Chapter 6: Sun & Zephyr Wahala

By 9pm, Uncle Garba finally reply me.

His message long like Sunday sermon. The man no dey rush talk, e go check everything twice before e send.

"Auwalu family dey medical equipment, dem dey make good money. Two years ago, dem hammer well for face mask business. Im papa wise, sell the company and factory when market high, cash out hundreds of millions.

After dem get money, Auwalu family invest for real estate, internet, anything wey dey hot. At first e make sense, but past two years market no good. Only one information service company dey work, others dey lose money.

The biggest client for that info company na our own company.

Recently, Auwalu papa health no too good, no dey show again, maybe get serious sickness.

Na all I find for now. I go update you if I get more."

As I dey read the report, my eye dey pick code. For Naija, na business and politics dey mix everything. I dey reason if Ngozi dey use me as connection.

I look screen. The next challenge wey Ngozi wan do na:

Challenge 92: Carve symbol wey represent you and another man for one gift, give am to your partner, make am talk say e like am.

For my head, I dey try remember if she give me any strange gift.

No wonder she talk say she get gift for me.

I reach house. Ngozi dey watch TV for parlour.

The TV dey show Zeeworld. She dey act like nothing dey happen. She cross leg, look me, smile.

"Honey, you try, come sit, I get gift for you."

She wave small box, her nails painted gold. The kain way she dey happy, e dey fear me.

Ngozi drag me go dining table, sit down, bring out gift box.

"Ta-da!"

I open am. Na wristwatch.

For Naija, person give you watch, e mean make you dey count every moment. But my mind dey sharp, I dey suspect wetin dey inside.

"Why you dey give me watch? Today no be special day."

Ngozi wink, her lips dey shine like she just chop suya oil. "Because you give me happy time, I want make we last forever. And I fit use this business make small money, pay my debt to you quick. I dey give my creditor gift, e no strange?"

She dey use coded talk. I dey reason, maybe na more than watch she dey give.

For back of the watch, dem engrave: Sun & Zephyr

"Zephyr? Na which kain oyinbo breeze be that? For this Lagos, only NEPA breeze dey blow."

"Wetin be this one?"

"Na you and me." Ngozi point the words. "You be my sun, you dey shine, dey warm me, so na Sun. Me be breeze, dey blow for your side. When you miss me, I dey everywhere. When you no miss me, I no dey, so na Zephyr."

She dey use poetry way, but the name Zephyr fit mean another thing. For my mind, I dey reason if na Auwalu nickname be that.

See as she sabi use rare words.

I dey try decode am. For this our Nigeria, people no dey call breeze Zephyr, unless dem wan form.

Na clear initials for Ngozi and Auwalu.

I dey look her face, she no blink. Her smile steady. E be like say na film she dey act for me.

"You like am?" Ngozi look me with big eyes, dey wait my answer.

Her eyes dey wet, dey shine like person wey just win lottery. I swallow spit, nod.

"I like am." I nod, touch her nose. "Anything you give me, I go like."

My heart dey drum, but I dey fake smile. For this life, to dey survive, you must fit act.

I just wan slap myself, as if I dey shout say I like the mumu cap wey dem put for my head.

Inside, my mind dey curse me. "See as you dey fall mugu."

"As long as you like am, I dey go room go watch film, you fit play game."

She waka enter room, her post soon update again.

The door slam small, I fit hear am click. She dey ready for the next challenge.

Challenge 92: Carve symbol wey represent you and another man for one gift, give am to your partner, make am talk say e like am. Completed.

No photo or video for this one, maybe she no fit snap.

I dey thank God say at least no evidence fit leak this side. But my mind still dey shake.

In less than 24 hours, Ngozi don update three challenges.

She dey move fast. Her hand sharp, her mind strong. For Naija, na only strong head fit do this kain thing.

I no get much time left, and the remaining challenges wicked die.

I dey count time like person wey dey wait for NEPA to bring light.

Challenge 93: Appear for front of am with another man.

Challenge 94: Chop food with am and another man.

Challenge 95: Make am spend big money for you and another man.

Challenge 96: Confess love to another man for front of am.

Challenge 97: Make am get serious wound.

Challenge 98: Make am no fit recover again.

Challenge 99: Let am know all these things.

Each one na wahala. Na so I off my phone, I know say time no dey again.

I dey sit for chair, dey reason life. Mosquito dey buzz my ear, generator hum dey background. For this Lagos, even breeze no fit blow away my worry. I dey wait. I dey watch.