Chapter 5: Public Disgrace, Public Slap

Even me, as slow as I be, I fit guess who run this sacking.

Na Musa orchestrate am. No be today e start to dey remove obstacle for road.

The sack list come from the top.

If you see the speed wey HR take deliver letter, you go know say order don land from upstairs. E no get anything to do with KPI.

Angry, I call my school mate:

As I dey dial number, my hand dey shake small. I no wan sound desperate, but na only trusted person I fit call.

“Pocky, that your project still dey hire as you talk before?”

As Pocky pick call, e voice just bubble. “Kunle the God!” That na my school nickname.

E happy for phone:

You go know say e don dey wait for this chance since. Some friends dey always believe in you pass as you believe yourself.

“Kunle the God, you finally get time for me!”

Na so e shout. I just chuckle small, even as my mood dey low.

“Just talk, any project you want, I go invest.”

E dey always talk this thing since school, but now e get money to back am up.

I smile. “Better. You free now? Make we meet talk.”

I try hide my wahala, but my guy sabi me.

“I dey free! I go drive come your office come carry you.”

E no even reason traffic or distance. Na true friend be that.

I stand for outside company, hold one box, dey wait for car.

Na that brown carton wey people dey use carry load for office. E get my mug, mouse, two t-shirt, old ID card, one small plant wey don nearly die. I look am, my heart dey heavy.

Three years of my sweat, na just this box remain.

E dey pain person say your whole career fit enter one small carton. Na only God go judge office wahala.

Musa just finish one meeting, dey waka come out, dey shine teeth as e dey see business partners off.

You go think say e just sign million dollar deal. People dey follow am, dey laugh. Me, I just dey mind my own.

E see me, click tongue:

You go know say e just dey mock me. Na subtle shade.

“You no fit work, but you sabi pack sharp.”

If na street, I for answer am, but I just bone. Person no fit drag with pig.

I no be Ribo staff again, and e no be my boss again.

My mind just relax, I no owe am anything again. Freedom dey sweet, even if na with pain.

But Musa no gree know.

Some people no dey respect boundary. Once dem see you low, dem wan press you reach ground.

“Make I introduce—Mr. Okafor, Mr. Danjuma, na one of our tech staff be this.”

I greet the men with small nod. I fit see respect for their eye, but Musa dey try reduce me front of dem.

“Some years back, we lower standard to hire people. After we upgrade system, sack the people wey no dey useful.”

Na public disgrace. If na village, elders for call meeting. Here, na just mouth.

“You people dey interested for new system, abi? Make we continue partnership talk.”

E dey push own agenda. I just dey look am, dey reason say na so Naija business dey run.

The two oga dem big like Musa. Three of them stand together, na three oil barrel I dey see.

Dem dey laugh, dey gist. Belly full everywhere. I just dey hold my carton, dey look sky.

Musa bend come whisper:

E drop voice, try enter my mind with insult.

“Kunle, I hear say you just buy house for town—hope say mortgage no dey choke you.”

If na old me, I for answer am, but I just smile. Some insult no need reply.

“I soft for mind. How about this: you help these two oga carry bag, do 500 push-up for here.”

E wan use me play for crowd. No wahala.

“If you fit finish, I go talk to HR make dem keep you. How e be?”

E expect make I beg or vex. I just dey reason how e dey talk with confidence.

I just slap Musa belle—kpam! E sound loud for office. Even cleaner for corridor pause broom.

Na real slap—belly jiggle. Everybody shock. For Lagos, sometimes, you gas return energy.

“Na you suppose dey do push-up, not me.”

I talk am loud, so e go ring for e ear. People dey hide smile.

The two oga burst laugh.

Their laughter scatter everywhere. Even security for gate dey grin.

Musa face turn red, e wan vex—na that time, one black Range Rover just park for front.

As the car stop, all eyes shift. Na Naija, big car dey command respect.

The gold logo dey shine. Door open, fine guy for white native dey drive.

E fine like say e just come from wedding. Agbada neat, wristwatch dey shine.

Three years no see, this guy don fine pass before.

E don chop up, skin dey glow. I just dey look say, "Na so life be."

Pocky show head, push sunglasses go up, open back door for me:

Na sharp guy move. People dey watch am like film.

“Kunle the God, your ride don land.”

E talk am with pride. Even Musa quiet, dey watch.

I enter, carry my box.

As I dey settle for back seat, cold AC greet me. My body relax small.

Pocky don see wetin happen. E smirk:

E just dey look all of dem, shake head. You go know say e dey enjoy the moment.

“Oga dem, abeg, go do una work. Us wey no get work don clock out.”

Na coded shade. Even security dey smile.

With that, e close door, Range move.

Engine hum soft, we dey go. I just sigh, feel small relief.

As I waka comot gate, I swear for myself—dem never see the last of Kunle.