Chapter 4: Street Sense for Soft Life

Soon, Chijioke and Morayo enter SS2. School uniform change, their leg long pass before. I dey watch dem grow, proud like mama wey pikin win prize.

God help us small. For once, peace dey reign.

Na so wahala no dey ever finish for this world.

Chijioke disappear. My heart jump. Everybody begin panic.

Dem call police, ask neighbor, even call baba for prayer. Matter serious.

By next day, he finally come back, body full of bruises and scratches. As I see am, tears wan drop. Him face show say e fight with bush. Cloth tear, leg swell.

Behind am, girl dey wear white dress, battered too. Her own body show say suffer touch am. White dress brown, shoe don chop dust.

She look innocent, but her eye sharp—like person wey dey price land for Lekki.

Omo, family money fit enter danger. I dey reason am—if dem no play this thing well, house fit scatter.

Doctor run checkup, rub ointment, give panadol. Mama for estate hear gist, begin send food.

Chijioke explain—on a whim, he go hiking, jam female lead Sewa. E say e just wan clear head for bush, but Sewa show, drama enter.

The two of them fall down slope, phone spoil, but at least no big wahala.

I dey reason—na lie be this, or na real? My mind no gree believe. If you sabi street, you go know all these accident na script. This one sabi strategy.

When Sewa come out, see Chijioke dey play with me, e shock her small. She dey expect coldness, but na so she see love for air.

She form smile, voice soft, eye dey shine. Na so dem dey package. "Is this your sister? She's so cute!"

Chijioke happy when people praise me. Him face relax. If you praise him own, he go open like flower for sun.

He look Sewa, pleased. "You wan carry her?"

He wan do show-off, as if na trophy.

"Sure!"

She stretch hand, dey plan her own level. I dey see through am.

For my mind, alarm bell dey ring. Na so I prepare my vocal cord.

As she stretch hand to carry me, I shout louder than ever—cry wey shake whole compound. Sewa go know say this one no be her mate.