Chapter 9: Shadows for Gold

That comment vex me—na like pepper for wound.

I dey boil, dey wonder if she dey mock me. My mind dey replay old quarrel.

But as I think am, maybe Morayo no mean anything.

I dey try reason say maybe na just greeting. Old habits die hard. Maybe na slip of tongue.

She dey old school, always dey read book, no dey online. Maybe she no know wetin the slang mean.

She fit no know say 'happy papa' get another meaning. But my mind dey suspect her.

When she talk 'happy papa', maybe na just normal ex-wife greeting.

But my mind dey tell me say e get as e be. I dey vex.

Still, I vex, so I open her chat, send her message.

I no even waste time. I type quick, no smiley.

[Morayo, you no fit talk normal? You sabi wetin 'happy papa' mean? If you no get talk, rest.]

My hand dey shake, my eye dey red. I dey wait for her reply.

She reply soon.

She quick, no delay. Her style dey sharp as always.

[Of course I sabi wetin 'happy papa' mean.]

Her message short, dry. I dey feel say e get hidden meaning.

[So tell me, wetin e mean?]

I dey challenge her. My pride dey outside.

[E mean say you dey raise another man pikin.]

As I see that, I nearly fling my phone.

My body cold. My head dey knock. I dey remember old Nollywood film, where woman dey plan revenge.

I no believe say, after all the years wey she dey care for me, just six months after we divorce, on my happiest day, she fit talk this kind thing.

My heart dey shake. Na betrayal I dey feel, na pain dey burn me.

True true, dem talk say woman heart dey deep pass river.

Na old proverb, but today, I believe am. Woman dey keep things for mind. If e pain dem, e deep.

When woman gentle, she be sheep; when she vex, she fit turn to lion.

Na real talk. I dey see am now. My Morayo don turn stranger.

As I think am, I no wan make she spoil my mood again, so I wan block her.

My finger dey phone, ready to press block. I no want any wahala today.

But just then, she send another one.

Her message land, my heart jump.

[Seyi, no be all wey dey shine be gold. Your wahala don start.]

Her words cold, dry. Like say she dey warn me. I dey fear small, but I no show am.

I just vex again, wan insult her, but today na my happy day, so I just block her sharp sharp.

I press block, drop phone. I look pikin, hold Tanira hand. As I hold my pikin, I dey pray say this new life no go carry hidden wahala.