Chapter 4: Night Return and Suspicion

It was after 3am before my daughter sneak back home. That kain time, even witches dey rest small.

Normally, I for don sleep since, but my body no gree me. The shock and all the things I discover that day too much. I just dey lie down dey look ceiling. The fan dey turn, small squeaky sound, my mind dey turn with am.

Before, if Morayo never come house by 9pm, I for dey call everywhere, disturb vigilante, even report for church prayer line. But now, my heart cold. I just dey like block wey dem put for freezer.

As I dey lost for thought, I hear noise for door. First small, then louder—like rat dey search for leftover rice.

The bedroom door open, and someone creep in quietly. Steps tiptoe, but she no sabi thief work. I hear the creak of the bed, my own breath hold, even cockroach run pass my leg as I dey watch.

I see her stop for my wardrobe, gently open am, dey search my wrapper and Sunday shirt.

"Wetin you dey find?"

I wan pretend sleep, but her noise too loud, my vex just dey boil, till I speak up. Na so e dey pain when pikin no get fear.

"Ah!" Morayo no expect say I dey awake. Her phone for hand fall, small screen flash one kind.

When I dey near lose patience, she stammer: "I—I was just looking for my old textbooks, to revise before repeating a year."

I frown, eye red. "No be you sell those books to that aboki downstairs? Not even one remain. I remember you say you no want to study again, that you want to go south with Yellow to work. When una dey go?"

Morayo stare at me, shock, then scream, "You’re not stopping us?" Voice crack like old cassette.

I shake head. "You go soon be adult. I no get right to control your life." My voice low, no strength to argue.

"So you’re not against me being with Ajani?"

"Of course not. I no fit stop you from chasing true love." I add small smile, just to see her face.

As I talk am, bullet comments above her head just dey tumble like Agege bread sellers for morning rush—everybody dey shout.

[Wetin dey happen? The biggest wahala papa for the whole book suddenly agree for the main couple?]

[You people too naive. How he go really agree? He just dey pretend, e go show him real face soon.]