Chapter 7: Poolside Betrayal

After barbecue, everybody go their room go rest.

All the rooms na double—two people per room.

Hotel dey by sea, everywhere fine.

The sound of wave dey play for window, and AC dey cool like harmattan breeze. After bath, I call Tobi, wan make we waka for beach together.

But im phone no go through.

I sabi im room number, so I go knock.

But na Kunle open door.

Towel for im neck, water still dey drip small for im chest. “Tobi dey?”

“E go out.”

“Go where?”

“No sure.”

Kunle still dey use towel dry im hair, e just baff.

I no wan disturb, I just nod, waka commot.

Tobi phone still no dey go.

I come dey reason, where e go for night?

But I soon get answer.

As I dey return, one hotel staff talk say show dey happen for backyard pool.

I wan go join, but as I pass one pillar, I see Tobi dey hold one girl, dey kiss am like say tomorrow no dey.

Na Zainab.

My leg just freeze, e be like say ground swallow me. Tears gather for my eye, but I hold am, no wan disgrace myself.

The swimming pool light dey blue, everything dey shine for Tobi and Zainab body. “Tobi, you like me?”

“Of course.”

“Pass Ifeoma?”

“She no reach you. To kiss her na like to kiss wood—nothing dey move me.”

As Zainab hear am, she laugh.

“You ignore me for her front just now, I vex o.”

“No be why I dey here dey pet you now?”

Dem just dey laugh, dey play, dey do anyhow.

Zainab curl for Tobi chest, dey tease am.

“If she catch us nko?”

“No fear. She no go know.”

“You sure so?”

“She too simple, easy to deceive.”

“You wicked o.”

“If I no wicked, you go still like me?”

Tobi kiss Zainab again, no even care about anybody.

All this while, I believe say Tobi na the best guy for me.

Perfect boyfriend—ten over ten.

Person wey no fit betray me.

But na lie. Everything na just packaging.

Tears fill my eye. My hand tight for anger.

But as I wan rush go confront them, I change my mind.

The voice inside my head dey shout, 'If you slap am here now, na you dem go call dramatic girlfriend.' I just swallow everything, chest am.