Chapter 10: Old Patterns, New Gaps

Next two days, Pei Yan dey act like before Lin Xi come. He go follow me waka class, dey crack joke.

He dey follow me go school, during break, e go come find me. Other girls dey whisper, I no send.

He dey near me again. Buy gala and Fanta for break, just like old days.

As for Lin Xi, even though she thief class money to help her grandpa hospital bill,

Class no gree near her. Nobody wan sit near, even for lunch. People dey dodge her eye for corridor.

Before, as she close to Pei Yan, people go form friendly. Now, na only her shadow dey follow go class.

Even Pei Yan dey avoid her now,

Lin Xi come dey more lonely. Break time, she dey stare phone, screen light paint her face blue-blue.

Day before my transfer, for break,

Deskmate nudge me, dey chew gum, eye dey find teacher.

"Hey, deskmate."

"These days, after class, hide your phone and wallet well." She glance bag, then Lin Xi for window.

"Make I tell you, few days ago for office, I see say Lin Xi birthday na tomorrow." Voice low.

I confuse. "So?" Eyebrow up.

She purse lips, small speechless. "She don steal before, fit steal again." She shrug, voice full of village wisdom.

"Maybe she go thief for birthday groove." She snicker, nudge my arm.

Shadow fall, mood change.

Pei Yan dey listen, face cold. Jaw tight, hand ball fist.

"E don do?" Voice sharp, cut our gist.

He never talk to girl like that before. Even boys look up.

"No be Lin Xi don apologise already?" Eye flash anger.

Sarcasm full eye.

"How much she suppose pay before una go let her drink water drop cup?" Voice low, but everybody hear.

Pei Yan never harsh like this. Something don change inside am—maybe for Lin Xi, maybe for himself.

Seems Lin Xi really change am. I no sabi if e good or bad.

Deskmate vex small.

"I just dey careful, na all." She cross arm, no gree back down.

"And wetin concern you, Pei Yan? You dey always defend her—na she you like?" She smirk, half play, half truth.

Pei Yan look me. Eye linger, searching.

I look away, no care. I draw spiral for page.

He talk small,

"I no fit stand for friend?" Pain dey voice, but I no fit give am comfort.

He waka go, face blank. Classroom quiet again.

Pei Yan still be same. The more he care, the more he form hard. I finally understand, and e pain less.