Chapter 4: Family House, Family Wahala

Long time since I see Halima, and I don disgrace myself for her front.

As introvert, I no sleep, just dey remember everything. I just sigh, tell myself say e no too matter. I no go see her again, abi?

I try play movie for phone, but the picture of Halima face for my mind no gree go. Na so sleep no gree come.

I from south, but I do university for north, write exam, work two years. This time, I come back for two reasons: quit job, try make money for south, and attend cousin wedding.

My people dey always talk say, 'No place like home.' But I dey reason, after all the north runs, can home still be home?

House don busy lately. My uncle from next town come visit with him family.

Cousins dey everywhere, compound full. Stew aroma dey choke kitchen, I smell small akara and pap wey aunty dey fry for backyard. Children dey shout.

My sister get her own place—career woman, no dey house. I don come back one week, only see her once.

She dey chase contract, run meeting. Sometimes na only voice note I dey hear.

Today na family dinner, so she must show. I no know when she come back last night, her phone off. Papa vex, send me go find her.

"Go fetch Amaka, tell am say family dey wait!" Papa voice dey thunder for parlour.

Her place no far, like twenty minutes drive. My fingerprint dey, so I open door.

Her estate dey quiet, night breeze dey push gate. I enter, na so dog for next compound bark—sharp sharp I flash light.

Strong alcohol smell and small smoke hit me. Table full with empty bottles.

I frown, waka go master bedroom.

Slippers dey ground, purse for floor. TV on, but volume low—CNN dey talk but nobody dey listen.

Door open, but curtain tight, everywhere dark.

Mosquito dey hum, I dey slap leg as I enter.

I pull curtain, light full room.

Sunshine scatter everywhere, I dey see all the dust wey hide since morning.

Person for bed just cover face with duvet.

Body shape dey show, na only outline I fit see.

She sabi sleep.

For our house, anybody wey sleep pass 7 a.m. na 'lazy bone.'

I waka reach bed, dey vex small. "Wake up."

My voice low, but I tap leg for bed join.

I drag duvet comot.

Na woman long, fine legs and correct shape I see.

I shock, heartbeat jump. I dey remember say my sister short, who get this leg?

My heart start beat when I see Halima face.

Her hair scatter, but even for sleep, her beauty dey stubborn. E be like say my soul jump comot for body. Na Halima, her hair scatter, mouth open small, she dey dream.

As I drag duvet, she open eyes slow. Her hair rough, eyes still dey sleep, but sharp sharp she alert.

She sit up, dey blink, try arrange herself.

We look each other.

For two seconds, na only our eye dey talk. I dey imagine if ground fit open swallow me.

Na so my face red like tomato.

Neck, ear, even my nose—everything blush.

Halima realize, rush cover herself back.

She drag duvet, mouth dey form 'sorry'.

I turn, run, only to jam my leg for bed.

I nearly curse, but I hold am. Na pain dey slice leg.

Pain bite me, I squat, hold leg, dey breathe fast.

Tears almost commot, but I swallow am like man.

Halima hear noise, sit up for bed. "You dey okay?"

Her voice still dey husky from sleep. Duvet fall, her shoulder show, camisole only. Her fine cold face even fine pass as she sit up.

I no even care for my leg, I just run comot.

I limp reach parlour, drag leg like soldier for training.

Outside, my heart dey drum, blood rush my head.

If person see my face, dem go think say I thief yam for farm.