Chapter 4: Numbers and Secrets

As Musa Group brand ambassador, e no surprise say Halima Bako get Musa Danladi business number.

If you dey waka with Musa Group, dem go give you all the correct contacts. Even the dry cleaner wey dey wash him agbada get secretary number.

Soon, call connect.

Everybody dey hold breath. Even the sound engineer wey dey press phone pause to listen.

One soft male voice answer—definitely no be Musa Danladi.

[Miss Bako, good afternoon. Wetin you need from Chairman Musa?]

From the way the guy talk, e clear say e dey read script. If na Musa, e for just dey play. Na this kind voice dey end call quick.

I know the voice: na Musa Danladi secretary.

The guy dey always act like police officer. If your name no dey list, you no go pass. Last time wey I call, na the same strict greeting.

Halima Bako explain say she dey for reality show, but reply quick: [Sorry, Chairman Musa dey meeting, e no fit come.]

She try beg, the guy just cut call like generator wey fuel finish.

Call end.

Na so the place silent for two seconds. Everybody dey look each other. Even the host no fit hide disappointment.

Halima Bako no put am for speaker, so na only people wey dey there hear the short answer.

She try package, but her eye red small. She force laugh, tap her phone, but e clear say e pain am.

She come pout for host, “He too busy, dey meeting, e no fit come.”

She raise hand, tap her cheek, dey form baby voice. But you fit see say e dey pain am.

Comments rush enter:

[Comment: Na true, she really dey with the young oga!]

[Comment: Young oga body too correct, Halima dey enjoy—imagine as she dey touch those abs!]

[Comment: Better body, better family—Halima too lucky!]

Some dey drop prayer hands, others dey shout "Na God win o!"

Host try arrange matter: “Na wah o. Who Halima go invite next?”

E clear say the host dey try change topic make Halima no shame too much.

Halima Bako come do her head like pikin, form cute: “Make I reason—plenty options dey.”

She start dey list designer, stylist, and one musician wey she claim na her cousin.

As she dey ‘reason’, the host come make me draw my own task.

E be like say director dey purposely use my own draw more drama. I dey feel the tension for the room.

Bad luck, I pick the same task as Halima Bako.

As I see am, my heart fall small. I know say wahala dey come.

The host no even send me. Her smile just dey dry: “Who you wan invite, Tolu? Any friend for the industry?”

She turn small, dey wait for answer. Even the cameraman dey lean forward.

I shake head. “No be person for industry.”

Everybody for set just pause. E be like say dem dey expect say I go call one upcoming comedian or DJ.

Host push am, “So na friend or family?”

She no wan leave me alone. She dey dig make show sweet.

I reason small, then nod.

My mind dey calculate wetin go happen if my boyfriend vex. My chest dey heavy.

She ask, “You fit tell us who?”

Everybody dey watch me, even Halima Bako pause her makeup touch-up.

I remember my jealous boyfriend wey dey house… Show talk say the person must come. If I invite another person, wahala go burst…

I remember last time I lie for national TV, baba almost break up. No be today wahala start.

So I just talk him name: “Musa Danladi.”

I talk am with chest, but my voice small. For inside, na only me know as e dey do me.

Host smile freeze, like say she chop bitterleaf.

Her face just change, eye wide, mouth open small. I fit bet say producer dey shout for ear piece.

Everywhere for comment section scatter.

[Comment: Wetin this Tolu dey do?]

[Comment: Shameless, dey invite another person fiancé?]

[Comment: This one dey chase clout—she too desperate!]

People dey tag me for Instagram, dey write thread say I wan use Halima shine.

Production team happy and scared at once.

Camera crew dey exchange look, some dey smile, others dey bite lip. Dem know say show go trend, but dem dey fear backlash.

Happy say my wahala make viewers double—everybody wan see drama.

One PA dey run up and down, dey check comments for tablet. She dey shake head, dey talk say "Na so trouble dey start."

But fear dey because comments dey go overboard; Halima Bako fans dey curse me, team dey fear say people go report the show.

Some comments dey threat, dey talk say dem go block sponsor. Director dey sweat.

Host no send, say, “You fit show how you save Chairman Musa for your phone?”

She dey try expose me—na so showbiz dey be. Na content dem dey find.

I look camera, pause, then shake head. 'Abeg, na private number—if my village people hear am, wahala go land.'

I no wan make dem drag me for leaking person private matter. If e leak, na wahala go land Musa for family house.

Na Musa Danladi private number—no way I go show am.

I remember the last time Musa beg me say make I no ever show anybody that contact—na only his close people get am.

Comments begin boo.

Dem dey use all kinds of emoji, dey tag me liar. One small girl dey even drop voice note, dey laugh.

[Comment: She dey form story!]

[Comment: As if she get young oga number—liar.]

Only small comments try defend me:

[Comment: She get point—if private number leak, wahala go dey…]

But those reasonable ones drown quick as insult full everywhere.

Dem dey call me fake, dey ask why I dey disgrace myself for national TV.

Halima Bako eye me from head to toe, her voice cold like harmattan breeze: “Some people suppose sabi their level. If you try ride wave, na drown you go drown.”

She use her nails scratch her cheek small, dey size me. E clear say she wan make sure I no get shine.

I no even send her, I dial the number for my phone.

I look camera well, make dem see say I no dey fear anybody.