Chapter 5: New Distance

I dey murmur as I wake from dream. My lips still dey call Pei Yan, like say I be small pikin.

I no dey cold wall again, but under soft duvet. Warmth wrap me, strange after cold.

Small time, I realize say na my own room I dey. Poster for wall and leaky tap drip bring me back.

"Mianmian, you don wake finally!" Na Aunty Kemi voice, relief and small scolding inside.

Housekeeper aunty sigh, touch my forehead to check fever. "Thank God o, you get fever for three days."

"Make I go do pap for you." She waka go, slippers dey slap tile, dey hum prayer song.

As she commot, Pei Yan stand for bedside, talk soft. Face tired, eye get shadow, like say him no sleep.

"Wetyn you dream about?" Him voice small, as if e dey fear disturb me.

He add, "You dey call my name for sleep." Him voice catch small, like say he no wan make I notice.

I no wan talk old feeling, so I say, "I no remember." I turn face wall, blink back memory.

My voice hoarse, shock me. E rough like sandpaper for wood, no be my normal self.

Pei Yan no ask again. He hand me glass of water. Cup warm, water dey run for him knuckle.

I take am. "Thank you." Sip small, feel the pap warm for my throat, sweet and smooth, like Mama own for village.

He pause, raise eyebrow. For moment, e look amused by my politeness.

"You dey do politeness with me?" He shake head, near smile.

"E don tey since you talk like that." Him eye dey search my face for old me.

Pei Yan calm, act like nothing happen. Hand for pocket, look anywhere but my face.

I no know wetin to talk, just dey look duvet. Flower for fabric dey swim in and out my eye. I dey wait make silence pass.

E be like all feeling for Pei Yan don dry. Old ache vanish, only empty remain.

I no wan ask why him like Lin Xi pass. I no even care.

No more jealousy or panic. E be like tap lock inside me.

And sure, I no go let him sudden care move me. My heart don tire.

That rain night quench all hope for Pei Yan. I no fit forget am.

I no like am again. I talk am for mind, let the words settle, cold and heavy.