Chapter 6: From CP Fans to Industry Drama

To talk about Suleiman and Halima, you gats start from the drama wey make Suleiman blow.

All the blogs that week dey write long story, dey recap how Suleiman move from nobody to superstar. Some dey call am "our own Will Smith"—me I dey laugh.

At twenty-four, na as the sad second male lead for director Tunde Adeyemi big fantasy series, "Wings of the Ancestors," e blow.

People dey call am fine boy, the one wey sabi cry for camera. That role make am turn overnight sensation. Even my Aunty for village sabi am.

No be small, him career just shoot up.

The thing surprise everybody, even him mama for Ilorin. The next thing, endorsement deal dey rush am.

Next year, e and Halima Musa—wey act female lead—work together again. Their on-screen love sweet people, plenty fans begin ship them.

Halima get that type of face wey old people dey call "good for home." As dem dey act together, chemistry just dey flow. Na so online people dey begin write fan fiction about them.

Halima company, Royal Pictures, come offer Suleiman contract, say make e dey hype their couple pairing.

Dem wan use am do brand, dey sell "perfect couple" package. Na so this industry dey run—na image dem dey buy.

Suleiman no gree. For the height of the "Sun and Rain" CP with Halima, e come announce me—wey no be celebrity—as him babe.

The news burst everywhere that week. Some fans vex, some dey happy. Me, I just dey surprise.

E be responsible man, and that time, e really love me.

I remember say e go come my place with suya, say, "Ify, no mind all this wahala. My mind dey." Sometimes e go sing small song for me, even if e no sabi sing.

Even after e announce, when Royal Pictures suppress am, e nearly one year no get work—him "Wings of the Ancestors" fame nearly die finish—e still dey pull me for body when I dey feel bad.

We go dey inside room, e go hold my hand, dey talk say, "Babe, no worry, na small setback." I go dey try smile, but heart go dey heavy.

"No dey apologize, Ify. I love you. I no go let you suffer because of my choice. Na me choose this one—no be your fault."

I go just nod, dey wipe my eye, dey try believe say better day dey come.

Tears just dey my eye.

Sometimes e go cook for me, even though the rice go burn. E dey try. Na that year I really know the meaning of partnership.

At twenty-seven, Suleiman accept Halima invite, them work together again for "Sunrise on the Savannah."

People begin dey yarn say old fire dey rekindle. I no too send that time, but I dey watch from far.

At twenty-eight, for reshoot, paparazzi video of me and director Tunde Adeyemi dey enter and leave hotel together leak. Online, dem blacklist me, and my breakup with Suleiman na real gbege.

The story twist that year. Everybody dey drag my name for gutter. My phone dey hot, I off am for one week.

At twenty-nine, he and Halima win Best Actor and Actress for Golden Palm Awards for "Sunrise on the Savannah," comeback na fire. Suleiman announce say e dey date Halima for award night.

The video of that night still dey everywhere. Halima dey shine like star, Suleiman dey carry her bag. Me, I just dey house dey watch am for TV.

CP fans happy die. Even the ones wey like only him, manage accept the new babe—compared to me, Halima better for them.

Some dey talk say Halima get "good character." Me, I just dey laugh. Life get as e be.

After that, their career and love just dey climb. E win Best Actor three times, she dey climb top actress level.

Na so all the magazine cover dey show dem. People dey use their picture do WhatsApp DP.

Dem date five years, but marriage talk no dey.

Old women for market dey gossip, say "dem dey use their youth dey play." All the blog headline dey ask, "When ring go show?"

Rumour of breakup go come sometimes, but CP fans go shut am down sharp sharp.

Halima fans dey sharp mouth. Any small talk, dem go descend for person. Social media no dey dull.

This time, CP fans dey celebrate again.

[Clowns! Anybody wey dey ship am with Ifeoma na clown. See? Our "Sun and Rain" couple dey strong—marriage soon land. Anybody wey dey pity that cheat, hold your marriage certificate tight o. Only one dey—no lose am.]

[Happiness! Lion and Dove (their ship name), una gats last forever. Leave the trash for us to handle.]

If you see as dem dey organize online prayer for their marriage, you go fear.

Before long, the old video of me and Director Tunde from five years ago surface again—people begin drag me, insult everywhere.

Some people dey even photoshop my face for goat body. I just dey look, dey laugh. Dragging na Naija people handwork.

My homepage just full of abuse, no different from before.

But this time, my mind strong. I don see worse.

I no send, just thank God say Director Tunde and him wife no dey Facebook, dem no go see the rubbish.

Na so I dey pray for am. Make their mind rest, make dem no let all these online wahala spoil their peace.

I off phone, continue my work as usual.

Life no go stop because of trend. My landlord still dey ask for rent, my body still dey pain me from work.

In few days, big work dey wait me.

I dey reason am for mind, dey plan how I go handle the wahala wey dey come.