Chapter 4: The Cost of Revenge

Even police station light no fit hide as everybody dey disgrace themselves that time.

My parents rush come, go meet Halima. “No worry, she push you down stairs, you break her old bracelet, e don balance.” My mama rub Halima back, dey whisper for her ear.

Even as I prepare myself.

Why e still pain me reach bone? My hand dey shake, policewoman dey look me with pity.

My papa go beg. “Na family, na children fight, na just misunderstanding.”

All of them sit together as family.

Na only me dey one side, like say world abandon me. I look my phone, pretend dey text, but tears dey my eye.

Well, Olawale dey behind me, shame no let am near. E dey look floor, hand for pocket, e face blank.

The policewoman look me with pity. “You wan drop the case?”

I shake head.

Everybody face change.

I no wan argue again. I don tire.

If I no fit get love, make I collect money—enough to make dem regret.

“Breaking and entering, thief property—I hate her, I want make she enter cell.” I talk am with boldness, even if my hand dey shake.

My papa veins show. “Wetin you really want?”

I smile small. “Mr. Adeyemi, if you wan settle, I get one condition.”

“Wetin be the condition?” E frown.

For mediation room, I talk: “That share transfer paper never sign. I want 20%. Then matter finish.”

“You dey craze! Adeyemi family only get 56%.”

Adeyemi face dark. “Change am, the bungalow, bags, anything, I fit give you.”

“No need, no deal.”

I stand, e grab me.

“No dey do like say you no get sense, I fit use my way free Halima.”

“Sure, you get your way, I get mine. On their wedding day, I go post this CCTV online, make everybody see wetin these two do for my house. People dey like rich people wahala.”

“Morayo, na threat be this? I fit also post your video wey you dey set up your sister.”

I laugh. “Na her don spoil my name already, I no send. But if everybody know say this white-lily girl thief her sister fiancé, you think say dem fit still marry? You fit bear see people insult her?”

E dey think.

“You want make dem marry by force, you don weigh the matter. So make we see if 20% shares go reach to protect Halima.”

My papa na correct business man.

For where money dey, family and love no get meaning.

Last time for hospital, e quick give me 10% shares, I know say e get one big interest behind Halima marriage with Olawale.

Na why e fit lose face, change bride for road.

So, na to see how much e go fit sacrifice for this benefit.

After small time, e gree. “Okay. I go do am.”

I sit down back. “Tell your lawyer write contract now. I go drop the case after I sign.”

“You dey rush?”

“Yes.”

“If not, make we drag am. The more e drag, no be my loss.”

E vex. “How I take born this kind stubborn pikin!”

I no gree. “You suppose thank God. At least this stubborn pikin still dey reason business with you.”

Ile oba t’ojo, ewa lo busi—when the king’s palace burns, beauty emerges from the ashes. E close eye, turn go make call.

As we leave police station, Olawale come hold my hand.

I fling am. “No touch me, e dey dirty me.”

E freeze, but no mind anybody, force me enter im car. E open back door, help me sit like say I be queen, even though I dey vex.

The plaster for im head no fit cover the bleeding wound. E pull my hand, clean my wound.

The pain make me wan pull back, but e hold am tight. E dey careful, use tissue clean gently. E still dey try form gentle man even as blood dey stain im shirt.

“No move.” E voice low, hand soft small. “E still dey pain?”

E put plaster for me. I smell that familiar Dettol, sharp for nose, the scent carry me back to when I small and Olawale dey always help me patch injury after I fall down for street. The nostalgia just dey bite me inside, bitter and sweet.

I turn face open door. “E no concern you.”

E sharp sharp lock car. “Morayo, I fit explain.”

I win the battle, but my heart still dey empty like old calabash.