Chapter 8: Slay Queen Pressure and New Beginnings

“Of course, Chibuzor sister.”

E scan am quick, no wan do drama. E gree.

When all parents gather, Teacher Folarin start the meeting.

E stand for front, voice calm. All the parents dey listen well. I dey front row, my eye dey him body.

I just dey look am steady, no blink.

For my mind, na small movie I dey watch. E dey talk about school plan, progress, discipline—voice soft, but message strong.

At first, he look my side, but later I notice say he dey dodge my row.

E dey avoid my eye like say I be SSS.

I click tongue low.

I dey form like say I dey listen, but my mind dey run marathon.

Chibuzor bend: “Sis, wetin dey do you? Why you dey look our teacher like that? Him fine, but you too dey show am.”

The boy no get filter. Na wa for small pikin talk.

Me: ?

I turn, look am, raise brow. “Wetin I do?”

Chibuzor just dey shake head, eye dey shine.

Na just small look I look am. No be only me dey look.

Other mamas dey peep am too, dey reason whether e single.

Chibuzor roll eye: “Your eye dey like say you wan chop Teacher Folarin raw—like Mami Wata dey eye fisherman.”

The line nearly make me burst laugh. Chibuzor sabi cruise.

I force smile, whisper: “Talk one more word, you no go see shishi from me again.”

He go quiet sharp sharp. Money matter dey shut mouth.

Chibuzor just laugh. “Look am, abeg.”

He no wan miss gist. E dey encourage me.

After meeting, plenty parents rush Teacher Folarin. He dey middle, dey talk gently. That kind calmness—na correct man wey sabi.

E dey answer everybody with patience. Some mamas dey smile like say dem dey interview son-in-law.

I stand one side, dey peep am.

I dey measure am with eye. Who know if destiny dey here?

Suddenly, Teacher Folarin look up, him eye just catch me for crowd.

E pause small, then smile back. Na coded smile.

I freeze, then smile.

E sweet me, I turn face. My heart dey do gbim gbim.

Chibuzor pull my sleeve, bag for one shoulder: “Make we dey go house, Sis.”

E dey rush, na game e wan reach house go play.

I nod, look away first.

I dey form cool. If dem look me, dem go think say na normal thing.

For road, I ask: “How old your class teacher? He dey look young.”

I dey do small investigation. I gats know my target.

The more senior teacher, the more parents dey trust am. I dey doubt his experience.

If e be young, e fit still dey do NYSC.

Chibuzor, wey like his teacher, defend am: “No judge by face! He go University of Ibadan, 28 years, get experience die.”

E talk am with pride, like say na him dey train the teacher.

I say, “Okay.”

Then I press: “Top university? How top?”

I dey test am. No be all school be the same.

Chibuzor: “UI na top school.”

He fold arm, form big boy. I just dey laugh inside.

That one remind me—my roommate boyfriend go same school with Teacher Folarin.

My mind dey race. I dey see connection.

I carry phone, message my roommate. I just ask: “Teacher Folarin get babe?”

No time to waste. My spy network dey sharp.

Chibuzor dey play game, but mouth sharp: “No, him never date before.”

I surprise. Na rare thing for man wey fine reach like that.

Three seconds later, he shock: “Wait, how you take know him name? I no remember say I tell you. Wait—why you dey ask if he get babe? You like am?!”

Boys sabi gossip pass girls sometimes.

I reply, “Why you dey poke nose? You no go see tomorrow.”

I use my eye warn am. E quiet, but e still dey peep.