Chapter 2: Rain, Wait, and Realisation

Thunder and lightning dey para outside that day.

The way thunder dey vibrate for sky, even the gate man dey shiver where he stand. I stand for company entrance dey wait for my boyfriend, Kunle, make e carry me go house. I just dey try wrap my scarf well make cold no enter my neck.

For this kind weather, to find keke na wahala. Everybody around dey complain say their ride-hailing no even quick, at least thirty minutes wait. Na so you go dey wave down bike or keke, dem go pass you like say you dey invisible, all of us dey suffer together.

My own car still dey for mechanic, never ready. I just thank God say na last month I give Kunle a car. At least now, e dey useful for me. I remember how I hustle to gather money for that car—if I know, I for just use am buy land. I still remember the way mechanic hail me that day—"Madam, you too try for your man o!"

I wait and wait, dey watch as my colleagues dey go one by one. When na only me remain, my boyfriend’s car finally show, dey drive slowly from far. Rain don soak my bag small, but na so e be.

He wind down the glass. Kunle call me, “Morayo, you don tire abi?” His face dey bright like person wey just chop jollof rice.

As he talk, he open the back door for me. “Come enter, sharp sharp.” Na so e just treat me like Uber passenger. The respect wey I dey expect, e no dey show.

As I reach, I see say one girl with long hair and round face dey the passenger seat already. My heart just cut small—so na this one dey collect all my boyfriend attention?

This Halima dey wear Ankara gown, gold earring for ear, her hair neat for net cap—see packaging. Rain dey fall heavy, so I no get choice than to enter back seat, close my umbrella as I enter.

“Ah ah, water dey everywhere!” The girl for front turn, frown as she point my umbrella. “Abeg, put your umbrella near the door when you dey close am, or else everywhere go wet. This car na brand new, just one month old, and the seats na real leather.”

She cross her leg, adjust her net cap like say na her papa get car.

Her mouth sharp, like say na her papa buy the car. I just dey look am with style. The way she talk, e be like na she get the car.

Me wey no dey hide mouth, I look her and laugh, “Madam, na my boyfriend get this car. Even if everywhere soak, na our concern. Why e dey worry you?” I add small hiss so she go know say I no be her mate.

She look small embarrassed.

Kunle quickly enter and say, “She just dey considerate. No too vex for am.” He try smile, but I see say e dey fear make quarrel no start.

I look am. “So who she be?” My tone change small, I wan hear story for mouth.

“Oh, her.” Kunle fasten his seatbelt. “I don tell you before—my commuting companion, Halima. Halima dey work for my company and dey live for our area. Since na the same route, I just dey give am lift. Just see am as me dey help person.”

Cars for back dey horn anyhow, and Kunle begin rush, dey struggle with seatbelt. Some danfo driver even wind down say, "If you no wan move, park well!" Lagos people no dey get patience.

Halima bend and help am fasten am gently.

Then she turn, still dey smile as she apologise: “Sorry, Aunty Morayo, I no suppose make you wait like that. Na me slow to chop, na why your boyfriend late come pick you. Aunty, abeg, no vex—na my food slow me, no be Kunle fault o. You sabi how mama put dey sweet.”

Her voice soft, but e dey enter like needle. She dey act like say she no do anything. I just dey watch her.

“Which kind talk be that?” Kunle dey drive with one hand, use the other hand tap her forehead. “Morayo senior you well well. No be like you, Halima, wey person go dey beg before you go chop.”

“I just no get appetite because na my period.” Halima no gree, she even stretch hand ruffle Kunle hair. “I don tell you tire—no dey call me that name for outside. I no be small Halima.”

I just dey look. For my front? No respect. The boldness!