Chapter 8: Shadow and Light

I also looked at those gifts. The way the house helps dey sweat to carry them, I know say everything inside dey valuable.

Box dey full with wrapper, coral bead, yam, even goat. E be like say dem dey marry queen.

Full 108 loads.

Dem line am for compound—people dey snap with their eye. The whole village never see this kind since Chief Okonkwo time.

I just laugh for my mind.

Inside my mind, na only me dey hear the joke. Tunde think say e dey do big thing.

The gifts Tunde gave me na normal 88 loads, but for Ifeoma—his supposed sister-in-law—he brought 108 loads.

Even small pikin fit count difference. People dey murmur.

Papa’s face changed. “Tunde, my eldest daughter na your fiancée, she go be your wife next month. Why you dey give second Miss this kind heavy gift?”

My papa voice carry thunder. All the elders stop to chew kola.

Tunde frowned. “Eldest Miss get everything she want. Ifeoma na second wife pikin, her life hard. I just wan help her small. Na just material things.”

He dey form generous man. But for Igbo land, na this kind talk dey make trouble.

He looked at me again and said, “As my future wife, eldest Miss no go mind this small thing.”

He dey reason as if say my feelings no matter. E pain me.

“When you marry me, you must always take care of Ifeoma.”

He wan use me do guardian for Ifeoma. I shake my head small.

His self-righteousness really vex me. If he wan repay life-saving debt, why I go be the one to suffer?

E be like say he forget who be wife and who be helper.

I tested him: “Since you no like me, why we no just end the engagement?”

I talk am like breeze, but na heavy talk. Even Ifeoma blink twice.

As I talk am, Ifeoma’s body stiffen, and she looked at the man nervously.

She squeeze her wrapper, eye dey shake. E show say the matter touch her heart.

“What are you saying?”

Even the drummers stop to beat drum. Everybody dey wait answer.

Tunde was shocked, then frowned. “This marriage na since childhood. Everybody for town know. Just one month remain, how we go cancel am?”

He dey fear disgrace. For this side, to break marriage na abomination.

His voice softened. “Maybe I was too harsh last time. It’s just that you too stubborn, but after marriage, I go try understand you.”

He wan use sugar patch pepper. My mind no move.

“But Ifeoma save my life. Abeg, no bully her again. Dem say, ‘Love me, love my pikin.’ You and her be sisters. For my sake, take care of her.”

He quote proverb, think say e go melt my heart. E no know say I don already free myself.

Ifeoma obviously relaxed, her face shy and moved.

Her acting sharp. She dey look ground, dey smile inside.

But I saw that pride flash in her eyes before she looked down.

No matter how she try hide am, I catch am. For this life, woman sabi woman.

I was calm.

My spirit just dey float. I no dey for drama again.

But I gave up on directly suggesting breaking off the engagement or swapping marriages.

Some battles no need noise. I just keep my plan, let peace reign.

I know this man well.

His stubbornness pass palm kernel. If I force, e go suspect.

He too stubborn, he no go ever believe say I really don give up on am. He go just think I dey misbehave.

I know say if I push am, e go lock heart, begin ask question everywhere.

If I talk am, he go refuse and start suspecting. Better to just swap the marriages quietly.

Some things dey better for night than for afternoon.

Once e happen, nobody fit change am.

Custom no dey bend for anybody. When elders bless, e don finish.