Chapter 2: House Girls and Hot Tea

I like to dey bath for bathroom. E dey give me small peace. Because for there, I no go see am, I no go remember all those scary things wey don happen. For bathroom, I dey feel like say I fit hide my whole self for inside hot water and foam.

But as I dey look myself for the half mirror wey dey on top the sink, even the steam no fit hide all the red marks wey full my body. My eyes red as I dey look myself. I wipe the mirror with my palm, the mist clear small, I fit see my face—e be like say I dey look another person.

Na then Suleiman start to knock the door, slow and deliberate: "How long you go dey bath?" The knock dey enter my bone, one by one, like police wey dey look for thief.

"If you no come out, I go enter!" E no dey take am anything to burst enter bathroom, so I quickly off shower, wrap towel for body. My heart dey beat fast, I dey pray make e no vex, make today go pass gently.

...

Breakfast still dey arranged for table, but Suleiman self no get time chop am. Na the house girls lay the table well, dem fry egg, put yam and tea, but Suleiman just waka pass, dey busy with im tie. Morning news dey play for TV as he dey knot im tie, im fingers long and clean, just dey work sharp sharp. News dey talk of traffic for Third Mainland, but Suleiman no even blink.

As he catch me dey look am, he bend over, use finger tap my nose: "You like to dey look? Next time, na you go tie am for me." I turn my face go another side. My chest tight, I no wan look am, but my body still dey hot from im touch.

But he just laugh small, like say e no concern am. The laugh get as e be—like say na only im know the kind secret wey dey sweet am.

Meanwhile, I notice two of the house girls for kitchen dey watch us through the doorway. One nudge the other, whisper: "Na so madam quiet today. E fit be say oga don vex for am again." The other one just hiss, side-eye Suleiman, then bend head as if dem no dey gossip. Their presence dey make the air thick, their whispers dey follow me everywhere, like small breeze wey dey pass under door.

Then, as if e mean am, he pick the glass of tea wey I don drink from, sip am right where my mouth touch. Na small thing, but e get as e dey do me for body, like say na mark.

...

"Abeg, wait make I come back."

"Tonight, I go carry you go check wedding gown."