Chapter 4: Old Flames and Fresh Scars

He look me well, like say I be total stranger.

His eye sharp. E no even blink. I just dey hold my smile, dey act mature.

Bride come frown, “Abeg, no start—she be my friend.”

Halima no dey like wahala. She dey always want make everybody happy.

Ifeanyi gently remove her hand from my own.

His movement na coded shade. If person no wise, you no go catch am.

“Make you careful with your bracelet. No be the one I buy for you? That one cost over two million naira—make you shine eye, some people fit dey eye am.”

If to say na our area, I for just hiss. But for here, I just swallow the insult.

He dey shade me.

No be today. Ifeanyi get mouth for sharp reply. E no dey gree lose.

Two million.

I think of all the things I fit buy with two million. My mama fit even do surgery again, plus change wheelchair.

So Ifeanyi fit buy girlfriend gift wey reach that kind money.

But for me, na struggle. E still dey pain me small, but I try hide am.

I touch my wrist small.

The spot still dey show small mark where I dey wear my old bracelet before. Na memory wey sweet and bitter join.

Before, bracelet dey there too, gift from Ifeanyi—just two thousand naira.

That time I dey manage everything, but I still dey smile say love go pay.

That time wey we dey suffer, he tell me say na money wey he get from MC work for children party he use buy am.

He go wear those funny mascot for party, sweat dey drop for face, na so e go come house, I go help am clean up. That time, I dey feel say love dey real.

Under hot sun, over thirty degrees, he come house full sweat. I no even know say na gym he go. That time, I just feel touched, even pity am.

I even dey boast for my friend say "See as my boyfriend dey hustle." I no know say na wash.

I dey stay up late dey draw, use my manuscript money buy am five thousand naira wristwatch for birthday.

I no even mind to hustle double, just to make am happy.

Now, the watch for him hand na Patek Philippe.

I check am, e shine like star. Na only big man dey wear am.

Na this be the real am.

The real Ifeanyi na person wey no dey show him true colour until e sure say e don win.

To dey pity man, e no dey bring anything but wahala.

True talk. If you carry man wahala for head, e fit break your neck.

I just laugh, “Halima, you lucky well. Your husband dey spoil you. Unlike my ex—no parents, dey chop my food, dey stay for my house, the bracelet wey he buy me na only two thousand naira.”

I talk am, but for my mind I dey do small revenge. Let am feel am.

Ifeanyi face change.

E face just squeeze like person wey drink bitterleaf water. For my mind, I dey dance.

Halima support me, “That guy no try at all. Good say you leave am.”

Halima no dey hide mouth. She be correct babe.

Ifeanyi clear throat.

E want talk, but e no know where to start. For this kind matter, na pride dey push man to yarn rubbish.

“Some people na only two thousand naira bracelet fit their level. My Halima na person wey deserve enjoyment, no matter the cost.”

E pain am, but I just dey smile. Life sweet sometimes.

So, for him eye, I no reach again.

Na so dem dey behave. Once money show, old love turn to pepper soup.

As I dey look this fake Ifeanyi, I just laugh.

Inside mind, I dey thank God say I waka that time. If no be so, maybe na me go dey do fake smile today.

“Una too sweet, abeg. I wish una happy marriage, make una grow old together.”

I raise hand, smile, dey try package. For my mind, na freedom I dey celebrate.

I find excuse, waka commot.

Before wahala go start, I need run. Na sense.

Ifeanyi come dey restless.

You know those body movement when man dey vex but e dey try hide am—na so Ifeanyi dey do.

“Miss Morayo, why you dey rush go? This wedding no reach your standard?”

E dey try shade me, but I no send.

The sarcasm dey clear.

I just raise mouth corner, answer one word—“Yes.”

No need to drag. Sometimes one word fit pass hundred.

My own wedding with Tunde Oke na for small island wey he just buy, only close friends and family.

The island, small but clean, coconut tree everywhere, breeze dey blow. We just do soft party, no noise. My mama happy, my friends dance.

Low-key, no be show, but na wetin I want.

No camera, no Instagram live. Just peace.

This wedding wey Ifeanyi do for another woman—I no even send.

Make dem enjoy. Life na turn by turn.