Chapter 6: Public Slap, Private Doubt

Before food, I suppose serve tea to my in-laws.

For Yoruba tradition, na sign of respect and acceptance. I dey sweat small, but I ready.

As I carry teacup, say “Papa,” Kunle squeeze enter crowd.

He squeeze himself between two aunties, almost pour one small child drink.

"Ah ah, everywhere too quiet!"

His voice loud, break the moment. People just hiss.

My smile just disappear.

I try reset face, but the vex no gree go.

Morenike eye am, signal make e behave.

She eye am with warning, as if say 'try me.'

I greet again, “Papa!”

“Papa!” Kunle shout follow.

The shout echo for parlour. Everybody pause. The elders dey wonder, 'Wetin dey worry this one?'

My face just burn like pepper wey touch eye as I look am. Wetin concern am?

I dey try hide my anger, but my cheek dey twitch.

Some relatives quickly cover Kunle mouth, dey tap him back like say dem dey vex.

One auntie whisper, "Kunle, no shame us o!"

My father-in-law and mother-in-law rush come calm me.

My father-in-law pat my back, whisper, "No mind that boy, na small pikin brain e get."

"Yusuf, no mind am. Na Morenike childhood friend, na so e dey behave. Abeg continue."

The elders dey nod, some dey murmur prayers for peace.

"Kunle, if you no calm down, comot from here! Morenike dey marry, you just dey cause wahala!"

An old uncle wave broom, "I go use this flog you, Kunle!"

Kunle just stick tongue out.

He no get shame. People hiss again.

"How I no help? I even help Morenike test bed, but Yusuf no give me chop money!"

One old mama exclaim, "Kai! See disrespect!"

"Kunle!"

Morenike just waka go slap am for face.

The slap sound like thunderclap. People jump. Small pikin begin cry.

"Shut up! Talk again, comot from here!"

The whole place just freeze. The MC even pause the music small.

Everywhere just quiet, people shock.

All the women dey shake head. For our culture, to slap man for public na big thing, but this one deserve am.

Even me sef, I shock. Kunle dey shameless, but I no expect say Morenike go slap am—especially today.

For my mind, I dey remember say for Yoruba house, woman no dey slap man anyhow—unless wahala don pass boundary.

Kunle hold him cheek, look pained.

He try form hard man, but tears dey shine for him eye.

"Morenike, you slap me?"

His voice crack small, people begin whisper again.

Morenike just dey stammer, voice low. Her hand dey shake after the slap, but her face strong—she no fit let anybody see her weakness.

She dey look ground, almost cry. "Who send you... dey cause wahala? You no fit let me enjoy my wedding?"

Kunle just look me with cold eye, nod, vex enter body.

The stare long, e get as e be. For that moment, I see bitterness wey pass ordinary padi jealousy.

"Okay, na my fault."

He walk away, but as e dey go, him shoulder dey shake. For my mind, I dey plan my next move.

No matter how Morenike dey talk say na just childhood friend, I no fit believe again. The way Kunle dey look me, na pure jealousy, anger—even beef.

The elders dey shake head, some dey pray low voice: "God let peace reign for this house."

When Morenike finish, she look me, but dodge my eye. My heart just cut small.

I feel cold, small doubt enter my chest. For Naija marriage, trust na everything, but e no easy to get am when old fire still dey burn.

No, their matter no clear at all.

I dey recall my mama words: "No let shadow hide inside your own house."