Chapter 4: Classroom Fire, Teacher’s Cane

But I was still too naive.

I think say if I keep quiet, wahala go finish. I no know say drama dey come.

Early morning.

Cock crow, mama put dey set up for junction, I wear uniform, ready to focus on book.

I reach school.

As I enter gate, some students dey whisper, dey eye me. I ignore, waka straight to class.

Halima rush come, eyes red, demand, “Why you just stand dey look yesterday?”

She block my desk, voice loud so everybody go hear. Some boys dey record with phone, ready for gist.

Madness.

Omo, wahala wa o! I curse for mind. This girl no dey tire?

So many people waka pass yesterday—why na only me she dey blame?

I look her, look others wey pretend say dem dey mind business but dey watch.

I bone face. “What are you talking about?”

My face blank. I pick pen, dey copy notes, act like nothing dey happen.

“Yesterday after school, you fit help me, but you just ignore! How you take dey so selfish?”

Her voice crack. Some girls nod, others dey eye me.

Halima talk loud. Classmates wey dey read raise head, ready for drama.

Everybody like amebo, especially when no be their matter.

I keep head down, dey work on exercise, ignore am.

I pretend say I no hear, but my heart dey race. I just want make she waka.

Seeing this, Halima grab my workbook, tear am to pieces.

Sound of tearing paper loud. My notes, my sweat, gone. I clench fist.

I vex instantly, stand up, hand dey shake as I slap her across face.

My hand move before my mind. Class gasp. Some whistle. She stagger, shock.

Halima shock, hold her red cheek, dey shake.

Tears gather, lips tremble. She look like say she no believe.

“You get mind slap me? Femi, you really get mind slap me!”

She shout, voice rise, attention full class. Even teacher next door peep in.

She grab my collar, shake me, shout, “Abi your conscience dey worry you?”

Her grip weak, but anger real. Boys dey chant, "Fight! Fight!"

“Dem pay you to ignore me? Or una dey work together?”

She spit words like poison, voice sharp.

I remove her hand, my own hand dey tremble, then I slap her other cheek, this one with all my pain.

Enough is enough. She stumble, hold both cheeks, cry loud.

“If you dey sick, go see chemist!”

My anger boil. The whole class freeze.

“What rubbish you dey talk? I no even understand!”

I no believe how far she push am. I want shout.

Halima hold face, dey pull hair, like person wey just run from Yaba Left.

She rant, eyes wild, act like world owe her.

“Femi! You don destroy my life! Why you no just die!”

Her scream echo for corridor, silence follow.

She scream like mad person.

Some students shift, others giggle, but nobody talk.