Chapter 8: Halima’s Return

Tobi eye am: "Abeg, rest." Tobi voice weak, like say e dey beg make everybody just keep quiet. E pain am reach bone.

Room leader know say Tobi no happy, so e stop, start to talk about my wahala this morning. The room quiet, only fan dey whine. Room leader face Musa, begin explain wetin happen as e see am.

As e be, after dem carry Auwalu from next room, Musa come back, see me dey press Halima neck like say I wan kill am. Na that kain thing fit make person run mad. Na God save Halima say Musa see am in time.

He run go call room leader and Tobi. If no be them, maybe wahala for big pass this one. For my mind, I dey thank God.

"You dey mad that time, your eye turn, your hand strong like iron, dem no fit open am."

Room leader voice dey high, like say e dey try remember. E be like say the whole thing dey fear am too.

"Halima face dey turn blue, all of us fear. I think say spirit don enter you, na why I slap you two times. Na then you wake."

That slap na blessing. For Naija, slap dey reset spirit.

As room leader talk finish, I check my hand. Blood scratch full everywhere. But I no feel pain. Blood for my knuckle, but I no feel anything. The matter pass my own understanding.

After Auwalu die, next room empty. Counselor scatter all dem roommates, put them for other rooms, so dem no go talk. School management no wan wahala. If gist spread, na for Nairaland e go land.

Maybe because dem fear me or dey vex, for days, Musa and Halima no come room again. I dey alone for room, cold dey catch me. Even sleep run commot.

Until one night, Halima call me, say make I meet am downstairs. My heart first jump, but I gree—first to beg her for what I do, second, those red high heels wey she wear dey worry me.

I reach downstairs, see Halima wait for me. She stand for one corner, under broken street light. Shadow full everywhere. I greet her, voice low.

Before I talk, she rush me: "Where Musa? E dey avoid me?"

Her voice high, fear and anger dey inside.

"How? No be with you he dey?" I surprise. For my mind, I dey reason, maybe two of them dey play prank for me.

"Femi, stop this your own. Na him send you? He wan break up?" Halima voice dey shake. Tears dey her eye, she dey squeeze her phone, like say she fit break am.

I think say na play, but she serious. Her face strong, I know say she mean am.

I quick calm her: "No cry, I no know where he dey. He never come class, we think say he dey with you. If you no believe, ask room leader and Tobi. He never come room at all."

I talk am softly, try make she no burst cry for front of hostel block.