I’m writing as I sit in one of the offices at the state laboratory. It’s the middle of the day and the air from the partially rusty ceiling fan is soothing. It's a Friday so I chose to wear the curviest gown I own because I had never worn it before. Also because this promotion won't get itself. My thighs had been on full display all day and I had caught Femi from Marketing drooling. To think he isn’t even my target audience, plus he’s one of those “fine boy, empty pocket” people. He even looks like someone whose hand will be tight, so I will gladly not indulge. 

If my mother had seen my gown, I would have met the devil in hell today, yet when I send the monthly stipend home, she won’t care to ask how it was made. My mother didn’t believe you needed to spend so much to look good, as she always advised me to go to the market to get new tops from Iya Bella’s weekly bend-down-select bail which was obviously way below my standard. It was situated in Aba and the first time I ever went there, I saw so many yellow-yellow girls. One of them had skin like butter, so smooth and fair I could almost see my reflection. Iya Bella seemed to pay more attention to her and this upset me a bit.

‘She isn’t even that beautiful’, I thought. 

I knew I was just lying to myself so I could feel better. I heard the other girls gossip about her and I leaned in to listen. Apparently, she used to be a commercial sex worker at Ilesha Underbridge, until her husband, Chief Saka decided to marry her.

“This life really isn’t fair oh”, I said as I joined in on the gossip while checking out an orange show-me-back gown. 

I check my phone to see it is 15 minutes to 6 pm. It had been an hour since the lab closed. I couldn’t wait to get home and have white rice with the delicious snail stew my mother had sent to me two days ago from Aba. I feel my stomach rumble as I imagine how good the food will taste. 

“Chi, are you ready to leave?”, asked Shola, one of the lab technicians. 

“I’m packing up”, I say as I close my journal.

Shola. That is who I wore this scandalous outfit for. The only reason I stayed late today. My lips curl in a smile as I think about how fun the ride home is going to be. 

***

My phone rings for the third time and I have to pick it up if not the mugu won’t stop calling. It’s Shirley from work.

“Chinelo check the news. Shola is dead! His body was found in his car.” she said in her tiny annoying voice.

“Wait what?!! How did it happen?”

“Just check the news,” she sounded like she had balled her eyes out for days.

So I turn on my television and I see a picture of that perfect face, young and still very passionate about life. Those small Asian eyes and those lips. Oh, those lips. And then I turn to the head on the floor just beside my bed. The lips look darker now, a lot less attractive than they looked when I kissed them last night. 

I’m sure you’re wondering why I did it. Like I said, this promotion won’t get itself so I had to do what had to be done. And Shola was rather unfortunate. I let out a giggle. 

“Well guess who’s getting promoted in a few days,” I say as I let out a wicked laugh this time.