Chapter 2: My Life for Background

Me, I no mean anything for this showbiz wahala, na just E-list I dey. Two years since I start, na only three waka pass roles I get for TV drama.

As I dey waka enter industry events, some people dey even ask me, "You still dey act?" If no be say my mama dey encourage me, I for don leave this acting hustle. I dey hustle small small, dey pray make luck smile on me.

No be say I no get correct person to back me, or say my acting no pure. Na because my boyfriend dey jealous die.

E get one time wey I get kiss scene for one online series, baba almost pursue the director come house. He call me that night, voice loud, dey ask, "Na so you wan disgrace me for internet?" E dey act like say anybody wey talk to me for set wan collect my number. Sometimes, I dey wonder if na juju hold am or na love overload.

Any small love scene, he no dey gree. Even for location, if I travel for months, wahala go dey—he wish say make I just dey follow am everywhere like handbag.

He dey call every evening, dey ask who dey my room, who dey buy me food. I dey feel like boarding school student sometimes. But my friends dey always laugh, say "Na so e dey be when person love you pass himself."

So after two years, I still dey struggle for bottom.

Sometimes, I go dey scroll Instagram, dey see my mates dey launch new endorsement, dey attend award shows, dey meet governors. I go just dey reason, e be like say my village people dey use me play.

My agent manage get me some reality shows, say make I show face small.

She beg me say, "Tolu, just go, make your face dey everywhere. Na so endorsement dey come." Na so I gree, put body for anything wey show.

Today own na with Halima Bako, the female lead for that epic drama wey I do waka pass before.

I remember that set—Halima just dey shine. Director dey always shout her name, dey pamper her like say she be president daughter. Me, I dey stand for back, dey manage one line: "Madam, your water."

And this same Halima Bako na the starlet wey post that ring picture make everywhere scatter.

She sabi how to draw attention, her IG stories dey always full. Sometimes, she go just post suya for plate, everywhere go shout like say na presidential banquet.