Chapter 4: Revelation and the Twin Game

Five days to japa.

I dey count days like prisoner dey mark wall. Freedom dey near, but pain still dey hold me.

Now, I fit know the Lanre brothers well.

My eyes don clear. No be all twins be the same, but these ones na trouble.

Chief Lanre dey cold, always serious, no dey smile, na work dey his mind.

His face dey like person wey dey solve maths for dream. No room for joke.

Tunde like to form baby boy, get one small mole for him waist—anytime him pull shirt, you go see am.

The mole dey sharp. That na the only difference wey fit save person from confusion.

I no even know if Chief Lanre get that kind mole. He never touch me before.

Sometimes, I dey wonder whether na me be the only one wey never notice small detail.

Morning, as I come down, Chief Lanre sit down, gold glasses for face, dey read newspaper.

Na big man signature. Newspaper for hand, gold specs, face straight like arrow.

"Ifunanya, abeg dress well today. We get visitor."

His voice dey cool, but you go know say e no dey beg for fun. For Yoruba house, respect dey important.

Reading paper that early, wear glasses, dey talk cold—

That na the real Chief Lanre. E dey show for every move.

Na Chief Lanre sure pass.

For my mind, I dey prepare. E no go fit surprise me again.

Comments dey buzz for my head:

[Hehehe, today she go finally jam Tunde face-to-face.]

My brain dey run commentary. I dey ready for any wahala.

[Side babe dey chop Tunde, he sabi all her weak points, but she still gats pretend say she no know am—e go choke.]

This kain acting, even Nollywood no fit direct am.

[People wey suffer fit endure anything for money. Our babe beta pass—she no dey depend on anybody.]

I dey thank God say my spirit strong, even as body dey tire.

[This meeting na just setup to disgrace side babe for her birthday. I dey wait.]

Dem dey plan show, but dem no know say I get my own.

[Main babe too get brain. I like her.]

Sometimes, only woman fit help woman. I pray say my own helper dey come.

I go upstairs change.

As I climb, my leg dey heavy. But I force smile for mirror—na so Naija babe dey survive.

Noon, Tunde come with Bukola.

Their footsteps dey loud for marble floor. My heart dey beat like bata drum for Egungun festival.

As I see Tunde wey resemble Chief Lanre, I form surprise, just as e suppose be.

My acting skill sharp that day. If dem give award, I for win.

Chief Lanre introduce, "Na my twin brother, just come back from abroad."

His tone dey flat, but you go sense small pride. Twins na big thing for Yoruba family.

Tunde stretch hand. "Hello."

His palm warm, grip firm. I no let my hand shake.

I shake am. "Hello."

I look am well, my eye dey sharp. No be today I dey face wahala.

I smile. "I no believe say una two resemble like this."

I add small giggle for effect. For Yoruba house, respect and flattery dey save woman.

Tunde face no change, he smile soft. "Plenty things dey wey you never know."

His words get double meaning. My skin crawl small, but I keep face.

Sometimes, I dey respect Tunde. We don do how many times, but he still dey act like stranger.

E fit keep secret well, even from family. Street na school for am.

Bukola laugh, "No need to introduce me—I be Ifunanya roommate for school."

She dey form madam, but I no send. I just nod.

She hold my hand. "I hear say you go soon marry. Chief Lanre and me don plan—I go be your chief bridesmaid."

Her hand cold, her smile sharp. I dey look her like say na snake dey hiss.

Before she finish, chef come say food done ready.

Chef voice dey sweet, but my belle no even dey hungry.

For dining table, Bukola sit between Chief Lanre and Tunde.

She dey arrange herself like queen for chessboard.

She put hand for chin, smile, ask me, "Ifunanya, you notice any change for Chief Lanre lately?"

Her eye dey shine. Na set up, na trap. But I no go fall.

I know say na set up—she wan make I disgrace myself.

Her kind game dey dangerous. If you fall, na your own wahala.

So I follow the play.

I steady my hand, put smile for face. Dem no go use me do scapegoat.

I drop my spoon, nod. "Mm, he don really change this year."

I talk am like person wey dey love. My voice dey steady.

Time freeze small.

For a moment, even spoon stop for air. Na so tension dey hold room.

Everybody pause.

E be like say dem dey wait make thunder strike.

Especially the Lanre brothers—their face stiff.

For Yoruba family, twin matter dey serious. I fit feel their energy.

I smile, my face blush small. "He dey treat me better now. I dey like am more and more."

I force the blush, but inside, na war dey go on.

Chief Lanre look Tunde, face don dark.

For am, na pride dey pain. I dey see small crack for their plan.

During food, Tunde just peel shrimp put for my plate, talk soft, "Good girl, garlic shrimp—no shell, your favorite."

That gesture sweet me and pain me at once. For Naija, food fit expose all secret. As I chop, I dey plan my next move.

Next thing, everywhere just quiet.

As silence choke the room, I know say this na the day wey secret fit burst—if I no play my card well, na my life go scatter.