Chapter 2: Jollof Wars and Public Shame

I just mumble sorry, hang up. Because of the wahala, shame catch me, I even forget to call Tobi again.

As I dey drop phone, my body just weak like person wey chop expired akamu. I sit down for floor, dey rub my forehead. 'God abeg, no let shame catch me tonight.'

Next day, Tobi come back, face dark like thunder. I ask am if he go chop breakfast. The guy just ignore me like say I no dey.

The silence heavy for house. Even the wall clock sef dey tick loud. My heart dey cut as I dey carry plate waka from kitchen to parlour.

This thing continue till one week later, for classmate hangout. Me and Tobi still dey cold war. For the table, we just sit far from each other. Before, we dey always together, but now, na like strangers.

The table dey long, everybody dey gist and laugh, but me and Tobi just dey form like say nothing dey happen.

Morayo come lean near Tobi, cover her mouth dey laugh:

"Tobi, why you dey fight with your babe again? You be grown man, why you dey drag matter with woman?"

The way she bend, her perfume just dey fill everywhere. She dey act like say na old school reunion.

Morayo—Tobi childhood sweetheart. Before I show face, she sef be him ex. Dem break and patch tire, finally just remain as friends.

The gist wey surround Morayo and Tobi no dey ever finish for group. Some people dey talk say na only village meeting go fit separate dem.

Me and Tobi don fight many times because of Morayo, but Tobi dey always impatient:

"No be say we never date before. If I fit end up with her, you for no even get chance."

As he drop the line, I feel small cut for inside heart, but I bone face make nobody see my reaction.

Him guys sef dey laugh me say I dey overthink:

"You na the first babe wey Tobi ever wan marry. For playboy like am to calm down because of you, na real love be that."

Dem dey clap him back, dey hype am, but e just dey ring for my ear like mockery.

As I dey watch the two of them dey gist, I just breathe deep, dey tell myself say na normal friendship. I remember my younger sister back home, how she always send me voice note: 'No mind them, Simi. Your own person dey your side.' The memory hold me small, make my chest no break.

I dey use all my mind dey hold myself, dey form say e no pain me. I sip water, face wall.

Food land, the main dish wey dem put for my front na coconut jollof rice. Morayo act surprised:

She drop fork, eyes wide, dey look Tobi: "I forget say your babe dey allergic to coconut, Tobi, why you no remind me?"

She try swap her fried rice with my own, but e be like say she no too wan gree:

The way she dey drag plate, e clear say na drama she dey act for crowd. Her voice low, but her face dey sharp.

"Waiter talk say na the last one remain. No wahala, since your babe like am, make she chop."

She talk am like say I be thief wey dey snatch wetin another person like, when na just ordinary fried rice.

For my mind, I dey reason say, why person go make food be competition?

I wan talk say I no want, but Tobi just cut in:

Him voice come sharp like knife: "Chop your own. No need give her. Who she be?"

Everywhere just quiet.

Even the fan stop for one second. Eyes just dey roll from one person to another.

Morayo hold Tobi sleeve, frown small, try beg am:

Her hand gentle for him arm, she dey try act peace-maker: "Why you dey drag with your babe? Let her chop am, I no mind. I fit chop coconut rice."

But Tobi no gree. He raise voice make everybody hear:

Him voice come big, chest up: "Babe? Who be babe? We never even marry. Even if we marry, people dey divorce. Na just boyfriend and girlfriend we be."

For inside me, I dey wish make ground open, carry me go village. My hand stiff for table, fork dey shake as I dey pretend say I no care. My throat dry, but I no fit swallow anything.

One guy just laugh, talk play-play:

"Tobi, you dey reason breakup so?"

People begin chuckle, but my own laugh no reach mouth.

Tobi quick talk, "No."

He bone face, voice dey try stay calm, but e clear say e dey struggle.

The guy just smile:

"I sabi am. You dey too managed by Simi, even to drink you dey report. Na only cold war or small vex you fit do, but you no fit ever mention breakup, abi?"

The way the guy dey talk, e be like say e dey give Tobi script for movie. Others just dey nod.

Tobi just vex:

Him eye sharp: "Who talk say I no fit? I go just..."

He wan talk "break up," but change mouth:

He pause, form as if e dey control himself: "But I no go drop to woman level. Simi get her wahala, but since we don date reach this level, I go give her last chance to apologise."

The guy eye just change, but Tobi no notice.

For the corner, e be like say everybody dey observe who go first break—me or Tobi.

Morayo hook Tobi arm, laugh:

She draw him close, give small giggle: "If you really break up, abeg date me again. No let outsider carry you go."

Tobi just smile, rub Morayo head, look me, talk coldly:

Him eye cut through me like cold breeze: "Some people sabi do drama. You still be the most gentle."

I force smile, but for inside my body, cold dey bite me.