Chapter 9: Tunde’s Taunt

As I waka commot from Morayo company, Tunde voice follow me from back. Na like film—just as I reach elevator, I hear 'Kunle' for back.

"Kunle."

He waka come meet me quick, dey arrange his expensive suit. Guy dey catwalk like model, tie well ironed. I sabi say na Morayo buy am for am. I even recognize the perfume—na same one she buy for me on my last birthday. Because she buy me the same brand before. Na my own style Tunde dey copy, but e no pain me again.

"Thank you for allowing us be together, for letting Morayo go."

He open teeth, dey form mature. I see am finish—guy dey mock me codedly. I see the pride and show-off for his face, like person wey win fight. He stand like champion, but na only him dey clap for himself.

"No wahala. I just hope say you no go end up like me."

I just drop am like that—make am know say love fit spoil at any stage. I laugh small. I no loud am, but the meaning clear. No be all that glitter dey last. Make e be warning from person wey don see road.

Na true o! I fit write book for all I see for this love matter.

Tunde smile small, but e quick come back to normal. He adjust face, act like e no send.

"Abeg, you never see as Morayo dey shine for my side? Na your time pass, oga."

His voice get one kind pride, like say na trophy he carry.

He remind me. He dey talk about one time long ago.

That time, Morayo carry Tunde go meet her girlfriends. E still dey my mind how them dey laugh, gist dey flow, wine dey pass around.

For the party, one of her friends mention me and Morayo. One babe just throw shade, say 'Abi no be Kunle make you late that year?'

One of them talk:

"One time Morayo work late, Kunle wait for her for flowerbed, one mad man for street come molest am."

Everybody burst laugh, Tunde squeeze face.

That time, Tunde dey hold Morayo. His hand rest for her lap, as if he dey mark territory. As he hear, he frown, make one sound like say e dey disgusted.

"No be dirty?"

He use mouth squeeze, like say he dey talk trash. I no sure if na me sleep for garden he mean, or na the fact say mad man touch me. But the laugh for the room too loud—nobody send me. Everybody for room burst laugh. Dem dey hail Tunde, dey mock my own suffer head.

I stand outside the door. I no wan spoil party, but my leg dey shake. I plan catch dem red-handed. My mind dey boil, na small remain make I burst door. But as I hear all these, e be like say I fall inside cold hell. E shock me. My hand cold, sweat full my back. Hot and cold together, dey pain me.

Wetin I do reach this? Na me be scapegoat for their cruise?

What pain me pass be Morayo attitude that time. I dey expect say she go defend me, but she just bone. She sit for sofa, lean for Tunde body. Her smile dey wide, no pity for my own side. As everybody dey laugh and mock, she just smile, like say e no concern her. As if na another person story. Like say dem dey mock stranger, not person she once love well.

That day, I see another side of Morayo—one wey I never know before.

And for last game session, Morayo dey enjoy as Tunde pass wine for her mouth. She just dey blush, dey play along. My own pain no reach her. As he command, she talk "Kunle, dirty."

That word enter me like slap. I no forget till today.