Chapter 4: Camera Lie and Kamsiyochukwu’s Sacrifice

As good student, na my first time dem call me for office because of fight.

I never even get query for my life before. As dem call my name, I dey fear say my mama go hear, wahala go land.

Form teacher frown. “Camera dey for classroom. Since both of you talk say una no do am, we go check the video. Whoever do am go pay.”

Her voice cold, no pity. Na so teacher dey talk for Naija, e no matter who you be, punishment dey wait.

Maybe because two of us no even look guilty, teacher pause.

E be like she dey try study our body, maybe she go catch lie for our face.

“If not, two of you go collect public punishment.”

She mean business. For our school, public punishment na real disgrace. Dem fit flog you, or make you cut grass for field.

As teacher talk finish, Halima rush talk, “Teacher—”

Her voice dey shake, she wan defend herself.

Knock land for door.

E sound like thunder, all of us shock.

Kamsiyochukwu enter, gentle and calm. “Teacher, na me write the thing.”

Everybody freeze. Na only clock for wall dey tick. E be like magic, nobody fit believe.

Everywhere quiet for three seconds. Even fly no dey buzz. All eye dey for Kamsi.

Kamsiyochukwu explain, “I pour water this morning, my books soak. The thing transfer reach Ijeoma desk by mistake.”

E talk am like person wey dey dream. For my mind, I know say na lie. But I just keep quiet, my heart dey beat.

Na pure lie. Even he no fit explain am.

Na so some people get mouth, dem fit talk anything to protect their own. E sweet me small, but I no show am.

Form teacher eye am suspicious, then sigh. “You sabi cover for people, but make sure say you no dey lie for nothing. Next time, camera go talk true.”

Kamsiyochukwu just waka reach me.

He look me for eye, his voice soft. Everybody dey wait to see if wahala go end here.

“Ijeoma, sorry for wahala.”

He talk am with meaning. The air for office calm small, teacher just dey look both of us.

Halima dey look am, her eyes dey shine like say she win lottery.

She dey try smile, but na fake. You go see am for her eye say she dey plan new thing.

So na so childhood friend dey behave?

I dey wonder, for her mind, if na so dem dey do for house. She no fit hide am again.

I smile. “Since Kamsi serious like this, abeg help me with my studies as apology.”

Everybody for office look up. E be like new episode for Super Story just start.

Kamsiyochukwu nod.

He agree sharp-sharp, his eyes soft. I feel better.

From corner of my eye, I see Halima eyes dey red with vex.

She no fit hide am again. E dey burn am. For Naija, na only God fit judge this kind matter.