Chapter 7: Tears We Hide for Generator Noise

[Ahhhh, their hand don touch! Seyi Akanji, you dey craze? Hold Rukayat Yusuf hand abeg!]

[See as Rukayat Yusuf dey rest for him shoulder! This guy finally dey wise up!]

[My people, when guy go finally dump side chick? I no fit wait!]

[Soon, soon. The guy don sure for main babe—e no go tey.]

I just come out from bathroom, drop my face towel, see WhatsApp gist dey roll.

Same time, my door lock beep.

Seyi Akanji enter.

E look like person wey get something to yarn, dey fidget with him collar, dey eye me.

For the dim light, I sit for sofa, tap cushion, my cat jump enter my lap.

Na that kind calm way wey Lagos girls dey do—just dey arrange yourself, no let emotion show. I just stroke the cat, dey wait.

Seyi Akanji sit down by my side, hand lock together, head down.

After e think tire, e finally talk, "Wen Ran, I get something to tell you…"

I already know wetin e wan talk.

So I just laugh, talk first:

"Make we break up, Seyi Akanji."

Since after championship, e no fit wait to drop me, I no go let am get last word.

[Side chick don chop wrong medicine? She dump guy!]

[Better—now she no go block the real couple again.]

[But why na she talk am? To even dey with Seyi Akanji na luck for her. She get mind o!]

[Abeg, na guy cheat first. Na him be real wahala…]

At least some people for WhatsApp still dey reason.

I look Seyi Akanji, e shock.

E swallow wetin e wan talk, compose, reply, "Break up dey okay."

"But Wen Ran, I fit ask why?"

My hand stop as I dey pet cat. I no answer. I just carry my phone, throw give am.

For the ten minutes before e reach house, plenty trending topics don reach number one:

#Seyi Akanji relationship#

#Seyi Akanji go cinema with Rukayat Yusuf after championship#

#Rukayat Yusuf no deny their relationship for stream#

#Insider say Seyi Akanji dey negotiate with Top Squad club#

"Because you cheat. Seyi Akanji, you be public figure."

"To waka with another babe like that—no be mistake."

"So abeg, stop acting. I sure say wetin you wan talk na break up, abi?"

Seyi Akanji just release him shirt. For air, I fit still smell him cologne. E just dey scroll phone, vex, run hand for him hair.

E no expect say the gist go blow that fast. E plan break up first, so if I see all this later, e no go look like bad guy, e fit just tell me say 'we don break up already.'

"Wen Ran, I just meet Rukayat Yusuf. This time na just as friends we go out."

"The reason I wan break up no get anything to do with Rukayat Yusuf."

I just sigh, carry my cat drop for ground.

"E no matter who e concern again."

"Betrayal na betrayal."

Seyi Akanji, vexing: "Why you dey always strong head?"

Strong head?

If no be say I see WhatsApp gist, true true, no picture of dem two dey outside. E for fit deny am.

After small time, as my face no change, Seyi Akanji talk, "Leave am. Anything wey I talk, you no go believe. Take this."

E drop bank card for table, then stand up like person wey dey hide pain. Him voice low, but I still catch am: "No vex, e no easy for me too."

I lock window, let generator noise swallow my cry.