Chapter 2: Seat Battle and Broken Pride

Beside my seat, I just burst out, “Halima, even if you like the top student, you no fit dey spoil my name like this.”

My voice shake, but I no gree hide am. People for class dey open mouth like say dem dey watch Big Brother Naija live.

“I no know wetin dey between you and am, but if na this seat you want, I go give you.”

I even drag the chair small, make e clear say I ready. Na so people dey gather gist for Naija, if you dull, dem go use your matter cook soup.

“E never do so?”

I cross my hand for chest, make sure my voice loud reach all corner. Person fit think say I dey overdo, but na only this kain wahala dey make me vex like this.

Morning class never start, but plenty students dey already. Everybody just dey look.

Some people don dey record with their phone, others dey whisper. If wahala dey happen for school, na so news dey fly fast, especially when e concern babe and bobo.

The transfer student face turn red. “Which kind talk be this?”

E shock her, as if she no expect me to answer back. Her gum sef almost fall from her mouth.

“How you go talk say I like the top student? Me and am na childhood friends since. Na you carry my seat—”

Her voice get k-leg, e sound as if she wan cry, but pride no gree let am finish.

She just stop talking.

She bite her lip, eyes red, but she hold herself. Pride dey worry some people for this life.

Halima keep quiet.

Na rare thing, because her mouth dey always sharp. For that moment, she just freeze. E be like Super Story, when dem freeze frame before advert.

Before she enter, everybody for SS3A dey sit according to their exam ranking. Only Halima different.

Na the tradition, everybody sabi am. You see your name for board, you just go your place. If you dull, you go sidon for back.

The first day she come, during her introduction, she shout for stage:

Everybody still dey remember the drama. She no even fear teacher or senior.

“I be Halima, and me and Kamsiyochukwu na childhood friends.”

As she yarn am, the hall just silent. E shock everybody.

Her eyes come meet mine.

Na the kain look wey dey talk say, 'I dey see you.' For Naija, if person give you that eye, you go know say wahala fit land.

“So, by sense, the seat wey you dey suppose be my own.”

Her voice steady, no tremble. Even teacher look her twice, like, who born this one?

That time, Kamsiyochukwu just smile for her.

The kain smile wey no dey too deep, but e still calm Halima down small.

“Halima, abeg stop all this wahala.”

His voice dey cool, e be like person wey dey settle fight for family compound.