Chapter 8: Ghost Brother and New Beginnings

I return to school after two days rest. I dey limp small. People dey look me with pity or laugh. I just face front.

That morning, na only whole wheat egg sandwich Grandma give me, I just dey dull. My stomach dey sing, but I lock mouth. I dey pray make day end fast.

But soon, homeroom teacher enter, catch my attention. She waka sharp, dey arrange register. Face serious. Behind her, new transfer student. Him tall, slim. Na only shoes I see first. He wear mask and baseball cap, whole face hide inside shadow.

People dey whisper, dey wonder who he be. The way he hide, e be like all those Lagos big men wey no wan make EFCC catch am. Homeroom teacher look class, then point at me. "Morayo, make space. Ikenna Musa, sit near Morayo."

She talk am sharp, then waka go staff room. No room for argument. After she yarn, she rush go office.

Ikenna just come sit by my side, both of us no talk. He no talk, I no talk. I dey arrange my bag, he dey arrange im own. Na silence dey rule.

But PE prefect, wey no dey ever keep quiet, turn and raise chin at Tunde. Him dey size Ikenna with eye. Everybody dey wait for him comment.

"Tunde, see that guy—he hide whole face like ghost. Maybe him face spoil." Laughter burst for back. Tunde just bend head, dey roll pen.

Zainab, wey sit near Tunde, join mouth, "Na true. If e fine, why e go hide face?" Her eye dey sharp. She dey look like say na film she dey watch.

PE prefect just shake head, hiss. Turn back, wave hand for air. "Ghost Brother and Fatty—correct combo." He talk am loud, people laugh. Shame dey my face.

"New ship, abi?" Some girls giggle, dey wink. I just press face for desk.

Tunde just dey spin pen, no talk anything. He act like say he no hear. But I see say him jaw dey tight.