Chapter 2: Contract Signing and Betrayal

2

Our people reach the sales office.

The office cold with AC, everywhere dey smell like new paint and expensive wood. We meet another family dey sign contract. Dem dey pop malt, dey snap picture with agent.

Morayo and her mama sit down for sofa, dey look brochure, dey shine teeth.

Her mama dey analyse every small print, Morayo dey calculate mortgage for her phone calculator. Dem dey do like say dem be landlady and chairlady already. My mind dey wander.

Ayo no dey dull. E dey snap pictures of the apartment wey we just see, dey talk to himself:

He dey even post am for WhatsApp status, dey add caption: "Our new house loading!" I just shake head. My own na to find solution, dem own na to enjoy.

"This place too make sense. My room dey face central garden—my babe go too happy."

He dey talk with pride. I fit see say e dey imagine his friends dey visit, dey boast say e get big room for GRA.

I just sit one corner, my hand dey sweat.

I dey turn my phone anyhow, dey press calculator, but the math no dey add up. My mind dey heavy like Sunday rice for public holiday. E be like say all my suffer na to benefit another person.

The sales lady bring malt, smile dey her face:

Her English dey package, but her Yoruba dey sharp too. She say, "Una welcome, hope say una go enjoy our estate." She drop tray of malt and gala, the nylon still dey sweat, cold reach bone. but I no fit chop.

"Mr. Femi, the contract dey ready. Abeg, come check am."

She call me with respect, but I dey feel like small pikin wey dey do senior work. I stand up, wipe palm for trouser.

I stand up, stretch hand give Morayo.

I use style smile, make she fit relax. Na today be the day wey all our plans go mature. For my mind, na milestone.

"Come, make we go sign contract."

Morayo nod, happy, hold my hand, rest her head for my shoulder.

She smell like strawberry body spray. Her joy dey infectious. I fit feel the excitement for her body, e dey ginger me small.

"Babe, finally we get our own house. You try well well!"

Her voice get hope inside. I feel tears for my throat, but I bone. For this country, house na big achievement.

Her talk just touch me, all my two years suffer come flash for my mind, like say na this moment I dey wait for.

I remember the time wey I go borrow money from my cousin for Abeokuta, the days wey I miss family event because I dey hustle. Everything just play for my mind like home video.

The sales consultant na young lady, her smile dey sharp. She bring big contract file come table.

She wear power suit, perfume choke small. Her nails dey shine pink. She dey talk with confidence, na professional through and through.

"This estate get special promo now: down payment fit reach only 20%, extra benefit join. Mr. Femi, you come at the right time."

She use biro tap the form, her eyes dey shine. Na sales move, but her voice get sincerity.

As she talk am, Morayo mama eyes shine.

Her mouth open small, her fingers dey count figures for air. For her mind, na miracle.

"For real? That means the down payment no too much?"

She dey ask with hope, as if she dey price garri for market.

"Yes, if una sign now, the down payment go low, and the monthly mortgage go easy."

She nod with assurance, even show us calculator breakdown. The plan clear, everything dey transparent.

She open the contract with style.

She spread the file for table like market woman dey display wrapper. She dey ready to answer any question.

"Na special promo from developer to boost sales—only this month."

She smile, use body language sell the package. I just dey look, dey reason whether my own miracle fit enter.

Ayo no get patience, "Oya sign am quick, no dey dull!"

His voice dey loud, his leg dey shake under table. Na excitement dey worry am.

I form as if I dey think, carry contract, look am, frown face.

I open page, scan am like lawyer. My eye dey catch all the small writing. I no wan make mistake wey go cost me for future.

"This contract get too many grammar, I no too sabi am. Morayo, you go school pass me—help me check."

I use style pass responsibility. Everybody laugh small, but I know say na better move.

Morayo collect the contract, dey form big girl, but after small look, she ask:

She frown brow, bite her lip, then softens: "You sure say e no go too choke you?" but she no wan show say she no too sabi legal matter. She use biro point different places.

"Na just down payment, monthly payment, and loan time, abi?"

She dey try summarize, make the thing no too heavy for her head.

Sales consultant nod.

She add, "If una get any wahala, I go explain."

"Yes, Miss Morayo."

Her tone soft, she dey encourage her.

She bring another form.

She spread out payment schedule, even show calculator. The numbers dey clear.

"With this special policy, na only 20% down payment—six million naira. The rest, bank go give una loan."

She dey talk with confidence, show us the benefit. The offer dey attractive, no lie.

Morayo mama dey follow the gist.

She dey use phone dey calculate, her eyebrow dey dance. I dey see say her mind dey relax as she see the figures.

"Femi, you talk say the down payment almost ready? This amount dey okay?"

She dey eye me, expect make I just nod like big man. I dey sweat small.

I rub my hand.

I wipe palm for trouser, dey form hard man. The pressure dey high, but I no wan lose my face for front of Morayo people.

"Mama, I don save plenty these years, but e still remain small. But one of my guys dey work for this developer—e talk say e fit help us get special internal deal."

I dey hype my connection, make dem believe say na sure thing.

Sales consultant enter, "Yes, Mr. Femi get connection. We fit apply for 'Homeownership Assistance Plan' for una, so down payment fit dey pay small small, just complete am within three months."

She dey sweeten the gist, make everybody calm. Even me sef, I dey pray make the help sure.

Morayo hold my hand, dey happy.

She squeeze my palm, her face dey bright. I feel say all my wahala dey pay small small.

"Babe, why you no tell me since? This policy too good!"

She dey smile like person wey win raffle draw.

I form shy.

I drop head, dey do like person wey dey humble. For my mind, na strategy.

"I wan surprise you."

I wink, she giggle.

Her mama rush us, "Oya sign am quick—no make another person carry this better house!"

She clap hand, dey push everybody. Her voice dey carry weight, nobody fit argue.

Sales consultant open the main page.

She tap main column with biro, dey explain as she dey go. I dey follow her pointer with my eye.

"Here, we go confirm the main person wey go get the property name."

She look me, then look Morayo. Na that moment I feel say the thing go change tone.

Before I talk, Morayo mama just cut in, "Na our Morayo name go dey there. Femi, you no go vex, abi?"

She say am like say e no mean anything. Her eye dey sharp, dey monitor my reaction.

I smile, answer sharp, "No wahala, Mama. Me and Morayo dey plan marry. E no matter whose name dey there."

I use my most gentle voice, add small laugh, make everywhere soft. For my mind, na peace I dey buy.

Her mama just dey happy.

She dey nod, even use phone dey record us as we sign. She dey look me now like person wey fit trust for business.

Sales consultant give Morayo pen. "Miss Morayo, abeg sign here."

She hand am over with pride. Morayo sign with fine handwriting, pose for picture.

Her mama face change, she dey respect me now. "Femi na better person—he sabi take care of Morayo."

Her tone now dey soft, her smile reach ear. I feel small joy for my belly, even though I dey fear.

After the signing, sales consultant bring more documents, Morayo just dey sign without looking.

She dey rush am like say na birthday card. I dey try read, but she dey fast. I just dey hope say nothing go spoil.

When everything finish, sales manager follow us go outside, dey congratulate us: "Congrats, Miss Morayo and Mr. Femi! Una fit move in three months’ time!"

He even snap us for signboard, say dem go upload for developer WhatsApp group. Everybody dey happy, only me dey quiet.

3

Breeze dey blow outside the sales office as I hold my phone tight for pocket.

The evening dey gentle, birds dey chirp small. I watch as Morayo, her mama, and Ayo dey laugh for outside. I feel like say I carry rice for pot, but na another person chop the meat.

The three of them still dey happy say dem buy house, but my chest just dey heavy.

I dey look dem, their joy dey loud. My own happiness dey hide, like say e dey shame to show face. My sweat cold, but the weather no cold reach so.

The sales office under evening sun just dey shine like golden cage—too fine, but e dey trap person.

Sun dey scatter gold for the walls, but for my mind na only darkness I dey see. I dey reason say sometimes blessing fit be trap.

Morayo hold my hand as we waka commot, but once we reach the steps, she just free my hand.

The touch just drop, e cold. I dey suspect but I no talk. For my mind, something no dey pure.

After two steps, she just change, her voice cold.

The Morayo wey dey laugh now don vanish, e remain only coldness. She face stiff, her body just hard like garri wey soak for sun.

"Femi, I get something to tell you."

Her voice low, but e cut like blade. For my mind, I dey brace for anything, but I no expect wetin come next.

She stop, turn, her voice no get any feeling.

She no dey look my face, her eye dey somewhere else. I dey feel like person wey wind just blow for head.

"Make we break up."

The words hang for air. For a moment, na only generator noise I dey hear. My heart stop beat for two seconds.

Morayo look me like say she dey act movie wey she don rehearse well.

Her face dey blank, her body language no show pity. I dey wonder if na dream I dey.

"We don buy house. I fit give my family explanation."

She talk am like business, no emotion. My mind scatter. Na so all the gist about love take end?

Before I fit talk, her mama voice just cut enter:

Her voice loud, e carry authority. She no send my feelings. Her face dey squeeze, her tone harsh.

"E suppose happen since! Wetin my Morayo wan use person like you do?"

As she talk, my blood cold. I dey look her like say she dey speak another language.

Morayo waka forward, create gap between us.

She move far, like say I fit infect her with bad luck. I try stretch hand, but my body weak.

"You go your way, I go my own."

Her words final, no room for beg. I feel small tear dey my eye, but I lock am inside.

"Wait, wetin you mean?" I just confuse.

My voice dey crack, my brain dey rewind everything. I dey hope say na joke.

Her mama look me with eye wey get pepper. "We get house now—wetin we need you for?"

She spit the words. I feel am for my bone. My pride just collapse.

"Mama, I no understand..."

I try plead, but she no send me.

"No call me Mama again!" she shout, cut me off. "We no get anything together. Na today e end. No call Morayo again."

Her shout echo, people wey dey pass dey look us. My shame dey ground.

Ayo waka come, block my road.

His face dey smug, his chest dey high. He no even call me brother-in-law again.

"Brother-in-law—no, Femi, make you get sense. This house go be my wedding house. All na my sister work."

His voice dey mock. If to say na my papa, e for don slap am. But I just swallow.

I wan vex, but my hand weak. I dey look the three of them, dey wonder how love take turn to war.

My blood just rush, I bite my lip make I no laugh.

I dey try hold myself. For my mind, I dey ask God why.

"So... so na plan all along?" My voice dey shake.

I dey tremble, my leg dey weak. The pain dey deep, na betrayal true true.

Morayo hiss. "Plan wetin? I just see your real level. Even to buy house, you dey beg, dey find connection—na so you dey make me proud?"

Her words sharp, like knife. I dey feel like say I no mean anything to her. All the years just vanish for her mouth.

"I no know say you like material things reach this level..."

I try talk, but my voice no strong. I dey shake. I dey look her, dey search for that Morayo wey I love before.

I bend my head, my hand dey press my cloth.

My palm dey sweat, my jacket dey damp. I dey feel small boy for rain.

Her mama look me up and down. "My pikin deserve better. Think am well—na you be her level?"

Her voice dey carry pride. For her eyes, I be nothing. My hope just dey die.

"But the contract... the down payment..." I talk small small.

My voice low, like say na beg I dey beg. For my head, na all my savings dey play.

Ayo look me like say I be joke. "You still dey worry your down payment? No fear, the money wey you drop fit be like two years rent for girlfriend."

He laugh, his voice dey loud. I feel shame dey eat my inside.

Morayo hold the contract tight. "The house dey my name. No try any nonsense."

She clutch am, her face dey hard. I see say she no get plan for me again.

My body just dey shake, I look Morayo, my eyes red. "Two years... two years feeling, just like that?"

I dey cry inside, but I dey force the words out. For my mind, I dey remember every small sacrifice.

"Feeling?"

Morayo scoff.

She eye me, her lips twist. She no send my pain.

"You think say I fit get feeling for person like you? If you no dey easy to control, you think say I go follow you?"

She talk am with pride. Her voice dey sharp. My spirit almost break.

"I use two years get house—e worth am die."

She laugh small, then turn face. I dey see her real colour now.

"I no gree..." My voice don break. "I really like you..."

I dey try beg, but my mouth dry. The words no dey come out well.

Her mama roll eye, drag her daughter. "Make we dey go—no waste time for am."

She grab Morayo hand, dey pull her away. Ayo dey follow, his step dey bounce. I just stand like statue.

The three of them turn waka go. Before dem go, Ayo even jam my shoulder on purpose.

He push me, then smirk. Their steps echo for car park. The sun don almost set, the air dey cool. My hope dey walk away from me.

I just stand, dey look them dey go parking lot. I no follow them, just dey watch as their figure dey disappear, like say dem break my spirit finish.

I dey count their steps. The car door slam, engine roar, and na so my dream drive commot.

After their car waka go, I finally breathe well, like say big load commot from my chest.

I close my eyes, release the tension. My shoulder drop, I feel small relief inside the pain.

I bring out my phone, play one recording.

The voice loud for my ear, clear pass morning bell. I dey remember say for this life, wisdom pass power.

Morayo voice—"The house dey my name, no try any nonsense"—clear for the audio.

Her voice dey ring, evidence dey. I dey thank God say I wise up before them.

I open another folder: plenty pictures of the contract wey I snap, every page dey show.

Every page dey clear, signature dey shine. For my mind, I dey prepare for legal wahala.

I lean for roadside railing, call one number.

The railing cold, but e give me support. As I dial, my voice steady, my hope dey return small small. For this Lagos, if you no get lawyer, na dem go chop your eye.

"Hello, Barrister Musa abi? Abeg, I wan ask how to handle real estate contract wahala..."

His voice calm me, he say make I come office for GRA on Monday. I dey reason say na now my own fight start.

I carry my own copy of the contract. Every signature dey there real, e even funny.

I dey look the document, dey thank God for small sense wey I use hold my own.

Wetin Morayo no know be say, I don sabi since say she wan break up with me.

For months now, I don dey see signs—her calls dey reduce, her story no dey add up. I just dey plan my own move.

I scroll screenshots of chat for my phone album—two years’ worth...

Each chat na story. Every "I love you" wey she type, every "babe, abeg send money". I dey ready, because for this Nigeria, if you no wise, dem go use you shine like headlamp for night road.

I fit no win her heart back, but this house matter—na only God and street sense fit judge am.