Chapter 4: Gossip, Scholarship, and Bitter Truth

That afternoon as I reach school, na so everybody dey look my side. For mock exams, I never even reach 250 before. My classmates dey whisper:

"How struggling student take get high score like that?"

"You never hear? Anu run exam. Education board dey check CCTV."

I dey hear am like film. For my heart, na only God know as e dey do me. Some boys dey whisper as if dem get secret gist, some girls dey eye me as if na juju I use.

Inside the noise, I hear some girls dey yarn.

"Tunde dey come back school tonight!"

"That Tunde wey enter UNILAG straight last year, score 382, become state top scorer?"

The way dem dey say his name ehn, you go think say na Wizkid dey return concert. Hype everywhere.

I never even hear finish when Kamsi show again, group of people dey hail her.

She just dey waka like say she na queen for parade ground, dey greet everybody, dey form level.

"I sabi Senior Tunde o. We don talk for back," Kamsi dey form.

"Last year, my score no pure. He even chat with me, say make I try reach UNILAG. Na why I repeat."

She dey add pepper for her own story, dey do like say dem be bestie since cradle.

One girl sigh, "To meet at the top—romantic die!"

Even the boys dey nod. Love story for campus get as e dey sweet people.

Kamsi blush, eyes dey shine pride as she look my side.

She dey show herself, dey give me silent warning with her eyes.

I just bone, "I dey chat with Tunde everyday. Funny, I never hear say he encourage you."

If you see as her face change, e be like who lick bitterleaf.

"Anu, you too dey lie. Tunde even know who you be?"

She no fit believe say I go even get mouth for that level. Her voice dey carry salt.

Kamsi eye me finish. "Na UNILAG physics top you dey talk. You, one arts student wey cheat, fit reach am?"

Even as she dey talk, her body dey tremble small, fear dey hide under her pride.

Suddenly, person shout, "Anu, education board dey find you."

Na so everybody head turn at once. Small time, the air just cold. Person wey dey whisper near me shift go back.

Everybody turn look me. Person whisper, "Cheat for JAMB—no be crime be that?"

If say ground dey open, I for just hide enter.