Chapter 7: Under Moji’s Shadow

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Six.

Because I join Moji lab, me and Musa no join any club. Lab work alone dey finish person.

People dey run for debate club, football, drama, but me and Musa dey clean test tubes, dey chase result.

Kemi help us apply for assistant position with their supervisor—twice a week, two hours each time.

Sometimes the supervisor go throw small joke: 'If una finish today work, I go buy zobo for una.' We go just laugh, no mind am.

After each session, Musa go dey sigh. Me, my own worse. Before I fit talk, Moji go message me say make I come back lab—data get wahala.

Even if I dey chop, my phone go vibrate: 'Come lab.' I go sigh, pack my bag.

I stand up, Musa go dey pity me.

Sometimes he go squeeze face: 'Omo, na slave trade remain.' I go just smile, carry lab coat.

'Dayo, you offend Senior Moji?'

I shake head. 'No, na today I meet her.'

'So why she dey use you do robot every day?'

His eyes big, like say he suspect something.

For lab, dem put me under Moji, Musa under Kemi.

Musa dey enjoy gist with Kemi, but my own tight. Moji no dey play.

After first day, Musa dey pity me.

He even buy gala for me: 'O boy, chop. You go need am.'

'Kemi talk say Senior Moji fine, but she be bookworm. Dayo, your suffering just start.'

His warning dey real, but I no get choice.

True talk. Moji dey do experiment like say she no dey chop or sleep, everything na book for her head.

She fit dey lab from morning till night. Her eye dey always sharp.

I go back lab building. Only Moji dey, white lab coat, safety goggles, black hair pack back. Whiteboard full of calculation.

The smell of ethanol mix with the faint aroma of jollof rice from next block. I clear throat.

'Senior.'

Moji no even look up, just point whiteboard. 'The one I send you—run am again.'

No time for talk. I open book, dey calculate.

'Okay.'

Experimental calculation plenty, you go do am tire. Once I start, I forget time.

The markers dey finish, but Moji always get new one for bag.

'You finish?'

Her tone get small soft, but still serious.

'Almost,' I answer.

She collect my sheet, dey scan through. Her hand quick.

Moji check clock. 'Where you dey stuck?'

I point one step for calculation. My eye dey tired.

'Here.' I point.

She come, collect marker. 'Look.'

She explain, her voice calm. The formula wey dey confuse me, she break am like beans.

Her sharp teaching style remind me of Ibadan Reject senior.

The similarity strong. I dey remember old online lessons, the way Ibadan senior dey draw diagram for chat.

Moji drop marker. 'You understand?'

I nod two times. 'Yes... yes.'

The explanation make sense, my fear drop.

'Okay, e don late. Go rest. Continue tomorrow.'

Her tone soft small. I pack my book, my body dey weak.

Moji turn dey go. 'I go check am again before I go.'

Her back straight, her step sure. She no dey rush.

As she dey remove lab coat, she pause. 'Experiment important, but health first. Rest well, so you fit reason clear tomorrow. Na for today be that.'

Her advice sweet me, even though she no dey smile.

She hang lab coat. 'Na only me get key. You want make I stay here with you?'

Her question catch me off guard. I shake head quick.

'Ah, no, no need!'

The thought of senior dey wait for me? Na heavy tori. I pack my bag, rush go door.

Only few people get lab key. I no even fit hold am, not to talk of Moji staying because of me.

I dey pray make tomorrow better.