Chapter 3: Memories and Street Cameras

Since I catch Morayo with another man, this na the first time I hang up first. Before today, na she always dey cut call, dey do 'leave me jor'. But today, na me off am. Small pride dey inside the pain.

Before, na me dey disturb her phone with calls and messages. You know that kind stubborn ex wey no dey gree rest? That was me. Call am 2am, text her 4am, still no reply.

I don insult her finish, I don even beg her tire. From curse to tears, I don use every trick wey man fit use. E no work.

But every time, Morayo go just para say, "You fit stop to dey craze? When you calm down, talk to me." Then she go sharply cut call. Her voice always dey calm, but e get one kind edge, like say she dey look me from top. As if I be small boy.

No matter how many times I call or message, she no dey answer me. Her silence dey heavy pass cement. As if she dey purposely teach me lesson.

I wan let go, but anytime I remember say all our years together fit just end like this, my mind go just scatter again. The memories dey choke me for chest.

I dey try, but emotion dey drag me left and right, like conductor wey no get change. I go wan ask her—why she betray me? For my head, na only one question: Wetin I do wey reach this kind heartbreak?

I go even wan beg her come back, say I go forgive am. My pride dey fight my love, but na love dey win. I still dey find hope where hope don die.

But after all the pain and waiting, Morayo no change. She stand gidigba, no shake. Her decision be final.

And me, I come dey anxious, dey fear, just as she talk: Like person wey craze, or like woman wey dey vex for nothing. I dey move like mad person, my mind dey run marathon. Neighbours sef dey avoid me.

I just dey waka for inside this wahala, no direction. Every day na like one new film, but na only me dey watch am.

Until three days ago. I see one street interview video by one blogger called Time Capsule. The question na: What would you like to say to yourself five years ago?

All those regular Naija answers, people dey talk about JAMB and school fees. Some talk say dem wish dem spend more time with family. One girl talk say she wish she no let her papa go, another say she wish she cherish her mama more. Some say their future self try well, no disappoint dem. Na so all the motivational quotes dey fly.

Inside all the answers, I see Morayo and her boyfriend, Tunde. That one make me believe say the video no be acting. Once I see their face, I know say e real. Morayo no get time for skit, she too busy. Na street true true.

Because as Morayo dey now, even top journalist go need appointment to see her. Na big girl she be now. Her office get three PAs, her phone no dey ring anyhow.

And this blogger really just dey interview anybody for street. So as e reach Morayo, I surprise. Na God do am.

At first, Morayo no too like the interview. I fit see am for her body—she dey eye Tunde, dey drag leg, no wan answer. Na Tunde beside her, face full of surprise and interest.

"E go fun, Morayo, make we try am."

He put hand for her shoulder, dey beg her. The guy sabi how to sweet talk woman. Even dey rub her shoulder like say he dey console am.

Morayo just look her face, but finally she agree. You know say Morayo no dey like public show, but she nod her head small.

The blogger talk small about himself and the reason for the interview, then ask the normal question. Tunde just dey think. As he dey reason, na Morayo answer first for am. She always dey sharp—before Tunde fit form deep, she don talk her own.

"If possible, I wish the Morayo from five years ago fit meet Tunde first."

As she talk am, her eyes steady. She dey look Tunde straight, hold am like say na only two of them dey this world. She hold him tight. Her hand no gree loose, even as camera dey roll. As if she dey announce to world—'this one na my man.'

Even though her voice cool, you fit hear the love for Tunde inside. E dey sweet her, her mouth dey curve up, her eyes dey shine. If you sabi Morayo, you go know say na real.

Tunde look her surprise. He be like person wey win lottery. Then smile, repeat am:

"Me too."

He yarn am like say he dey take oath. The two of them just dey shine teeth like say dem dey wedding.