Chapter 4: Power Moves and Old Ties

Kunle, you no know say we don arrange with Director Musa for 10 o'clock? I no know say you like to form like this. When I act for Director Musa film, you go know say you no reach my level." Morayo just bone face, drag Tunde go upstairs.

I check my phone. Musa Adekunle just message me five minutes ago:

"Oga Kunle, dem jam my car. I go late. Abeg wait for me, no go yet."

I read the message two times, then smile small. Musa Adekunle na relaxed, artistic guy. Years ago, I jam am in London through padi. That time, he broke die. According to am, na me save am. If I no invest, he for don switch to commercial film. Art film no dey need too much money, so I drop better money. That money make his first film better, and since then, he dey collect awards anyhow. Now, if you talk film award, you dey talk Musa Adekunle. Actors dey fight to enter his film.

I remember that rainy night for London when Musa dey beg say make I borrow am 200 pounds. Who go believe say today, big directors go dey call me Oga?

Na me still recommend Morayo to am. At first, Musa no too like Morayo, but for my sake, he say he fit create role for her. Musa dey always talk for back say everything wey he get, na me run am.

Since Musa say make I wait, I find quiet place go drink. I no dey like show face for dinner, if not people go dey disturb me. I reply Musa: "No bother give any role to Morayo for your new film."

After I send am, I keep phone. No too long, Tunde and Morayo show again.

Their steps loud, laughter too fake. As dem reach my table, I just face my drink.

"Kunle, how you take know say Director Musa go late? Who you be self?" Tunde dey look me. As he begin reason am, I just laugh.

"I tell you, I get invite. Na me invest for the film wey Morayo act. Organizers send me the invite."

Tunde look me like say I dey mad. "You don start again. Where you see money invest? You use Morayo money invest small change for one cheap film so you fit sneak in."

"Kunle, I no even get your time. By the way, move out from that apartment. Without me, you no fit pay 500k rent."

Morayo just dey para. When she talk about the apartment, I remember say landlord talk say he wan sell. I don already buy am, never touch her rent, plan to return everything before marriage. The place small, but since she like am, I no bother change.

I know say anything I talk, these two no go believe. I raise my glass, wan comot, but my assistant rush come.

"Oga, madam dey vex for house. She talk say if you no go blind date with Miss Zainab, no bother come house again. Right now, you no dey welcome."

The hall suddenly quiet small, some people dey eavesdrop. My body dey hot. My mother own wahala no dey finish.