Chapter 7: The Online Firestorm

After police go, I stop the girl.

She dey look me with eye wey no fear anybody. I try calm my spirit.

I try hold myself, ask her,

My voice low, but my message sharp. "Sister, abeg, if you get wahala, tell me. If na hunger, or stress from school, I fit help small. No go do bad thing."

"You get any problem? If you get wahala, you fit tell me.

I don help plenty students. I no get plenty money, but my mind dey clean. If you need small help, I go try. Just no go do bad thing."

I dey beg her with eye, hope say maybe na pain dey cause her madness.

But the girl no even look face, she slap me sharp: "Wetin you take me for? You dey mad!"

Her slap land, my ear buzz. Auntie Funmi gasp. Some people dey pull her back, say make she no start fight.

"Let me tell you, I no go let you go free for touching me. I go make sure you pay with your life!"

Her mouth sharp, her threat heavy. I dey wonder which spirit dey inside her.

After she curse me, she waka go.

Her leg dey strong, she no look back. The ground even fear am.

My chest just dey tight, vex wan kill me.

My hand dey shake, but I hold myself. I dey reason whether to call my pastor or Imam join.

I no fit understand why she dey target me.

Life no fair, but this one pass my understanding.

This evil seed—if you wan finish me, I go follow you fight this life.

I vow for my heart say, this time, I no go go down silent. God dey see everything.

When I reach my room, I no do low profile again. I post screenshot of my donation online.

I carry my phone, snap everything, write small explanation. My hand dey shake as I dey type.

Since I no fit do am last time, this time I do am early.

I no wan wait until wahala swallow me. Prevention better than cure.

Make I build my image sharp-sharp before wahala come.

For Naija, na who get first voice dey win argument.

Na because this evil seed force me.

If to say she let me rest, I for still dey hide my good works.

Because I no get plenty money and I no want thank you, I dey donate anonymous—self, I no know the people name.

I dey do am for God, not for praise. But now, I dey forced expose myself.

Before, I no send.

But now, I no get choice. Na survival be this.

But after all this lie, na only to show myself remain.

I dey pray make truth rescue me for once.

After I post, people online praise me.

Some dey drop prayers, others dey hail me for DM. My chest relax small.

Of course, some say I dey stingy, say I dey show off with small money.

One boy even write, "Oga, na only 5k you dey give? Big man like you!" But my mind no shake.

I no send.

Who wan believe, believe. I don try my best.

Next day, as I fear, e happen.

The wahala I dey run from come knock my door early morning.