Chapter 4: Chisom’s House, Stubborn Love

Chisom park keke for foot of hill. The keke na old model, yellow and green like Lagos traffic. Im get swag to drive even for spirit world.

As we enter, I ask, “How you take sabi all this juju wahala?” I dey eye am from corner. I no trust am, but small respect dey creep in.

E start keke, voice flat: “I find people teach me. Learn small.” E look road as e talk. Im face hard, but im heart dey soft.

Small? My own surprise choke me. Na so pesin go call big thing small? Just one charm make Baba Aro fear, and you call am small? If to say e learn full, na to turn village upside down remain.

I look am well. For the first time, I notice the scar for e wrist. Na sign say love pain dey cut deep. E no be boy again, na man pain build.

Three years don pass, im face sharp pass before, danger dey show for im forehead. No be play play. Na man wey don walk through fire.

After thirty minutes, we reach big house. The house get fence, big gate with lion statue for side. As we enter, I smell perfume of burnt offering, pepper, and small fresh paint.

As I enter, everywhere for parlour full with charm paper. Dem paste am for wall like secondary school result. Even ceiling fan dey blow am up and down.

For center, my remembrance tablet dey. The tablet get my old passport photo, plus all my titles—Ngozi the stubborn, Ngozi the blessed. E fine pass wetin dem dey use for shrine.

Plenty offering dey front—plus my favourite limited edition handbag from when I dey alive. That bag na pink with gold zip. Chisom sabi say I no dey joke with my fashion.

Empty Star beer bottle for corner, faded Super Eagles jersey hang for wall, and one old radio dey hum Wazobia FM low low. The room get Chisom’s stubborn vibe everywhere.

Chisom remove jacket, throw am for sofa. Im move sure, e no dey look back. The room warm, but im spirit get cold edge.

“From today, na here you go dey live.” The finality for e voice no get part two. Like say e don pay bride price again.

Oga, I no come here to squat for your house o. If na joke, e suppose stop for that point. Me, I get mission. Na stubbornness bring me come. I come to help you clear your obsession. No be love again, na wahala. I get plan to finish am sharp.

I pause, then talk, “Chisom...” I call im name with small patience. I dey calculate my next move.

“Mm?” E answer with lazy tone. Like say I be dream wey fit vanish any moment.

“Actually, we break up since three years ago...” I clear throat, voice soft, but my eye steady for im face.

“So, you no need to...” I dey try finish before e go cut me.

Before I finish, e kiss me strong. Na shock hold me. Im mouth rough, but sweet. Na old fire, na stubborn love.

E kiss me rough, hold me like say e no wan ever loose. If no be say I be spirit, my leg for dey shake.

Wait, I be spirit, I no need breathe sef. My head dey turn, but no air dey short. Na strange but I like am small.

When my lips don numb, Chisom let me go. Im dey pant, face serious, but im eyes get that old mischief.

Im red eye dey shine with wahala. “Who talk say we break up?”

Im voice deep, e tongue stubborn. The love never finish.

“Three years ago, or anytime—e no happen.” The finality for e voice strong like masquerade drum. Na like say time no fit change am.