Chapter 5: Result Day—Spotlight

5

As everybody—and the barrage—dey expect, result day finally land.

Teachers, students, parents, reporters full classroom. Because of all the hype Halima Yusuf make about our class best, everywhere choke.

The whole place dey hot, like market on Friday morning. I see some mamas dey fan theirself with big handkerchief, some papas dey rub sweat for forehead, teachers dey adjust tie.

Barrage dey hot:

[No wahala, our Halima Harvard offer na sure. No matter wetin happen, na she shine pass.]

[This wicked supporting character don finish—reporters just come to see her disgrace.]

[Even if dem recognize her as real pikin, dem go still use leg march her head, Halima go always win.]

Candidates dey computer, dey check one by one.

When time reach, shouts full everywhere:

"621, na wetin I guess."

"Chai, 568—my essay for English na 90, e be like say I miss road."

"640."

"535..."

As dem dey call scores, everywhere dey bubble.

The tension fit cut person like knife. Camera dey show everybody face, then slowly focus on me and Halima Yusuf.

The camera light dey shine for my face like NEPA bulb when dem bring light after blackout. But I hold my ground. "I hear say una class get two people wey estimate 710. Don check una scores?"

Halima Yusuf give me one eye, then type her admission number.

As her score show—

Everywhere scatter:

Zero.

"How e take be zero? Halima dey always carry first—dem miss her score?"

"Maybe dem hide top 50 for state, na why e show zero?"

As everywhere dey noisy, Halima Yusuf just calm. She look me, lips bend for sly smile.

She no dey shake, her back straight, face dey shine with pride. "Morayo, you wicked no be small. I think say you go make me get low score, I no expect say you go give me zero."

People shock.

Some dey record with phone, others dey whisper, “Wahala don bust.” Some dey turn back, some dey look me up and down as if na thief I be. "That one no make sense—who go believe that?"

I stand up slowly, adjust my black-rimmed glasses.

My hands steady. For my mind, I dey remind myself, "This world no dey fair, but today, Morayo, you go show dem."

"Halima Yusuf, zero no be end of life. You fit write jamb next year. No need to dey form story just to save face."

The way I talk am, my voice low but strong. The class quiet, even teachers stop to move.

Halima Yusuf bite her teeth.

Her eyes dey red, but she still try stand well. "You know the truth for your mind."

I lock eye with her, my heart dey beat but I no shake. "Oh, na so?"

My voice calm, but the whole class just quiet.

I see you with my two eyes, dey party with those yellow hair boys for lounge every night. Now you wan dey form story say na me set you up?"

Class freeze. Everybody dey look her, then look me.

People dey murmur, some dey remember say dem see Halima for club that night. For Naija, wahala na wetin people dey rush go watch like new film.

Halima Yusuf eye shrink. She step back, then force herself balance.

She adjust herself, voice sharp. "I go party because I no wan suffer for high score wey you go enjoy."

She raise chin, pride dey her eye.

"As for say I dey frame you, abeg, I no need am. Na me be Yusuf Group daughter. Which foreign university I no fit enter?"

"No fear, I dey wait for Harvard offer."

Her tone dey pepper, body dey do like say she be Miss World. Everybody dey watch, dey try choose side.

Just then, classroom door burst open. Halima Papa and Halima Mama waka enter, Aunty Grace follow, her eye still sharp.

Halima Papa dress correct, voice steady:

Na serious man. Even the way e waka enter class, you go know say power dey for im hand. "Na true. Halima don dey discuss with top foreign universities—dem dey rush her. She get Harvard dean recommendation letter, we dey plan send her go."

Madam Yusuf arrange her wrapper, nod head with confidence. Aunty Grace just stand for side, dey carry face up like person wey no wan talk too much but dey ready if wahala start.

Barrage explode:

[Halima family dey pamper Halima. If dem wan Harvard, dem go just donate building.]

[Once contract sign, Halima Harvard offer na sure.]

[Na money be power! Wetin supporting character get?]

People dey nod, dey talk for low voice, dey calculate who get power pass.

With her parents support, Halima Yusuf dey even more proud.

She stand, chin up, eyes dey shine. "Morayo, you say I dey frame you—abeg, announce your jamb score now. For record, I sleep throughout the exam. You try swap my score, all you get na zero."

She look round, make sure every camera catch am.

Her voice sharp, e dey carry power. "I want everybody bear witness: if Morayo jamb score still be zero, then everything I talk na true."

For one moment, all eye dey on me—some dey curious, some dey wait make I fall.

Some dey hope say I go shame, others dey wait make wahala burst. For inside my body, I dey feel small heat, but I no show am.

"Oya now, Morayo, check your score! No matter wetin Halima get, she go always find way, but you—if na zero, your own don finish."

As everybody dey look me, I just smile.

My smile na small, but e strong. For Naija, if you no fit laugh for your wahala, the wahala go swallow you.

"No wahala. I go check am."

As my finger dey shake small for keyboard, I dey remember all the nights wey I read under small lantern, all the times wey people use my name take catch cruise. But today, I go show say even number two fit shock everybody. Make dem wait.