Chapter 10: The Power Game

I carry phone, call Aunty Grace.

Aunty Grace dey always get solution. For Naija, you gats know person wey sabi people.

“Aunty Grace, abeg help me get contact for one actress, Halima. I wan yarn with her.”

I talk am with authority. If you no show say you serious, people no dey help.

Aunty Grace sound confused:

She dey reason wetin fit happen. Na so old Naija aunty dey behave.

“She be small actress. No need make you call her direct. Just tell her agent.”

She dey try protect me, but I no gree.

I grit teeth, bone: “E dey very important.”

For my mind, this one no be play.

Aunty Grace no dey exaggerate.

That woman na real boss. If she say she go do am, she go do am sharp.

My papa dey top ten richest for country, run biggest entertainment company, get plenty connection.

For this Lagos, my papa name dey open door pass police ID. Na why people dey always respect me.

Actress like Halima no even fit near our family party.

If Halima enter, na my papa security go bounce her sharp-sharp. E no reach where I dey.

The reason why I wan talk to her myself, no be say make Aunty Grace handle am direct, na because if she enter, dem fit blacklist her, she no go get job again.

I no dey like use power anyhow. I sabi as e dey pain person wey no get.

If I fit avoid am, I no wan reach that level.

Na so. Make person no carry curse for head for nothing.

After all, life hard for everybody.

Na true. Everybody dey struggle. E no good to use power scatter person life.

I off phone, sigh, give myself thumbs up.

I look my hand, dey wonder if my soft heart go kill me for this life.

I too get soft mind.

I dey always pity people, even when dem no deserve am.

But that afternoon, I slap myself for face.

I just knock my head, talk, "Morayo, wake up!"

Aunty Grace quick get Halima number for me.

No be small thing. She just drop am with small message: "Handle am gently o."

I call, soft babe voice answer: “Hello? Who be this?”

Her voice soft, but you go know say e get wahala underneath.

I calm: “Make I introduce myself. I be Morayo, that Adaeze wey you match for your stream game.”

My voice cold, but polite. For Naija, you gats still show manners.

“……”

Na long silence. You fit hear pin drop.

Then Halima fire:

As she talk, her voice change, e sharp. Na real Lagos drama.

“This na my private number. How you get am? You use illegal way? You wan make I call police? Wetin you want? No be say e don finish? Why you dey disturb me?”

She dey shout. I just dey look phone. For Naija, people dey carry their matter for head.

I just tire for her wahala, go straight to the point:

I no get time for play. I just land the matter straight.

“Who say e don finish? You make your fans bully me, insult me for game and Twitter. Now dem even scatter my school forum, e dey disturb my life. Na you start for game. I want make you clear the matter, you and your fans must apologize.”

As I talk, I dey firm. Na so you fit handle celeb for Naija.

Halima hiss: “You dey okay so? Apologize? I be celeb, why I go apologize to broke student? If you wan blow, just open stream. Maybe you go get hate-fame.”

She just dey form boss. I just dey laugh inside. For Naija, everybody wan use fame shine.

She hang up.

The beep pain me. I just drop phone, dey think next move.