Chapter 1: The Night Everything Scatter

When my girlfriend, Morayo, win Best Actress, I dey with client for one hotel inside Victoria Island. The TV for the private lounge dey show the 29th Naija Gold Awards.

As the air conditioner hum soft for up, egusi soup aroma from kitchen just dey enter my nose. The kitchen bell ring as another plate of amala pass, and the waiter’s laughter blend with the AC hum. My mind dey split—half for business, half dey eye that TV. Victoria Island dey bubble on award night like this, but all the noise fade for my ear as camera focus on Morayo face.

"The Best Actress at this year's Naija Gold Awards is—Morayo!"

Lounge burst, people shout and clap. One waiter wink me—dem sabi say me and Morayo dey always show together. I try hide my joy, pull phone send her text: "Congrats baby, you too much. I get special gist for you tonight when you come back."

I planned to propose to her tonight. Ring dey my pocket since morning, my hand don sweat reach. E still remain to tell Morayo who I truly be. But before I press send, her voice enter from the TV—elegant, full of pride: "Thank you to my team, my fans, and most of all, my boyfriend..."

My heart just sink, mouth dry, as if something choke me. The smile still wide, but my mind dey race. Then I hear: "Thank you to my boyfriend, Tunde. He has been with me from my first waka pass role until today. He encouraged and supported me, making this hard journey a little easier."

The room cold, my hand start shake. Face pale like person wey see masquerade for night. My legs weak, na only God hold me make I no fall chair. Staff for lounge dey eye me, even my oga client pause, dey reason why my face change. I no fit talk.

My name no be Tunde.

Everything Morayo get today, na me arrange am—money, connection, everything. I hide my hand so she no go feel less, even my friends seal mouth. The award wey she hold, e suppose be another person own, but I drop money, show face for after-party, run all the things. Three years together, except one supporting role, all her jobs na lead—na me run am. That supporting role sef, na big, well-written part.

Every time I see her for billboard or magazine, my chest dey swell. I swallow pride so she fit shine, make she believe say na her talent dey carry her. But as I dey hear her voice tremble for TV now, e be like stranger dey talk.

She dey call am 'difficult road'?

I just wan ask her wetin dey worry am when my phone buzz—Aunty Grace, her agent.

"Kunle, abeg no come find Morayo again. The kind level wey Morayo dey now, e pass your power."

I remember yesterday, when I tell Morayo say I no fit attend the ceremony, she look relieved. I suppose see her big moment live, but tonight’s company dinner na big move for expansion. No choice.

Weight heavy for chest. I dey reason—if to say I shift company meeting, maybe I for see sign. But who fit predict woman?

"Oga, the organizers dey ask if you go attend the dinner?" My assistant come back, voice low.

I just wave am off. My mind don fly.

"Abeg, pack all those things for house throway. I go sleep for my parents' place tonight."

House don full with proposal decoration, but I no even want near. As dem just dump me like used rag, I need space make I fit reason.

Rose petals, balloons, the small band I hide for balcony—waste. My chest dey tight, I just wan disappear. This heartbreak deep, e dey touch bone.

Who go believe—Morayo still message me:

"Kunle, for the fact say I support you all these years, make we end am well. No hard feelings, Kunle. Life must move. I go send you 5 million naira later as breakup fee. Abeg, no dey depend on woman again."

She support me? 5 million naira as breakup fee?

I just laugh. E be like say I go attend that dinner after all.

Laughter dey my mouth, pain dey my heart. I wonder if na prank or reality. 5 million for three years? Love cheap like pure water for this Lagos. Nobody dey surprise me again.