." I just close my eye, dey count his breath for my ear.

"You still dey vex?" His big hand slide under my nightie, rest for my belle. "Sorry, I make you feel anyhow."

His voice dey low, like person wey dey beg. Na so he dey do when e know say e mess up.

He explain, "I only go carry her because she just start work, I dey fear say something fit happen to her. I no fit explain that to my advisor."

He talk am calm. I know Ifedike, e no sabi lie. But I still dey watch am.

"But you be different. You be Morayo. You strong, I know say nothing fit do you."

I no talk. I just dey listen. Na that 'strong' matter dey pain me pass.

Strong.

All my life, na so dem dey call me. "Morayo, you too strong." "You be iron woman." E sweet me before, but sometimes, I just wan rest.

Na wetin I dey always chase—make I strong, make nothing fit break me.

But that moment, my mind just soft.

I turn, cuddle enter his chest. "Ifedike, I..."

I wan talk say, "I tire." But I no talk am. I just hold am tight, as if say na him be my only pillar.

I be human too. I dey get moments wey I dey weak, wey I need support.

I wish make he dey see me finish, see say even strong woman dey break sometimes.

I just hope say, when I tire, the person wey go dey my side na him—my husband, Ifedike.

Because I love am.

For this world, na only him I fit call my own.

Ifedike hug me tighter. "I know. No go happen again. Tomorrow, I go clear am and make her apologize to you."

He rub my shoulder, his voice gentle. For that moment, na only me and am dey. The anger just melt small small.

I nod. "Mm."

I bury my face for his chest. Na so peace dey enter house back.