Chapter 3: Secrets and Sacrifice

I see am three years ago. That day, I dey club with some friends wey return from UK. As I go restroom, I see one girl dey drag enter private room by one man.

Even though I dey business line, I no fit watch girl suffer. The club owner na my padi, so I tell am make he open the private room.

As dem open the door, the girl cloth half pull, the man na only singlet and boxers remain. My guy just use style talk say this kind thing no fit happen for him club, so dem carry the man commot.

The girl, cover body with wrapper, dey cry for bed. Na Morayo be that.

The pain for her eye that night, I no go ever forget. Her makeup run, wig one side, yet she still try hold body. I buy her malt, sit with her till morning. Na that night I begin feel say I go do anything to protect her.

After we yarn, I know say Morayo just enter industry one year, dey get waka pass roles, and her agent carry her come dinner. She no expect say wahala go meet am just because she come chop. Her cry even touch me.

I run check on the guy—na Tunde, rich man pikin, but still far from my own level. I no wan make Morayo get bad mind for me because of Tunde, so I hide my real identity. Later, we come dey together.

Who go believe say dem go dey run things behind my back?

Tunde senior me small. After three years wey I never see am, e don dey bald and belle don big.

"When una two start?" My body cold.

Tunde hiss. "Kunle, you spoil my show that year. Wetin you dey find again?"

Morayo look small confused, voice low. Even though I suspect say she gree that time, to hear am from her mouth still pain me. She dey blame me for spoiling her plan, but still follow me—real actress.

Morayo stretch ATM card: "If you feel say 5 million too small, take another 10 million. Since you fine, just see am as say I hire gigolo."

She talk am with face wey show say she don tire, voice like person wey dey read script. Even Blessing mouth open, surprise.

I push the card back. "Na so our three years take cheap reach?"

Morayo screw face. "You still dey complain? I no know say na this kind person you be before."

You really believe say na your acting carry you reach here? Na me fight for this award for you." I look am, face hard.

My words heavy, my voice low. I dey reason all those nights I dey pull string, all the bribe and sacrifice. My hand even dey shake, but I keep face strong.

"Wetin you dey talk? You be small office worker—wetin you fit do?"

I just lose hope for her. "This breakup—no regret am o."

"She no fit regret. With me, her road go smooth pass before." Tunde hug Morayo waist, dey show off.

Tunde chest puff, him dey act like king for the hall. Some people even dey snap their picture, dey hail them. I look Morayo, she dey smile for Tunde hand like stranger. She really believe say na Tunde go help her.

I shake head, bring out phone, call: "From now, ignore anything wey concern Morayo."

Whether she get job or award again, no concern me.

Tunde laugh again. "Wetin concern you? You no get connection. I dey carry Morayo go meet Director Musa."

I chuckle. "Musa Adekunle get something to do today. He go come later."

My voice calm but my chest dey burn. I know say after tonight, everything go change.

Tunde just stop laugh, then start to laugh even harder.