Chapter 1: Campus Bet, Broken Trust

When I was nineteen, after my first night with campus fine boy, Tobi Ajayi, I overheard him talking to his guys on the phone.

The memory of last night still dey tingle my skin, like cold water for harmattan. As I sidon quietly for corner of his small off-campus room, I hear am dey yarn, voice low like person wey dey hide secret.

"Just three days and I don knack—una no reach."

I hear the voice from the other side. The sharp laughter, the way the guy push am, full of that stubborn, playful envy wey Lagos boys sabi.

"Abeg, no dey yarn unless you send picture of una for bed as proof."

Tobi agree, but last minute, he just snap me as I dey sleep.

The flash from his phone blink like NEPA light, but I no even wake.

As I dey breathe deep, pillow press my cheek, I no know say Tobi dey take phone dey snap, dey try prove something. My heart still dey beat from everything wey happen, but for am, na another game.

After that, every night, he hold me like say na only me fit quench him hunger.

And me, I just dey do as he want, never tell am no.

But later, I go university wey far from am—Makurdi side.

I pause, remembering the way Tobi dey laugh, how e go call my name soft, like say na song. But sharp sharp, I steel myself, harden heart.

I block and delete everything about am, just waka commot without trace.

I hear say Tobi dey ask for me everywhere, dey find me like craze person.

I just smile and leave am.

From the start, na bet make him chase me, so I just follow the play.

I just dey enjoy as his face and body dey sweet me.