Chapter 3: Old Flames and New Fires

“See this guy, still dey form for me. You dey fear say you never make am and you no fit show face for where I dey?” Her eye dey sharp, and the way she position herself, you go know say na person wey no dey carry last.

She wear designer from head to toe, her perfume strong sotey I sneeze tire. The scent nearly pursue me go back, but I just hold myself. Her shoe na those kind stiletto wey dem dey see for magazine.

She resemble person, but I no remember her name at all. Her face dey somehow familiar, but the makeup too much, e dey block memory small.

As I no talk, she purse mouth, smile. “Ifeanyi, you really no remember me?” Her voice get one kain sweetness, like honey mix with pepper.

I look her well, then I shake head. “Sorry, I don meet too many people. I no remember. Who you be?” As I talk, I dey try remember the time wey we dey share note for back of class, but nothing dey come.

Na true I talk. After all these years, I don dey forget face. My brain too full with work wahala and traffic stress.

Na so one round, big-ear classmate burst laugh. “Ifeanyi, you dey play? Na our class fine girl, Morayo. You forget say you chase am three years?” The way e talk am, everybody burst laugh again. Na so dem dey remind person of all the things wey don pass.

Morayo? As I hear the name, e be like say cold breeze blow me. That year, her gist na everywhere—if person no sabi Morayo, na lie.

Na so memory come back. True, I run her matter for three years for secondary school. Na all those letter writing, buy gala for break, dey help her with assignment. But she no even send me.

But na old gist. We no date, na just small small push each other for book. Na that year hot chase, nothing come out.

But for their mouth, na like say I be mumu wey dey follow her everywhere. Na so dem dey like garnish story for reunion. You dey do like person wey chop frog for breakfast.

I no even get energy to argue. I just smile, nod, make the matter pass like breeze.

As dem talk am, Morayo raise voice, “Ifeanyi, I know say you go dey feel somehow see me and class prefect together, but after all these years, abeg free am. The gap between us don wide. I sef don engage.”

She raise her hand, show engagement ring. The ring flash like NEPA light after blackout. Some babes around clap soft, others dey eye her hand with long throat.

I just smile for my mind. Wetin concern me with her engagement? She really think say I still dey reason her? For my mind, I just dey pity people wey dey use old story do big thing.

She come smile again, talk,

“So, abeg no get any funny idea. My fiancé na Tunde, and im papa na chairman of Palm Grove Holdings—Chief Adebayo.” She talk am with pride, her voice rise, people begin dey whisper. Palm Grove Holdings na big name for this city.

Chief Adebayo?

Chairman of Palm Grove Holdings. The name ring bell. E mean say na Tunde papa get the hotel, maybe even get some people for government. I just nod, maintain, no wan draw attention.

I remember say my meeting dey near, so I just talk goodbye, dey go. For my mind, na clock I dey watch, no be dem.

As I wan waka, Tunde open teeth, “Ifeanyi, e be like say you dey struggle. For old time sake, come work security for my company na. Eighteen thousand every month—better pass follow oga dey carry bag.” E say am loud, make everybody hear. Na so all eyes turn my side again.

Everybody for table burst laugh. Na so dem dey do, any small thing, dem go use am catch cruise for Naija party.

One classmate talk, “True talk, Tunde fit run work for you sharp sharp. Better pass dey do clerk.” I hear am, but I just smile like say nothing dey pain me.

I no know whether to laugh or cry. My body cold, but I keep face, no wan show dem say e dey get to me.

I no understand why classmates go dey use put-down take shine. I think say na only social media people dey do am. But for here, na real life.

With reunion wey full of gra-gra and wash, I swear say I no go show for another one again. E better to dey watch from afar.

Dem dey talk say class reunion na just to show off and put people for their place. I no believe am—until now. If na so, na everybody go dey dodge the next invite.

I sigh, begin waka go. My heart dey beat, but I just dey pray make I reach door without drama.

As I no answer, some people laugh anyhow. Dem dey try use my silence show say dem win.

I carry my coat stand. “Sorry, I get work. I dey go.” I no fit shout. My papa always talk say make man maintain dignity, even when e no dey easy.

Before I reach door, gbam—Tunde, face red from drink, knock Chelsea dry gin bottle for table. The sound loud sotey even the band wey dey play small jazz pause.

Soup and juice splash everywhere. Waiter rush come, dey clean table, but Tunde no even send.