Chapter 10: Sacrifice and Resentment

That message wey he withdraw, na Halima he send am to. I no need check, I know.

For my mind, I dey replay the whole scene. The message sweet, caring. Na for her, not me.

The group wey he hack—I see am for the café CCTV. Na the group wey dem post Halima as side chick, wife post her bad pictures.

The café manager dey play CCTV for background. I see am dey tap laptop, dey smile as if he dey help save world. My heart just dey beat.

She na him secondary school babe, him first love.

E be like say the cord between them long pass Unilag to Makurdi. Dem history dey deep. Na now I see say I dey do cameo for their film.

If na me chase Ifedike, na Halima he truly like.

For am, I be extra. For her, he dey go war.

Ifedike wey dey always calm, fit fight because of her, face go swell. Fit stop months of competition practice. Fit stand me up again and again. Fit break him principle, hack person group…

All this sacrifice, na for Halima. Me, I dey chop crumbs.

“I want make you delete her.”

I try hold myself, act normal, but my eye still red.

My chest dey shake, but I use stubbornness cover pain. I dey act strong, but e dey show.

He quiet for small time, then push me, face cold like harmattan.

He step back, look me up and down. If to say na market, he for price me low.

“No fit delete her. And so? Wetin you wan do?”

He dey expect say I no go fit leave am. For him mind, na threat, but e sound like dare.

From the way he talk, e clear say he sure I no go do anything.

E pain me say he dey underrate my courage. That confidence na fuel for my new resolve.

Just as he talk, I no get liver. I too like am, how I wan take break up?

I dey weak, dey pray say he go change. But deep down, I dey plan.

But that day, something shift for my mind. My heart be like say e miss one part, or maybe e gain one.

The thing shake me. I start dey see clear.

For the first time, I really think am:

Break up.

I look sky, see moon dey shine. Na sign say time reach.