Chapter 12: Lesson Hustle and Tunde’s Plan

Luckily, next day, somebody finally answer my lesson ad.

I dey reason say, at least work go make me forget my wahala.

But as I reach student house, open door, na familiar face I see for parlour.

My brain blank. Tunde look me, smile. "See as we dey jam, Junior Anu."

His smile sly, like say he dey catch person for chess. I just smile small, dey find excuse.

I force smile. "...Hehe, I think I miss house."

I dey look for escape, but him dey block door.

"No miss. Na me tell my aunty to hire you."

He dey proud small, his eyes dey shine like say he plan am.

He close paper full of formulas wey I no fit understand, stand up come my side.

His step slow, calm. The air get tension.

"Na my cousin dey upstairs—na she you go tutor."

He dey talk like say na assignment for campus union. Me, I dey sweat.

I breathe deep. "Senior Tunde cousin still need outside lesson?"

I try form like say I no dey shook.

He reply, "She sef be arts student."

He pause. "And, I no dey tutor people anyhow. E dey tire person."

His eye dey talk another thing, like say na code we dey speak.

Just three lines, I bow head, just grab my tote, waka go up.

My heart dey beat, I dey pray make e end quick. I no wan yarn pass my mouth.

Tunde cousin sharp. Small guide, she dey pick fast. I teach her two hours, then talk, "You no really need lesson—self-study fit do. My rate no cheap."

The girl get sense, she dey nod, dey smile.

She bite pen, tilt head, grin. "No wahala. No be my family dey pay."

Her mouth sharp, the way she talk, you go know say she be Lagos babe.

I shock, wan ask, when knock land for door. Tunde enter with plate of melon, eye scan his cousin like warning. "How far?"

He dey act big brother. The tension just calm.

The girl shrink, behave. "I dey okay."

She pack her book quick, face ground.

Tunde push melon give me, smile. "So, I go disturb you to dey come once every week."

He dey eye me steady, like say he dey measure my patience.

He bring out phone, look me casual. "I go transfer your pay."

I nod, dey ready run.