Chapter 8: New Beginnings

After everything, one week later, I board plane go abroad. Changed SIM, told only Halima.

Airport crowd, bag heavy. I buy gala and La Casera for road, just to taste home one last time. Chest light, but fear dey body. Sometimes, freedom come with loneliness.

First days abroad rough—finding house, learning road, shopping, school wahala. New place, new language, everything empty. But soon, school take over.

I dey miss dodo, I dey miss suya. Every day na new struggle. Street no get okada, weather cold pass harmattan.

At night, video-calling Halima, she say, "I see Akinlolu today. He no know you travel, abi?"

She dey try look my face for phone, as if she fit see secret.

"No."

I no wan talk too much. Let sleeping dogs lie.

"No wonder."

Halima eyes sharp. She dey connect dots quick.

"How you mean?"

I dey fear gist she wan drop.

Halima say for one dinner, person ask about me, wonder why I never show. Ngozi quickly say, "Funmi resigned. I’ll be taking over her work now. If you need anything, talk to me."

Her voice mimic Ngozi own. I fit imagine pride for Ngozi face.

Just as she no like Akinlolu, Halima no like Ngozi either. She say, "Small company like yours can’t keep someone like Funmi. She don move to better things."

Halima sabi form. I dey laugh inside, but outside I keep straight face.

Akinlolu scoff. "So she get new job."

E try form indifference. I know am well.

"No, she travel abroad."

Halima voice loud, make sure everybody hear.

…

"You no go believe—when Akinlolu hear say you travel, he jump, pour hot soup for Ngozi leg. Ngozi scream, but Akinlolu no send her, just dey look me, face white."

I just take Halima talk as gist, no reason am.

But mind dey play different scenes. I imagine Akinlolu face, blank, shock. The soup story even make me smile small.

Three days later, Halima call me, vexing.

Voice sharp, like person wey NEPA just cut light mid-cooking.

"I go finish Akinlolu. Every day he dey block me for office, ask where you dey. I ask am why, he no talk. The cigarette smell wey dey follow am na die."

I keep quiet. "If he dey disturb you, just tell am. No need cover up."

I try protect her. I know Akinlolu fit stubborn reach any length.

"I no even wan cover am. I just no see why he must know."

She vex, but I know say she still get my back.

But Halima stubborn. "No. Why I go tell am? I just no go talk. Anyway, your birthday dey come, ten days time, I go come celebrate with you."

Her loyalty strong pass cement. I smile, even if small tear dey corner my eye.