Chapter 6: Defeat

At first, I think say if police check well, I go clear. Na hope I dey hold. I dey believe say truth go show. But if Chijioke still dey run things for back, my life don spoil. As big man dey pull string, I just dey lose hope small small.

Coach think, try console me. E say make I try beg, maybe God go touch their heart. "I go talk to Mr. Onwudiwe, beg am, maybe everything go calm. At least Chijioke survive. If you humble yourself, maybe dem go pity you."

For this country, sometimes to beg na the only way. Even if you dey right, you go still kneel down. No better option again.

My lawyer dey shake head. 'Tayo, try beg.' I swallow my pride. More than truth, I need protect myself. My family dey suffer, my name dey drag. I no wan make dem lose everything.

So I carry lawyer, go beg Onwudiwe family. I dress well, spray perfume. For gate, security look me like say I be thief. My lawyer dey whisper, 'Just humble yourself.'

But Mr. Onwudiwe no even gree see me. E send security say make I dey go. Na shame dey catch me.

Chijioke even proud pass, swear say I go pay. The boy dey do like king. E dey post cryptic messages for Snapchat: 'Karma dey real.'

My apology video for knocking am out, dem post am online. The video dey everywhere. People dey laugh, dey curse, dey edit my face put clown hat. Internet scatter again.

Na so blog headline dey roll: 'Tayo finally confesses!'

Many people believe say as I apologize, I dey guilty. For Naija, once you say sorry, na you do am. Nobody go reason say maybe na pressure.

Some people try support me, but paid commenters drown their voice. Dem dey drop comment every two seconds, dey attack anybody wey talk good about me. Onwudiwe family surely pay people to hype the thing. I know say some of those accounts na one person dey run. Money dey talk.

Many fake accounts talk say my class too expensive, say I dey proud, only dey boast. People wey never see me before dey form story. Na so life be. Supportive comments hide under. If you try defend me, dem go insult your papa join.

Many people wey no sabi the real story curse me, happy say I offend big man. People dey celebrate my downfall. For some, na sport.

Even diving fans come out support their own, some accuse me of cheating for competition, say I cause too many deaths. Dem dey count all my old wahala. No be small thing.

Nobody send my explanation. For this Naija, once rumor start, explanation no dey reach anybody. By now, everybody believe wetin dem wan believe. Na the story dem like, no be the truth.

Even my colleagues wey defend me, people accuse them of cover-up. Dem talk say we be cult. Na so story dey grow wings.

Big media join, no evidence to clear me, so insult full everywhere. Channels TV, Arise, even BBC Pidgin carry am. Everywhere red.

Chijioke dey pressure police, spend money to spoil my name. E dey drop brown envelope. Some police dey call me for back, dey warn me say 'Oga, run.'

The matter spread. My coach, colleagues, family, friends—all suffer. My uncle for village say people no dey greet am again. My junior brother dey cry for school.

As my family dey shame everyday, I no fit bear am. I dey think, 'Abeg, make this wahala end.'

Last last, I return the five million, announce say I no go dive again. I carry all my small change, pay the money back. I dey talk for interview, 'Make una leave me, I no do again.'