Chapter 2: Heat and Hustle

When I reach boiler factory, I wrinkle nose, take deep breath, hold back disgust, step enter the dirty, hot boiler room.

Heat slap me like mama own backhand—body begin sweat sharp sharp. The place smell of coal, sweat, burnt oil. My fine cloth dey suffer, but na me bring myself come here. If I faint, na my cross.

I spot Chijioke, shirtless, sweating, dey shovel coal into furnace. Sweat dey run from him body like tap. Even as I eye am, I no fit deny—guy na correct specimen. Broad chest, arms like say gym. Soot for face, but handsomeness no fade.

Coal dust stick for him neck, you go think say na black soap e use. But star still dey shine, even inside mud.

No wonder e be star for troupe. Nobody fit twist waist like am. That time, girls dey faint for show. If na now, social media for don blow am.

Sad to see am fall so low. I feel am—person fit fall from grace because of one mistake. As I dey look, small regret dey pinch my chest.

Chijioke spot me, surprise flash, then him jaw clench, eyes hard. He pause, look me up and down, then snap:

"Wetin you dey do here? You come laugh me?"

Words sharp. Na the same Chijioke—no dey beg anybody, pride full him voice. I for vex, but I swallow am like bitterleaf.

Everybody know old Amaka dey chase Chijioke. Na only follow follow she sabi. Love letter, small gifts—na story now.

But he run from her like say she get leprosy. If Amaka appear for left, Chijioke vanish for right. No be small.

Heartbreak turn Amaka to witch. When Chijioke no gree, she push Femi, destroy Chijioke. Use am do scapegoat. For village, dem for call family meeting.

Nice plot—if no be say I transmigrate enter villain body. I shake my head. This one na punishment for the wickedness I write. If I know, I for give Amaka small sense.

Now I dey inside her shoes, na myself I go blame for writing her wicked.

I talk, voice small like person wey dey beg transport money: "I just come see you. Wetin I do before no good."

I put on innocent, guilty face. Eye red small, lower lip tremble like small pikin. If na acting, I for win award.

"I too naive, Femi deceive me." I dey look ground like say I dey count cockroach. My chest dey beat, but I package.

"He tell me say he don work ten years, but you always suppress am. So he no fit move up."

I try sound like say I believe Femi—make Chijioke see say I be mumu, not evil. For Naija, if you show say dem deceive you, people go pity you.

"I like talented people, so my heart soft, I believe am."

I add am for effect—make e think say na appreciation, not jealousy.

"He say if you get small scare, he fit take your place for one show."

I dey talk like na small thing. For my mind, na to shift blame reach Femi, but still accept small fault.

"He just want one chance. If I know say stage light go fall and cripple you for life, I for stop am—even if e go cost me my life."

My voice shake, I squeeze hand. If I fit cry, I for cry. I watch Chijioke—him jaw lock, eyes dey shine, then I sigh small.

"Heh. Naive? Cherish talent?" Chijioke laugh, but e pain dey show first—jaw tight, lips pressed, then voice burst: "Abeg, I no wan see you. Oya, comot!"

His voice cut like razor. He hiss, turn away like say mosquito dey disturb am. Pride nor gree.

"I go do anything you want, just give me chance make up."

My heart dey beat, but I still beg. If I no try, na me go lose.

Chijioke slam shovel down, point him left leg, pain full face: "You fit give me back this leg? You fit put me back on stage?"

That question strong, e pain me too. Some things no get solution. I cover mouth, pretend to wipe tears, voice choke:

"I go find best doctor for country. If e no dey here, we go travel abroad. Trust me—I get the means."

I raise head, voice soft. For Naija, get abroad doctor na big deal. I dey promise am heaven and earth.

"Comot!" Chijioke hiss loud, fists tight, force himself calm, then pick shovel work in silence.

I stand, dey wait chance. My mama say, 'patient dog dey chop biggest bone.'

When Chijioke turn to shovel coal, I quietly throw lighter into boiler. My hand quick, nobody see. E be like prank, but bigger game.

Moments later—gbam! everywhere shake.

Without think, I throw myself over Chijioke, use body shield am. I land for ground, coal dust enter mouth, I no send.

Boiler room full of smoke, confusion. People dey shout, “Jesus! Fire!” Supervisor run with water bottle, like say e go help.

Chijioke shout my name, worried. Voice carry fear, hand dey shake me. For that moment, e forget say I be enemy.

"Make my life pay for your leg—e go balance?" I say weakly, "Chijioke, we dey even now..."

I act faint, voice low, cough small, add drama. Then I close eye and faint.

Las las, everything go dark. I dey pray make dem rush me hospital with convoy.