Chapter 4: Rivalries and Resolutions

I curse Chijioke as 'useless man' for mind, but no look am. I glare Femi, scold sharp:

"Femi, you no get home training? You wan turn hospital to street fight?"

"Why dey cause wahala? This na hospital—patients dey everywhere."

Everybody dey look me. Even nurse nod head. My voice na command.

Femi freeze, quick put on smile, wan come close. I block am with hand.

"I hear say you wound, I worry die. I never sleep or chop, my performance don suffer."

He dey act love, but I no dey buy. Old trick.

I step back, make space: "You no fit focus for your performance—where your professionalism?"

My voice cold. For Naija, person wey sabi focus dey rate pass.

Femi no expect am. Try touch me, I dodge.

"Aiya, I just wan perform for you alone~"

He dey whine. Before, old Amaka for giggle. Now, my eye don open.

"You no be my only audience. You fit satisfy people wey pay to watch you?"

"Instead dey chase me, why not practice more? Honour the stage—and your fans."

Chijioke shock, mouth open. Amaka never talk like this before. He dey try understand wetin change.

"Wetin dey do you today? You hit your head?"

Femi confused, wan touch my forehead. I slap am quick.

Nurses gasp, one old woman shout, "E good for am!"

I slap hand away, point Zainab: "Apologise to her!"

"What? You wan make I apologise to that village girl?"

Pak! I give am correct slap. E shock am, face turn, eye red. Everybody open mouth.

"Wetin her background matter? You push injure her—you must apologise!"

Zainab soft: "I dey okay, no fight because of me."

"Apologise!" I raise voice, no back down.

Baba Musa step forward, face fierce. Femi leg almost fail. E bow, apologise to Zainab.

I glance Chijioke, catch am dey look me—eyes deep, no hate.

I turn, enter ward, whisper to Baba Musa: "Time don reach for phase two."

"Send person go boiler factory. After this, somebody must take blame."

Baba Musa grin. "No wahala, madam. I go arrange am."

Mission accomplished.