Chapter 8: Bootlicker for Group

I remember that break up gist for group.

The gist no dey die. Every week e go resurface, dey trend small, dey gather new comment.

[Shey Ifedike and Temi don break up today]

E follow me since the day we start.

Ifedike na school fine boy for computer science, always dey rep school for competition, na almost celebrity.

Him poster dey everywhere. School dey use am for open day. People dey rush am for mentorship. Me, I just dey struggle under spotlight.

Me—"bootlicker", "bitch", "toad"…

Dem even change my name for group chat. Person go create sticker with my face, dey use am to yab others. Pain catch me.

Apart from insult, dem dig my info, even ugly pictures and paparazzi shots post online.

I see picture wey I wear net, hair rough. Dem screenshot am, dey do meme. Some dey tag me for post, dey laugh. Shame nearly finish me.

As I dey waka for street, people dey point. For class, I go hear click, person dey snap me from back.

I dey fear even to waka near canteen. Some girls go look me up and down, whisper for back. E tire me.

That gist nearly give me anxiety.

E dey hard to sleep. Sometimes, I go dey hear phone beep, heart go dey jump.

Later, with red eye, I beg Ifedike:

“Fit help me delete that gist?”

I meet am for library, voice low, eyes red from sleepless night.

Wetin he talk?

“No.”

He bone face, no blink. E be like say e no even hear my cry.

“If I hack group delete another person gist, e no good. Temi, no be why I study computer. If dem catch me, na wahala.”

He dey explain with logic, but my heart no wan hear logic. E just dey pain me say he no fit bend for me.

“I advise you sef no call security. If security enter, e go affect school name. You go dey okay?”

He dey talk say make I bear am, make I no involve authority. All the while, I dey look am, dey beg with eye.

“But…”

I wan talk, voice shake. Tears dey my eye.

“If you really wan make am disappear, one way dey.”

He talk with finality, as if na only one door remain.

“Which way?”

I hold him sleeve like say na lifeline.

I grip am, eye red. For my mind, I dey pray make he get change of heart.

“Break up with me.”

He tell me say if I wan make gist disappear, I gats break up with am.

He say to help me delete am go against him principle.

But now, for that babe, he hack whole group.

The thing choke me. E show who really matter for am. Na that day, my eye start to clear small small.