Chapter 4: Double Wahala

Halima suggestion jam me—wahala land. My wife get big belle, her mama dey house, but Halima dey call my bluff.

Since Amara get belle, she make me promise to sleep by her every night—say na for pikin protection.

That time, I no plan to cheat, so I agree sharp. Now, the promise don turn obstacle.

Na double wahala—if I leave, Amara fit suspect. If I stay, Halima go vex.

Truth be say, na my own peace of mind I dey protect.

If Amara catch me, wahala fit burst—family meeting, job go waka.

Even though I just swear for phone say I fit leave family for Halima, my mind clear—comfort pass romance.

If I lose my marriage, I lose my work. For Abuja, only money dey make sense. If pocket dry, love go dry.

So wetin I talk for Halima na lie—na to make her take us serious, stop to dey cold.

“Heh, Brother Musa, you dey lie. You no plan to leave family. Better stay home with wife. From now, make we stick to rules, no cross line.”

Her voice strong, like person dey sign contract.

Her words pull me back. Reality slap me. I gats keep my plan alive. “Wait for me. I dey come.”

After call, I write note—make my handwriting rough: [Wife, urgent work show, I go office. If e late, I sleep there.]

I drop am for bedside, near her charger.

I tiptoe, pack bag, spray perfume, waka.

In the dim room, I glance Amara for bed. I shake head. Her body don change, no be the Amara I remember from campus. I push guilt aside—na survival mode.

When I reach Halima place, time don pass midnight. Road quiet, Okada people don close. Her compound na face-me-I-face-you. I knock, she open sharp.

Inside, room dey hot, bulb dey blink. I fit smell fried fish from neighbor side, hear gen for distance, cement floor dey cold for leg.

Halima place small—maybe 15 square metre. Mattress for corner, small fridge, plastic chair. Kitchen na just slab with pot, two plates, water drum for corner.

Bathroom na zinc door, close to bed. You fit hear person brush teeth.

Me wey dey use inverter and split AC, this place be another world. But I hide my face, no wan make her feel less.

I always think say Halima for office be big girl. For here, she be ordinary, dey hustle like everybody.

Now I sabi why she dey reason sharp—real life dey bite her.

Halima squat, begin help me unbuckle belt. Her hand cold, eyes dey read me.

She ask, “Brother Musa, e dey hard you to stay here? You never sleep for this kind small place before?”

I laugh, rub her back. "No wahala. When I graduate, me and Amara sef manage for Wuse..."

The memory choke me. I cough, smile, dodge gist.

She dey curious. "Your uncle na big man. How you take struggle?"

I lie: “I young, I no wan depend on family. I hustle small.”

Strictly, no be full lie. That year, na stubbornness almost finish me, till Amara uncle help me.

Halima no ask again, she busy. That night, we knack three times. Mattress dey creak, fan dey blow hot, but body dey sweet.

After last round, I promise Halima—tomorrow, I go rent her big apartment, give her 300k monthly, dey buy designer bag, cosmetics.

My goal simple—since I no fit divorce for her, but no wan make she dey see other men, make I settle am as side.

If na me dey settle your bills, you no suppose dey find another man.

But I underrate Halima sharpness.

Her eye shine, like person wey just win awoof. She no smile too long, just dey watch me.

She cross leg, ask: "So wetin go happen to your wife? You talk say you go leave family. Na true or lie?"

I no fumble. "How I go lie? I go divorce, but no be now. She get three months to born. If I divorce now, na me go lose pass."

She relax small, nod, but her eye still dey weigh my words.

She still press: “After she born, you go really divorce?”

I ready. I pinch her nose, tease: “Depends on your behaviour. If you still dey do blind date, I no go divorce.”

She blush, throw pillow, pinch my arm. “You too get wahala.”

I never see Halima this playful. My ego dey rise.

For my mind, I don balance game. The sense of conquest pass the first time we knack. This new level sweet me.

Even if danger dey, I believe say my street sense go cover am. If Halima push for divorce after birth, I go delay—delay till she tire. Na so Abuja men dey do. If she wise, she go chop her own, manage secret.

I look Halima condition—family background no strong. For Abuja, my offer fit be her only shortcut.

If na me, I for do the same.