Chapter 5: Broken Trust, Broken Dreams

I look the agreement with shock.

Paper dey my hand, my eyes dey read am but my mind no gree.

“Ifedike, wetin be this?”

“You no trust me?”

I dey find his eye, but him dey dodge me. Shame dey catch am small.

Maybe he no expect say I hear their talk, so he just give one excuse.

He dey twist mouth, dey talk like pikin wey mama catch for biscuit jar.

“Ifunanya, no be say I no trust you. Na family rule—we must sign prenup.”

He wan push blame go family. Everybody dey hide under family rule when e suit dem.

I tell am, “If you trust me, why you dey bring prenup?”

“We don date for three years, no be three months or three days.”

“If after three years you still no trust me, maybe make we no marry at all.”

My voice crack small, but I no gree show am tears.

I drop the paper for table and waka comot.

My leg dey shake as I dey waka. If not for God, I for fall for corridor.

That night, Ifedike come find me, beg me well, say he mess up, say na small confusion.

He dey kneel down, dey hold my hand. “Abeg, Ifunanya, no vex. Na pressure, na mistake. I trust you, I swear.”

He promise never to mention prenup again.

He even swear by him papa head. “No more prenup, I swear.”

I forgive am.

No be say my heart clear, but I try let go. I no wan start marriage with wahala.

I think say na small problem before marriage. I no know say na just beginning.

If only I sabi wetin dey come, I for carry my shoe, waka.