Chapter 2: Heartbreak No Get Remedy

Segun words hit me like thunder wey no give warning—e shock me, scatter my head.

If person ever talk say heartbreak get sound, na so e be. E loud for my ear, my head just dey ring, my chest dey twist like ogbono soup wey no gree draw. The walls for that classroom, wey dem paint with government paint, begin dey spin for my eye.

My brain just blank.

I dey feel as if I dey float, my leg no dey ground. The same classroom wey we dey chop lunch, dey laugh, now e be like strange place.

For that hot afternoon, I just dey feel cold like say na harmattan dey blow inside my body.

Even as sweat dey drop from back of my neck, my skin just dey raise. I hug my bag, dey try hide the tears wey wan fall, but dem no gree me.

Dem still dey talk for classroom. After everywhere quiet small, another person talk:

"Na only Young Master Segun fit run am. Even class belle na just for practice!"

I know say dem dey mock me—this 'Young Master' na inside joke, all of us sabi say Segun papa dey get small money. E pain me say na me dem dey use shine.

"She be like those junior wives wey dey big people house for olden days, abi?"

My ears hot. For inside me, I dey ask God, 'Na so this life be?' Even when you think say you get special place, dem still fit use you play.

Segun just laugh like say e no concern am:

"Abeg, make una no talk nonsense. She sef no lose anything, abeg!"

My chest seize. Even to breathe dey hard. I wan shout, but voice no gree come out. Segun voice still dey ring like bell for mosque.

Another person quick support am:

"True, class belle slim small. If you compare her with school beauty, her body no reach..."

I for curse am if na before. But today, I just weak. I dey feel as if breeze fit blow me go.

Segun vex, throw book give am, cut the talk:

"Na just one of those things. The mood set, and I see say she dey try hold herself..."

I hear the book jam table, everybody pause small. I fit picture Segun face—him eyebrow go squeeze, him lips go twist like person wey dey catch lie. But e no change anything.

Dem all dey look each other, dey laugh:

"No believe say class belle fit dey form like that!"

I wan vanish. If to say ground fit open, I for jump inside. But na just their laughter dey loud like generator for street.

"Tsk tsk, our Young Master Segun get correct game. As better thing dey front am, how e no go take?"

Dem dey hail am like say na achievement. My body dey boil, but outside I just dey still.

"Class belle don dey follow Segun since, now her dream don come true—she sef no fit wait!"

The words dey cut me. I dey shake, my teeth dey grind, but nobody notice. Na shame dey cover my face.

Everywhere burst with laughter.

Dem laugh so till I begin fear say dem go see me for door. But I just freeze, dey try blend with wall.

I bite my lip, hold my fist tight.

My knuckles dey white, my nails dey dig my palm. I dey taste blood for mouth, still I no shift.

Na only God know how I take stand for classroom door, no fall for ground.

My body dey tremble, my knees soft. Na only Holy Spirit hold me that moment.

I hear footsteps for corridor.

The sound loud for my ear. My heart fly enter my mouth, I dey pray make nobody see me.

Na im I wake up from my shock, run commot sharp sharp.

Na so I take gather my bag, dey waka fast like say winch dey pursue me, waka go find where nobody go fit see my tears.

I rush enter toilet, lock myself for one corner.

I bend head near wall, cold tiles dey touch my face. The tile cold for my cheek, the smell of Izal dey choke my nose, but I no fit move. My body dey shiver, my chest dey shake.