Chapter 4: Moving Trucks and Moving On

First time I meet Obinna Nwokedi na for dinner party.

I just enter industry, agent drag me go one big man event—say na for connection.

Na lie. Na drink drink full everywhere.

The main oga just dey hide for one corner, light shine half for him face, dey look bored.

I no even see him face well.

People dey rush greet am, his hand dey lift wine glass. After many rounds, the glass still dey full.

But all these no concern me.

I dey dodge Director Tunde from Garki Studios. The man just dey touch touch, find excuse make I drink.

Some yeye men dey push make I do cross-cup toast with am.

“Miss Amaka no wan drink—na because you look down on Director Tunde, or you get too many toasters?”

Yes, I look down on you. Wetin you wan do?

I tire. I flip my hair, do my best slay queen face.

“Yes, I get many toasters. Which one you wan hear about? Segun Shiyan from Abuja, or Obinna Nwokedi from Port Harcourt?”

...

Everywhere freeze. Na me be centre of attention.

Even Tunde, half drunk, sit down dey shake.

Everybody dey look me, face dey change.

Abeg, na cruise I dey catch.

These two people na mystery—no public photo, nothing. Na my agent teach me their name for social register. All the other rich men, you go get full gist: wetin dem like, hate, eat. But these two? Just name.

I just drop the two biggest names to shock dem.

Ah, una sabi them?

Plenty eyes dey burn me, my throat dry.

I dey find escape route when I hear table knock.

The main oga talk, calm like say nothing dey.

“Since you talk am, come sit here.”

Ah… Na who you be, Segun or Obinna?

That kind party, na only Lagos girls go understand the coded tension. Everybody dey form, but the real power dey for who sabi package. I just dey pray make I no go talk pass myself.

...

I form bold, go sit near am.

Those cold sharp eyes just dey read me.

“Miss Amaka, guess—na Segun I be or Obinna?”

I hold myself, answer dry.

“I guess na the finer one.”

He laugh, then carry me commot from private room.

...

Cold breeze touch me, I small wake.

Obinna Nwokedi stand, hand for pocket, look me down.

“I help you. You don think how you go pay me back?”

I blink, pat chest.

“Sign betting agreement with me. You give me connection, I go make you money. I fine and I sabi work—I go blow.”

He laugh again, this time e dey happy.

“Sometimes, no be by gra gra. But, you dey okay as you be.”

That time I young—I no understand. But after that, Obinna Nwokedi no talk betting agreement again. But my contract land for company wey get connection with am, and I dey get jobs.

Na then I realise—I don catch big fish.

No wahala.

Obinna Nwokedi get money, get sense, fine join. Na me win.

I start work hard, dey form good babe for am. He treat me better, so tey I begin get hope.

Until I hear say he wan do engagement.

Vex catch me, I post breakup essay, run carry all my property.

That day, I use 35 moving trucks. The scene mad. Sweet me die.

I still dey remember how the compound neighbours dey peep from window, dey count truck. One mama for upstairs shout, "Na so women suppose move! Carry your load, no look back!" Some aunty even call her children, "Come see how woman dey move!" My agent nearly faint for shame, but me, na freedom I dey feel.