Chapter 8: Lagos Calculation and Game On

He still dey talk, say his fiancée na only child, her papa doctor, mama teacher, dem go get pension, fit help raise children, even buy house for her before marriage—just make dem move in after wedding, no rent wahala.

Na there my eye clear—so na benefit dey your mind. No be love dey move you, na the security. Naija men sabi run calculation.

As I hear am, I just dey look the guy down. So na because of her family benefit you no wan leave, no be because of love.

I shake my head, pour small drink for am. He no dey see my eye well, but I dey watch am.

I pour another drink for am, "Bro, you get mind o—just class reunion, she no fit forget you."

He laugh, then bend talk for my ear: "Bro, make I yarn you another one."

I adjust chair, dey ready for the worst. Story wey dey come no go sweet.

I look am, my mind dey tell me e no go be better gist.

He say, when he go house for Christmas, the class beauty first contact am. That time she get boyfriend, never break up, but two of them spend two days together for resort.

As I hear "resort," my head begin calculate. Na that same time my babe talk say she go family side, no network. Chai! All the dots dey connect.

I frown, remember say for this year Christmas, two days dey wey I no fit reach my babe. Every night she just send short message, say family matter dey, no fit touch phone.

My phone dey show "switched off" or "not reachable." I dey wonder how person wey dey city go dey offline for two days. Now I see truth.

So... na wetin really happen be this?

Na so man dey collect breakfast for broad daylight, dey say na lunch. My own turn finally reach.

Looking back, I just be mumu.

After all my effort, all my energy, na mumu I dey play. But e good as eye don clear. For this Lagos, if you sleep, dem go use your head cook pepper soup. For this Lagos, na who shine eye survive. My own game just dey start.