Chapter 3: Main Babe Wahala and Grandpa’s Call

I stare the comments for long before everything begin make sense. So, the main babe wey dem dey talk about na the real daughter—Ifunanya, Shola childhood love.

The comments dey ring for my ear. As I dey reason, memory dey rush me. For that village, Ifunanya mama and my mama na old friends. Ifunanya fine, get yellow skin, always dey carry amself with style.

For the story, soon, Shola go carry me go him grandpapa birthday party. I, wey no like the guy because e dey poor and local, go dump am, dey find money and big name. For the party, I go dey toast Ifunanya brother, fight with him babe, then finally die for car accident...

The thought heavy for my mind. I no sure who even dey control my life again. I dey wonder if person fit change story wey dem don write since.

...

I no sleep well at all. Nightmare just full my head. When I wake, Shola don already waka go work.

Dream wey I dream na sapa. For dream, Ifunanya dey shine, my own face dey dull. For morning, everywhere quiet, only cock dey crow. After breakfast, I carry dirty cloths go backyard, soak everything for basin. Before, na house girl dey do this kind thing for me. Now, nothing remain, na only me dey run my own matter. As I dey wash, sweat just dey my body.

My hand dey pain me, but I no fit stop. From neighbor balcony, I hear the aunties gist:

"City babe na another level—see as she wear fine cloth come wash."

"See her big eye, she fine no be small. No wonder small Shola dey craze for am."

"Fine no mean anything. I hear say she get wahala, no sabi work. My pikin sabi do everything, no dey spoil."

"Abeg, you dey jealous."

Their laughter carry for air, pepper my body. I squeeze cloth like say I dey wring my own wahala comot.

...

As I dey reason, I no even know when Shola come back. E look the cloth for basin, look the sweat for my face. E just frown, carry me enter house.

"Leave am. I go wash am later."

E just finish work—him cheap, dirty cloth just dey wet for sweat, e body strong, broad shoulder, slim waist, muscle just dey everywhere.

For small window, sun dey flash for him back, show muscle for arm. I swallow, my mind just dey run waka.

E notice, quick leave my hand. "I dirty small. Make I baff first."

He waka go, almost run, like say he dey fear make my eyes no finish am. As e go, another comment just float:

[That body—main guy standard! Even supporting babe shock.]

[This babe too lucky. If she no wan act again, abeg give me small chance!]

[Even the main guy dey shy. E go fall soon.]

[Main guy remember as supporting babe call am dirty before.]

Suddenly, my phone ring. Na message from Ifunanya, with plenty picture of her dey enjoy for house, family dey pamper am.

[You don dey used to village life?]

[Grandpa birthday go soon reach. E say make you come.]

[No forget—I hope say you go come.]

[Address.]

The way she dey type, e be like say she dey do me strong thing. As I finish read, comments show again:

[See as main babe dey find main guy. /thinking]

[I remember for this party, main babe go confess to main guy—all because supporting babe no like am. If not, how main babe for fit comfort am, make their love speed up?]

[If supporting babe no wan repeat mistake, abeg, start dey run things with main guy—grab am!]

[True talk! All those things main guy hide—use am! Start your own love tonight.]

[Real couple na the better ship.]

After small time, Grandpa call. As I hear the voice, my eyes just dey water. Since Okafor family know say I be fake, na only Grandpa still treat me the same.

I remember how e dey call me "nwunye" and dey pray for me every time. E say make I no let anybody look down on me. I hold phone for chest, whisper small prayer.

"God abeg, no let shame catch me for this house."