Chapter 4: Counting Lies

I didn’t sleep all night, just replaying all Morayo’s odd behaviours in my head. I realised that apart from all her so-called overtime, she’s been travelling for work more often these past two years.

I dey count dates for my mind—every time she say 'business trip', every night she claim 'overtime.' E clear now say e get pattern.

And Morayo isn’t the type that likes people too much. On her off days, she’s always at home, sometimes goes out with me to eat or see film. Most of her friends are married with kids, so they rarely call her out. So, her side guy probably isn’t from her old friends.

Her bestie, Sade, don relocate go Canada. The rest dey busy with children. If na outsider, I for don see sign. Na inside her office e dey, I fit bet am.

Most likely, it’s a colleague from work.

Na so office romance dey start—same place, same wahala. Especially for Abuja wey everybody dey chase contract and big life.

I decided to ask my guy Auwalu to help me watch. Auwalu and Morayo work in the same company, and he’s even her direct boss. When Morayo applied for the job, I begged Auwalu to help her settle in.

I remember that time, Auwalu say, 'Na small thing, Kunle. Your wife go be like my own sister.' Who for believe say e fit ever change?

To talk about being cheated on with your closest friend is not easy. But after thinking it through, I decided to meet him face to face.

I dey fear make my mouth no shake, but I need answer. So I plan am—face to face, like man.

I went to their office building in Abuja, called Auwalu from a buka downstairs. He came down quick. Auwalu waka in, suit neat like new Naira note, perfume strong like market woman own—Abuja big man to the core.

Auwalu waka enter buka like him dey walk red carpet. He smell nice, perfume strong pass pepper soup for air. I force smile, try act normal.

“Ah ah, see who dey here! You, office phobia, enter building? Hope say your wahala with office don finish?” Auwalu joked as he sat.

He laugh, slap my back, call me 'old man.' I manage laugh back, but my mind dey somewhere else.

Honestly, being in this kind of office building dey make me uncomfortable. I used to work in places like this, but after I took the fall for my boss and got sacked, I just lost interest. For two years now, I never look for office work again—I just stayed at home.

If person ask me why, I go just wave am off, say I dey enjoy soft life. Na lie. I no fit trust office people again.

But I no dey idle. Because I love to cook, I started a food channel online—like TikTok Nigeria or YouTube. In these two years, I gained plenty followers. With the channel money and some adverts, I dey make better cash. At least, no child responsibility.

Sometimes, people go hail me for street—'Chef Kunle, abeg show us that ogbono recipe!' E dey sweet me, but Morayo no send. For her, na small boy work.

But thinking of ‘child’ just spoil my mood again.

All my plans, all my hustle, just dey waste if my wife no dey loyal.

“So, wetin carry you come?” Auwalu noticed my face don change.

He drop fork, look me well. I shift on my chair, try compose myself.

I hesitated. “For office, you don notice Morayo dey close to anybody? Especially any man?”

My voice low, almost whisper. My hands dey under table, fingers tight.

Auwalu frowned. “Close? No o… She do anything bad?”

He act surprised, but his eye dey scan my face. I dey watch am too.

My ears burn. The words ‘I suspect Morayo dey cheat’ stuck for my throat. Auwalu’s face got serious. “No wahala, I go help you watch am. But abeg, no dey overthink. You two don marry long, and with me at the office, she no fit mess up.”

He pat my hand like elder brother, promise to keep eye. For my mind, I dey wonder if na true.

For a moment, I nearly told Auwalu about the abortion, but the shame choke me, so I held back. “Alright, I leave am for you.”

I force smile, pick toothpick. My mind dey heavy, but I no wan disgrace myself.