Chapter 2: My Husband from the Future?

2

I blink well, make sure say I never dey hallucinate.

I rub my face, try use palm drive away confusion. For Naija, if you no sure, you go check if sun dey your head.

So Chuka like me secretly?

And na my future husband?

This kain secret crush matter na wah. My heart dey beat one kain, like generator wey no get silencer.

So this no be 19-year-old Chuka, na my husband Chuka wey don travel come back from future?

E shock me reach bone, like NEPA take light for exam hall.

I still dey process am when danmaku roll again:

[No be joke, Mo baby dey date her childhood friend now. The main guy just dey hold body.]

[I know say this old man no go do gentle guy like before.]

For inside, my mind dey replay all the times I see Chuka dey act funny. E be like film trick.

……

Date?

I remember—back then, that stubborn Jide date one fine babe for him department, the babe dump am.

Jide matter na wah. The guy no dey ever gree lose for anything, pride just full am like garri soak water.

Later, she invite am for her birthday.

The guy spend one month allowance dey beg me to pretend say I be him babe, just to save face.

Me sef no fit vex; the kain wahala wey follow Jide na classic Ajegunle pikin stubbornness.

No be say him broke—Jide just get wahala.

Everyday, wahala me.

I gree at last.

So na that day Chuka see us?

I just dey imagine, e fit be say na that time this whole drama start. If I know, I for use wrapper tie my destiny that day.

As I dey blame my childhood friend for put me inside this mess, e send me WhatsApp message:

[Mo, abeg help, emergency]

My hand dey shake, heart dey pound, as I read am again.

Jide and him wahala no dey ever rest. I dey reply when the back door of classroom fly open.

Jide, sharp face, full of himself, just grab my schoolbag with one hand, drag me up with the other.

Jide na correct Lagos boy, e dey always do everything with swag, like say camera dey follow am.

"Jide, you—"

——Bang!

Chair jam for ground, loud crash.

The sound scatter everywhere, people come dey look. Person fit think say na fight wan start.

E cut my talk and make Jide freeze.

I look back.

Chuka dey stand for door, back catch light, jaw tight, eye dey burn for where Jide hold my hand—him face just full of heartbreak and longing.

Na the kain look wey person go give if dem collect im last suya for night.

Him Adam's apple move. Voice husky:

"Sorry, I stand up too fast. I scare you?"

Even as e dey talk, him voice crack small, like person wey dey try hold pain for inside.

Jide still dey drag me, rush answer:

"No wahala, bro, I understand, you dey rush class."

Jide just dey form correct guy, but e no know say e dey pour petrol for fire.

Danmaku go crazy:

[E don reach breaking point. Who send model student? Who send moral standard? I want my wife back!]

[Somebody give am ginger! Stimulate this desperate husband, e go soon burst.]

[Mo, abeg no go! Mo!]

The drama dey heavy, as if people for hostel dey use popcorn watch us.

I replay the scene for my mind.

Why Chuka dey look like husband wey dem abandon?

That kain heartbroken look, e fit melt even mama put seller for Dugbe market.

……

God abeg, I no fit dey hallucinate for broad daylight, abi?