Chapter 13: Love for Compound

8

No too far,

chief wife dey hold Auwalu right hand, dey yarn something.

Even though e far, I see small smile for Auwalu face—

E no too show, but e dey there.

For chief wife.

I no fit talk how I feel.

Just feel say the zobo tea wey I drink dey turn my belle, dey make me uncomfortable.

I dey look the two of them.

Before I know, my nail dig my palm, blood begin come out.

Dem dey drag handkerchief up and down.

At last, chief wife win.

She force handkerchief give Auwalu, no let am refuse.

She tie am well, no wan make e throway.

Auwalu no refuse.

Gist full everywhere:

The pain wey hold my chest as I see the two of them together, e be like person pour hot pepper for inside my body. I try look away, but my leg no gree move. For this compound, when woman give man handkerchief, e mean say heart don follow. As I see blood for my palm, I know say the pain dey real—no be only story for head. My heart dey pound, like drum for festival. As chief wife force the handkerchief for Auwalu hand, my mind scatter. All the small hope wey I get begin melt like ice for harmattan sun.

*'Personal handkerchief na love token. Spread the gist, main babe and main guy go soon marry!'*

*'For chief wife front, main guy dey like pure uni boy, her only one.'*

*'The fire wey supporting babe light, chief wife go just use small talk quench am. Main guy love her die~'*

*'I bet main guy go sleep with chief wife handkerchief tonight… hehehe.'*

As dem dey drag, dem waka enter palm grove.

But the way dem move, na so leaf begin fall everywhere.

The evening dey quiet, but for my ear, na noise full everywhere. Even as dem waka enter the palm grove, I still dey stand, dey watch. I dey try swallow my pain, but e hard. As palm leaf dey fall, my hope dey fall join—love for compound na real wahala.