Chapter 12: Gist Flashback

The night we come back together, my mind calm like water. I open that break up gist after long time.

The old Temi for the group dey stare me for face. I dey scroll, dey read everything. Pain dey my chest, but I dey stubborn.

Scroll from top to bottom.

Apart from insult, I see my old self for there.

I dey see my old selfie, dey laugh, dey remember how I go snap, rush go post for him DM, dey pray for one love emoji.

[Shey Ifedike and Temi don break up today, day six.]

[No, dem even go watch film. Why this bootlicker dey enjoy?]

I laugh small. The film matter na real story. That day, I buy ticket, beg am go cinema. He complain, but I force am. I dey try please am every time.

Why? I remember say na the first film wey we watch together. I beg am tire before he gree. He say he no like film, especially the comedy ones.

So that day, I buy ticket for one three-hour documentary. Even though I hate documentary, even though I dey my period and no get energy, I watch am with am from start to finish.

All na because I dey fear lose am. I dey try match am, do everything wey go make am smile.

[Shey Ifedike and Temi don break up today]

[No, I hear say person see that babe jump hug school hunk.]

The gist dey flow. People dey add lie join truth. Na so dem dey for Naija WhatsApp group.

[Shey Ifedike and Temi don break up today]

[No. See as she dey queue buy akara for school hunk. Which kind girlfriend be this? No be bootlicker?]

E pain me, but e true. I dey queue, dey buy akara for am, dey feel like loyal wife. I dey do am with pride, but now e be like say na slave work.

[Shey Ifedike and Temi don break up today]

[No, but school hunk fine for programming competition. I hear say the girlfriend no fit even get ticket. E funny, na she be girlfriend so?]

I dey look the pictures for the group, see my real self for each one, my eye red.

All the times I dey do things to make am happy, I dey forget myself. Now, e dey pain me.

These people dey talk true. All I do—no be bootlicker I be?

I dey act like say na insult, but deep down, dem dey right. I dey put am first, forget my own value.

All these years, wetin I dey do?

I dey ask myself, na so love suppose be? Or I just dey fear to stand alone?

Suddenly, my eye clear.

That night, my head shine. The love no pure again, na duty. I get to break free.

I realise one thing. E be like… I no fit forgive am again.

No matter how e try, the wound deep. My heart no gree patch.

Even if he delete Halima, I gats still break up.

Na for my own sanity, for my own life. No be everything love fit cure.