Chapter 9: Pose and Temptation

9

"Chuka, Mo be poison? Why you dey far from am?"

Fola dey direct like film director, e dey sweet her to see two fine people close.

"Come close! Mo, hold him neck!"

Fola voice loud, e dey scatter everywhere, even the cleaners for the hall dey peep.

"I dey shoot couple photo, no be ID card!"

Fola wave her camera, point me and Chuka.

She dey form big madam, but na so we dey do am for Naija. If you no gree, she go threaten say she go post your throwback picture online.

I reach, hold him neck, drag am down—our nose just dey touch.

I lower voice: "Money dey sharp sharp, you still dey stiff?"

I dey tease am, but na my own way to make am relax.

Chuka kneel for my front, hold my ankle, hand dey shake small: "No be for money."

The voice touch me, I fit feel the emotion. My heart dey melt, but I still dey form.

I just hiss, eye Jide wey dey vex, tease:

"Chuka, your hand dey shake. Na Jide dey fear you?"

Jide face dey squeeze, e no fit talk. I dey enjoy the moment.

I drag am small, dey provoke am.

E grip my ankle tight, then loosen, touch soft.

I fit feel goosebumps for my skin. Na the kain touch wey person no fit buy for market.

"Mo, Chuka, change pose!"

As we dey form, Fola dey direct us.

Fola dey snap, her excitement dey show. She dey shout, 'good, beautiful, abeg, smile small!'

Chuka move behind me, arm wrap my waist, pull me near, chin rest my shoulder.

Him scent just surround me.

The kain comfort I feel, e dey sweet, my body relax. Na so I just lean for am.

"Abeg, couple photo must reach like this?"

I dey act tough, but I dey enjoy everything.

"Mo, Fola catch you for something?"

Jide stand, face dark.

Jide dey jealous, but e no wan talk am straight. Na so boys dey always hide feelings.

As dem dey argue, I feel soft kiss for back of my neck.

Warm breath touch my skin, body just shake small.

The feeling pass electric shock, I fit feel butterfly dey fly for my stomach.

"I no fear Jide. I just no wan make you get wahala."

Chuka voice low, gentle.

Full of love—and small temptation.

E be like say thunder for rainy season, e go loud, but the after-calm go sweet. My heart dey trip for this guy. But I no know say the real wahala never even start.