Chapter 3: New Roots for Old Pain

I spoil Tolu’s birthday party.

The news spread like wildfire. Before I reach upstairs, story don reach outside gate. For WhatsApp group, I trend: "Madam Ajayi scatter party!" My hand dey shake, but spirit light—like say I drop heavy load.

But the thing no really move am.

Tolu face stone, no shake. E dey sip Hennessy like nothing. The calm for him voice cold me. For am, na just another business wahala.

Uncle Musa don dey chase guest commot, staff dey clean everywhere.

The old steward, loyal as ever, dey order: “Everybody, abeg, make una dey go!” Waiters dey mop wine and glass, face tired like people wey don lose election.

That fine woman still dey, just stand beside Tolu quietly.

She shift close, like shadow find owner. She quiet, face calm, but eye dey waka go the broken glass.

Even the way she stand, na like Tolu first love.

Her shoulder, how she bite lip—everything na Bisi. Like say ghost come live.

Compared to her, e really be like say na me dey act mad.

For that hall, I be storm, she be calm. People dey reason: “Who really be problem?” Comparison pain me, but I no move.

Tolu dey play with the babe finger, look me, voice careless.

He dey twist her finger, like say e no get wahala, words dey float for air—casual, dismiss.

“Why you dey vex?”

Him tone dey mock. E no want answer, just dey find drama.

“If you no wan see her, I go let her stay somewhere else.”

He shrug, make am look like say na me dey do too much. Eye dey shine—dare me to talk.

“No worry, I promise Mama Ajayi—I no go touch your position as Madam Ajayi.”

He flash grin, wide but empty. Room dey titter, but me, na only cold dey my body.

The woman beside am come join, dey talk soft.

She lower voice, gentle. Her accent get city touch. “Madam Ajayi, no vex. Man like Mr. Ajayi, you expect am to get only one woman?”

“I just dey admire Mr. Ajayi. I no fit disturb your position.”

I remove my ring, hand steady even with the wahala inside. Her eye flicker; she almost pity me.

I remove ring, put am for table in front of Tolu.

Diamond catch light, throw rainbow for white cloth. All eye dey wait.

He just raise eyebrow.

Small smirk for him mouth, like say e no believe my mind strong reach.

“I dey return your ring.”

My voice soft, but e loud. Even musician stop to pretend dey arrange instrument.

Tolu pick ring, toss am for air.

He fling am like person dey dash gala for traffic. Hall silent.

Diamond shine, land for him hand again.

He catch am, like say na rehearsal. The ring heavy for him palm—reminder of wetin don finish.

He just throw am back give the woman. “Take, ring wey worth millions. Madam Ajayi say she no want, so she no want.”

He fling am anyhow. The woman grab am, shock. People hiss—expensive ring, throw am like akara.

Tolu stand up, sneer, tell Uncle Musa.

He look me, eye dey squeeze small.

“Go find some teachers to teach Madam manners. I no wan see this kind disgrace again.”

E word cold. Uncle Musa look away, shame for him face.

As he waka go, he turn back.

He pause for door, search my face for regret. I give am nothing.

He throw him own ring for ground.

He throw am, like say e dey dash biscuit. The gold band spin for Ajayi compound marble floor, the ring dey ring for air.

The ring roll, stop for my leg.

E touch my toe, still warm. I look am—final goodbye.

“If you no want the rings, make we throw all away.”

He no wait for answer. Door close, I stand alone.