Chapter 5: Masa, Betrayal, and WhatsApp Secrets

I see her come out, sunglasses on, hold one tall guy, two of them dey laugh dey gist.

Na real scene—sunshade cover half her face, but laugh dey loud. As dem waka pass, she touch the guy elbow, gist dey sweet them.

Dem leave, enter keke. My own car still dey underground, so I no fit follow. Before I reach house, my babe don reach.

By the time I fit drag my car comot underground parking, dem don vanish. For my mind, I dey calculate—if I rush follow, I go cast myself.

She act like nothing, run come hug me, say she no tell me flight details because she wan surprise me.

As she hug me, na perfume scent jam my nose. "Surprise," she talk, dey act like say na birthday. My smile stiff, but I play along.

Then she bring out two packs of masa and miyan taushe from her bag, say she buy am for me even though she busy.

You see that masa? E dey inside paper like person buy am for traffic. She talk say na big restaurant, but I just dey look am.

I tear small piece, taste am—no salt, e just dey like betrayal for my tongue. Abeg, if no be from airport souvenir shop she buy am, make I twist my neck use as stool.

I just collect am, nod head. "Thank you." Na so she dey cover her track, dey form good wife.

For days after, I just dey play cool. When she enter shower, I dey check her chat with that guy.

Na night I dey operate. Once she dey bath, I dey unlock phone, scroll fast. If you see chat—emoji everywhere, even code name for the guy.

Only two words fit describe am: Na real ashewo level, no shame at all.

Nothing dem no talk. "Miss you," "can't wait," all those sweet nonsense. E get one night, I just dey read, dey vex.

I no know say my babe fit wild like this.

Some of the things she talk for chat, she never even try am with me before. Na there I know say my own case dey different.

For public, she proper, for bed, she wild—but not even my bed, another person own.

See irony of life! Na so this world spoil reach.

I contact the guy for WhatsApp, say my budget strong—critical illness, medical, life, accident, any insurance, make e send all the plans.

I compose long message like person wey really wan insure three generation. My guy dey reply sharp.

To show say I get money, I post my guy luxury car and swimming pool mansion for my WhatsApp status, just make e see, but I no ever post my own things, make I no cast.

Na my guy Benz I post, mansion too. I just dey use style press the guy, make e dey reason say e jam big fish.

He come dey more friendly, dey call me "bro" anyhow, dey send good morning, dey remind me to wear jacket if cold or carry umbrella if e go rain.

Sometimes the greeting too much. Na "Bro, hope you chop today," "Bro, you sleep well?" I dey laugh, dey imagine say insurance agent wan become therapist.

Sometimes, I wake up confuse, dey wonder if na my mama dey message me.

All the good morning, check up—e pass customer service. Na wa.

I dey reply am once in a while.

Just enough to keep the link alive, make e no suspect.

Few days pass, then I see my babe alt account post:

"You say our love deep but fate no strong. I say na you no get liver to love."

That one vex me well.

See coded shade. Na there I tell myself, if you no get mind love am, step aside. Na action time.

If he no get mind love you, no wahala, I go show am how e dey go.

I rub my jaw, dey plan wetin next. If na me, I go clear ground once.

After small chat with the guy, I don set ground.