Chapter 5: Party Pain and Hidden Truths

As the party dey sweet, person for crowd shout, 'Kiss!'

Na so everywhere scatter, laughter, camera light everywhere. Yoruba aunties dey clap hand, people dey hail.

I press body for glass, dey look the two of dem for center, hold breath.

My hand dey shake, but I try hold myself. Na me and Tobi first start this kain love, but see as e be now.

As I dey come here, I don reason say this kind thing fit happen, but to see am with my eye just pain me.

Spirit pain different from human pain. Na deep, cold wahala wey no get quick cure. Tears wan drop, but I hold am.

Sense tell me say I no suppose dey feel anyhow—Tobi get right to start new life.

Spirit or no spirit, I still dey reason like woman. The thing just hold me for chest.

I come back just to remind am to dey burn money for me. Wetin I dey do sef?

I begin reason myself. I dey here dey look like mumu, instead make I focus on my own.

Tobi Junior notice say something dey wrong. E bend come my side, see me dey cry, panic.

E pat me for back small, voice soft, 'Aunty, you dey okay?'

'Wetin happen? If anything dey worry you, talk. No dey cry.'

I no wan cry, but emotion no gree. I force smile. 'No wahala, na just emotion catch me.'

I try package my face, wipe tear sharp sharp with my hand. I no wan make this boy dey feel I be weak person.

'You sure?' Tobi Junior no too believe.

E look me with corner eye, e body dey reason if e go call person for help.

I nod. 'Your uncle and aunty just too fit. E don tey wey I see this kind celebration. E just touch me.'

The truth be say, I no dey lie, but I still dey hide part.

Tobi Junior quiet small, then ask, 'By the way, I never ask—wetin you want from my uncle?'

That time, Tobi and Sade dey toast guests.

Na so dem dey move from table to table, dey thank everybody, dey smile. The way Sade dey laugh, you go know say e dey happy.

As I dey look dem, my hand just dey tap glass.

If you see my finger, e dey shake small, like say I wan use juju call person.

'Nothing special. I just wan ask am small question.'

I try downplay the matter, make e no reason say na big wahala I carry come.

'I no know when my uncle go free. Why you no tell me, make I help you pass message?'

E dey try form helpful, but I dey suspect say e dey guard Tobi.

I turn look Tobi Junior, see as e eyes dey dodge. 'You no want make I see your uncle, abi?'

I no send, I just talk am out.

Tobi Junior no expect me to talk direct. E just laugh somehow and explain, 'No be so, just say—today na engagement. E no good make we disturb am…'

E dey try talk like say e care for uncle, but I dey see say e dey protect something.

I reason say Tobi Junior know something.

This boy eye sharp. I just dey observe, no too talk.

But as I think am, e get point.

Today no be day for wahala. I go reason am after.

I be spirit land person. For this kind happy day, I no fit go dey ask Tobi why e no dey burn hell money for me.

E no good make pesin dey spoil another pesin party with old wahala.

'I no think am well. Sorry to disturb.'

I drop the talk, waka commot room sharp sharp.

I no wan stay there make my spirit dey heavy pass my body. Better to waka, get fresh air.

For hotel entrance, Tobi Junior run follow me.

E nearly fall for stairs as e dey rush. I just laugh small for inside.

'You never chop. Why you dey go?'

The boy dey worry true true. E voice soft, almost like small pikin wey dey beg.

'I—I no mean to pursue you o, no vex.'

E look me like say e dey beg make I no vex. I fit see say e get good mind, even if e dey hide something.

As I look this boy wey no sabi hide him mind, I just wan tease am. 'I no even need chop.'

I dey smile small. If to say e know say spirit no dey hungry, e for laugh.

But Tobi Junior say, 'Where you go sleep? I fit arrange hotel for you.'

E dey talk like big boy, but I know say e dey worry for my matter.

I no too follow his talk, but e ask better question.

Na true, where I go sleep for Lagos wey spirit no dey get house?

Where I go sleep tonight?

Spirit hotel dey, but e no be like human hotel. I dey reason say, if e no gree for me, na wahala be that.

Baba Orun just give me three days. If Tobi no gree, maybe I go need Tobi Junior help.

I gats use wisdom. Time no dey my side at all.