Chapter 1: Heat, Hope, and Hidden Motives

For the old face-me-I-face-you where Ifeoma dey manage, Lagos sun dey bake zinc roof, but na government bulldozer wey dey threaten real heat. Agbero dey shout by the gate, the smell of fried akara mix with dust, and generator dey hum for background—everybody dey on edge.

For Lagos, once you hear say government wan demolish face-me-I-face-you, e mean say change don land for some people. Neighbours dey calculate, dey whisper for corridor, dey dream big. Even for Ifeoma compound, dem don dey sweep everywhere, dey paint faded doors, as if new paint go change destiny overnight.

She dey about to change from poor, innocent babe to hidden rich pikin wey nobody sabi. E get as e be, because for Naija, if you dey manage before, and one day government dash you flats, e be like miracle. All those wey dey look down on you before go begin greet you, dey call you 'madam' for junction.

I no go lie, my body dey ginger with anticipation. I dey picture how e go be if my own babe become landlord overnight. Maybe na God answer prayer, maybe na luck, but I dey hope say better go touch her family at last.

But the babe just dey do anyhow:

“Wetin dey make you dey smile like say na your own? No forget, this house na my own before marriage. E no concern you. You sef know say Musa dey chase me abi? Him family go get at least five flats after the demolition. If you no fit bring ten million naira as bride price, abeg, no think say you go marry me.”

I shock. The face-me-I-face-you wey dem dey redevelop na my papa project o.

My papa talk say:

“No let the babe dey feel insecure. When we demolish her area, just reason am as her bride price.”

For my papa mouth, e be like normal business talk. But for my chest, e get as e dey do me. For Naija, family matter dey always get as e be—sometimes e pass business.

……