Chapter 6: Balm and Dangerous Dreams

Just that one talk make everybody dey eye me like say dem wan chop me.

The way dem look me, e be like say I carry meat for market wey dog see. Some dey smile, but na fake smile.

All the ladies dey drag my sleeve, I run go enter keke quick.

I nearly forget my bag. The keke driver even dey laugh, say "Sister, dem dey pursue you?" I just say, "Oga abeg, go fast."

As I reach house, I tell house help make dem lock everywhere, I no gree come out again.

I lock myself for my room, window closed, phone on silent. My mind still dey run as I dey pace up and down.

That night, I try make I no dream, but sleep still catch me.

No matter how I try, I no fit fight sleep. My body just surrender.

That man breath hot for my neck again.

The dream start sharp. Na the same sweet but confusing feeling. The air warm, the bed soft.

"Yanning, why you come late today?"

His voice get small worry. E be like say e dey expect me since.

I turn, wan dodge, twist my neck by mistake, pain catch me.

The pain sharp, I rub neck, eye close.

"You—no touch me!"

I try hold my ground, but voice no even strong. My body betray me.

"Wetin happen? You injure your neck?"

He move close, face soft. I fit see small worry for his eyebrow.

Ifedike squat for my front, him voice soft, dey careful.

The way he kneel, e humble. His hand gentle as he touch my hair. For my mind, I dey reason say na big man dey kneel like this?

"Make I put small balm, abeg?"

He open small bottle, the smell of menthol fill air. My body just calm. Na the kind touch wey fit melt stone.

The balm dey burn small, then cool my skin like rain for dry season.

My mind just melt.

I wan resist, but the care dey sweet me. My eye close small, I sigh.

Him warm finger touch my neck, gently rub ointment, just the way I like am.

He dey blow small breeze to cool the place. Every rub dey slow, full of attention. Nobody ever treat me this soft.

Who go believe say this proud, powerful Ifedike

This same man wey everybody fear for town, na him dey nurse my scratch like say na baby wound.

Go humble like houseboy for my front?

I dey look am, dey wonder if na the same person wey dey give order for meeting, dey shout for palace guards.

Na the District Regent of this land o.

He no dey smile for public, but here, na different story. I dey ask myself if na charm dey work am.

If he ever find out say the woman wey dey make am do all this na just small city patrol officer daughter, he no go vex so tay e fit finish me?

The fear hook me small. If e ever know say na me, Okoli Yanning, dey tie him spirit for night, e fit disgrace my family.

As I think am, I quick pull body.

I sidon up, shift away, dey pretend say I dey adjust my wrapper. My heart dey beat.

"You talk before say you wan come Aba see me, but I ugly, I fat. Abeg, make we no see."

My voice low, I dey try protect myself. I dey fear make I no fall finish for this man.

Ifedike hand stop.

He pause, rub his chin, eye still dey on me. I dey wait, dey fear wetin he go talk next.

For dark, he look me long, then suddenly smile.

That smile na the first one wey reach him eye. E sweet my belly, but I still dey guard myself.

"How you take know say I come Aba?"

His question twist my mind, because na only for dream I dey see am. My body cold and hot at once, as I dey reason if spirit truly dey pass between dream and real life. But as I look his eyes, e be like say him know something I never talk. My heart begin run—maybe, just maybe, this dream no be ordinary.