Chapter 2: Visitor for Love

Na the seventh day wey my boyfriend just ghost me, I jam am for the area wey I dey do lesson. For my mind, e still dey pain me, but I try package as I see am. Even breeze pause for junction as I spy am with two big black nylon. One bag dey heavy with fresh ugu and ripe banana, e even dey smell sweet from far. The second one get tissue, toothpaste, all those daily things. E clear say e just shop for two people, or three.

As he see me, he shock small, but e no panic reach as I think say e go be. He just lock eye with me, swallow spit, then relax. Like person wey dey fear wahala but dey try hold body. That time my chest dey drum anyhow, but I bone face.

He carry me go upstairs. Na that day I first meet the babe wey people dey talk about. The corridor cold, paint dey peel, I fit smell Dettol and old stew. The house dey quiet, e get that hospital smell. I fit hear the sound of fan and faint radio music for corner. I stand for corridor as he unlock door. As we waka enter, my eye jam two pairs of couple slippers. I pause. The gist for group no be lie—him really dey stay with babe.

“She do surgery and nobody dey to look after am. I no tell you because I dey fear say you go overthink.”

The way he talk am, e be like person wey dey beg for forgiveness but no wan show say him dey beg. I just dey look slippers, dey measure distance between am and door. As I step inside, I feel cold breeze for my back. Na so I bone—no need to overthink. Wetin go be go be.

Halima shock as she see me, try stand up quick, almost fall from bed. Her wrapper nearly loose, needle still for her hand. She look me like say I be ghost. I see fear and small shame for her eye.

Ifedike drop the bags, rush go hold her shoulder, face squeeze with worry.

The thing surprise me. He dey gentle with her, like say na egg. Even him voice soft, “Halima, easy now.” For my mind, I dey reason say if na me, he no go panic reach so. Maybe na true say something dey between them.

Me, I just stand for door, no move.

“I dey okay, abeg, let the guest enter.”

Yes, na guest I be.

Na the first time I feel like stranger for him life. I force smile, shift leg, but my chest still dey tight. The way she call me guest sef, e enter body like cold zobo.

Ifedike dey wash ugu for kitchen. E be like say na yam porridge we wan chop. Before, na just two people dey chop, now na me dey form third wheel. Even my spoon na disposable. I notice say my plate set different from their own—plastic spoon, paper cup. The other two get ceramic set. As I sit down, I dey count my breath, dey avoid Halima eye. E be like say I dey visitor seat for church. Na so person know say she no belong.

“I really dey sorry, I no get friends for here, so I gats disturb Ifedike.”

“I no know say he no tell you. I don already vex for am. No mind am, na so straight guys dey, dem no dey understand all this kind thing.”

Halima voice soft, but I fit hear small pain inside. She dey try calm the ground. Me, I just dey look my food, dey pick fishbone like say e get treasure inside yam.

I just smile small, no talk anything.

The smile wey I manage na just to hide my wahala. I no fit drag issue here. My body dey for chair, my mind don waka go.

I chop my food quietly. Ifedike follow me go outside.