Chapter 8: Echoes of the Past

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Seven.

As we dey leave lab, I offer to escort Moji go her hostel.

Rain dey threaten, thunder dey far. The path dey dark. I no wan make she waka alone.

'E don late, senior. E no too safe for you to waka alone—make I follow you.'

I try talk am with respect. My heart dey beat.

Moji look me, face still cold, but she no talk no—just nod small. Her hand tremble as she adjust her bag, then she look away. The cold front still dey, but e get something soft under.

Her nod quick, she no even make eye contact.

For road, we no talk anything. Everywhere just dry.

The silence loud. I dey hear my own shoe dey hit ground. Breeze dey blow leaf, crickets dey sing.

I reason say make I find gist break the silence.

I try remember one meme Ibadan senior send me before. My mouth dey heavy.

'Erm, senior, thanks for today.'

My voice low, almost shy.

'No wahala.'

Her answer short. She just dey look road.

'...'

I wan talk another thing, but my mouth dry. E hard.

Gist no gree flow.

My mind dey wander. I dey wish say Ibadan senior dey here, she sabi run banter.

I try another topic, Moji just cut am.

She cut me sharp. Her face tight.

Maybe Musa dey right—Moji mind na only experiment.

I dey reason say maybe she just serious type, but my mind no rest.

Back for hostel, I complain to Musa.

I drop bag, lie down. Musa dey eat biscuit. He look me, shake head.

He think small, then say, 'Maybe na you no sabi find topic?'

I turn, eye am. 'Oga, you dey whine me?'

'Really? I think say my topics dey okay.'

I dey list all my failed attempts. Musa dey laugh.

'But your gist dey always dry. Na so you dey with other girls?'

He raise brow. I dey reason am well.

Other girls? I think am. Apart from my secondary classmates, na only the Ibadan senior remain. Even though na online, our gist always dey flow—especially with her. She no dey let gist die.

She fit twist my words, make joke, even when I dey serious. E dey fun.

As I compare both, I just begin miss the Ibadan senior more.

The miss dey real. I dey remember all her small advice, the way she dey tease me.

I sigh. I wonder how she dey.

The longing strong. My chest dey bite me.

I plan meet her after WAEC to thank her. If I add her back now...

I dey fear she go vex. But my spirit dey push me.

As the idea enter my mind, e just dey grow. I struggle for days. At last, I convince myself: No matter wetin, I suppose at least talk sorry and thank you.

One night, as I dey look old screenshots, I decide. Life no dey wait person.

So I no waste time—I click her old profile, send friend request.

As I click send, my hand dey shake. I dey pray make she no ignore me.