Chapter 7: Goodbye Gifts

At the end, I no cut cake with am.

Because soon, person enter with one big gift bag. Na Sade send am, everybody know. Na wristwatch, the type wey dey shine for glass, people dey reason say only senator dey wear am.

Funny enough, me sef buy Kunle wristwatch, but my pocket no reach that level. I buy correct one wey fit pass for love, but no be luxury brand.

He look my own, nod, hand am to person make dem keep. But Sade own, e hold am, dey look am like say e dey see vision. Hand dey shake, eyes red. Last last, he wear am, arrange sleeve well.

Person snap picture, post for group chat. Dem begin praise Sade, say her taste na fire, no wonder Kunle no fit forget her.

I no suppose see am, but Kunle cousin, Bisi, forget herself, show me phone, dey shout: "See, dem fit die!"

For screen, Sade reply:

[As long as he like am. Abeg, help me look after am, no let am drink too much.]

People begin hail, clap. I shift small, clap join, but for my mind, tears dey my eye. My heart dey break quietly, but my face dey strong.

For bottom of the box, card dey. The writing clean, English dey shine:

[Even if we far, our friendship strong like sky and sea.]

Kunle hand stiff for card, eye dey dark. You go see say memory dey bite am.

Na so e look up, panic enter am, begin find me for crowd. When e eye catch me, I smile, mouth: "Happy birthday."

E calm, relax body, but e no call me again make I cut cake. The meaning clear.

Him friends full everywhere, groove dey on, DJ dey play Burna Boy, boys dey shout, girls dey dance shaku-shaku. Nobody send my side, but I just dey watch, dey count my heartbreak like money.

When dem dey carry Kunle brother go upstairs, I no follow. I plan leave sharp sharp. Break up wey get sense no need drama.

As I dey waka go, Tolu, Kunle close padi, chase me, give me room card.

"Kunle dey wait you for top floor, abeg go meet am."

I know Tolu well, na the only person for their group wey dey respect himself. But him no dey rate me, e dey always look me like side attraction. For his eye, the real babe—Sade—don dey come back. The rest na passing shadow.