Chapter 1: The Wedding Without a Groom

Everybody for our circle sabi say I don dey crush on Ifedayo since I small.

True talk, even when we dey play ten-ten for compound as pikin, I go always dey arrange my side to make sure Ifedayo dey notice me. The way I dey follow am waka up and down, my aunties begin dey call me Ifedayo shadow. My slippers go dey slap ground behind am, even Mama Chidinma for balcony go dey shout, “Ngozi, no go break leg for follow man!” Neighbours sef dey use us joke for night gist—say if Ifedayo sneeze for house, Ngozi go bring am handkerchief. That kain attachment.

If he go school, I go school. He learn eight languages, I follow learn. He study finance, me too, I join.

Nobody for class fit separate our chair, even when dem try. Ifedayo go dey front, I go dey back. He start dey learn French, I collect all him notebook, dey study at night. Na so my papa begin call me madam follow-follow. Dem talk say I dey overdo, but me, I no send. Dem talk say follow-follow dey carry goat enter market, but me I no send. My own na to catch up with Ifedayo anywhere e dey.

After all, the Ifedayo and Okafor families don already plan say we go marry. Our businesses join together so tey, if one fall, the other one go fall too.

E reach that level wey family elders dey use our names dey bless junior ones. Every December, our compound dey bubble with both families, dem go dey tell story how Ifedayo and Ngozi na the foundation wey dey keep everything strong like old iroko tree. The thing dey sweet me for belle.

But wetin I no expect be say, on the very day wey we suppose marry, as Ifedayo dey come carry me, na so he change route go abroad—to go save the woman wey dey his mind, the one wey he never fit forget, as she dey trouble.

Na so my chest bin dey pain me like say persin drop heavy stone there. I no even fit shout. Everything wey dem plan just scatter like breeze blow wrapper. People wey come dance and chop, begin dey look me with that eye—'chai, see this girl.'

Our childhood love story just turn big joke for town.

People begin dey use our matter do meme for WhatsApp group. My name and Ifedayo own dey fly everywhere. Dem even photoshop my face on top Superwoman body, dey write, “Strong woman no dey fear heartbreak.” Na so I know say, for this life, person fit dey inside gist wey no concern am. Some aunties dey corner dey do 'eyaaa.'

Inside wedding gown wey cost millions, na only me finish the whole wedding ceremony.

I waka the whole aisle alone, smile with my teeth even as my heart dey shake. As I waka pass, my leg dey tremble, but I tell myself, “Ngozi, bone face, no let anybody see your tears. You be Okafor pikin.” The photographers dey snap like say na advert for magazine. Small pikin for my cousin side dey ask, 'Aunty Ngozi, where Ifedayo?' I just nod, dey press my lips.

That day, for the first time, all the news put my name before his own.

Even my old school group for WhatsApp dey drop my picture with long epistle. 'Ngozi, you strong.' I just dey read am, dey laugh my own inside pain.

Mumu.

I call myself mumu, but for my mind, I know say I try. How persin go waka full length for wedding alone? Na only mumu fit get that kind mind. But I no go let anybody see my weak side. Tears dey my heart, but I dey bone for face.

Abeg, men full everywhere for street.

For Lagos alone, you fit see five fine men for one junction. My bestie dey always talk say, 'Ngozi, if man mess up, shift. Fine bobo dey everywhere.' I dey remind myself say I no go die because of one man.

Business empire wey don stand, na only one madam dey fit control am.

As the new chairlady, I dey plan how I go show dem pepper. My mama say, 'Ngozi, na woman dey hold family for ground.' I take am as challenge. My mind dey already dey count shares and accounts.

No be only his body I dey find—I dey eye his money too.

Make Ifedayo dey form lover boy, me I dey shine eye for business. Love go, money remain. Na so my grandma dey talk. Na my own time to cash out, if dem no know.