Chapter 3: Halima’s Return and New Rivalry

Ifedayo come back three days later.

Na as e land, gist start fly. People dey talk say Ifedayo don show face for mainland. Some say dem see am for airport, him carry bag, face strong like man wey no chop belleful. Lagos wahala no dey tire am.

For seventy-two hours, na me everybody dey talk about.

From radio to TV, bloggers dey carry my matter like say I be celebrity. My old friends dey call, dey send prayer emoji. Some dey ask if dem fit come visit. E sweet and pain me at the same time.

All the newspapers, Facebook, everywhere, na how Okafor family first daughter, Ngozi Okafor, Ifedayo abandon am for wedding day, but she still finish the whole ceremony alone.

Na my picture dey every blog, dey trend for Twitter. Small children dey gist am for school. My mama dey complain say market women dey use my name price yam.

Some dey pity me, some dey yab the rich people, some dey laugh me.

One driver for our street tell me, 'Madam, no mind men! Na woman dey strong pass!' I just wave, dey smile, even as pain dey hold my chest. Life na true comedy.

But anyhow, for the first time, my name dey every headline before Ifedayo own.

I no go lie, e sweet me small. My name dey trend pass Ifedayo own. I tell myself, 'Ngozi, at least dem sabi you now.'

To beg my family, my father-in-law, Chairman Ade, do big party.

He gather everybody, invite elders, order big food. He even bring palm wine from village. The hall full, everywhere dey smell jollof and roasted goat meat.

As everybody dey toast, Chairman Ade raise glass to me.

People knock glass, some dey shout, “Ngozi, you too much!” My head swell, but my heart still dey drag. 'Ngozi, this one na from papa to you.'

'Old Okafor daughter, true true—you sabi take decision, you save face for both families.'

He point my side, smile like big man wey dey proud of pikin. My chest swell small.

'Na Ade family wrong you. No worry, papa go make am right.'

I just bow my head, carry my glass, wan talk, na so the banquet hall door fly open. Ifedayo enter, still dey wear travel face.

The AC blow reach door, so the scent of airplane and tiredness follow Ifedayo enter. Everybody pause, even the band for corner stop their guitar. People turn look am like say na ghost waka in.

My papa face change, he knock glass for table.

The glass sound loud, everywhere hush. I see vein pop for my papa head. I dey fear say e go burst.

Everywhere quiet.

Even fly no gree fly. You fit hear pin drop. Some aunties dey hold their breath, dey wait for wahala.

Chairman Ade look my papa, grit teeth, shout, 'Kneel down!'

The command loud, na so people for back begin murmur. Old tradition na old tradition. Ifedayo just bend, respect elders.

Ifedayo waka come, bend small for waist.

'Papa, na my fault.'

He voice low, no pride. E show say e still dey fear elders small. My mind shake for am, but I no wan show.

My papa hiss, no answer.

The hiss long, na so everybody face down. Nobody wan enter this matter.

Ifedayo stand well, drop document for table, talk, 'I go make am right.'

He clear throat, face everybody like real businessman. Papers for hand, signature everywhere. I sabi those papers—na contract document.

'As I go America, I use Okafor family son-in-law status, represent Okafor Group sign agreement with BL Group.'

The BL Group deal na something wey my papa dey chase for six months.

For all the Okafor family meeting, na BL Group matter dey always enter. My papa go dey sigh, dey look contract draft like say e wan pray for am. Money for this deal fit change family history.

All the tori set, but BL no gree sign.

Na so my papa dey beg, dey send email, dey call meeting. Even arrange special goat pepper soup, dem no gree. We dey fear say our competitors go collect am last last.

We try all way, e no work.

Dem say we no get the connection. People from BL Group no even dey pick call. Na so my papa begin dey talk, 'God abeg, show us mercy.'

My papa worry sotey, him hair don white.

That man wey still dey look young last year, now beard don white, even hair for back begin dey go. My mama dey always help brush am. The pressure too much.

I gats agree, Ifedayo sabi run things.

For inside my mind, I just respect am. Na big move. No be everybody get the mind run waka for America, get this kain contract. E pain me, but I gats accept say Ifedayo na sharp guy.

This contract na big win for Okafor Group.

If to say na championship, Okafor Group for don lift cup. My papa for don declare public holiday for company. E sweet everybody for body.

My papa just choke, words no fit come out.

E just dey blink, mouth open. The thing shock am well well. Even my mama dey fan am small small.

To face Ifedayo, he no fit bone, but he no fit smile too.

Na that kain confusion wey dey show for face, when person wan vex but joy dey chase am. My papa just dey nod, dey try swallow spit.

Ifedayo just stand, hands for side, eyes down. Small smile dey corner of his mouth, face calm.

You fit see say he dey proud of himself, but he no wan overdo. Na real Yoruba son.

Chairman Ade sigh, start to clap.

'Old Okafor, how you see am? My pikin try, abi?'

He raise voice, dey hail him son. E be like say e dey do campaign. Everybody dey nod.

'Just one move, he help you get BL. He deserve reward.'

Other elders dey follow clap, na so small jollof rice begin dey sweet for mouth. People begin dey relax.

As Chairman Ade start, others join clap. Everywhere begin cool.

Even the small children begin dey run up and down again. Music people for corner begin tap drum. Na so atmosphere change.

But Ifedayo—after all the disgrace, you think say na so e go end?

I squeeze face, dey boil for inside. You no fit just waka come back dey do like hero. My mind dey hot, but I gats hold myself.

I frown, my eyes red, waka reach Ifedayo, look am from head to toe.

My heel dey make noise for tile. I stand for front of am, eyeball am well. If say na fight, I for win.

'Ifedayo, why you still dey wear the suit wey you use come carry me?'

I pause, eye am well. The suit never even iron well again. E be like say e no sleep since.

'To take care of Miss Halima hard reach say you no fit change cloth?'

My voice dey loud, people for back dey 'ehn!' Some aunties cover mouth. I no send.

Everywhere freeze. Ifedayo smile stop.

E just stand like statue. Everybody dey look us, dey wait next thing.

I force smile, step front, gently push am out.

My hand touch him shoulder, I push am small, like say na small boy I dey pursue from kitchen.

'Go house, baff, change cloth, rest.'

I drop voice, but my eyes still dey fire. No time for drama.

'No worry, I dey here.'

E voice dey try stay calm, but I know say shame dey catch am.

Big noise sound behind me. I no need turn, I know na my papa.

The sound loud like old generator. E mean wahala don land.

Chairman Ade voice loud, 'Stop! You no dey go anywhere!'

As he shout, everywhere still. Even MC for corner mute.

As tension dey, one slim person rush enter, squeeze herself between me and Ifedayo.

The way she waka, e be like say wind dey push am, but she force herself enter our middle. Some people dey try block her, but she no send.

'No make am hard for Brother Ifedayo.'

Her voice soft, but e carry weight. Everybody dey wonder who she be.

'Blame me—na my fault.'

She kneel small, head down, voice dey shake.

Na the same person wey make Ifedayo leave me: his white moonlight, Halima.

As she stand for middle, I remember that SS2 face—fair, innocent. E shock me say after all these years, she still fine reach like dat. People dey whisper, dey look us like film.

Late harmattan breeze dey blow her scarf, na so cold dey catch everybody, but she just dey stand. Halima wear only thin, white cotton dress. Her body dey shake for cold.

People dey murmur, 'See as breeze dey worry this girl.' Even the old women for back dey shake head. One aunty remove shawl, dey try cover her.

As everybody dey look, Ifedayo no talk, just remove his coat, cover her.

The coat smell of airport and sweat, but Halima hug am like say na gold. The coat big for her body, but Ifedayo no care. He do am like person wey dey take care of pikin. E pain me small, but I bone.

'I tell you make you wait inside car. Why you come up?'

His voice gentle, but frustration dey inside. You go know say e don tire.

'You cold?'

He rub her back small, like person wey dey pet pikin. Ifedayo na real soft boy.

Halima face white like paper. She blush, eyes red, lean for Ifedayo chest.

Her tears dey mix with sweat. She dey shiver, but she force smile. People dey look, some dey pity her, others dey vex.

'Brother Ifedayo, abeg no fight Chairman Ade because of me. No worth am.'

Her voice small, like person wey dey beg for last card. Even me, I feel am for chest.

'I no get much time again. I no fit let you clean my wahala.'

Her word choke. People begin dey whisper, dey wonder wetin dey do am. I dey look am, dey calculate for mind.

As she talk finish, she start cough anyhow.

The cough hard, make person wan cry. Some people cover mouth. My mama dey look me, dey shake head.

Ifedayo face squeeze. He no talk again, just carry Halima for hand.

He lift am up, like say weight no dey. Na true love dey give Ifedayo muscle that day.

'Halima, no fear. I go carry you hospital.'

His voice strong, e dey try cover fear. E dey talk like man wey ready to do anything.

He no look anybody, just dey whisper for her ear as he dey waka go out.

The whisper low, but I fit guess. 'You go dey alright.'

'Ifedayo! Stop there!'

Chairman Ade vex. He shout, 'If you pass that door, you no be Ade family again!'

His voice shake, even ceiling fan stop. People dey look Ifedayo, dey wait him move.

Ifedayo stop, turn, look Chairman Ade with cold face.

No fear, just cold boldness. Na that kain look wey Yoruba elders dey fear.

'My biggest regret na say I allow you send Halima abroad that year.'

E pause, voice steady. E no tremble.

'You think say you still fit control me like before?'

Chairman Ade face change, words no come out.

Na so all the old men dey look ground, dey shake head.

My papa shake head. 'Old Ade, e be like say you no dey run Ade family again.'

My papa voice sharp, e dey put sand for Ade garri. People dey look dem, dey fear family wahala go start now now.

Ifedayo look my papa, small smile for mouth.

He nod, like say he dey salute real papa. For that moment, small peace dey enter the room.

'Papa, the first thing I do as I come back no be carry Halima hospital, na to bring BL contract give you.'

His voice clear, e talk am loud. I see some elders dey nod.

'Na my biggest show of respect for Ade and Okafor families.'

He bow head small, make dem know say e still get respect.

'Some things better make person no talk am.'

As he talk am, I dey reason—true talk. Some family matter no dey finish for public.

He turn face me, eyes cold.

That eye strong, but I no shift. Na me dey reason now.

'Ngozi, I promise to marry you, I do am.'

He talk am, but e sound like contract, no be love.

'Mrs. Ade title—I give you. You go enjoy wealth and comfort.'

His voice firm, as if na property him dey share. Money dey, but heart no dey.

'But for love, no expect too much.'

The words heavy, e land for my chest like block. People dey look me, dey wait for my tears. But me, I dey bone.

With that, he just carry Halima commot.

As he dey go, some people try stop am, but nobody fit. He waka straight, no turn back.

As she dey his hand, Halima turn look me, small smile just dey her lips.

Na smile wey dey pain person pass slap. I just look ground, hold myself.

For front of everybody, I cry.

My tear stubborn, e fall like small rain wey dey mark new planting season. One mama from my village come press my shoulder, dey whisper, “Pele, nwa m, na so life be.” Old women dey shake head, some dey talk 'pele, nwa m.'

Me and Ifedayo—childhood lovers, like sugar and honey.

Since that time wey we dey chase lizard together, I never look another boy. Ifedayo na my only gist partner, my only friend. People dey use us do love example.

Since I small, na him I dey follow: language, business, horse riding, wine, all na because of am.

If he say he wan learn chess, I dey join club. If he say he wan swim, I buy swimsuit. My own na to dey beside am, dey collect all the knowledge. I no get my own voice that time.

I no get my own hobby.

People dey talk am for family meeting: 'Ngozi, wetin you like sef?' I go smile, dey dodge answer. Because na true, I no get my own thing.

Wetin Ifedayo like, na wetin Ngozi Okafor like.

Dem use am dey laugh me, but I no mind. I just dey chop am dey go.

Ade and Okafor business don tie together since our papa time.

Our two papa na old school friends, dem start hustle together, even buy land join. As business dey grow, everybody dey say, 'Ifedayo and Ngozi go complete the story.'

So everybody believe say na me and Ifedayo go marry.

No one get doubt. All the elders don dey count our marriage for calendar since we dey wear small shorts.

The only surprise na when we dey SS2, Halima transfer enter our class as scholarship student from poor family.

Her uniform no reach ground, but her spirit tall pass everybody own. She quiet, but her eyes sharp. Teachers dey call am 'Angel.'

She be like fragile white flower wey grow for gutter—soft, but strong—e easy make Ifedayo pity am.

Na that kain pity dey make man fall for woman. Ifedayo na soft boy, he no fit watch person suffer.

That their small love, Uncle Ade kill am sharp sharp.

He no waste time, he call meeting, send Halima away. Some say na because she no get family. Some say e just wan protect Ifedayo name.

No matter as Ifedayo beg, Uncle Ade still send Halima abroad.

Ifedayo try call, write letter, beg, but nothing work. Uncle Ade just block road.

Ifedayo no fit reach am again.

He quiet, dey hide for house. Our compound no sweet again. I dey try cheer am, but e no dey work.

After that, he quiet.

He turn bookworm, just dey focus on family business. If I talk to am, e just nod, dey smile small.

He grow fast inside that silence, come dey run Ade Group.

In one year, he don become big man. Board of directors dey respect am. I dey feel am for body, dey proud.

When he propose, I ask am: If Halima come back, wetin you go do?

My heart dey beat as I dey ask. Na one Saturday for garden. Flower everywhere. I wan hear the truth.

He look me, eyes deep.

'Ngozi, she na just small waka pass.'

His voice calm, but I feel say something dey hide.

'Mrs. Ade go always be you.'

He touch my hand, look me well. My mind rest small. I say maybe I dey overthink.

That kiss wey he give me that day for my eyes, I feel am sweet, but before I know, everything don change.

After that kiss, na only joy dey my heart. I tell myself, 'Ngozi, you don arrive.' But see me now, dey cry for public.