Chapter 3: New King for the Jungle

On the day of the event, na boredom make me dey watch live stream.

I just dey scroll YouTube, dey find cruise. As I see the event banner, I click sharp.

Host dey introduce the guests.

The MC dey wear Ankara—Naija style. Voice dey boom for mic.

Camera just dey pan go round.

I dey count how many fine boys dey, dey judge their drip. Na so girls dey do, no vex.

When e reach the second contestant face, my eye just shine.

My mouth open small. I nearly spill my zobo. Omo, see fine guy!

Ah ah—this guy fine o!

Even my spirit dey hail am—if to say e dey my area, my mama for dey ask for bride price.

So, esports get fine boy like this? E fit do celeb work sef.

His jawline sharp, skin fresh. Na all those Lekki boys style.

Host announce, "Make we welcome player Anki!"

The MC voice loud, audience dey cheer. Everywhere dey scatter.

He look camera, lips bend small, eye corners just lift: "Hello everybody. I don come back."

As he talk, girls dey scream. Even some boys dey blush for back.

Audience shout scatter.

I dey hear "oya!" "we dey here!" Like say na Wizkid concert.

Chat just mad:

"Anki don finally return after more than half a year!"

"I dey wait for your performance!"

My chat dey roll—if na cash out, my account go fat today.

Comments just dey fly, dey call am 'husband.'

[Naija girls nor dey carry last. See all the 'husband' chants.]

[A God! E don come back! Finally!]

Person type, "Anki, abeg marry me o!"

[Fans, calm down. He never play for over half year—who know if he still fit make WG starting lineup.]

[Haters, face your own. Baba skill no be your business.]

[Hubby! Make I worship you!]

Person drop love emoji scatter—everywhere red.

[See abs, abeg make I bite, bite, bite!]

I just dey laugh. Na so e dey be for fine boy.

No wonder.

If to say my ex fine like this, I for dey cry tire.

So na because he never show for half year.

I dey reason, "Where this guy hide since?" E fit say na abroad e go.

When I meet Big Tiger Palm and he say he be pro player, I check tournament rosters.

I use all my data check, even use VPN join—no see am.

I scroll all the player pictures, I no see Big Tiger Palm name.

If e lie, e lie reach full Olympics.

I no see any face fine like this.

Nobody even resemble am. Na so I dey roll my eyes.

So I sef lie, say I be celeb.

Na wayo love dey start. I no wan carry last.

Relationship wey start with lie, no fit end well.

I shake my head. The thing dey pain me.

But from today, I go forget the wahala wey Big Tiger Palm give me and become loyal fangirl for this fine guy.

I adjust my scarf, dey prepare to stan new king. Out with the old, in with the fresh.

Before exhibition match, my sister dey show off the nine-tailed fox skin wey I spend almost one hundred thousand naira try get—na Big Tiger Palm finally gift me the skin.

My heart cut small. That skin na my pride—people dey always ask how I take get am.

"This skin fine die. As I wear am, na so my power dey increase for game."

Na true. My sister dey shine, dey spray emotes for lobby.

Shen Nian look her own skin list wey dey gray, force smile: "I too busy that time, no fit draw for am. Next time e show, I go collect am."

I see as she dey bone—wahala go soon start.

My sister smile: "Then na me go wear am for now."

She dey form gentle, but I sabi say she dey pepper her rival.

But now, as I dey watch screen, I dey wonder—who really get who for this game?

Both teams enter loading screen.

Everybody for chat dey drop hype. I dey count seconds.

Host: "Make we look forward to the first match..."

Everybody dey ready, tension dey room.

Suddenly, host voice just cut.

Na wah! Even network fear the tension.

Director camera freeze anyhow.

The camera pause for Big Tiger Palm face—e shock like person wey see sapa.

Chat just quiet.

Everywhere just freeze. My heart dey skip.

I look up at live feed, my eyes wide like thief.

I grab my pillow, dey pray say I no dey hallucinate.

No be joke—him name na Big Tiger Palm too?

I rub my eyes—e still dey there. My mind dey fly.

And the couple tag still dey?

Ah! My sister no fit escape this gbege.

Chat just scatter:

[Anki and Tani Niyi!]

[Somebody abeg slap me make I wake.]

[I think say I drink too much malt. I need rest.]

[Couple ID, level 52 couple tag...]

[Wife fans, where una dey? Make una come cry.]

Na real online wahala—tears for timeline.

My heart cut small. That skin na my pride—people dey always ask how I take get am.

But now, as I dey watch screen, I dey wonder—who really get who for this game?