Chapter 4: Showbiz & Scars

Next day.

For one TV show, Morayo lose game, dem say make she collect punishment.

She wear white off-shoulder dress, lie down for ground, her eyes red like say she wan cry.

For TV, everything dey magnify, even fake tears. The makeup no fit hide the pride for her face.

One fat male celebrity dey do push-up on top her.

Audience dey hail, some dey shout "Omo, see drama!"

For one side, Tunde just lean for rail, dey spin bone ring for him middle finger.

That ring, him say na old family juju, protection against bad belle. Now e dey shine under camera light, but e no fit protect my heart.

As the man collapse, Tunde no fit hold am again.

Him curse small, come use leg push the man commot.

He mutter under breath, "Nonsense, see as you big like cow."

Tunde face dark, him come take the punishment, let Morayo sit on top am, fans just dey scream.

The crowd dey go wild. For Naija, if you no give drama, dem go find another person to watch.

Morayo act like say she fear, hold Tunde neck tight with two hands.

She dey smile for camera, but her hand grip am like say she dey mark territory.

Person near me just dey wonder.

"E shock me o, superstar like Tunde, dey do this kind show."

I nod small, pretend say e no pain me. But inside, my heart dey twist like wrapper wey breeze blow.

"E shock me pass, this oga no dey like anybody, but now, e gree make person ride am..."

I just force small bitter smile.

Na because she be Morayo, Tunde first love.

No be me. I be just shadow, extra for their stage.

......

Next game na to pick random audience, make dem guess song name.

I dey for back, dey pray make dem no pick me. But Naija luck no dey ever favour me.

As Tunde see me, him pause small as him dey adjust earpiece, frown.

But e quick help Morayo fix her own.

He brush her hair gently, like say camera no dey.

Music start, Tunde sing correct, stage presence dey hot, cool.

Spotlight shine for him fine face, everybody dey scream.

I look at him, remembering how I teach am to perform without stage fright. Now, na me dey hide.

When host ask me, I just answer calmly:

"Sorry, I no sabi am."

Audience scatter.

Somebody from back shout, "Na lie!"

Na Tunde latest hit, everybody for country sabi am, win plenty awards.

One small girl for front just dey shake head: "How you go no sabi dis song? Even my grandma know am."

Fans dey vex:

"This one get ear wahala? Big song like this she no know!"

"Comot! Comot!"

My leg dey shake, but I stand. No be today I start to dey chop insult.

Only Tunde just bone.

Him put hand for pocket, eyes sharp, just dey look me.

Him dey vex say I forget say I be 'underground girlfriend,' say I no fit show for public.

I read the anger for him eyes – no be for me, na for the world wey dey see me beside am.

E dey vex more say stand-in show for where original dey.

Till one glow stick hit me, the sharp plastic cut my eyebrow, blood just dey come out. Blood warm for my eyebrow, my eye dey see stars.

Sharp sharp, Tunde face squeeze, him waka come my side.

But Morayo hold him shirt.

She no talk, just bite lip, make him stop.

She squeeze am hard, her knuckle white. Tunde pause, look back, like say him dey weigh which person important pass.

He forget me, wey dey pain under the glow sticks.

He just dey pet her: "No fear, I dey here."

The crowd dey clap, cameras dey flash, but my blood dey drip for floor. Nobody see am.

......

After the drama, Morayo go stage, win the game.

She dance small, wave at camera, enjoy the shine. Na me dey pack wound.

I gats collect punishment, dem push me enter pool.

The water cold, shock my body, but I no shout. I just let the water swallow my tears. Cold water dey my skin, but e no cold pass my heart.

For pool side.

Morayo, back to camera, just dey smile like say she win:

"Seven years never do. Na me still be him real love. I hear say Tunde dey call you my name for seven years?"

Her voice sweet like honey but e sting pass wasp. I just lock eye with her, refuse to blink.

I just look her, bring out phone type:

[The thing don finish. Give me my thing back.]

[The song wey you sing just now—na me write am since secondary school. I no mind tear face.]

Her eye widen. For the first time, I see fear small. She dey bite her lip, but her pride strong.

Morayo face change, she squeeze teeth talk. She hiss, "You dey craze? Na me Tunde love, no be you. No dey deceive yourself."

Suddenly she hold my hand, push me follow am enter water.

The cold shock enter my bone. For small second, I wan fight am, but I no get strength. Her nails dig my skin as she dey drag me under.

Cold water cover my nose and mouth, I dey struggle.

I fit hear my heart dey pound for inside water, my mind dey race go back to all the times I swallow pain.

Soon, I hear Tunde voice, dey panic:

"Make una shift! Ah ah, why this pool deep like this?"

Morayo dey cry:

"Tunde, save Morayo first!"

Her acting strong, even for inside wahala. People rush, but dem dey confused.

One big force come loose my hand from Morayo own.

Strong hand grab me, pull me up. The world dey spin, but I feel land for solid chest.

Tunde shout:

"Morayo! Free her! You wan drown Morayo?"

I for laugh if no be say water dey my mouth.

The cold just dey enter my bone, my heart dey numb small small.

This time, him no call wrong name.

My eyes dey blur. I dey hear faintly, the noise dey far, but Tunde voice cut through, sharp, frantic.