Chapter 3: Main Character Wahala—Supporting Babe's Fear

No be today I dey see these comments.

Since when I join class group, na so all these comments dey fly. Dem fit dey for under post, for meme, for voice note. If you dey pay attention, you go sabi who be main gist and who be extra.

But na today I believe am.

E clear reach my heart. E be like say fate dey use us act film. Before, I dey feel say na just joke, but now, e be like prophecy dey play out for my face.

When Kamsi transfer enter our class, as she stand for front, all the boys dey look her—except Timi.

Her skin dey shine, new cornrow, fine earrings, English dey roll for mouth, but Timi just dey write for e book. Na only me notice. Boys dey toast her, dey ask for number, but Timi dey act like say e no even see her shadow.

Na that time comments show:

[Guy dey do like say e no see e own babe?]

[Abi e still think say na childhood friend e like?]

[Na calm before storm. Dem get empathy—na classic Naija webnovel matter!]

[Later, their chemistry go mad. Guy go dey look babe anyhow, e go wan dey with her every time.]

Dem dey prophesy like market women for under bridge. People wey no know story go just join mouth, dey add salt and pepper. Na their own movie, na we dey act am.

I begin piece the story from the comments:

My eye dey open. I see say dem don already write the ending before we even start. Na so my spirit begin dey fear small. If everybody dey see me as supporting character, wetin remain for my own happiness?

Timi and Kamsi na dem be the main couple for this world.

Dem dey shine for people eye. Every little thing dey join dem, as if dem two dey under spotlight for stage. If I try push myself enter, na so everybody go begin dey vex.

Me, I just be the jealous supporting babe.

E pain me to admit am, but na true. For group chat, na so dem dey call me—supporting babe. "No worry, Sade, your own go come," dem go yarn, but na only Timi and Kamsi matter dey trend.

After Kamsi transfer, because of this empathy, Timi go dey near her small small.

E go start with ordinary excuse—project group, library reading, even after school lesson. My mind dey hot, but I dey pretend say e no concern me. But deep down, I dey see say something dey grow between dem.

I go dey jealous, dey plan against Kamsi, but every time, Timi go save her last minute.

Na so I go dey try lock my space. I go dey tell Kamsi say "Teacher dey find you" just to send am comot from Timi side. But every time, Timi go just waka go find am, dey help am carry bag, dey rescue am for small small wahala. The thing dey pain me well.

Their love go strong.

Everybody for class dey see am, even teachers dey talk am for staff room. "See as those two dey move together," dem go say. Me, I dey look from window, dey wish say make thunder strike sense enter Timi head.

Last last, I go too overdo, spoil all the good wey childhood friend bring.

Na so I go plan my own downfall. I go dey push too much, dey shout, dey pick fight. Dem go tire for my wahala, say I dey jealous too much. All the sweet memories of childhood friend go just scatter.

To protect Kamsi, Timi go force me comot before WAEC.

I go waka, bag in hand, tears for eye, as Timi beg school principal make dem transfer me for peace to reign. My chest go dey bleed, but I go form hard babe.

Na so I fail.

Because wahala too much, I no fit concentrate for book. All the stress make me miss exam, score fall. Teachers dey pity me, but result no dey show am.

As I no fit bear say my three years hard work don waste, I go carry my papa car, wan jam Kamsi.

Na madness dey follow heartbreak. I go drive anyhow, speed enter main road, eyes red. For my mind, I no care again—if pain wan finish me, make e finish well.

But villain no dey ever win: Kamsi go survive as Timi save her, I go die for car accident, my parents go cry their only pikin.

I fit picture am: casket, black lace, people dey shout, "Eyaa, Sade fine girl, see how she waka." My mama go faint for burial ground. My papa go sit for corner, dey shake head, tears dey run. For village, dem go say na curse. Everybody go move on, but my name go remain for "gone too soon."

My body cold. Na true be this?

The cold wey catch me no be ordinary. I hug myself, dey wonder if na my own hand dey write my end for ground. My own life dey play for my eye like home video.

I look Timi, e dey beside me, dey peel orange. E dey remove all the white skin because I say e dey bitter.

E dey focus, tongue out small, dey do am with patience. Na only Timi fit do that one for me. If e see say orange get small wound, e go throw am away, find the best one.

As e notice my eye, e look up, smile. "You dey rush?" E put orange for my mouth.

The orange cold, sweet, juice dey run down my lip. I no fit even vex. For that moment, na like say nothing dey worry us. My chest calm small.

For him eye, na only me dey.

E dey shine like sun after rain. The way e dey look me, e clear say e no dey see any other person. I try read meaning, but the look strong, deep.

I laugh. All these comments na nonsense. E no fit happen.

I brush the thought commot. Na me and Timi dey here. No script fit control my life, na me be author for my story.

As I sit for back, I dey reason—if I no fit change my story, who go do am for me?