Chapter 5: Office Heat

I follow Ifedayo reach company. E no big, about twenty people.

The place dey neat, small but e get hustle spirit. I see young boys and girls dey type for computer, some dey answer call. Na small startup, but e dey grow. I feel proud say na Ifedayo dey run am.

At reception, one girl dey sell puff-puff on the side, the smell just dey distract me. I hold my bag tight, dey try focus as I follow Ifedayo enter inside.

As Ifedayo enter with me, some people begin tease:

Boys dey whistle, some girls dey giggle. "Oga Ifedayo, na your babe be this?" Na so dem dey do, dey find gist.

Ifedayo no answer, just smile, “She be new staff.”

E form boss, but the smile no let am hide love for face. Everybody dey look, dey wink for me.

Halima face just white, clap small small.

Halima dey one corner, her hand dey shake as she clap. E look like e dey pain her, but she no gree show am.

I look am sharp, wan see if Ifedayo go pity am, but as I turn, na Ifedayo eyes I jam.

E just dey look me, eyes dey shine. Na so my heart skip. For that moment, I forget say Halima dey around.

He just dey smile, dey look me. I just shy, cough, ask, “Wetin you want make I do?”

I adjust bag, voice low. I no wan make people think say I dey proud. I dey ready to work.

“Follow me.”

E open office door, I waka behind am. The office cold, I dey feel small breeze from AC.

As we dey go, I hear people dey gossip behind.

Na so gist dey fly, some dey talk for pidgin, others for English. I just dey smile, dey pretend say I no hear.

“No believe say Oga Ifedayo babe fine like this. First time I dey see am dey gentle.”

“Yes now, see as he dey pet her. Fine boy, fine girl—perfect match.”

The talk dey sweet them, some dey laugh. I hear one girl say, "Abeg, make dem invite us come wedding o."

Suddenly, gbam, something drop.

One cup land for ground, scatter water everywhere. Water splash for floor, everybody freeze—na so gist go fly for WhatsApp group tonight.

People shout.

“Ah, Halima, you drop your cup. E too hot?”

One of the girls rush go help am, but Halima just dey stand, dey look me.

As I close office door, I look back.

I catch Halima eyes, she dey squeeze one paper like say she wan tear am. E pain me small, but I just lock door.

Halima just dey look me, hand squeeze paper till e bend.

I fit see her knuckle dey white. She no even blink. Her chest dey move up and down.

I wonder. Ifedayo no even send Halima, so how dem take end up together?

For my mind, I dey reason the future. Story say na Halima Ifedayo go marry, but I never see am now. Life fit change.

Na time really dey change love?

I dey ask myself, if to say I dey serious now, story fit bend?

“From now, you go be my assistant. If you no understand, ask me.”

E give me small file, arrange laptop for table. I nod, ready to learn. Ifedayo dey patient, but e dey watch me.

I dey block their love?

I dey reason am, maybe my presence dey make Halima lose hope.

“Hello, wetin you dey think?”

Ifedayo voice soft, e dey check my face. I jump small.

I come back to myself, see Ifedayo dey look me. “Wetin dey your mind?”

E eye dey gentle, e wan make sure say I dey okay.

“You no notice say Halima like you?”

I talk am, dey try see e reaction. E just bone, no show emotion.

“That one concern her. Wetin concern me?”

E voice strong, as if e dey reject the idea. I just smile, shake head.

Me: “...”

I try talk, but words no come out. I just laugh small.

“If you no like am, I go sack her.”

E talk am with straight face. I shock small, but I know say na joke.

“You really no like her? She fine, she sabi work.”

I dey tease am, make e talk true. I want know wetin dey e mind.

Ifedayo face just cold. “You wan make I like her?”

E voice sharp, e dey look me straight. I laugh, shake head.

“God forbid, I just dey fear say you go regret. I no sabi anything, na only your money I dey spend.”

I talk am with smile, but for my mind, I dey reason true.

“I like as you dey spend my money. As you talk, I love say everything you wear, na my money buy am.”

E laugh, eyes dey shine. I see say e dey enjoy my company.

Me: “Ah? So you hear wetin I tell Seyi...”

I open mouth, surprise. I no know say e hear.

Ifedayo blush, cough, pretend nothing happen: “Go work. I no hire you to play.”

E stand up, arrange shirt, form boss. I just laugh, begin type for computer.