Chapter 2: Wetin Hide for Her Guest Room?

That time, she look me with playful eye, small fear but more excitement dey show. E clear say she dey pray make I stay.

She just dey chew her lip, dey look my face like person wey dey try confirm if market go sell. For her eye, na small pikin dem dey send for errand, but na me be the errand this time.

As I expect, she finally talk, waka come my side, say, “E be like say you no fit go house tonight o. Why you no just stay?”

Her voice get one kain soft drawl—na that voice wey dey make person forget wetin e wan talk. As she talk am, I just dey reason how my night go be.

As she talk am, my mind sweet me die, but I hide am. I just reply her, do like say I shy small, say e fit no too proper.

I rub my neck, pretend say I dey think, but for my heart, na parade dey go on. I just dey pray make she insist.

She swallow, come say, “No wahala, guest room dey empty. Abeg relax, stay. If I allow you waka for this kind weather, my mind no go rest. If wahala catch you for road nko?”

She say am like real mother, but I know say e get another meaning. For Lagos, na so dem dey run things—polite but sharp. Even her eyes dey shine like say she dey pray make thunder no stop.

I no waste time again, just form like say I slow to understand, then nod.

I try form humility, dey do like say I dey reason am, but before two seconds, I don dey move bag inside guest room.

As she see say I gree, happiness show for her face.

Her smile wide, you for think say she just win lotto. She quickly wipe face, act like say she dey calm, but excitement dey her steps.

She lead me go guest room. Even though dem dey call am guest room, e big well-well—pass my tight hostel for school. The bed sef get better bounce.

Her bedsheet dey smell like lavender and small powder—those nice housewife kind. Na for here I know say she get taste.

As I settle, she limp comot with smile.

She turn back look me one more time before she close door. I just dey smile, dey imagine wetin fit happen for night.

I know say better gist go soon show. True true, few minutes later, she message me for WhatsApp, ask if I don sleep.

Her WhatsApp DP na throwback photo—her for wrestling ring, full regalia. I just dey wonder how woman fit fine and strong join.

I reply say I never sleep—the new bed dey make sleep hard.

My hand dey shake small as I type, but I dey form big boy. I put small laughing emoji, make am look casual.

She say she just put her daughter to bed, say hunger dey catch am, ask if I wan chop small food.

She yarn say she fit warm soup—maybe egusi and small semo—make I no shy. Na so hunger begin bite me true-true.

I just dey smile, sharp-sharp I gree, say I dey hungry too, add small respect, “Thank you, Mama Zino.”

I add that my humble tone wey dey make women feel important. Even though I dey form sharp guy, I dey respect her as elder small.

Her daughter name na Zino, so na so I dey call her.

For our area, once pikin name dey carry reach mama own, e mean say dem get plenty respect. Na sign say you dey part of family circle.

But this time, she send angry emoji quick, come talk make I no call her Mama Zino again—say e dey make her old. From today, make I dey call her ‘aunty’. Say e dey sweet pass.

She add, "Na only my small neighbours dey call me that one. You—na aunty you go dey call."

My mind fly. E sure me say tonight, na she even rush pass me.

My belle do backflip. Na so I know say fire dey ground, because once woman dey insist say you call her aunty, na code.

I reply, “Okay, aunty.”

I put small blushing emoji join.

I use chance praise her, say she too young and fine—who go call her old? For my eye, she fine pass anybody.

I just dey run small mouth—"Aunty, you dey shine pass all these small girls. Na you dey make person fear to go school sef."

She pause small. Maybe she never hear this kind sweet talk from man before—e be like say e dey new to her.

Na only the sound of the rain dey fill the gap for chat. For my mind, I dey pray make she reply fast.

After like half minute, she reply say I sabi talk, say she no notice am before. She come ask if na so I dey talk to girls for school.

She add, "So na so you dey bobo all those your classmates?"

I quick reply say na truth I dey talk, say she really fine, any man wey get her na correct person. If I fit marry woman like her, my life don better be that.

I add small swear, "No be bobo, aunty. Na from my heart. If I fit see woman like you marry, ah, I go dey thank God every Sunday."

She say, “Abeg, stop that. Na lame woman I be—nobody want me.”

Her words get pain inside, but she still dey try form hard woman. For Nigeria, once woman pass thirty never remarry, people dey always carry am for head.

I fire back, “Aunty, abeg no dey talk say you lame. That small wahala no dey hide your beauty at all. You too fine, just believe yourself.”

I even drop, "E get as God take create you—special." I add praise wey go make her smile reach for chest.

She no reply, but I fit hear her soft, sweet laugh from outside.

I just dey imagine her for kitchen, maybe she dey cover her mouth so daughter no wake. Na that small laugh wey dey come from deep inside.

I no talk again, just dey wait make I see wetin go happen next.

I lie for bed, dey count rain drop, dey wonder if na today my story go change.