Chapter 2: The Call and Surrender

The day I agree to the divorce na just one normal afternoon.

Na just like joke, normal Monday sun dey shine for backyard, generator dey hum for street, I decide say today na today. I carry my phone, dial her number, no even reason am twice.

But na Tunde pick Morayo phone.

"Hello?"

"Abeg, I wan speak to Morayo."

"She dey bath. If you get anything to talk, just tell me."

Him voice still get that direct and bold style, with small pride and show-off inside. You go hear am for Tunde tone—he dey run Morayo matter like say na him get franchise. No respect, just dey flex.

Before ehn, I for don use my village voice run Tunde comot for line, but wahala don tire me, abeg.

But now, I sabi say na only Tunde fit reach her. These days, na Tunde be the gatekeeper. If you no pass am, you no fit see Morayo at all.

I no fit let her cut my call again, leave me dey craze alone. The shame and silence wey she dey give me since... I no fit collect am again. E better make I talk am once, make ground rest.

"No be she say before say she want divorce? I agree."

I talk am calmly, just give the message I get. This time, my voice no even get any wahala. Just like person wey don tire for fight.

Tunde quiet for one second, then repeat am like he no believe:

"You agree for the divorce?"

"Hmm."

As I finish talk, I hear some shuffle—

You know say when person shock, na so phone go dey pass hand anyhow. E sure me say Morayo don rush commot from bathroom.

Phone don change hand, dem give am to Morayo.

Soon, her pleasant but cold voice enter my ear. Her voice sharp, no emotion. You fit feel say she dey try hard make she no sound too soft, just official.

Just to hear her voice, I come dey somehow lost. For small second, my mind wander go those nights wey we go gist till 2am, dey plan future. But I sharp pull myself back.

Since she move out from the flat six months ago to follow Tunde, we never talk at all. Na real six months of ghosting, no text, no call, not even 'how far?'.

The last thing wey she tell me that time be:

"Kunle, let’s divorce. If you no gree, I go separate from you, then carry you go court."

Her last words still dey ring for my ear, cold as Sapele breeze.

Now, half a year later, I don surrender. After all the back and forth, my mind just break. Na surrender be this, as if my spirit just kneel down.

"I hear from Tunde say you wan divorce me?"

As I keep quiet, na Morayo first talk. She go dey frown that time, her voice get small confusion. I imagine say she dey squeeze her brows that her stubborn way—she no dey hide her mind.

I no really understand why she go dey confused. No be she first talk about divorce? Abi she forget say na she first use the D-word for this marriage? But now, I no even get strength to argue who start am. The energy don finish. No be who first start quarrel matter again.

I just answer quietly. Tell her, "If you get time, make we meet sign the divorce agreement."

My voice low, no wahala. I just yarn as e dey my mind.

After that, I end the call. No long story. I just drop phone, allow the day continue like nothing happen.