Chapter 3: Line Wey No Dey Cross

2

My body stiff, but as I smell him perfume—wood and mint—I relax small. Even inside crowd, I go know am. I no fit pretend say I no miss am, even if mouth dey stubborn.

Lanre bury face for my neck, him warm breath dey give me goosebumps. He blow small air, make ear tickle. Mind dey scatter, but heart dey beat steady. Why he come house early today?

Usually, gist go dey say dem dey pop champagne for hotel lounge, but today, na me get luck. I dey fear wahala dey come, but mouth no fit talk.

As if he know say my mind dey waka, he just bite me hard.

Him teeth sharp. I shout small, but e turn laugh before vex fit reach.

Chai…

My people say man wey dey bite, dey love deep. But this one, e be like play and fight together.

This man na dog?

I wan laugh, but pride hold me. Lanre sabi play rough; sometimes I dey wonder if na so Abuja big men dey do.

But I no fit vex. I just whisper, “E dey pain.”

I talk am like small pikin, but heart dey beat kpokpo.

“Bear am, even if e dey pain.”

Him voice low, like warning. I gree, but my eye dey roll. Wetin I go do?

Next thing, he carry me throw for bed.

My back bounce, bedsheet cold. Him hand dey everywhere, no time for talk.

For these three years, he never gentle for bed. Tonight no different.

Lanre na man wey dey use action talk. Love for him hand na like war; person dey survive, no dey rest.

My robe don commot, and as I dey drown for his arms, I hear am ask, “Where my birthday present?”

I dey gasp, still manage point bedside. I dey pray say belt go do, make him no vex.

I point bedside table.

Fingers dey shake, but I show him box. He look am with one eye, then open am slow.

He open am, see the belt inside, just laugh low.

That kind laugh wey dey from chest. I know say trouble dey come, but I just dey look.

He raise eyebrow. “You wan tie me with this one?”

Eye dey play, but mouth no smile. E be like joke and warning together. I swallow spit.

As I see his cold face, I shake head sharp sharp. Who I be? Just side chick wey no fit show face.

For this Abuja, position dey. You no fit overstep boundary. I know myself—no go do pass.

“Good as you sabi.”

He nod small, like say e dey test me. I sigh inside.

He pick belt, use am tie my hands together. The leather rough, and as I dey so, shame just full my body.

I close eye, dey count ceiling lines. Mind dey travel, body surrender.

“Oga Lanre, abeg—”

I wan beg make e no too rough, but mouth no reach finish.

Before I finish, him kiss block my mouth.

That kind kiss wey no gree let air enter. Mind blank, body dey float.

He always like this: for business, na strong man; for bed, na boss. No dey hear word, always make me cry.

People dey envy women wey dey follow big man, but dem no dey see this side. Sometimes, na tears dey fall for pillow. I dey wonder if na only me dey waka this road.

That night, my voice almost finish from shouting. When he finally get up, I see red marks for his back—my nail work.

I dey shame, but small pride dey my mind—at least e no fit forget me quick.

After bath, Lanre pull me enter him arms, sleep sharp sharp. But me, sleep no reach my eyes that night.

I dey look ceiling, dey pray make morning reach quick. Inside me, question full ground, but answer no dey come.