Chapter 8: Marriage Moves
“But you talk say you no go marry before thirty? Wetin change?”
I dey try remember last week gist, dey reason if na money change her mind.
“I be small girl that time, I no understand. Now I wan settle.”
She dey look me, no blink.
I just dey look her, dey reason if I suppose remind her say last week she still talk say no marriage before thirty.
She no vex as I quiet.
She dey smile, dey press my hand for table.
“I go kitchen help—make your parents like me.”
She dey bounce, dey happy like pikin wey see chin-chin. Na so she waka go back.
Everybody for there just dey laugh:
“This girl like money o. As she see say your family dey make am, she wan marry enter.”
One old mama dey clap, dey hail her, “Na better wife material!”
But Morayo sabi mingle with elders. In just one afternoon, my parents dey laugh anyhow.
She dey call Mama, “Mummy, abeg, show me how una dey wash abalone.” Mama just dey blush.
My mama forget all her vex, dey rush me say make I marry her quick, say na only this kind daughter-in-law go give her peace of mind.
Even Papa dey nod, dey say, “This one go sabi run shop.”
Morayo get wetin she want, wan talk, but look her phone and her face change.
She dey help us prepare dinner before, but now say her family go worry if she late, no stay chop.
I dey watch as she rush pack her bag, dey arrange phone.
I tell my parents bye, rush follow her.
As I dey step outside, Mama dey shout, “No forget to come back early o!”
But as I reach shop door, I see her dey look around like thief.
She dey check left and right, dey press phone like person wey dey do coded call.
I pause, no open door quick, just dey watch.
My chest dey rise, I dey hold door handle, dey reason if wahala dey.
Soon, one strange young man come. As dem meet, dem hug, then kiss for street.
Na that kind hug wey no be friend matter. I dey shock.
Anger just catch me, I rush go.
My heart dey hot, I dey squeeze hand. I wan shout, but e choke me.
But Morayo don already separate from the guy.
She dey act like say she no see me. The guy dey cross road, dey wave.