Chapter 4: The Real Gist and Viral Shame

3.

Tunde face change small, but he quickly gather himself: “How that one go happen? Morayo clothes and shoes dem already find am, you see am with your eye.”

One week ago, Morayo drive enter river for night. Police say current carry am as he dey try escape from car. I stay for river all night, no sleep. Rescue people search for days, only find him coat and shoes. I cry sotay I almost faint. Today suppose be our wedding day. I cry on top our photo till my head dey pain me. Now, dem tell me say all na scam. My pain from beginning to end na joke for their eye.

As I remember that riverbank, I remember Mama Chika wey come pour palm oil for ground, say make spirit no drag me follow. My cloth soak, my feet cut for stone. My aunty dey call pastor, dey say, "Pray for Ifeoma, she wan join her man for river!" I no know say na all of them dey run this script for my head.

[So after all, the main guy just dey keep canary. E low well.]

[I think say this novel go sweet. I no expect say dem go feed us heartbreak.]

[The babe fine die, from top family. If he no want am, abeg I go collect.]

All the pain and nausea inside me small small dey calm down as I read the bullet comments wey dey praise me. Tunde talk again: “Sister-in-law, abeg no overthink. If Morayo fit see you now, e go pain am.”

Pain am... that word get as e be. This morning, I still dey thank am for helping me arrange Morayo matter. Na now I know say dem all dey the same clique.

My naivety dey pain me pass heartbreak. How I take let them use me catch cruise like this? For my mind, I dey say, God punish Judas and him clique, for every time dem break woman heart for Naija!