Chapter 4: House of Broken Trust

That day, it was one house girl that had stayed on shore who heard what happened and rushed over with a wrapper to cover me and take me home.

Bless that girl, Ekaette. She run reach river, carry her own wrapper—no send say she go cold—just use am wrap me. E get good heart. People dey look, but nobody talk.

When I got back, I heard Tunde had personally brought my younger sister home and was still with the chemist checking her.

Even mama no believe when she hear. Tunde dey show concern, dey ask the chemist up and down if Ifeoma go survive, like say na first time e see woman fall for river.

I waited till night before I finally saw him, coming late.

For night, all the crickets dey shout, even goats don tire. Tunde waka come with him face strong.

As soon as he saw me, Tunde no even talk any kind comfort. Instead, he just started to scold me.

No "how you dey"—na straight to quarrel, voice sharp like market trader. My spirit vex but I bone face.

“Amaka, you no fit calm down that stubborn head? Ifeoma no be like you, she be second wife pikin, her life hard already, but you still dey bully her.”

He talk as if say na only him sabi pain. Even the wall hear am.

Tunde’s eyes were full of disappointment and anger.

E look me like say I be stranger, like I no mean anything again.

“You cause wahala and fall for river, fine, but you even drag Ifeoma join you. You sabi swim, but Ifeoma no sabi. You nearly kill am, you know?”

His finger dey shake as he talk, spit dey fly. Ifeoma mama fit clap for am. My mouth wan open, but I just swallow the pain. For this house, woman voice no dey loud.

Even though I had already given up hope in him, his words still chilled my heart.

Sometimes, na small word dey cut pass knife. The thing pain me, but I hide am for chest.

We grew up together, from when we dey small, and our marriage was fixed since childhood.

I remember how we play ten-ten, how him mama dey give me meat pass other children. My hope na lie.

Even if he no like me again, for the sake of all these years, he for no treat me like this.

If for olden days, dem go say na taboos Tunde dey break. Loyalty dey matter for our side.

But Tunde no send.

E no care. All him mind dey for Ifeoma, my own just dey suffer.

Every time, he would support Ifeoma and quarrel with me, making me look bad in front of people.

Even the elders dey notice. When dem see us for village square, na me dem dey pity, but e no matter.

He always disliked my pride and stubbornness, thinking Ifeoma was the pitiful one, and that I no get her gentle and understanding ways.

Village people dey measure woman with feather—if you strong, dem go say you no get home training.

Especially after last year, when Ifeoma supposedly saved him, he protected her even more—like say na gold.

Since that day, he dey act like say Ifeoma na angel wey God send.

Now, gossip full the whole town that he no dey happy with me, his childhood fiancée.

Even small children dey chant am for road: "Tunde go marry Ifeoma, Amaka na wahala."

The one he really loves is Ifeoma, and I be the wicked one blocking their happiness.

Some people don give me name: "Amaka the jealous." My mama vex reach church.

“Tunde, na Ifeoma push me, she wan throw me for river. As I dey fall, I just drag her follow body.”

I talk am with cold voice, eyes no blink. Make him try understand.

The man looked at me like I just talk nonsense.

He look me as if say I be stubborn goat. No single pity.

“Ifeoma na the most gentle and timid person. You always dey bully her. Who go believe this kind thing?”

If no be say elder dey, I for shout. But I just hold myself, heart dey burn.

He frowned. “Tomorrow, you must go and apologize to Ifeoma. She say if you apologize, she no go hold am against you.”

Imagine, na me suppose go beg? Who dey write this script? Na so custom dey treat eldest daughter?

He warned me: “You go be my wife soon. My wife suppose be like Ifeoma—gentle and reasonable—not stubborn like you. If you continue like this, no blame me if I ignore you after we marry!”

Na so some men dey reason, as if wife na statue for parlour. I just tire.

With his stubbornness, I just tire. I no even want explain again. My voice was flat: “I no go ever apologize to her.”

I use all my spirit hold my ground. If he like, make him bark like dog, I no go shift.

Tunde vex, fling his hand and left. “Do as you like. Just stay for house, rest. No go outside disgrace me again.”

Door nearly break as e close am. Even rat wey dey hide for room fear.