Chapter 7: Press Conference Fire and New Beginnings

The hashtag #SuleimanProposesToHalima trend for two days straight.

Na so every corner dey talk wedding. Mama Nkechi for hair salon dey show me ring picture. Even Okada man dey ask, "Madam, you no see the proposal?"

For those two days, na only talk of carat of Suleiman ring, the estate e rent for proposal, the fireworks wey e arrange for three nights—everybody dey hail how romantic the guy be…

One blog even say Suleiman buy pure white horse for Halima. I just dey laugh. Na Naija people dey turn story to film.

As people dey send blessing, most believe say this small drama go finally die.

Some dey talk say Ifeoma go finally rest. Some dey even drop prayer for me, say make I find my own happiness.

But na then another news scatter everywhere.

One WhatsApp group I dey, na so dem post breaking news. I nearly spill my tea.

After "Wings of the Ancestors," director Tunde no do any new work for almost ten years.

People dey wonder say na curse dey follow am. Others talk say e just dey enjoy abroad, dey chop pension.

Five years ago, after him screenwriter wife Rose Eze travel abroad, Director Tunde too waka go, nobody hear from am again.

Some dey say e follow her for better life, others dey talk say e go find new wife. Na Naija, gist no dey finish.

Rumour plenty online say na me scatter their marriage, say Director Tunde wife run because of me.

Every new week, new theory dey drop. My name dey fly for WhatsApp group like say I get share for their family.

Others talk say dem divorce five years ago, Director Tunde carry belle lover abroad.

E reach one time dem say the belle lover na me. I just dey look my stomach, dey laugh. People get mind.

Plenty story, but nothing sure.

In Naija, story get plenty branches. E hard to know truth unless person dey close to fire.

Till today—Director Tunde team suddenly announce livestream press conference in three days.

As I see the flyer, my hand dey shake. I dey wonder wetin dem wan talk.

After ten years, e go work with him wife again to produce another big fantasy series, "Crown of the Spirits."

Industry people dey happy, say two legends dey come together. Small small producers dey fear—dem know say market go shake.

The news burst everywhere.

Even old journalists begin dust microphone, dey prepare question. The thing dey sweet everybody.

No be because people expect much from the drama, but because my name dey show for main production crew.

Some people dey screenshot my name, dey circle am red, dey drop for WhatsApp, dey tag blogs. "See as home wrecker dey enter big project!"

[Abomination! Homewreckers no even dey hide again.]

[I pity Aunty Rose—see as this 2+1 (two spouse plus mistress) dey parade. Shame no dey.]

[Heh, I dey report this. Everybody, make we report the livestream—no let these shameless old people rest.]

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The hate plenty, but I dey use am as ginger. E mean say people dey watch, my name dey loud.

No matter the wahala online, three days later, the press conference hold as planned.

Security tight, journalists dey everywhere. Some dey even hide phone for bra, dey try record gist.

Director Tunde, respected for industry, invite plenty old friends—actors, crew wey dem don work together before.

Na like old boys’ meeting. Some dey wear agbada, some dey wear lace. Na small reunion for industry.

To avoid talk, e invite Suleiman and Halima, as expected, dem no show, give excuse.

Everybody dey whisper say na fear make dem no come. But na industry wahala—people dey always dey form busy.

Before livestream start, I dey backstage with Director Tunde and him wife, dey check schedule one last time.

My heart dey beat. Aunty Rose dey rub my back, dey whisper, "No fear, Ify, God dey with us."

"Ify."

Aunty Rose touch my face, eye full of worry.

Her palm dey cool, e dey calm my spirit. She get the way she dey look person, e go melt all your wahala.

"You dey okay?"

I smile, nod, squeeze her hand.

"I dey fine, Aunty Rose. All these years don pass—I don move on. We suppose thank those two, sef. Dem give us free attention. Our promo money safe."

As I dey talk, small laugh escape my mouth. I dey try make her feel better. Even Director Tunde dey try hide smile.

She smile too, but worry still dey her face.

"Okay, as the pikin say she dey fine, we old people no go worry again."

Director Tunde stand, pat my shoulder.

E carry old man energy, but e still dey sharp. Na him get final word for the matter.

Aunty Rose hold him hand.

Dem look each other like old lovers wey don pass many storm. Na love I still dey respect till today.

"Time reach. Make we go, Ify."

I adjust my dress, take deep breath. Na today we go clear ground for all the rumour.

The livestream go well.

People dey drop comment like rain. "Aunty Rose, we love you!" "Director Tunde, you be legend!" The energy high, people dey happy.

Director Tunde and wife gist with host, talk about the new drama and their years for abroad.

Dem dey crack joke, dey remind people say no be only young people fit dream big.

Everything dey normal, questions na about the show, until media Q&A start.

"Director Tunde! Director Tunde!"

Reporters dey jump up, dey wave hand, dey try catch attention. Na so e be for Naija—if you no shout, you go miss your chance.

Director Tunde just point one.

The reporter rush mic, eyes dey shine. E be like say e dey wait for am since last year.

The reporter eye just shine, quick ask:

"Director Tunde, na you and your wife waka abroad all these years?"

Everybody dey wait answer. The room cold, even AC dey shiver.

"Yes. As dem talk, learning no dey finish. We old people gats learn, so we settle down study, make we no lose touch."

People dey clap small, dey nod head. Na true e talk.

"For your time abroad, na only you and your wife dey? Any other person?"

Na then the matter start to dey change. The air tight, e fit cut with knife.

Director Tunde smile, but eye cold.

The smile short, e no reach him heart. Na warning for anybody wey wan do anyhow.

"Any other person? Who you think fit dey? Or wetin you dey hope make I talk? You dey try ask if I carry Ifeoma Chukwuma abroad all these years?"

People dey look me, dey try read my face. I just dey calm, dey wait.

Room just quiet, cameras begin click anyhow.

My hand dey shake, sweat dey my palm, but I no let am show for face.

As e talk, some people dey bend neck, dey press phone, dey ready to tweet breaking news.

Director Tunde smile disappear, voice serious:

E carry old man authority, nobody fit challenge am.

"All these years, na only rumor full ground. Today I go clear everything. Ify na pikin me and my wife watch grow—we love her like our own.

That year, na them dey carry me go hospital when malaria nearly finish me. E no get how person fit use that love spoil house.

And for the question wey everybody dey ask—why me and Ify dey enter hotel together? I go talk am once and for all. That year, I dey meet friends for Palm Grove about ‘Wings of the Ancestors,’ Ify find me beg if I fit give her boyfriend, Suleiman, chance."

I remember say that day, I bend knee for hotel lobby, dey beg, dey cry. Na only chance I dey ask. Na so Tunde look me, see say na true love dey my eye.

Reporter open mouth.

E shock. E be like say e no expect the matter go turn this way. Some other journalists dey whisper for corner.

"So you mean, Suleiman get role for ‘Wings of the Ancestors’ because…"

The way e pause, e show say e dey reason wetin that mean. Na so industry wahala dey start sometimes.

"Correct."

Director Tunde nod, look camera direct, talk am word by word:

"If no be Ify, I for no ever give Suleiman that chance. That time, e no reach to act my show. Na because of Ify I break my own rule, let am audition. Na the thing wey I regret pass for my life.

Na so sometimes, love go make you bend your own law. But the thing fit burn your hand if you no careful.

From today, me and my team no go ever work with Mr. Suleiman or him new wife, Ms. Halima, again. I no fit work with people wey truly spoil other people relationship and let person wey I care about suffer for years because of useless rumor—people wey no get conscience."

The announcement loud. Some dey clap, some dey shout. My phone begin ring, old friends dey check on me.

Everywhere scatter.

That night, phone line jam. Radio, TV, blog—everybody dey talk the matter. Even my landlord send me text, "Ifeoma, I dey proud of you."

At the same time, the last episode of the documentary drop quietly.

Na only few people notice at first, but by morning, na the new chapter for our story. I just lock my door, on small radio, dey pray make peace enter my life finally. Outside, generator hum dey mix with distant laughter—life still dey move.