19/05/2026
Sometimes I disappear because I donât know how to explain myselfâŠ
I swear, if person no pass through wetin I pass through this year, e fit hard to understand why I dey ghost everybody like village spirit.
One minute, I go dey active⊠posting memes, laughing for WhatsApp status, shouting âWho dey breeeet?â like say life soft.
Next minute?
Boom.
I vanish.
No calls.
No texts.
Nothing.
People think say I dey form.
But deep down, na because I no even know how to explain the kind confusion wey dey my chest.
Especially after Chioma happened.
Ah.
That girl finish me with premium heartbreak wey suppose qualify for Olympics.
We met for my friend birthday party. She sharp, funny, stubborn small⊠the kind girl wey fit insult you and still make you smile like mumu.
I loved her badly.
Even when my guys dey warn me.
âBro, this babe get secrets.â
But me?
I no hear word.
Love dey make person temporarily s t u p I d.
God abeg forgive me.
Everything dey sweet at first.
Matching DP.
Late-night calls.
âBaby have you eaten?â
âSend me location.â
âCome cuddle me.â
Normal lover boy package.
Until one evening.
I went to surprise her for her house.
I even buy sharwama and yoghurt like responsible boyfriend.
As I reach her compound, I notice one black car parked outside.
Big motor.
Tinted.
My mind first tell me say maybe na visitor.
But as I climb stairs reach her doorâŠ
I hear man voice.
Deep voice.
Laughing.
Then Chioma laugh join.
That laugh pain me pass slap.
My hand begin shake.
I knock.
Silence.
Another knock.
Before she open door small.
âBabe?? Wetin you dey do here?â
Her face don change instantly.
Like person wey police catch.
I peek inside.
One guy sit down for chair dey press phone comfortably like landlord.
The sharwama nearly fall from my hand.
âWho be this?â I ask.
She start stammer.
âMy cousinâŠâ
Omo.
If na lie detector dey that room, e for don explode.
The guy stand up calmly.
Tall.
Fresh.
Expensive perfume wey nearly blind me.
Then he stretch hand.
âGuy, calm down. I be her fiancĂ©.â
âŠ
FIANCĂ???
I laugh.
The kind laugh wey dey come when pain too much.
I thought na prank.
Until the guy bring out engagement pictures from him phone.
Professional photoshoot.
Matching outfits.
Wedding hashtag already ready.
My chest hot instantly.
Chioma begin cry.
âPlease let me explainââ
Explain wetin exactly??
How you dey date two men like DSTV package?
I comot quietly.
No shouting.
No fighting.
But that night?
I off my phone for one whole month.
Everybody think say something happen to me.
Truth be sayâŠ
Something actually happen.
My heart break into pieces like gala wey trailer jam.
I stopped replying messages.
Even my mama threaten to report me m i s s i n g.
But the real madness never even start.
One midnight, Chioma suddenly text me.
âIâm outside your house.â
My spirit nearly leave my body.
Outside??
By 1:47am??
I open curtain small.
And there she was.
Crying.
Holding small bag.
Rain dey beat her like Nollywood scene.
I no wan open door, but curiosity k i l l e d me.
As she enter, she hug me tight.
âPlease hide me,â she whispered.
âHide you from who?â
Before she answerâŠ
POUNDING on my gate.
LOUD.
Aggressive.
Then one male voice shout:
âChioma!! I know say you dey there!â
Omo.
My soul disconnect.
She start shaking violently.
That was when she finally confessedâŠ
The so-called fiancé was not just her fiancé.
The man dey dangerous.
Obsessed.
Controlling.
And according to herâŠ
He already threatened anybody wey come close to her before.
My mouth dry instantly.
I wanted to send her away immediately.
But thenâŠ
She showed me bruises on her arm.
Fresh marks.
I froze.
The banging on my gate became louder.
âOpen this gate NOW!â
Then my phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
I picked slowly.
The voice on the other side laugh softly and say:
âYou think say she innocent?â
My heartbeat stop.
Then he sent one picture.
OmoâŠ
The picture nearly made me faint.
Because the Chioma standing beside meâŠ
Was wearing the exact same clothes from a CCTV imageâŠ
Where one rich old man disappeared three weeks ago.
And her face?
Clear.
Smiling.
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