Chapter 10: Old Friends, New Tension

Chijioke pause.

He no fit talk, just dey stare at me and Tunde. Na silence dey rule the moment.

Amina, white suit and high heels, waka come meet am.

She carry herself with style, like woman wey sabi her worth. Na so Lagos girls dey dress when dem wan oppress.

"I tell you say driver dey. Why you leave important meeting come pick me? I no be small pikin o."

She talk with play, her face shine with happiness.

She dey tease am, her hand tap his shoulder. People dey look them, dey admire.

My hand hold the flowers tight, my palm dey pain me like say thorn dey inside.

I squeeze the stem, feel the pain. The flowers dey shake small, my mind dey swirl.

Before, na so Chijioke dey for me.

I remember those days—airport pickup, surprise visit, late night calls. Now e be memory.

Anywhere I go, no matter how far, he go always see me off, and if I come back, no matter how busy, he go come pick me.

His loyalty that time no get equal. Now, na another person dey enjoy am.

Now, e no be my special right again.

I feel am deep. Love wey no be your own dey always taste bitter.

That moment, I realise—even after four years, I never fit forget Chijioke finish.

I dey try hard, but heart na heart. You fit move on, but scar go remain.

I force myself look away.

I clench my jaw, raise chin, act like say nothing dey happen. Na so Naija babe dey hide pain.

I smile give Tunde. "Make we dey go. My parents dey wait."

His face warm, his hand steady. He nod, ready to move.

Tunde nod greet them, ready carry me go.

He salute Chijioke, shake Amina hand. "Congrats on your wedding," he talk.

Amina surprise, call me.

She wave, her face open. She dey shine, no envy or bad belle.

"Kamsi? I no expect say you go come back. You dey fine well now—I nearly no recognise you."

Her words sincere, she dey genuinely happy to see me.

"Na your boyfriend be this? Una two fit well together o."

She dey tease, but no malice for her voice. I nod, small blush for my cheek.

As she dey talk, she bring out two wedding invite give me.

Her nails painted gold, she hand me the invitation with pride. The card fine, dem use correct lace tie am.

"Me and Chijioke dey marry. As old classmate, you gats come our wedding."

Her tone na real Naija style—no space for enemies, make everybody dey celebrate.

I try compose myself, act like say e no concern me as I collect invite. "No wahala, I go show."

I take the card, hide my shaking hand. I force smile, steady my breath.

Then I smile, say bye to them.

I wave, Tunde guide me inside the lift. The whole world dey watch, but I no send.

From start to finish, Chijioke no talk, like say him no dey there.

His silence louder than any word. He dey burn me with eye, but his mouth lock.

Until me and Tunde enter lift—just as door dey close, Chijioke still dey look me.

His eyes dey follow me. I feel am for bone, like old wound dey open.

My heart jump. I turn face, hide from his eyes.

I press my face for Tunde shoulder, pretend say I dey busy with bag.

"Kamsi, wetin happen?" Tunde ask.

His voice soft, concern dey show. He rub my back small.

I shake head, but my mind no settle.

I smile, but inside, storm dey rage. Na only me know the battle wey I dey fight.