CHAPTER TWO:

Last night, Seyi nearly finished me.

I remember am clear, as I dey try stretch my body for bed, everywhere pain me. Na wah o. Seyi na man wey no dey hear word—full of fire.

That man, na real wahala.

As in, Seyi own na another level. If you never meet man wey get stubbornness and sweet mouth join, na Seyi be that.

Almost collect half my life.

If dem dey share life, Seyi don carry better portion last night. I just dey count my blessings say I still dey alive.

Seyi.

I just said, "Abeg, help me bring water."

I talk am small, voice low. Na only me for the room. I expect say person go show, bring me water make I cool body.

But everywhere quiet. Nobody answer me.

Silence wey fit cut with knife. Even the air con dey blow cold breeze, but no comfort inside.

As I sat up, the ankara bedsheet fell off, showing my tight, short nightdress.

My skin dey pepper me. Nightdress tight well well, make body show. I for wear boubou instead, but this one na future fashion.

He rough me last night, but my body no even get mark.

Strange. Seyi hand no dey ever light, but today my skin smooth. Na only ache dey my bone.

Wait—

I looked at my stomach, shocked.

As I touch my belle, e soft, small bulge dey. I blink, rub am again. No be say I chop swallow last night?

This small bulge, wetin dey happen?

I dey... pregnant?

Chineke! Wetin I do? I count days for my head, try remember if na Seyi own true-true.

The room no be my own, all white and grey, expensive things everywhere.

No be this kind room I dey used to. Even the air get one kind rich people smell, like hotel.

But I remember clear—

Last night, na Seyi’s small rented flat I dey.

The old wooden bed no gree keep quiet all night from his wahala…

No air con, just fan wey dey make noise. Window small, mosquito dey disturb. Even the bedsheet get small tear for edge. Now, everywhere soft and cold like ice cream parlor for Garki.