Chapter 8: Cold Shoulders at University

Me, Ifeanyi, Aisha, all of us no gree make our parents follow us go. We form squad, carry bag, enter bus, dey shine teeth. The journey long, but gist and song full road. By the time we reach Ibadan, everybody dey tired, but spirit still high.

After we settle, we plan chop together next day. As we reach the joint, Halima surprise us—she show, but she don slim small. The heartbreak still dey her face, she dey waka like person wey carry load for chest. Her eye red, like person wey cry for night. I smile greet her, but she just bone, nod like say na government work she dey do.

My mind dey shake. Heartbreak dey make person act anyhow. I just maintain, try no talk too much.

She no too chop, just dey pick food, dey stir drink. She no too talk. The whole dinner tense, everybody dey walk on eggshells, dey try avoid wrong word.

After small time, Ifeanyi and Aisha, dem begin drink. The thing dey enter their body. Aisha, wey dey high, come yarn: “Campus queen, that guy no sabi wetin he get. Plenty people dey wey sabi. If you wan, I fit introduce you. The boys wey I see today fresh die.”

“True, my department get fine boys too. Come see tomorrow,” Ifeanyi add. The two dey try cheer her up, dey make everywhere lively. I come dey awkward. E go look somehow if I no talk.

So I join: “If you wan, I fit introduce… myself.”

She just look me, hiss, side mouth. “You? That one count?”

Me: “….”

I confuse—wetin she mean? I just dey look ground, dey rub my palm.

Ifeanyi and Aisha sef confuse, look Halima with wonder.

She just smile small, but her eye serious. Then she warn, “Abeg, drink small, no go do nonsense.”

I dey reason am—she dey shade me? She fit remember that night? My mind dey jump up and down like frog. I dey fear ask, the shame dey my body. The more I think, the more I confuse. I dey pain inside.

“Who do nonsense for who?” Ifeanyi ask, eye Halima.

Halima no answer, she just carry phone, stand up, go outside make call. She later come back, pay for food, still dey bone face.

“I hear say her breakup get to do with drink. No think am,” Ifeanyi wey don high, try comfort us as we dey waka out. Everybody just dey reason, no talk.

After dinner, me and Aisha walk the girls go house, then bounce. The air between me and Halima cold, e fit freeze water. Before I go, I thank her for food. She just cold: “No mention.” She bone me reach. Shame dey bite me for chest, but I just dey form say e no pain me. I for think say she like me before—na so hope dey play trick.