Chapter 7: Halima’s Revenge

After that, Musa no show again.

I just hear say e buy Halima fine wedding gown, big diamond ring, carry her go meet im mama.

Im mama like Halima well, Musa talk say na only her e go marry for this life.

Our classmates dey talk, “I dey envy Madam Halima, see as Oga Musa dey pamper her.”

“But Madam Halima na good woman, gentle, dey give. She hear say Ifeoma dey suffer, she wan help her with money.”

“Na better woman, deserve better life...”

I see the messages for WhatsApp group chat, my mind no rest, I just get bad feeling.

Until I reach hospital, nurse tell me say Musa and Halima come visit Chisom.

The small nurse tell me sorry, say she mistakenly tell Halima say Chisom no get papa.

I hear Halima dey ask Chisom, “Baby, I hear say your papa no want you and your mama again, na true?”

“You know, your mama dey suffer. To pay for your medicine, she dey drink with men, dey dirty. E normal if your papa no want woman like that...”

Chisom shout, “You dey lie! Na you dirty! My mama no want your money, commot!”

I rush enter, dey shake. Halima turn, see me, freeze, frown, talk, “Sister Ifeoma, see your pikin. I just wan make am know say you dey try, e come vex, too childish...”

Before she finish, I grab her hair, slap her two times, drag her go corridor near the nurse station.

I point her nose, curse, “Halima, why you dey find my trouble?”

She hold her face, shock say I fit slap her.

She pretend, dey cry, talk, “Sister Ifeoma, I just wan help you, na all.”

“Musa no wan help you, but e dey listen to me, e know say I get good mind. If e no help, I go feel bad.”

“I really wan help, but now you slap me. Musa go vex for you again...”

I look Halima, hiss. So, she come show herself.

She just wan make me know say Musa love her pass me.

As I look her, I talk cold, “Halima, you want Musa? Take am. But you no dey satisfied, you still wan disturb me, abi?”

I hold her collar, whisper, “If you try me again, I go wish you and Musa happy marriage—and I go tell am say the pikin wey I born na im own.”

“Guess, you think e go still want you?”

Halima freeze. I see her face pale, I grit teeth: “Now, go beg my pikin, then disappear.”

As I talk finish, Musa open ward door, come out. E pull my hand from her, I lose balance, my back hit wall.

E look down at me, dey smile, ask, “Ifeoma, since when na you dey decide which woman I fit marry?”

“My wife wan marry me—she need your permission? Who you be?”

The corridor smell of Dettol and fear, nurses dey peep, one old woman for wheelchair dey shake head. Musa tall for front of me, like mountain I no fit climb.