Chapter 8: Final Account

Of course, I no hide am from oga. I sabi difference between personal and company wahala.

I carry the matter go oga sharp sharp. I no wan make e look like say I cover up or dey do bad belle.

I suggest make we call my colleague, make am sign paper say he go forfeit bonus for years, and avoid compensation by sacking am with evidence.

My plan na to help am still get small dignity. I no want company use am clean ground.

I really try for am. At the end, na me be the mumu with soft heart.

True true, sometimes person go dey try protect enemy, no knowing say enemy go still bite am.

He pack IOU, pat my shoulder, dey smile, “You suppose thank me. If no be me, you for no go Mama Kemi, get that ten times compensation.”

He even use left hand tap me, dey smile like person wey win jackpot. Na that kain confidence dey make wahala sweet for gist.

I smile. “True, I suppose thank you.”

I use small sarcasm. For my mind, I dey reason how I go close this chapter for my life.

He reply, “You fit even treat me again.”

He no dey fear. He dey talk as if I dey owe am treat forever. My chest tight, but I just dey smile small.

Once he mention treat, the other colleagues wey dey support am before begin ginger.

Dem dey hail am, dey tap table. "Abeg, make am treat all of us now!" Laughter begin full the office again.

All of dem dey talk make I no stingy. “You just collect free money, abeg, share am. Treat us again—who know, maybe you go win another compensation! No be better thing?”

Some dey even suggest Mama Kemi for lunch again. One girl for Admin dey sing: "Oga treat us o! Oga treat us o!" E come turn cruise.

I just look dem.

My face dey straight. I just dey reason all of them. My mind dey process how people fit show true color for small matter.

Chop again?

For my head, I dey calculate my bank balance. If I carry dem go chop again, na me dem go carry run for next layoff.

I fear say na send-off dinner e go turn.

I picture the thing for my mind—how dem go snap picture, write "farewell dinner" for group chat. E fit even turn amebo for WhatsApp.

I no answer. By then, oga don come out, enter meeting room.

As oga waka pass, everybody arrange face, dey form serious. That tension for office dey thick like agidi.

Everybody rush go meeting, I finish arrange layoff list, put my colleague name back—the one I just commot.

I look the paper, write am with bold ink. Sometimes, to save yourself, you go do wetin you no like.

Na him talk am: even brothers dey balance account.

I shake my head. If to say na my brother true true, I for fit reason am, but wahala pass brotherhood for this Lagos.

Since na account he wan balance, make we balance am well.

My mind dey calm. If dem say make we share, make everybody collect wetin e deserve.