Chapter 4: Tobi Junior and Old Wounds

I turn, see young man, about twenty, tall, fine guy. As I look am well, e be like say I sabi am.

E get one kind familiar forehead, nose resemble Tobi own, lips like say e dey vex small. Na that kain mixture wey you go know say na blood.

'Good evening, Ma,' e greet me, voice polite but eyes dey sharp.

As I no talk, e talk again. 'Uncle Musa call me say you find me for Tobi house.'

Na that time I reason say Uncle Musa na the person wey give me business card.

I remember the way that old security dey always greet Tobi family. Na real loyal man.

Small shame catch me, I scratch head, look Tobi face for poster, talk, 'Yes, but I don already see who I dey find.'

I dey try form sharp, but my voice just low.

'Na my uncle you dey find?'

I shock. 'Tobi be your uncle?'

The thing surprise me. E be like film trick.

'Yes. E too busy today. Make I carry you go inside first, when e get chance, I go call am come meet you.'

Na so e drag me enter inside.

The boy sabi himself. E no even ask me plenty question. E just move with confidence, like person wey sabi say na him dey control gate.

'Wetin be your name?'

'Tobi Junior. You nko?'

Before I fit think, I just talk, 'Ngozi.'

My mouth sharp, before my mind fit warn me make I lie. Na so sometimes spirit mouth dey run.

I no know if na my mind, but e be like say as I talk my name, Tobi Junior body stiff small, but e compose back sharp sharp.

E no want show say e hear something strange. Na so some people dey when wahala dey near dem.

E carry me go private room for upstairs, so I no go squeeze with people for main hall. From the big window, I fit see the whole ceremony stage.

The AC cold, the chair soft, even the smell for room na better air freshener. Money dey talk here.

After MC finish intro, today couple waka come out for everybody eye.

Dem wear matching clothes, gold and green lace, shine like morning sun. The MC voice dey loud, people dey clap.

Na the first time in five years wey I dey see Tobi.

The guy fresh, no be small. Even the way e dey walk, na man wey don see life.

E don near thirty, but e still fresh like before.

Na only small beard add, e make am dey look more like correct Lagos big boy.

Black suit just fit am well, make am look mature, package die.

My heart dey shake. If to say I get power, I for dey shout 'see my person!' but I just quiet.

If I remember well, na Adebayo family daughter be him fiancée. That time, both families want make dem marry, but Tobi gree for me, the Cinderella.

Back then, dem no gree because dem say I no get family, no money. But Tobi choose me. The matter nearly scatter house that year.

E even vex the old Tobi papa till e enter hospital.

The day wey Tobi papa collapse, everywhere scatter. E dey shout 'this girl go bring wahala!' but Tobi no hear. E hold me tight, like say na him only air.

I no believe say after five years, e still end up with Adebayo Sade.

Na so life be sometimes. E go turn you round, carry you back where you run from.

If I know, why we make all that wahala back then…

Sometimes, I just dey reason say, all the struggle, wetin e come amount to?