Chapter 5: Ifeoma's Late Night Request

5

After I don serve two targets back to back, my body just tire.

No too long after, sleep carry me go.

Late for night, I just dey hear knock for my door.

I get up, open door—na my neighbour, Ifeoma, dey stand there.

Ifeoma sef na one of my targets.

Compared to the other three, she mature and gentle pass.

But na she hard pass to win.

Because she get boyfriend already.

Ifeoma no dey let anybody near.

She be like sword wey dem wrap with honey.

Half year ago, she tell me straight: "Tobi, I know say you like me. But I dey see you as small brother. I get boyfriend, and I go marry am one day. I no wan make you waste your feelings for me."

She talk am so direct, I no even fit talk again. I just tell am say anytime she need me, I dey.

Anyway, na only the simping dey count for system, no be whether dem like me back.

Once this simp mission end, I fit finally tell her bye bye.

The thing wey dey pain pass be say sometimes, na the person wey treat you like air go need your help pass for this life. Na Naija way.

"Ifeoma, wetin happen?"

She stand for door, wrapper tight, eye dey dodge mine, like person wey dey beg for garri during fuel scarcity. Only towel dey her body, face dey red.

"Th-the shower just stop hot water, you fit..."

Ifeoma dey bite lip, water still dey drip from her hair as she hold her wrapper tight, dey look somehow shy.

"After the way I take treat you before, maybe you no go wan help me, abi?"

As I no talk, Ifeoma just smile small, bitter. "No wahala... sorry to disturb you. I go just go back..."

"Abeg, enter."

Before she fit finish, I just turn, open door for her.

Ifeoma look surprise.

"If you go back go bath cold water, you go catch cold."

I just smile give her.

[She talk say she no go ever like Tobi, but now wey she need help, na him she dey remember.]

[Forget that one—make we see wetin dey happen for bathroom now.]

[Guy, that one no pure o.]

As Ifeoma enter, I carry small wrapper from chair give her, make she use dry body. I lock my door well, make neighbours no dey gossip tomorrow morning say 'see as Tobi dey host woman for night'. For this compound, gist fit fly reach market. But tonight, e be like say my own story go sweet pass suya for junction.