Chapter 3: The Showdown Begins

The show dey live, comments just dey fly waka for the screen.

Even the camera light dey shine pass normal, e be like say dem wan catch every small movement. People wey dey watch for Facebook Live dey drop hot comments. For Twitter, hashtags dey trend—#HalimaAndOga #WhoGetTheRing.

Host: “Next, make we play small game. Halima and Tolu, abeg draw lot for your challenge task.”

Na so the camera zoom in, everybody dey wait who go pick the big task. Even the sound track wey dem put dey make heart dey beat.

But all this one na just arrangement. Halima draw first, she look the bowl, smile small, then slow-slow draw one paper—everybody dey hold breath—pick the task wey dem prepare:

[Cook food by yourself and invite one friend come chop for the show.]

Everybody for set don already dey whisper, dey hope say e go cause wahala. Cameramen dey ready, dem don focus for Halima face.

As the task show, everywhere for comment section scatter:

[Comment: This task na set up so that our Halima go invite the young oga!]

[Comment: This show get luck—if young oga show, ratings go enter sky!]

[Comment: Ahhh, I wan see Halima and Chairman Musa display love! No fit wait!]

Person even write, "If dem no kiss, make show cancel!" Na so e reach.

The “Chairman Musa” wey dem dey talk about na Musa Danladi, wey everybody sabi for him correct family background, fine face, and more than hundred imported cars.

E get one gist say him get driver for every car, na only once in two months e dey repeat one motor. The man dey move like movie for Abuja; even his bodyguard dey fine join. Some girls dey pray make dem just jam am for Transcorp Hilton elevator.

The rumour with Halima Bako start about last year, when she post picture of one silver Benz wey dey shine anyhow.

Na that day, even the Benz dealers for Abuja dey hail her. She write small caption: "Thank you, special person." Everybody connect the dot quick, Twitter FBI no dey slack.

Since then, Halima Bako dey always show matching things with Musa Danladi. Just recently, she even get endorsement for one cloth brand wey belong to Musa Group.

People dey even do side by side photo, dey compare the way her scarf and Musa tie dey match. Every small thing she post, people dey dissect am.

Small small, her fans begin believe say na real-life love story dey happen: fine actress go marry rich man.

Everybody dey root for Cinderella story, na so dem dey tag am. Na everyday na new couple fan art dey drop online. Some people even dey plan aso-ebi colour for wedding wey never reach.

Everything reach peak three days ago.

That day, all the gossip blogs dey jubilate. Even one radio station carry the gist for afternoon segment, dey do call-in for people to talk who they feel go propose first this year.

Musa Danladi post one kind suggestive picture for him WhatsApp status: him waist get big hibiscus tattoo, and one hand wey wear pink diamond ring dey press him abs. The red nail polish for the fingers just dey point for the center of the hibiscus—omo, e too hot.

My own phone blow up with messages that night. Even people wey I never talk to in five years dey send me screenshot dey ask, "You see am?"

That same night, Halima Bako post picture of ring—exactly the same pink diamond ring for the earlier picture.

E no take two hours, all the gossip pages carry am. Some dey say na engagement, others dey form relationship expert, dey break down who first buy ring for who.

Internet nearly break. People think say na official announcement, Halima Bako fans fill Facebook with congratulation, dey wish her and the young oga better marriage.

Even my neighbour mama wey no dey use internet sabi say "Halima don chop her own." E reach like that.

But na only me know say na lie.

The thing dey sweet me, but e still dey pain small. The world dey believe another person dey enjoy my own.

Because na my hand dey that picture…

If I talk am, nobody go gree. My nail colour, my ring—na only me fit recognize the way I bend my wrist like that.

Na my diamond ring…

I remember when Musa buy am for me—na after one big fight. The ring just dey shine, dey blind eye.

That picture na when I dey on top Musa Danladi, when happiness just dey rush us…

Na after we just chop asun and palm wine for him house. Music dey play, laughter dey full room. I no even wear bra, my wrapper nearly fall. Na pure joy.

The original picture self, Musa Danladi even wear cat ears, him eyes dey half-close like person wey dey high—na my phone get that one. When he post am, he cut the top, leave only the bottom part.

If dem ever hack my phone, wahala go dey. The full picture go spoil internet for three days.

I no even know why Halima Bako post her own ring picture, but from the way she dey behave now, na clear set-up.

She too dey chase relevance. Even the way she dey look camera, e be like say she wan convince everybody by force.

The host raise the task card, ask Halima Bako, “Halima, who you go invite for your food? Na the person wey the comments dey hope for?”

Host dey shine teeth, dey try drag drama from her mouth.

Halima Bako look the comment, form small, then talk, “He dey always busy, but if I call am, e dey always try show face.”

She bend her face small, dey play with her earring. She like do that thing wey she go look down, then raise eye for camera. Na so fans dey melt.

Her cheeks come blush, she form shy: “Make I call am.”

She drop soft giggle, like say na teenage girl. One guy for crew even dey shake head, dey laugh.

The host, wey sabi the game, ask her, “How you save am for your phone?”

She open her phone, show the camera small before shift am away, make people just see the name flash.

Halima Bako show her phone screen. The contact na only one character: [Musa]

As she show am, some people for set dey murmur, dey roll eye. All na form.

Comments start dey drag her for showing off again.

Some dey shout "We don see!" others dey hail her for boldness. Even my small cousin dey send voice note say, "Aunty, you see Halima phone?"

Halima Bako just smile, dial the number.

She put phone for ear, her hand dey shake small, fake smile dey her face.