Chapter 5: Auwalu—The Real Rival

To kill person no too hard like that. The wahala be say this man dey always waka with Morayo, so e hard to do anything. If to say na only am dey house during the day, e for easy. I just dey wait for chance.

Days pass, I hardly get time alone with Morayo again. That man—Auwalu—come dey show face steady. Both of them go dey sweat anyhow on top me, dem no even know say person dey inside mattress, dey watch all their play. Jealousy dey burn me, I just dey wish make I fit tear Auwalu apart. But I still dey wait, dey plan. I know say na trick I go use.

One day, as Morayo go work, I come out from under the bed, stretch body. I disconnect the gas pipe for her small cylinder, blow the gas alarm small. As I expect, alarm begin make noise. Soon, neighbour knock for door, then call Morayo. I hide for wardrobe, dey wait quietly for who go come.

My hand dey shake as I dey twist the gas. Na my mama prayer I dey remember—'No do bad thing, Ifedike.' But love don turn my sense upside down. The whole compound dey disturb, people dey shout, 'Wetin dey smell? Na gas!' Even goat wey dey backyard begin shout. I hold my breath, squeeze for wardrobe like rat wey dey fear cat. Today na today, I dey talk for my mind. 'Baba God, abeg, cover my shame.'