Chapter 8: Heartbreak, Gossip, and Palm Wine Dreams

I pack my load, run go Naija with Sani. For plane, I block Olamide email, resign through HR. Honestly, after two weeks, I no get plenty friend for work. Sani sit by me, small nose, soft fine face. I just feel somehow, ask: “Snap selfie with me?”

Sani dey check him ex for Facebook. E agree, then look up. *Click*—I snap us, post am for work group. Then I comot from group.

Sani face white: “You post am for work group?”

“Yes.” I nod. “Olamide work WhatsApp dey there.”

Sani shock: “You never add am for WhatsApp?”

I shake head. Olamide avatar na robot. E no dey talk for group. Who go add am? Even if you try, e fit no accept. So na email we dey use talk.

Sani just sigh, then nod: “If scandal go happen, make e be with me.” E give me tissue. “No cry, I go find you better guy when we reach.”

I clean my nose: “I don lock my heart.”

But truth be say, as we land, I drop my bag with Sani uncle, we both go meet model friend cry together. Sani, that wahala boy, dey scatter everywhere for Port Harcourt. After plenty burger and chips, e insist make we go chop Naija food. We party anyhow. I no fit keep up, I go hotel first.

Before I sleep, my phone shine.

Hibiscus: “……”

Me: “……”

Hibiscus: “Where you dey?”

See wahala, just land from California, my papa still dey try arrange man for me. I no answer. Off phone, message Sani: “No tell anybody where I dey, even my papa.”

Sani: “Roger!”

I dey scroll phone—this Olamide no even try contact me? I even post picture with another guy for work group. Forget am, maybe na just play e dey play.

I try find gist about Ogunleye family online, but e be like say na ant dey push iroko tree. I give up.

As I dey sleep, I dey dream say I dey drive G-Wagon for Lekki, Olamide dey wave for me for traffic light. I just shift face, dey press phone, no even greet am. But my chest still dey beat fast when I wake.