Chapter 2: Pepper Soup and Sharp Eyes

I just gree and enter Musa car.

The car too clean, dashboard dey shine, even the air freshener get correct scent. I sit down, dey hold my bag like person wey dey fear pickpocket for Oshodi. Silence full the car, na only radio dey talk. Musa no talk, he just dey drive, face straight.

We never reach school gate when I beg am stop: "I fit come down here."

I no want wahala. If my gist leak for hostel, na my own don finish. I reason say make I jump out before anybody recognize me.

The car too shine abeg.

This one na car wey dey make people reason say I dey date senator son. I no wan do celebrity for my hostel abeg.

Musa just look me, no talk, park for one side.

He use indicator, park well, then turn face window. E be like say e no wan talk wetin dey for mind.

As I wan come down, he remind me: "Raise your collar."

His tone serious, but e show say he get eyes for detail. My mind fly back to last night.

I look down, my body just hot—plenty red marks dey under my collarbone, too obvious.

Na that kind mark wey go cause questions if anybody see am. I wan dig ground enter.

"Oh, oh, I—I dey go now."

I adjust my collar, try hide my chest like person wey borrow cloth. I just dey pray make breeze no blow expose me.

I rush come down, begin run enter school gate, no even look back.

As I dey run, I dey thank God say nobody see me drop from car. My heart still dey beat anyhow.

As luck go get am, na Zainab and Ejiro I jam.

The two dey hold hand, dey do lovey-dovey. I no know wetin Zainab talk, but Ejiro hit am, then laugh go lean on am.

Dem look like couple for Nollywood film, dem dey do like Ramsey Nouah and Genevieve for old film, dey enjoy themselves, no care for world. My own heart just squeeze small.

As dem see me, Zainab face just harden.

She bone face, eye me from head to toe. I feel am, she dey size me like say I be market fish.

Ejiro first shout small, then gather courage come meet me:

"Sisi, abeg no vex. Me and Zainab no mean to hurt you..."

Her voice soft, like person wey dey fear slap. She try form gentle, dey look me for eye.

I dey fear say Musa fit still dey around—if he see this one, shame go kill me. I just wave am: "No wahala, everything don pass."

I dey act like I no send them, but for mind, I just dey pray make this drama end quick. Shame dey catch me, but I hold myself.

Ejiro shock, as if she no expect me to calm like that.

Her eye wide, mouth small open, as if she dey find hidden camera. Maybe she expect wahala.

Zainab frown, look behind me, then talk with cold voice:

"Sisi, even if we break up, you no suppose dey act like this. You just dey fall my hand, Sisi. I dey shame for you."

Her voice dry like stale bread, eye sharp. Na so she dey try oppress person?

Haba.

Wetin I do?

I just break up with you, you still get mouth dey talk? Wonders shall never end o.

And you, who you be to look down on me?

For my mind, I dey talk: na God go judge you. I no even get energy for drama.

I no wan cause scene, so I turn waka.

If na before, maybe I for throw word, but now I just want peace. Wahala don too much for my head.

But as I reach corner, sharp pain catch me for belle. I hold wall, squat down small small.

This pain no get joy. My body dey drag me down, like say my spirit dey leave body. Even my voice no fit come out.

Chai... E pain me die. No wonder I lose guard yesterday—women just dey suffer because of hormones.

I close eye, dey pray make e pass quick. This kind pain fit humble even lion.

My phone buzz. Musa send me WhatsApp message:

"I order pepper soup for you, e go reach soon."

Na so I shock. The guy still get my time after everything? I dey surprised, but small smile wan sneak for my face.

I no even remember when I add am. That time, anytime Tomiwa get wahala she no fit tell her parents, na her brother she dey run go, so I add am too.

Back then, we dey use the group chat for small gossip, but I no reason am deep. Now e come be like say I add trouble to my own hand.

But now, as I see his name, e just different.

The name dey my phone dey shine, my heart dey beat. I dey fear wetin e fit mean.

My hand dey shake—I block am straight.

Na sharp decision. I no wan temptation or talk wey go land me for another problem.

After I survive the pain, I rush go hostel.

I hold my belly as I climb stairs, dey pray make hostel girls no ask me question. Small time, I enter my room, lock door, lie down, dey try breathe.

As I tidy up finish, Tomiwa call.

"Sisi, I dey downstairs for your hostel."

Her voice still dey sharp, always energetic. I sigh, try arrange my face before I go meet her.

That time, I no even wan see Tomiwa, but as she don reach, I no get choice.

Na so I carry slippers, dey waka down, dey rehearse my smile. For my mind, I dey talk, 'God abeg, no let my secret leak.'

As she see me, Tomiwa shout:

Her wahala no dey tire. Na so she hug me tight, begin turn me round like small pikin.

"Ah ah, why you dey look weak like this? You dey look like person wey chop beating for NEPA office. Wetin you do yesterday?"

Her eyes dey scan me, she dey press my arm, dey check my face. I just dey find excuse for my head.

Me: "..."

I dey dodge her eye, dey hope say my lie go stick.

She frown: "Na just breakup, e reach like this?"

She cross arm, eye me wella. This Tomiwa, she go make good detective for Nigeria police.

E be like say she no know anything.

Thank God. Na relief enter my body. I just nod, dey play victim. The pain for my belle help my acting.

I just sigh for relief, then she pull out her phone:

"Wait, make I call my brother ask how he take care of you."

Her hand already dey WhatsApp. My mind fly! I no want wahala abeg.

---

My leg almost fail me. I rush hold her hand: "No try am! He—he try, no be him fault, my period dey come."

I squeeze her hand, my eye wide. I dey use my best drama skills, voice dey shake small. I hope say she go pity me.

Tomiwa look me with side-eye: "True?"

She no dey believe me like that. I dey sweat, dey nod like agama lizard.

No be true, but make I talk another thing?

I dey pray make she gree. If not, na another round of interrogation.

I hold my stomach: "Na true..."

I bend small, rub my belly, form pain. Na lie, but e fit save my head.

Tomiwa hiss: "My brother sef, he never get girlfriend before, how he wan take care of you? If say I fit come, I no go send am."

She fold arm, face one side. I dey wonder if she dey jealous or she dey protect her brother.

Wait—Musa never get babe before?

I dey reason am—how possible? This fine boy, all the girls for campus dey find am. I dey try remember last night, my head dey hot.

So how e take run last night—

My face flush, I no wan reason am too much. But question full my head.

"Sisi, why your face dey red?" Tomiwa touch my forehead. "You no get fever, abi?"

Her palm cold, she press my skin small. I quick dodge.

I shake head fast.

I wave my hand, say 'no wahala.' I dey try compose myself.

Tomiwa sigh: "Na just man. Frog wey get three leg hard to see, but man full everywhere. That Zainab no try—no let am worry you. With your fine face and shape, na him lose, no be you."

She snap her fingers, face squeeze. Na so Tomiwa dey talk—always ginger, never let heartbreak hold her. Her own confidence dey contagious. I for like get her mind.

I meet Zainab during first year orientation.

That time, school just dey fresh, everybody dey hustle for friend. Zainab na that guy wey everybody know—sharp mouth, always dey laugh, play ball. I no expect say na him go break my heart.

Fine boy, sabi play ball, everybody sabi am for campus.

E dey shine for field, girls dey rush am, even lecturers sabi am. Me I just dey my lane, until he come dey chase me.

He chase me for three months. I think say he good, so I gree.

He dey come hostel, dey buy gala and La Casera for me, dey write poem. Na so I gree, say make I try see where e go lead.

At first e dey okay, but later I see say any girl wey near am, he dey answer. We quarrel tire.

Small time, wahala start. E go dey like say na only him dey busy. If I ask question, e go shout. Before I know, girls begin dey text am anyhow.

He come begin act cold.

Communication die, e no dey call. I dey ask myself whether I offend am. Na so relationship start dey spoil.

Day before yesterday, person send me WhatsApp photo: him dey hotel bed, lipstick full him face.

That picture mess me up. I no fit sleep that night. I just dey shake, dey look phone. I no fit sleep, I just dey stare my window, hear danfo horn dey shout for midnight.

I go confront am, Zainab just break up with me there and then.

He bone face, say make I no disturb am. No apology, nothing. My chest pain me.

Nonsense.

See rubbish. If I dey think am now, I go laugh say I dey cry for person like that.

If I think am well, na me suppose dump am. I feel like mumu.

True true, I for show am my own level, but heartbreak dey make person forget sense sometimes.

Tomiwa vex: "Where those two idiots? Make I go show them pepper."

She roll sleeve, face mean. Tomiwa no dey carry last for fight, if she catch dem, na wahala.

Me: "..."

I just shake head. I no want another episode. My mind don tire.

Honestly, I no wan cause wahala. After all, e be like say I too...

Part of me dey guilty, but no be my fault. Life na cruise.

"Forget am." I shake my head. "No need waste time for people like that."

My voice low, I dey try smile. No be everything person suppose fight for.

My phone buzz—na the dispatch rider.

The call shock me small. I remember say Musa talk say e order pepper soup. My mind begin race again.

As I collect pepper soup, I just dey shy.

The pepper soup hot, pepper scent dey rise, make my nose tingle and my eyes wan water. Na from one correct restaurant. The nylon even get their logo. Na so my hostel mates dey look me, dey wonder which bobo dey spoil me.

Tomiwa click tongue as she see the receipt: "Wow, my brother fit do something nice. I think—eh, my brother dey call."

She no even dey look receipt again, na her brother she dey focus on now. I dey pray make wahala no burst.

I freeze.

My heart skip beat, my hand dey sweat. I dey pray make Musa no talk rubbish.

Tomiwa pick up: "Hello, bro? Wetin happen?"

She use her sweet voice. I dey watch her face, dey try read wetin Musa dey talk.

I no know wetin dem talk, but she look me one kain and pass me the phone:

Her eye dey suspicious. I just brace myself for anything.

"Sisi, my brother wan talk to you."

Her tone sharp. Na so I begin fear.

I nearly faint, but I pick up.

My voice dey low, like person wey thief biscuit.

"...Hello?"

I dey listen for trap, dey pray make Musa no cast me.

"I no see my watch. E dey your bag?"

He talk calm, like say nothing dey happen. But I dey suspect set up.

Me: "...Ah."

My hand dey shake as I open my bag. I see one big wristwatch, heavy, cold. My heart skip. I dey try remember how e take enter there.

I rush search my bag, and true true, one cold, heavy wristwatch dey inside.

Na correct wristwatch, black leather, gold face, moon and star design. This one no be Aba product o. Na so my mind dey calculate how much e go cost.

Na star and moon design, e shine well, you go know say e cost.

I dey imagine how I go explain am. My head dey scatter.

Tomiwa eye me: "Sisi, why my brother watch dey your bag?"

Her face serious, eyebrow rise. I dey sweat. I dey find lie wey go stick.

My brain just scatter. I remember small from last night, as I hold Musa hand, dey complain say the watch dey scratch my leg...

Picture flash for my head—me dey hold Musa hand, dey talk anyhow, dey drag watch. Shame dey catch me.

As Tomiwa dey eye me, I panic—make I talk something!

My mouth open, nothing come out. My own don finish.

But na Musa first talk: "Yesterday I remove my watch for bar, forget am. She drunk, she fit just carry am with her things."

His voice steady, no shakings. I thank God for small mercies.

Tomiwa relax: "Ehen, I see. Brother, you too careless. Why you go remove watch for that kind place? If no be Sisi, you for lose big money. You no go thank her?"

She hiss, but her voice come down. She no suspect anything again. I fit breathe.

The other side quiet small.

I dey hold my breath, dey wait make phone cut. Wahala wan die down, but small tension still dey.

I rush say: "No, no need."

My voice dey crack, but I cover up with small laugh. I dey pray make nobody notice.

Just to think why he remove am, my face dey hot.

I remember as I dey drag the watch, dey act drama. I just hope say nobody record me that night.

After small, I hear low laugh from phone.

Musa get one kind laugh, low and deep, like thunder wey no wan fall.

"I suppose thank her well. Sisi, when you free? I go come collect my watch after work, treat you dinner."

The way he talk am, my mind dey fly. I dey try act normal for Tomiwa front, but my heart dey race.

I wan refuse, but Tomiwa shout: "Let’s go eat rice and chicken! I know one fine place nearby. Make we go tonight!"

She no even reason me, she don dey arrange dinner.

Musa just agree.

His voice cool: "Okay."

After call, I try protest, but Tomiwa hold me down.

She pull my hand, dey shake am. Her energy dey high. I just weak.

"Sisi, you dey dull? My brother get money. If you fit chop from am, chop."

Her laugh dey loud, like say na play. She no know wetin dey happen for my mind.

I just weak: "...Actually, last night I don chop finish..."

I talk am under my breath. She no hear, but I dey laugh for my mind. This life sha.

I hear say Musa start him own business since year two, tech industry, e dey blow. Now, e don be big boy.

The gist for campus be say Musa dey run his own tech company. People dey respect am. Girls dey chase am, but e no dey look their side. Big boy levels.

Tomiwa dey jealous, she no wan miss chance to chop her brother money.

She dey laugh, dey snap finger, dey talk say if na her own brother, she go collect money wella.

I just gree.

No energy to argue. I just follow make wahala no too much.

...

The commercial street dey bubble with New Year crowd.

People dey waka up and down, traders dey shout, suya smell dey mix with jollof aroma. Everybody dey happy. Inside car, na only Tomiwa dey talk, I dey quiet.

But inside the fine private room, my mind no rest.

The AC dey cool, table set, soft music dey play. I dey tap my finger for table, dey reason how I go survive the night.

Until I hear cool, deep voice—

"Sorry, meeting hold me. I come late."

His voice steady, calm, the kind wey dey make person listen. I look up, dey try hide my face.

I look up.

Musa wear suit, coat for hand, black silk shirt show him slim, strong body.

The way e walk, e sure of himself. Even Tomiwa notice say e don level up. My eye dey follow am.

So controlled, so distant.

He no dey laugh, no dey smile. Na only cold look I dey see. My heart dey beat.

I quick look down.

I dey form busy, dey play with spoon. My face dey hot, my palm dey sweat.

Tomiwa squint, size am up, come lean close sniff: "Omo, see as you dress, you sure say you no go follow babe?"

She dey play, but I dey see say she dey size am. She wan drag am small, make am talk.

I hold my bottle tight.

I dey try hide my shaking hand. I no wan make anybody suspect anything.

No wahala, no wahala, Musa don change cloth, e no fit—

I dey hope say nothing go expose me tonight. I dey pray make my lie last.

Musa sit for my front. As she talk, he raise eyebrow, eye scan me, then reply slow:

He no dey rush, just dey cool. His own answer dey heavy.

"If I go nko?"

His voice steady, like say he no send anybody opinion. My ear dey ring.

I dey tap my foot under table, dey pray make food reach quick so I fit hide my face.

...

Pepper soup aroma dey float, some people dey chop nkwobi, others dey share fried snail. My stomach dey rumble, but my mind still dey shake. The tension for table fit break bottle.

But as Musa eye catch mine, I know say this wahala never even start.