Chapter 3: Wake Up Wahala and Husband Duty

Na there I wake up cry, pillow soak with tears. When I wake up, my mind just dey scatter, I no fit even breathe well.

My heart dey beat like drum for Owambe. The dream too real—my emotion just dey rise anyhow, tears dey flow like say rain for July.

I look Olumide face wey still dey sleep, e still fine like before. Even for sleep, e dey use hand find me for bed.

E dey call my name for sleep, "Baby, come." I just dey look am, my vex dey boil. Anger just carry me, I stretch hand, give am one correct slap.

If no be say I still get small home training, for my mind I for slap am two times. Na so the slap loud, red mark just show for him face.

I look am well, my spirit dey quarrel. For my mind, I dey hear my aunt voice: "No let man use your head!" Olumide wake up, still dey do like person wey never balance, see say I dey cry, just look me two seconds, shock.

E try talk, "Wetin—" but words no gree come out. E swallow, Adam’s apple just dey go up and down.

E brain dey work fast, dey try reason wetin happen.

You know say men sabi calculate fast; e dey look my face, dey search for clue. E sit up small, chest and six packs just dey shine.

If na Nollywood, na here theme music for suspense go play. E carry my right hand, begin rub am gently for him palm.

"Wife, wetin happen? Your hand pain you as you slap me? Next time, no use your hand—if you wan beat me, I go find you tool use."

E still dey try form hard man, but e voice soft like Agege bread. I just press my lips, no talk, still dey vex, dey look like say person offend me.

I turn my back small, face wall. E pull me enter him body again, make I touch him chest small, then him abs.

As e hold me, I fit feel him heart dey race. When e see say I still dey vex, e come begin do like puppy, dey bark small to make me laugh.

E even carry pillow, press for him head, talk, "Abeg, if you slap me again, na to call my mama remain." I just hiss, but small smile dey hide for my mouth. Last last, after small wahala for head of bed and make up for foot of bed, I sleep back, Olumide go work—after e don do him husband duty finish.

As e dey commot, e blow me kiss for door, talk, "I dey come back, madam. No vex abeg." I just wave am with back of my hand.