Chapter 4: Club Scandal and First Night

Na after e waka go, my sense come back.

I stand for there, dey watch as e back disappear inside crowd. My heart dey beat, shame dey catch me. The thing pain me reach bone.

So e hear that thing wey I talk for club that time.

I no know say my small play that night don turn to something wey dey follow me like shadow. Words no dey die—e just dey wait.

I come dey feel somehow, so I send driver make e follow am for some days.

I no fit rest. I call my trusted driver, Baba Kola. "Follow that Musa boy, make sure e dey okay. No let trouble catch am." Driver just nod, no ask question.

E still dey work for that club. Driver send me picture.

For picture, I see Musa dey serve drink, e eye still dey sharp. Club light dey shine, but e own black shirt stand out. I fit see small tiredness for e face.

Musa Garba wear black satin shirt, two buttons open, neck and collarbone just dey show small—guy too fine, e dey dangerous.

If you see e posture, you go fear. I nearly believe say e fit turn model if e get chance.

But the strange thing be say, nobody dey pick am.

E just dey stand like statue for corner. Girls go pass, boys go pass, nobody send am. Na as if e dey invisible for them, only me dey see am.

Chai—

Na so my heart catch. For person wey fine like this, why nobody dey rush am? I begin wonder whether my own mouth spoil e market.

I begin regret that thing wey I talk before, say hardworking student dey “dirty.”

I dey wish say I fit rewind time, collect my word back. For my mind, I dey tell God say make dem forgive me.

That day as I dey do spa for braid stand, driver just call me say wahala dey for Musa Garba.

My stylist dey braid my hair, but the call just scatter my peace. Driver voice dey shake small, e no dey ever panic unless serious wahala dey.

As I hear “dem don drug am with something wey go make body hot,” I no even change my wrapper. I jump enter my car, rush go.

I no dey even wear shoe. My mind dey fly, my heart dey beat like generator. I tell my friend, "Hold my phone!" I rush commot.

Ah, this poor hardworking boy, dem wan finish am?

Tears nearly drop from my eye. Wetin Musa do them? Even if e no dey smile, e no deserve this kain thing.

If dem use am finish, e go dey dirty for life?

I dey reason all those Naija club gist wey dey spread. If dem mess you up, your name fit spoil forever. I dey pray say nothing bad go happen.

As I reach, driver point me to one private room, e face dey fear.

I see as Baba Kola dey shake, e just nod towards the back. "Madam, quick quick!"

I open door, shock catch me.

I pause, my hand dey tremble. Wetin I see pass my expectation.

Musa Garba black shirt don open, e abs for waist just dey show anyhow.

My mind just blank. For one second, I forget why I rush come. Boy too fine, na wahala.

My eyebrow rise.

I raise eyebrow, dey reason how boy wey dey suffer fit get body like this. Life no balance.

E face red, e dey try form strong but I see say e dey shame.

E no dey used to help. E no wan show weakness, but drug don hold am.

“Comot.”

E voice weak but still get command. E dey vex but shame dey join body.

I waka go, pat e face, call am, “Musa.”

I try gentle, call am softly. My hand cold, but I dey try show say I care.

“No touch me.” Na so e talk, but e eyes don dark, e body dey hot.

E voice low, but e eyes dey shake. E dey fight e own body, dey try act tough.

“You suppose go.”

E still dey warn me, but e grip my shoulder strong, no wan let me go anywhere.

E strong hand tight for my skin, like say if I move, wahala go burst.

As my hand touch e chest, na so e groan, no even hide am.

The sound just scatter my brain. I never hear that kind raw pain before. E groan low, voice rough.

This poor boy, e really dey suffer—

My heart dey cut. I dey look am, dey wish say I fit carry e pain, do better.