Chapter 5: Lagos Gist No Dey Finish

I just cut Halima call finish when Morayo call. I ignore am, so she start dey send me WhatsApp:

[Kunle u dey mad? U wan resign tru tru? Abeg stop play o!]

[If you resign by yourself, you get nothing. Not even one kobo from the company!]

I just laugh myself. Phone shake for my hand. E pain me say after all these years, na so she see me.

After seven years together, she still feel say na her money I dey after, that I go stick around for payout? Even my mama for Ibadan no believe say I go leave empty-handed.

[Do as you like. I no send.]

My reply shut her up. After that, Morayo no call or text again. My phone quiet for the first time in months.

I get my resignation as I want and join CoreBridge Tech. The new office dey Island, traffic plenty, but the air fresh.

After I pass probation, my new department throw welcome party for one lounge for GRA. Coincidentally, na the same place I once invite Morayo go, but she go always agree and never show. I remember one night, I wait for her till midnight—na only boli, groundnut and cold La Casera keep me company.

Even more funny, I jam Morayo there for the first time in a long while. Lagos small.

She look thinner. Her cheekbones sharp, her hair in tight ponytail. She sit for private room with Halima and some other familiar faces; Femi na the only man there. Her laugh dry like burnt jollof—no sweetness inside.

"Morayo, you really break up with Kunle? He leave without collect anything?" one babe ask. I think say her name na Bisi—she sabi gossip.

As I hear my name, I no fit help but pause and look inside. My chest dey drum.

Shadow pass Morayo eyes. She just sip drink, no talk.

Femi sigh beside her. "I close to Morayo, but Kunle always dey suspect. E make things hard for her. Better say dem break up." He rub her back small, eyes dey shine like cat for night.

Morayo look tired, no talk. Her nails dey tap glass gently.

"Yes, e better. Kunle background too ordinary. If no be Mainspring, her papa no go even look am." One girl hiss, toss her weave.

"He no even get sense. He just dey ride Morayo back all these years, like person wey dem dey keep. If you ask me, Morayo waste seven years on am. Now dem don scatter, she suppose collect compensation from am."

"Tch, Kunle finally get person like Morayo, no way he go let go like that. Give am one month—he go crawl back like puppy!"

Everybody burst laugh. Even waiter smile as he drop another round.

Only Morayo and Halima no laugh. Halima just dey look lost. Morayo keep drink, glass after glass. Femi dey watch her with concern. He try touch her hand, but she pull away small.

As I see that, my mind cool like pure water for freezer. I waka pass their room. No need to drag for person wey no send you.