Chapter 1: The Wedding Reception

Attending my childhood friend's wedding with my boyfriend—wey don dey bone me for three days now.

As I waka enter the reception hall, even the air get tension, like say everybody know wetin dey between me and Kunle. I hold my clutch bag tight, force my face to relax. The air smell of fried fish and fresh perfume, people dey shine face everywhere. I try join the laughter, but inside my heart, wahala dey dance bata.

Him dey among the groomsmen; me, I dey with the bridesmaids.

I fit sight am from my corner, looking sharp inside the black suit, moving with that his slow waka, like say nothing fit shake am. The other groomsmen dey hail am, call am "Honourable," but my own heart just dey do one kind.

During the wedding games, na him lose.

White and gold balloon dey hang for ceiling, big cooler of zobo for one side, aunty dem dey snap picture. Everybody start to shout, "Kunle, Kunle, you go collect today!" Some aunties dey clap hand, dey laugh as if na comedy show dem come. I dey try smile, but my chest dey tight like wrapper wey dem tie over-tight.

Dem say make he carry all the bridesmaids go downstairs for him back as punishment.

The crowd dey ginger, even small pikin dey jump up to watch. Na so dem form queue. My own leg dey shake, I dey hope maybe miracle go happen, maybe dem go forget me for corner.

He dey smile as he carry everybody—except me.

People dey hail am as he bend down, carry Titi, then Blessing, even the tall slim one, Funmi, but when e reach my turn, e just bone face, say, "Sorry, I no fit."

Among us, one fine bridesmaid, Aisha, wey get sweet face just ask am, “You get girlfriend?”

She even wear Ankara with fine gele, her lip gloss dey shine, she no dey fear. She just give Kunle one side-eye, mouth twist in playful way.

He look me small. “No.”

Na that kind lie wey pain pass wound. He look me like stranger, just blink, then talk am sharp sharp. The room just quiet small, people dey try decode wetin dey happen.

The girl, Aisha, wey no dey shy, just continue: “So I fit chase you?”

Even old women for the room dey watch the drama. She talk am with boldness, everybody dey wait for Kunle answer, as if na Nollywood script we dey act.

He give her one correct gentleman smile. “Of course.”

Na the kind smile wey e dey reserve for me before. Now, e just dey spread am anyhow. I feel hot for my body, like hot pepper rub for my body. The girl giggle, hold her hand for chest like say she dey thank God.

That moment, e be like say everything just lose meaning for my life.

I wan run commot, but leg heavy. I just dey look, my mind dey replay all the years, all the sweet talk, all the nights wey we plan our future.