Chapter 2: Hidden Riches, Open Wounds

E never even reach two years for our relationship when I discover the truth.

Na one random Tuesday, rain dey fall, gutter dey overflow, my slippers dey soak. I dey work for reception for one big hotel for Ring Road, Ibadan. Suddenly, I see Ifeanyi waka enter, white shirt, designer shoe, phone for hand, dey give order.

I dey do part-time for one big hotel in Ibadan when I see am enter, full designer, dey check the place.

He no even see me. Na manager hail am, "Mr. Adeola, welcome, sir!" I shock. Manager dey do like say na oga pikin land.

Manager call am Mr. Adeola.

Na that moment my brain reset. Wetin be this? Na so my Ifeanyi get level reach?

Na that day I know say the hotel na their family own.

I go dey wonder since where e dey go every weekend—na management meeting e dey follow papa do, no be all those okada work e dey claim.

Adeola family na one of the richest for Ibadan.

Dem get hotels, schools, even filling station for Akobo. E shock me.

My supposed broke, struggling first love na real rich pikin.

E pain me small say I dey there dey struggle, dey think say we dey suffer together, no know say na acting.

E be like film.

You know those Nollywood films wey boy go dey act poor, test babe? E shock me say na me e happen to for real life.

Unlike all those TV heroines wey dey form hard girl, me I just feel say I don hammer.

No lie, my heart sweet me. I begin dey reason all the things I go buy when we finally dey together proper. I dey dream, I no go lie.

Because I sure say—Ifeanyi really love me.

No matter him play, I dey sure say him love dey real. The way e dey treat me, e no dey fake.

If I vex, na so he go pet me. If I sick, na him go take care of me. Whether money dey or e no dey, he still be the best boyfriend wey I fit imagine.

Some nights, when I dey cough for midnight, na so Ifeanyi go rush go buy me bitter leaf soup. I go look am, say, "This one really love me o."

Since na play he dey play, dey act broke, I follow the play.

E even dey funny to me sometimes. I dey act like say I no sabi, dey laugh inside mind. Love na mumu button.

Until when my mama fall sick, need urgent money for surgery. Even that time, he still dey act, dey happy to pretend say he no get shishi, dey test me.

That was the time I begin dey vex. All this play don too much.

That day, I just tire.

The whole world just heavy for my shoulder. I look Ifeanyi, I know say e no go gree help. I just dey feel say make breeze carry me.

I break up with am, go marry the rich man wey dey chase me.

That night, as I drop the phone, I know say my life don change. I no fit dey drag poverty for name of love again.

I disappoint Ifeanyi and him friends, but honestly, I no get any regret.

Regret ke? Abeg, na better sense I use. My mama life more important pass any man's ego.

The bride just waka come, hold my hand, drag me go meet Ifeanyi.

As Halima dey shine that day, e be like say she wan use my hand show her own confidence. I just dey look.

She introduce me with joy: “Ade, see! Na Morayo be this, one of the directors for Palm Grove Art Gallery—the one I dey always tell you about.”

She dey proud of me, dey show me like her own jewel. Sometimes I wonder if na only art wey connect us.

“I tell you say we resemble, you no gree.”

True, Halima face and my own like say God use same template draw us.

He look up. After small surprise, he just eye me from head to toe, bone face.

For that moment, e just look me like say I be stranger. I no blame am. Na everybody dey form for wedding.

“True, una resemble. But my wife fine pass, and she still young.”

I just smile for inside. Pride no dey ever finish for Naija man mouth.