Chapter 4: Seyi Enter Scene

Seyi na sports student for our school—he dey keep to himself, people no too like am. E no dey talk to anybody, always dey wear short knicker, carry ball for hand, face like person wey no get joy.

But the guy fine die. Na that kind face wey make Yemisi fall for am at first glance. If you see the way her eyes shine when she first notice am, you go know say love dey worry am.

She go dey run after am anyhow. Sometimes, after prep, she go dey find excuse to walk pass basketball court, dey peep whether Seyi dey train.

For my last life, I no fit resist her begging, I help her lie give her parents, so she fit dey waka with Seyi without wahala.

After that, na Seyi name full her mouth. She dey always gist me about Seyi, how im dey lonely, how im dey suffer.

"I never see person wey carry sadness reach like this."

"He too suffer—im mama die when e small, papa na drunkard."

"He no get joy for life. He talk say na only me dey light up im world."

As I dey hear all this, jealousy just dey bite me, but I no fit do anything. My chest dey hot, but I dey swallow am like bitterleaf soup.

Later, Yemisi begin dey far from me, she and Seyi na like bread and butter. Dem go dey waka for school together, share earphone, dey laugh for corridor.

She begin skip class, even skip first mock exam because of am. The teachers begin dey notice. People dey talk for back, but Yemisi no send anybody.

Till one day, I see our school goddess, her face dey shine with happiness, dey hold Seyi arm, as dem dey come out from one dirty, rough guest house near the market.

That sight break my heart. The same girl wey I dey protect since childhood, dey smile with another boy for that kind place. That night, when her parents ask where she go, I finally tell dem the truth.

I kneel for room that night, dey beg God make I no do mistake. But sleep no gree me, conscience dey bite like mosquito. Yemisi parents vex scatter, rush go school, even threaten say dem go call police.

Seyi papa lose him head, beat the boy well—nobody fit hold am.

After that, Seyi vanish from our youth. E be like say one chapter close for everybody mind.

Everything come dey normal again. Yemisi no too dey talk to anybody. Her parents dey watch her like hawk. My own life come dey peaceful, but something for my heart still dey heavy.

Years later, me and Yemisi marry.

For the wedding, one old classmate wey don high come dey laugh, "Una remember Seyi? After he drop out, na club life he enter, wahala full am, last last, one rich woman husband knack am die. E even enter news sef—una see am?"

The kind way the gist spread for wedding, even MC pause. Yemisi face just pale, like person wey see masquerade for midnight.

That night, as I dey sleep, she set our bridal room on fire.

"Na you kill am. I for fit save am. Me and am for get better life."

"I just marry you because I tire to play, I need person to settle for. Tobi, you too dey do mumu."

"Everyday with you na punishment. Now, I dey free, hahaha."

"Go hell, pay for your sins."

The fire dey shine for her twisted face.

I never believe say because of Seyi, she hate me reach like that.

Her mad laughter dey ring for my head as I pass out.

Maybe God hear my quiet cry, give me another chance to start afresh.

This time, I no go make the same mistake.