Chapter 5: Pride, Rain, and Woman to Woman

After that day, I no talk about Halima again.

I lock matter for chest. House get CCTV for corridor, but I learn waka quiet. Anything wey no concern me, I waka pass.

Ifeanyi too.

He pretend say matter no exist, but the way he dey step out for midnight calls, I sabi.

But I know say he dey watch over her.

Sometimes he buy fruit, but driver go drop am another address, avoid wahala. His method dey coded—nobody go catch am.

Since we dey live together, sometimes I hear things wey no concern me.

House help dey gossip kitchen, "Oga get business for outside." I just smile, drink tea.

Na so I take know Ifeanyi arrange job for Halima on the low.

The girl dey work for NGO, but money no small. Na through senator dem arrange, but na Ifeanyi hand dey inside.

Pay good, post get respect.

She dey get respect, salary, but no know say na love plant the seed for am.

To keep Halima pride, he run things coded, even last person no know say na Ifeanyi arrange.

Only God, me, and Ifeanyi fit trace connection. Even Halima think say na luck smile.

Guy get sense.

He dey play chess, no be draft. Everything calculated, nothing by mistake.

Things like this plenty.

E fit be driver for her mama, hospital bills, generator repair—na him hand, but coded.

After time, even me dey feel if two of them no end together, na destiny wicked, no be their fault.

Na so e dey be when love fight family, money, tradition. My own role just dey inside the script, nothing more.

Me and Ifeanyi relationship just dey neutral.

We fit gist news, ask about food, but love no dey. Just cold respect.

He get small guilt about my injury, but I spoil am with careless talk, like say I no understand.

Sometimes, when I catch him looking sorry, I just brush am off. "No be your fault." But the thing still hang for air.

We start to dey get along two months later.

Na small-small, nothing big. Just two people learning how to stay for same house without wahala.

Of course, na still because of Halima.

Her story no fit waka from our own.

Her mama—the woman I see that day—get accident, now she limp. She need check-up every few months.

Na so Ifeanyi arrange am, sometimes send driver, sometimes call hospital ahead. I just dey watch, no talk.

One day, rain dey fall. As she dey pack clothes for door, the woman slip, knock head. Neighbor rush am hospital.

My phone ring, I dey do pedicure. I just hear "emergency" and "Halima"—I rush dress up.

That time, Ifeanyi dey another city, meetings full ground.

He send text say e no fit return, make person help am.

Halima no fit reach am, no get who to call, so she come Okafor house.

Rain dey beat, face pale, wrapper tight for chest. She knock gate with fear and hope.

That day, Mama Okafor buy new jewelry from auction, call me pick two.

Mama dey show me gold and coral bead, "Pick anyone, na your birthday gift." I dey smile, mind far.

As I dey choose, I hear knock for outside.

Sound heavy, like pesin dey beg for help.

For some reason, my eye twitch, so I stop maid wey wan open, go open am myself.

My spirit just push me, "Go, check." Na so I go, open door gently.

Na Halima, face pale, look lost.

Eyes red, hands shake, voice almost break. She see me, try hide pain, but tears still dey fall.

She see me, freeze, bite lip. “I dey find Ifeanyi.”

She no look my face well, like pesin dey shame but no get choice.

Before I fit answer, Chief Okafor show, voice strong. “Amaka, who dey there? I hear say person dey find Ifeanyi.”

Slippers loud for tile. I turn, try block Halima from view.

I shock, look Halima.

My hand cold. I pray make my voice no shake. If Chief catch this lie, wahala go wear trouser.

Then I turn back, smile small, hold Halima hand, introduce her to Okafor family: “Papa, na my friend, she come see me.”

I squeeze her hand for comfort. My smile force, but na so survival dey work.

Chief Okafor look us well, then nod. “If you get something to do, go ahead. I go tell driver to carry you.”

He size Halima, no talk. I thank God say him no get suspicious.

I agree, then carry Halima comot from Okafor house.

I hold her tight, whisper, "E go dey okay."