Chapter 3: Suya Gist and Heavy Confession

As me and Morayo reach the suya spot, Sani don dey there. As he see us, he jump up, wave suya stick like MC. Na so he dey always hype.

"O boy, Tobi! You try o! Where you see this fine babe?"

I quick do intro, form sharp guy. "Morayo, na my childhood friend. No mind am if him talk pass mouth."

I quickly explain to Morayo say na my padi, good guy, just mouth dey sharp—make she no mind am. Inside, I dey shine teeth—Sani na correct guy. He fit make anybody relax.

Morayo smile greet am, even greet am for Hausa, Sani surprise. Sani see my eye, quick open beer, pour one for her, "Na big family we dey build!"

Sani raise suya stick, shout, “If dem dey share fine babe for this town, abeg, make Tobi collect double!”

"Sister-in-law, first time wey I meet you, I salute! You get fine friends? Abeg introduce me, make I no dey always be third wheel for you and Tobi."

Morayo just laugh, toast am back. "Sani, you too sharp. I go find correct babe for you soon."

At first, I form say I dey vex for Sani, but as he dey call her 'sister-in-law', everybody just catch cruise. We begin play, dey shout—even suya man dey laugh join. We chop, we drink, four hours straight. Even cold harmattan no fit cool us. Everybody dey happy. One year since I see Sani, guy play wingman well, so my mood dey on top, I just dey yarn.

Sani dey set me up—anytime Morayo talk, he hype am. "See babe, she sabi gist pass you!" My heart dey sweet me. Lucky say Morayo no tire—she blend well. She no shy, dey gist. She even tell Sani Lagos traffic story wey make everybody laugh.

By end, me and Sani don high. Beer don enter body, I dey talk plenty. Sani dey sing old school song, people dey look us. I even dey touch Morayo anyhow, no even know. I put hand for her shoulder, she no vex, just smile. I tell myself—correct babe be this. She no push my hand comot. Her eyes dey shine—no vex, no wahala. My confidence go up.

At one point, person mention layoff. Mood change small, but Sani brush am off, say new job dey always show. He toast, "To Tobi and Morayo—two survivors!"

I say, "Wetin you sabi? You know why dem stop our project? Dem find something wey pass your power."

Sani open mouth, "Abeg, yarn me the full gist!"

Na that time, Morayo body stiff. She shift chair, focus on my face. I notice her hand hold cup tighter. Both look me—dem dey wait as if I go open treasure chest.

I wan talk say na play, but my mouth no gree—before I know, I don yarn am. The beer don loosen my mouth—words just dey fly. "Gold. Plenty gold, you no fit count am."

Everybody quiet—even suya man pause. I no remember rest—my head scatter. I just dey talk anyhow, dey boast. If dem ask, I go say, "See, I be correct marketer!"

I just remember say not long after, we end the night. Sani dey laugh, Morayo dey smile, but something for her eye dey serious.

But that night, Morayo no go house. She say I too high, so she carry me go hotel. My mind already dey on her—both fear and sweet dey my body. Maybe tonight na the night? I dey thank God say everything dey move as I plan. Na only for Naija you fit find love for suya spot.

Tomorrow, I go hail Sani for being correct wingman. I go even buy am recharge card.

After bath, I just dey rush. Water cold, but Morayo hand warm. Na so Naija romance dey sweet. As I hold Morayo, she suddenly ask, tone drop—serious, no smile. "How you take know say na gold dem find for site?"

"I see am with my eye."

I dey talk, but my mind dey try remember how much I talk last night. "How you see am?"

I pause. The question deep. I say, "I waka reach site that day."

"Heh, I no just see am, I even carry one small piece."

The confession just fly out, as beer still dey my head. "Ehn? Where the gold dey now?"

I form strong, say, "Of course e dey…"

I dey try form boss. Inside mind, alarm dey ring. But I dey enjoy her attention. As I dey talk, my mouth dey run anyhow. Na so Naija man dey behave if woman dey ginger am.

Morayo body dey tense, but she no stop me. She just dey look me, eyes sharp, like say she dey read my future.

Afterwards, she still ask where the gold dey. I lie small, say e dey house, say I lock am well. My body don tire, sleep dey catch me. I just mumble say e dey house, then sleep off.

That night, I dream say I dey inside gold mine, people dey chase me. I wake up dey sweat.