Chapter 9: Chin-Chin and Small Smiles

Me and Ikenna almost one month no talk. I dey careful. I no wan start story wey go end in tears. People dey look us anyhow, so I just maintain my lane. I no want talk, fear say e go end like the other seatmate. I dey guard my heart. I no wan see another disgrace.

But one day, after class, I see am lie down for desk, hand hold belly, shoulders dey shake small. He dey groan. I fit see say pain dey worry am. Sweat dey back of neck.

After I think small, I waka come, try talk. Voice low, I dey fear say he go vex. But na empathy push me. "Your belly dey pain you?"

He slow to answer. Class empty, so I wait. After some time, he answer, "Mm." Voice faint. I see say pain wan kill am. Back of neck, sweat full everywhere.

I feel am. E remind me of days wey hunger wan finish me. "Make I help you go sickbay." I ready to support am. If he say yes, I go manage.

Luckily, he no refuse. He just nod. I happy. For once, my help matter. The boy tall nearly 1.9 meters, lean on me well. My shoulder dey pain me but I gree. I hold am as we dey waka. Thank God say I strong. If not, I for no fit carry am.

I dey remember how Grandma say, "At least, your body get advantage." I smile small for my mind.

School nurse give am medicine, tell me make I buy plain indomie. She say e no fit chop spicy food. I collect money, run go tuckshop. I rush buy indomie, run come back. I dey pant, but I happy say I help person.

Only Ikenna remain for sickbay. He sit for edge, mask still dey. He dey look me with soft eye. He just lean for chair, only him eyes show, small smile. Smile no reach mouth, but e warm.

"You say you no like me, but you still help me? You try, seatmate."

His words soft. He dey try joke. I just confuse. "Ehn?" I no know wetin to reply. I just dey look im eye.

"I no hate you. I think say na you hate me, so I no talk to you."

He dey open up. I dey shock. He raise eyebrow. "Why?" He wait. I no get answer. But I try talk.

I purse mouth, already used to am, answer like say na normal thing, "Because I fat."

I no fit meet im eye. I dey expect am to laugh.

Ikenna just laugh, voice light and soft. The laugh scatter tension. E sweet. I fit feel say he no dey mock me. His eyes really fine, clear like water. Dem dey shine. No be everybody get that kind gentle look.

For my mind, I dey think say people just dey judge anyhow.

As I give him indomie, I also share chin-chin from my bag. He collect am, smile broad. We chop together, gist small. For the first time, I feel seen.