Chapter 3: Bayo Show Face

As I dey go door, na that time door open.

I feel breeze. Light from outside flash enter parlour. Everybody pause, dey look who dey come.

One guy waka enter, white suit, hair shine like Lagos big boy wey just barb for Lekki, perfume everywhere.

E waka like star, e shoes dey shine. Some babes dey giggle. I smell him cologne before he even reach center. Na so e carry Lagos swag enter, dey act movie star.

E block door, dey look me anyhow.

E stand like bouncer, face hard. E eye me, then scan the room. The tension tight like party jollof wey no get enough oil.

Person for back shout, "Bayo, no let this guy comot!"

The crowd dey hype am, some dey drum table. I feel am—na their king don land.

I try pass, he just stretch hand block me.

E tall, muscle show under suit. E just block me like checkpoint. My mind dey boil, but I try cool.

"Who you be?" he ask.

E voice thick, e eye dey hard. I feel like say I dey for military camp. Some babes dey giggle for back.

I no wan answer, but person for back shout, "Na Sade husband! As e hear say you dey come, na so e wan run. Hahaha!"

Everybody burst laugh, e choke me. The insult dey hot for air, but I dey focus. Sade just turn face, dey bite lip.

"So you na Sade husband?" E size me up, come near.

E look me like say I be apprentice. E smile small, show white teeth. Some girls dey eye am, dey dream.

"Abeg, shift. Wahala dey for house—my mama get heart attack. I gats go now."

I no even look face. I talk am clear, try waka pass.

I try pass, he push me back enter center of the room.

My chest jam table, I stumble. Everybody laugh, one babe even record. The thing dey shame me, but I no gree show am.

"Sade, I late but I reach on time," he yarn, no even look my face.

He walk like say na him own the house. Everybody dey look Sade, dey watch for drama.

I look my wife. She even dey shy, look ground. "E no mean."

Her voice low, hand dey fidget. I see as her friends dey push her, dey whisper. Na shame or na excitement? E confuse me.