Chapter 3: Cold Shoulders and Cold Food

But today, e be like say Tunde pour cold water for my body. All my secret hope just scatter. My chest cold, I feel empty.

At the end, I no be special after all. Reality don slap me. I be just another girl for background.

Before bell ring, Tunde rub him head waka out like person wey dey dodge wahala. He no look my face again.

Class captain drag plastic chair, sit by my side to console me. She tap my back small. "No vex, Morayo. Tunde no really mean wetin he talk."

She drop voice, look me for eye. Na her own way to show say she dey try help. "And you sef no fit blame am, abi? You know as you be..."

She look away, words dey bite her tongue. But I understand. "No be say you dey bite the hand wey dey feed you? He always dey nice to you. Even if you like am, you for no confess... Now you don make am dey disgusted..."

Her words sting but na true. Maybe na me cause the wahala. To my shock, I gree with her.

I nod, eyes ground. Maybe na true. Wetin I even dey think before?

I just nod and talk quietly, "I no sabi my level." Voice low, almost whisper. Shame press me like wet wrapper.

"When Tunde come back, I go beg am." For my mind, na only way to end disgrace be that.

Class captain gently pat my head. "Yes, just beg am and everything go soft."

She run hand for my hair, try calm me. But I just empty.

"Truth be told, you dey cute—fair and chubby, like puff-puff."

She smile, but me I no fit smile. I just dey tune out her voice, dey wish time go fast.

I just tune out her last words and force small smile. I no wan hear that puff-puff again. Na same word dem dey use mock me. I dey pray make bell soon ring.