Chapter 2: Secrets on the Rooftop

1.

When those bullet comments first appear for my eye, I think say na my sorrow dey show me film. But the comments no stop—

[If the babe waka go rooftop now, she go see say the main guy never die at all.]

[The babe never chop well for two days because of am. She dey stagger, but still dey force herself go rooftop.]

Dragging my heavy legs, I begin climb go rooftop. Sun dey beat my head as I climb, sweat mix with my tears. Just small stairs remain. I hear one voice wey I sabi well, e come get small mockery inside: “My burial never even finish sef.”

For Naija, when person die, dem dey do all-night vigil, people go dey chop rice, dey sing hymn, dey cry. But for my ear, na laughter and gist I dey hear upstairs. My mind begin wander: If to say na olden days, my people for village for don carry kolanut go consult dibia. But here, na phone call and whisper.

Na Morayo’s correct guy, Tunde, dey talk for phone.

“Never finish, Morayo bros.”

“Where Ifeoma dey? She don suspect anything?”

Tunde: “No way. Sister-in-law just dey run up and down. Yesterday, she almost faint from cry. She still dey sob for her room.”

Morayo just talk anyhow: “Abeg, help me pet her small.”

Another guy, Musa, enter: “But Morayo bros, you really fall for your small canary sha. Fake your death, chase her reach England, still make all of us cover for you.”

For my spirit, anger begin dey gather. The same Tunde wey dey drop Bible verse for my phone every morning, na him dey hide all this under my nose. My hand dey shake, I fit feel the cold iron for the handrail.

So na true, all those bullet comments.

I grab the handrail tight. My whole body dey shake. I hear Morayo say:

“Whether I fall for her or not, no concern you. Just help me hide am from Ifeoma.”

Tunde ask: “So, you still wan marry?”

“Of course. When I return, wedding go still hold. But before then, make una allow me craze for love just this once, abeg.”

“That one good.”

“Once I marry, na only one person I go dey loyal to. No more chance to play, haha.”

I dey hear dem laugh, like say everything na cruise. But for Naija girl wey dem break her heart, tears fit turn to fire. Inside my mind, I dey pray: Baba God, na which wahala be this? So all the nights I dey pray for miracle, na this kind miracle you send? Thunder for this Lagos no go reach these boys?

All of them laugh like say dem understand. But me, my blood just cold. I dey shake anyhow. I pray tire for Morayo to still dey alive, but I no ever imagine say na like this e go be.

E be like make I shout, but shame hold my throat. All the money and time wey my family spend for wedding plan, all the hope, e just turn dust. My mind dey tumble like okada for pothole road.