Chapter 1: Shame and Kai-Kai

I confessed to my roommate, Tega. He hang me for outside like soaked bedsheet for everybody to see on the campus WhatsApp group—public disgrace.

"Roommate na pervert wey like men. Abeg, na wah o. Person dey craze."

The words bite me deep, like pepper inside open wound. I just dey imagine the group—names wey I sabi, emoji everywhere, everybody dey read, dey forward, dey screenshot, my gist just dey fly like harmattan fire.

Some dey drop laughing emoji, others dey type 'chai!' like say na football match dem dey watch.

I had no choice—I had to move out of the hostel. Even the corridor dey smell like burnt jollof rice anytime I pass—nobody wan near me. My new roommate be like me; at least e no dey look me with that kain eye. But Tega come dey behave anyhow. He dey waka up and down like NEPA man wey light just loss. Every night, he go show for my new hostel room, hang around till NEPA take light, refuse to go.