Blamed for the School Goddess' Shame
Chapter 1: Love Dey Control Like Jazz
Before university entrance exams reach, my childhood sweetheart just fall yakata for one stubborn, wayward sports boy.
That time, love just dey control her like jazz—she no dey hear word again. She dey follow the boy up and down as if na only him remain for this world, even forget say book fit change person life. I just dey look am, dey pity her as she give the boy wetin she suppose keep till marriage—her body, her pride. If e possible, I for shake her make she come back to her senses.
She started following am everywhere, abandon her books just because of am, even give am wetin she suppose keep till marriage—her body, her pride.
Omo, as the matter dey get k-leg, my conscience no let me rest. E be like say I dey watch person dey drown, and I no fit throw rope. When I couldn’t watch her destroy herself any more, I went and told her parents everything.
Na so everywhere burst—Aunty Morayo’s husband beat am nearly die, then the boy just disappear from our lives.
The kind wahala wey that day cause ehn, even landlord for our street hear am. The shout, the crying, as her papa raise cane, neighbours gather outside, some dey peep through window, children dey cry, even Mama Bola drop her fufu pounder come watch. The sports boy, Seyi, run vanish like thief. Nobody see am again. E be like say ground swallow am.
Years later, on our wedding day, my childhood sweetheart hear say he don die, come set our bridal room on fire.
The day suppose sweet me, but the past no gree rest. Just as we dey celebrate, news break reach her ear say Seyi don kpai. Her body change, her eyes red, the next thing, fire everywhere. I no even understand again.
"Na you kill am. Na me and am suppose dey stand here today. Go hell, pay for your sins."
Her words sting like pepper, the anger for her voice dey shake the whole room. The fire dey shine for her face wey don twist with anger.
As the flame dey lick my skin, I dey wonder if na my own friend true true dey do me like this. The pain choke. When I open my eyes again, I find myself back in SS3.
The smell of school chalk, noise of my mates, everything clear again.
