Chapter 5: The Café Showdown

As I no answer her wahala, Halima no fit hold body again, she come meet me.

The day she show face, even receptionist for Okafor Group look her with surprise. She waka enter café, sit down in front of me, dey look me eye to eye.

We jam for café under Okafor Group. I look her from head to toe, smile.

She wear one long skirt, scarf cover her hair. She still get that gentle look. I cross my leg, dey look her. 'Wetin this girl want again?' I dey reason.

'Miss Halima, you dey look well. E show say Ifedayo dey take care of you.'

I talk am, but my voice dey cool, no beef. She nod, hand still dey shake.

Halima show me her hand.

Her finger slim, she raise wrist. Na that Ade family bracelet dey her hand.

'Mrs. Ade, you sabi this?'

She shake her wrist, the thing shine for light. My heart skip small.

'Ade family old bracelet. If I remember, na Ifedayo give you when he propose.'

She dey remind me, but na pain she dey send. I dey smile, dey wait her next move.

'That thing wey you dey cherish—Ifedayo just give me after I look am small.'

She talk am, her hand steady. I smile, no shake.

'Na only the Mrs. Ade title you dey hold because of your family name.'

Her mouth sharp. I dey wait make she finish.

'Apart from that, you get nothing.'

She pause, dey look me straight. Café staff dey pretend say dem no dey hear, but everybody dey look our table.

'But me—apart from Mrs. Ade title—I get everything you no get.'

She smile, eyes bright. I know say her mind dey strong, even as body dey weak.

As Halima dey form, I just laugh.

The laugh loud small. I shake head, dey wonder who dey deceive who.

'Na wa o. My mind dey race—so na so dem dey exchange family heirloom like gala for traffic?'

'Congrats, your dream don come true.'

I talk am, clap for am small. Some people for café dey look, dey gossip for corner.

'But one thing you miss, make I remind you.'

I lean forward, voice low. My own na real Okafor pikin.

'Na Uncle Ade send you abroad. For years, you try all ways, you no fit reach Ifedayo.'

I dey watch her eyes, make I see if she go fear.

'You know who leak our wedding news to you just before ceremony?'

I pause, let am think well.

'And why, after ten years, na now you fit call Ifedayo number?'

I watch as her mouth open small. Na so cold dey catch am. I cross my hand, dey wait.

Halima freeze.

Her hand stop, she no dey shake again. She dey look me like say spirit pass.

She look me, eyes big, shock.

Her lips dey shake, she try talk, but words no gree come out. E dey pain me, but I hold face.

'No be you—are you mad?'

I fire am back, no fear. For this life, person must fight for her space. Café people dey look, some dey nod, some dey shake head. Me, I no send. E never finish, Halima. For this Lagos, na who last laugh dey loudest.