Chapter 2: Shame for Clubhouse Gate

After the call, I just dey look that photo, my mind far.

I siddon for hotel lobby, that picture still dey my phone. My spirit don travel far. For my chest, e dey like say stone dey press me. The cold AC no even fit cool my mind.

Lately, Morayo don change finish—she no dey complain about me again. Instead, she dey do like when we first start for university.

I dey notice am: she dey smile for nothing, dey wear new style of cloth, dey post different inspirational quotes for her status. Before, Morayo go nag me for small thing, now she dey act like say na fresh love dey worry her.

Plus that thing Musa talk about changing brother-in-law, and Morayo own strange behaviour, everything don clear for my head.

All those coded messages, late calls, quick runs for shop, na now e dey add up. E be like say Morayo don dey see another person—my mind no gree rest.

So Morayo don move on catch another man.

Pain just grip me, but I no go show am. For Naija man, pride na armour.

To call me come openly, dem wan use style chase me comot.

E clear say na setup, dem wan do me strong thing for public, make e look like say na me lose guard.

I just laugh small, carry my car go the clubhouse wey dem book.

My laugh na that kain dry laugh wey pain dey hide inside. I arrange myself, drive reach the Royal Palm Club. For my mind, I dey plan wetin I go do if wahala burst.

I no even expect say Musa go dey wait for door already.

Before I park finish, Musa and him squad full outside like area boys wey dey guard politician for campaign. The guy get pride like say na im get the place.

Small boys just dey gather around am, dey hail am.

Dem dey hail am anyhow—some dey spray money, others dey hail like say na king arrive. Even for this kind high-class club, Musa carry area boys vibe come.

"Brother Musa, you dey low-key o. You no tell us say you and Manager Audu from Palm Grove Group dey close like this."

Dem dey use style draw body near am, dey find their own share if anything drop.

"Na true, Palm Grove Group na top company for here, their future dey bright."

Everybody dey rate Palm Grove high—nobody sabi say power don change hand for back.

"Brother Musa go soon be Manager Audu in-law. Abeg, when you hammer, no forget us."

Na so dem dey run mouth, dey beg for future favour. For Naija, if you smell money, people go dey attach themselves to you like wrapper.

Even him oga, wey normally no dey flow with am, show face.

The matter shock me. Musa boss wey no send am before, now dey show face for event, dey shine teeth like say na him born am.

"I always sabi say you get sense. I no know say your connect strong reach this level."

"If I fit follow meet Manager Audu, once that project click, I go promote you sharp sharp."

See as dem dey chase contract, dey spray praise anyhow. For this side, who you sabi fit change your life sharp sharp.

Musa just dey enjoy the praise, face full of pride.

Musa face dey glow like person wey win lottery. Him head dey swell, e no fit hide am.

I lock my car, frown as I see all of them.

I step down, lock my car sharp. As I look the crowd, my face just strong. I no send anybody.

From their talk, e clear say everybody sabi say Morayo and Audu get something.

Even small pikin for area go notice—dem no even try cover face. For Naija, people sabi gossip, but this one na open play.

Dem no even know say Audu company—Palm Grove—don already change hand?

Dem dey hail person wey no get leg again. I wan tell dem, but make I observe first.

As for Audu, the man sef fit no last for him position.

For office, I hear say management dey shake. Audu sef dey panic, e dey form boss for here.

As Musa see me, he rush come my side. I think say na guilt dey worry am, maybe e wan reason with me.

I brace myself, hope say Musa go show small shame. Instead, e waka come, chest up.

But the guy just look me from head to toe, then frown.

Him eye scan me like customs officer. I fit feel the insult from him face.

"No wonder you agree quick. You come prepare, dey wear fake designer up and down?"

He eye my jacket and shoe. True true, na new suit I buy for work, but e dey pain say person dey call am fake.

"You feel say na only cloth? Even if beggar wear king cloth, e no go turn king."

E no even stop. For Naija, na insult be that. If you no get background, forget face.

"No think say na because you fine, you fit steal shine."

I smile small, because na that my yellow face hook Morayo that year. But see where e land me.

To be honest, na my face make Morayo marry me that year.

Dem dey always talk say fine boy na for pocket, but that time, na my own beauty dey reign for campus.

That time, I fight my family because dem wan arrange marriage for me, I run comot house, na so I jam Morayo.

I remember as I use leg waka run leave Okafor mansion, na for roadside bus stop Morayo find me, help me buy gala and La Casera.

I believe say we love each other true, so I bear Morayo wahala small small.

Love na blind thing—if e catch you, even stubbornness dey look like swag. I no mind her wahala, dey manage am with small play-play.

But as years dey go, her eye dey open, she no dey satisfied again.

Everybody dey grow, but e be like say Morayo own pass. Now na expensive hair, trips, new friends. My own dey look like old school for her eye.

I try give Morayo better life, so I try go back my family, Okafor family.

I swallow pride, beg elders, even my stubborn papa. All na to make life better for my woman.

For months, I dey travel up and down for work, dey try prove myself, so that my family go accept her. Finally, dem gree to come see Morayo.

That period, I dey sleep for different hotels, dey carry document up and down. But e worth am as family finally show small respect for Morayo.

I don clear road finish. If all go well, Morayo go soon become madam for Okafor family.

I even dey plan say we go do small family thanksgiving if things settle.

My last assignment na to buy Palm Grove Group. I just return from headquarters, sign paper with Palm Grove boss.

That trip wey just finish, na the final lap. I don sign, I don arrive.

As general manager, Audu suppose don get the memo.

E shock me say Audu never adjust, still dey run things as if e be landlord.

I no expect say e go dey do gra-gra, dey host party in Palm Grove name.

Wetin dey pain me na say the man dey flex with my property. E no even know say e dey work under me now.

Wetin even shock me pass be say all these people dey make mouth about Morayo and another man for my front, her real husband, as if nothing dey.

Nobody dey fear abomination again. For Yoruba land, this kain thing na disgrace. But see as dem dey do as if na normal play.

Before I fit talk, one of Musa boys push me.

Sharp elbow from back—dem don dey act like agbero for club front.

"Brother Musa dey talk to you, why you dey form deaf?"

Another one don join, voice loud, dey form muscle. For my mind, I dey vex, but I hold body.

"You go soon chop breakfast, dey do like person wey dem dey sponsor. Still get attitude."

All eyes dey on me. This kain public shaming dey pain, but I gats strong face.

My face change immediately, I look Musa, na him dey start all this.

I bone face, my eye enter Musa own. For my mind, e dey pain me say na my own in-law dey set me up.

"Musa, abeg tell your boys make dem behave."

My voice low, but e get meaning. I no wan disgrace myself, but I no go take rubbish.

But Musa just hiss.

He hiss like snake, then turn back. E dey clear say na him set dem up.

"Which level you get to dey order my guys?"

Na so e talk, chest out, dey find who go match am.

"If I call you brother-in-law, na respect. If I talk true, you be just dog wey dey find food for our house."

Na heavy word o, but I just hold myself. E no reach make I scatter scene.

"If you get sense, just dey toast quietly later, no talk too much. If all go well, you fit chop small benefit."

For Naija, person wey dey eye your wife fit give you this kind dirty offer, just dey use you play.

Wetin he talk make me wonder—wetin dey happen tonight, which benefit I suppose see?

My mind dey reason—abi na money, abi na small settlement to clear road? Dem get plan, I go watch.