Chapter 6: Stand Your Ground

Apologize? For where.

Na only if I wan carry bad name. For Naija, if you apologize wrongly, dem go say you be mumu.

Halima even block me for Twitter join.

She no wan even hear my side. Na so dem dey do for Naija. Once you no get fans, nobody dey listen to you.

Since nobody wan hear truth, I just go offline make I rest from all the gist.

I drop my phone, on generator, dey find how breeze go blow my vex comot. I just dey wish make small peace enter.

But I no expect—

As I try relax, wahala come meet me for real life. Na Naija now, anything fit happen.

For evening prep, as I enter class, two girls sit for my front, dey bone:

Their face strong like stone. Na so dem dey when gist reach real life. I sidon, dey ready for any question.

“Morayo, you stubborn like this? You no wan apologize to Halima?”

“You no only curse for online, now you dey spoil our school name.”

“Before school hear say you curse Halima, better apologize for Twitter—if not, no blame us if we expose you.”

Their voice sharp. Na so Lagos girls dey behave when wahala reach class. Everybody dey form hard guy for group.

I slowly pack my books, look up: “You no see my Twitter explanation?”

I talk am slow, dey look their eye. For Naija, eye contact fit send message pass shouting.

“So? Halima stream everything. We sabi her pass you. Who go believe your side?”

Na so dem dey reason. For this country, once you no get voice, nobody dey listen.

“If you no believe, abeg no disturb me.” I bone face. “Careful o, I fit curse you join.”

I drop am like correct Naija threat. Make dem know say I no be pushover.

Dem: “……”

Na silence dey reign. Na so dem shock, mouth open, no talk. I just dey smile small for mind.

Dem shock as I no gree.

Dem no expect say I go stand my ground. For hostel, everybody dey expect Morayo to soft. I show dem say I dey ready.

Dem waka comot, dey press phone.

Na so gist dey fly. I know say dem go run tell people say Morayo no dey fear anybody.

I sure say dem go rush forum go drag me again.

For Naija, if your matter enter forum, just prepare. Dem go type paragraph.

Other classmates wey wan talk to me just bone as dem see say I no send anybody.

Everybody just dey look me from corner eye. For Naija, if you bone face, dem go leave you first.

As I think say peace don finally enter—

Just as I sigh relief, na so basket ball land for my table like thunderbolt.

Basketball land for my desk with gbim!

Omo! My heart jump. The sound na correct "gbam!" like slap for market.

My glass bottle scatter, hot water pour for my books and hand, burn me sotay I shout.

If you see the burn, you go know say Lagos sun dey jealous the water.

I look up, vex.

I ready fight. Na so Naija dey train us.

See Musa Lawal dey waka come with stone face.

Omo, wahala don land. For hostel, if Musa Lawal show, e mean trouble dey.

“Morayo, go Twitter now, apologize to Halima.”

His voice deep, no smile. Na real agbero energy. Everybody for class quiet, dey wait wetin go happen.

Class dey silent, some dey peep phone, others dey whisper “E don set.”