Chapter 3: Gist Wey No Finish

I see say after this matter, my engagement with Tunde don waka go Ifeoma side.

I turn to town gist, everybody dey laugh me.

People wey no want me—low born—marry Tunde before, now dey use me do joke, say even if I use all the tricks, I no fit become young lord wife.

Even God no gree.

Sometimes, for market square, when I pass, young girls go hide mouth giggle, old women go look me with their long, pitiful eye. E pain me reach bone. My small cousins begin avoid me—dem no wan near wahala. Market women go dey point me for road, dey whisper as I pass.

Few days after, Ifeoma come meet me, say wetin happen for Christmas party get another side, invite me go mama put make she explain.

I think am well, still go. Na so I see say Okafor first son wan harm me.

Na Tunde come save me, beat Young Master Okafor almost die.

Ifeoma rush enter, late.

She talk, body dey shake: "I just wan make am up to second sister, so I invite Young Master Okafor. I hear say two of una play before, and say he love you die. Our papa and mama sef wan give you to am, so I say make I help una."

"After all, even though I no plan am, I still take your place... I no expect say e go bad reach like this."

I hate am.

I hate that yeye boy, and I hate Ifeoma.

No be you use trick bring me come here? I just play with am because im family get power, hard to refuse.

Young Master Okafor na drunkard, useless man, always dey waka beer parlour. If I marry am, na junior wife I go be, and that one pain me pass anything. Which kind matchmaker you dey do?

But Tunde come dey pet her: "Person wey no know, no commit sin. You mean well. The real bad person na that animal, Okafor. No blame yourself."

Just like that, my heart freeze like block of ice.

True true, na only my wrapper tear small, Young Master Okafor no get me.

But as Ifeoma rush come explain, she forget close door. The noise too much, everybody for outside notice.

My name scatter. I no fit marry better person again.

As I realise am, I just cry scatter. Tunde hold me strong, dey repeat say he still dey, he go keep promise marry me.

His palm dey warm, but e no reach my heart. That kind talk na for children. I see the way him dey look Ifeoma, like person wey lose money, then later find am.

The day wey Ifeoma and me marry am together—

She na main wife, big wedding, carried with eight car convoy, proper everything; me na junior wife, carried come for night with small, rush-rush car enter Ayeni compound.

Dem beat drum for Ifeoma, but for my own, even the gate man no clap.

Dem even give her sweet song and drummers, while I sneak in like thief. Some girls dey peep from window, dey laugh. My mother-in-law no even greet me; she just hiss, talk say, "Na so second wife pikin dey, like broom wey no get handle."

Life for Ayeni house hard. Tunde talk say he go treat me well, but him eye dey always follow the lively, shiny Ifeoma, dey chase her.

My vex for Ifeoma make me plan against her, but last last, na me dem disgrace.

People dey laugh for back:

"See, pikin born by second wife no fit ever stand for front."

"She suppose thank God say she even get anything at all. Maybe na she plan to blackmail young lord from the start."

Mama Ayeni treat me like maid, dey look me down, dey warn me: "Since you don enter this house, know your level. Stop all those your seductive ways. To even be junior wife na better thing for you. Even if you born boy first, he must grow under main wife. No dey dream."

For night, my heart just bitter.

After all the wahala, na junior wife I still become.

Why life dey play me like this?

If dem give me chance, I for marry come this way?

Even for Tunde, I begin dey vex for am.