Chapter 3: Extra for My Own Story

Few days later, I finally understand say the world wey I dey na redemption novel. Obiora na the male lead, destined to be redeemed by the cheerful, innocent female lead. Me, I be his childhood friend, the wicked ex-wife, the extra for story.

Sometimes e pain me say you fit dey waka for your own story, but na another person get main role. Life no balance. For the early chapters, dem talk say Obiora love me well, dey crush on me for corner.

The novel just dey use plenty pages to show how I dey wicked and foolish to Obiora—run on top our wedding day, dey do like ice for the marriage, force am to sign divorce paper…

As I dey remember all the scenes, my chest dey tight. After many wahala, Obiora come dey drunk after divorce, then one rainy night, business rivals set him up, and he lose both legs.

He come dey depressed, even more wicked.

To redeem the male lead, the author bring in the naive female lead, Seyi.

When dem first meet, Seyi dey cook inside office, start fire, burn plenty important documents.

Manager vex, wan sack her, but Obiora waka pass, see Seyi dey form vex for mouth.

He think say she be innocent and lively.

Instead of punishment, he just dash her personal secretary, manager pack file go house that same day. Na so people dey form favouritism for office. You go just dey pray make your oga like your face.

From there, Seyi dey do baby girl, Obiora dey pamper her, anytime she scatter things, he dey clean up. Na so everybody for company begin fear Seyi small, dey call am 'oga pikin' behind back.

Last last, he let go of his past, forget me—the ex-wife—and the two of them live happily ever after.

As for me, the book no even bother to give me ending. The author just hint for extra say after divorce, my life scatter—suffer scatter everywhere. Sometimes I wonder, wetin person do to deserve this kain extra treatment?

As I look the plot, e just dey somehow for me.

Obiora like me for ten years?

Lie lie. If he like me, why he reject my confession when we finish university?

Obiora and I grow up together as childhood friends.

Because of his incubus nature, his parents no love am, his family even dey avoid am.

Anytime I visit, na so so wound, head dey bleed, face full mud.

He no get friends. Na only me and am dey. The boy dey always sit for one corner, dey draw sand with stick, while others dey play ball. If you see him eyes, e dey deep like river Niger.

To me, he cold but dey gentle. To others, he be stone.

So I think say the way he dey treat me different mean love, so on graduation day, I gather courage confess:

“Obiora, I like you. You like me?”

I dey hope, but he just cut me down: “Disgusting.”

I shock. Na play? Abi I hear wrong? My chest heavy, tears dey my eye but I no gree cry for public. That one word just scatter my mind. He hate me. Na only me dey deceive myself.

Next day, I carry myself enter plane, travel abroad, cut off everything. I no even greet my best friend, I just carry bag, waka like person wey dem pursue.

Three years ago, my people get big problem. My family trick me come house, carry me go arranged marriage between the Okafor and Nwosu families.

My aunties gather me for room, dey tie gele, dey pray loud loud, say “God, let this union bring money and peace.”

By then, Obiora don become big man, dey run Okafor Group like king.

I run comot from wedding, no wan marry man wey no love me.

When dem catch me, Obiora cold, like stranger:

“Amaka, your people need money, I need wife to cover face for public.”

Obiora dey avoid women, people even talk say he no fit do.

For sake of my family, I gree.

I think say three years go clear the rumours, I no wan hold am, so I start the divorce.

To leave with respect better pass make dem dump me.

For three years of marriage, he dey cold, barely talk to me. How that one go be love? Sometimes at night, as I dey face wall, I dey wonder if na so my life suppose end—inside room, with husband wey be like ghost.