Chapter 6: Suya Joint Showdown

Later, I hear from comments say that mama put wahala still dey cause problem.

[Na supporting babe cause am! Manager fire main babe.]

[Now, main babe dey work for one yeye suya joint. E dey pain me for her.]

[Dem dey disturb main babe again—who be that idiot?]

[No worry, main guy go show. Na this scene dem dey call hero save heroine.]

The way Naija people dey carry gist for head, you go think say dem dey run NTA news update.

As comments dey shout, I waka go suya joint.

That suya joint dey for corner, close to where keke napep dey always park. Smoke from grill dey rise, pepper smell full everywhere. Boys dey gather for one side, dey make noise. Keke napep just dey horn for back, but nobody send them—fight sweet pass transport wahala.

I look up, see Tunde Okoye jacket don stain with blood, him face cold as e dey punch person.

Halima Musa hair rough, eyes red, she dey hide behind am.

Her face no be the same soft one again—now e be like person wey don cry tire. My chest tight small.

As everywhere scatter, one guy wan sneak Tunde Okoye from back.

Halima Musa shout.

Her voice cut through the noise like mosque bell for Friday morning.

I step front, my leg shake small—who send me? But I no fit dull. I close eye, fire the kick. I use all my body, channel that Okija shrine energy—like say juju dey my leg. The guy land for gutter, e no even know wetin hit am.

Tunde Okoye turn, shock catch am. "Ngozi?"

I no talk—just stretch hand. E understand, hand me one wine bottle.

One second later, I break the bottle for attacker head.

The thing sound gbim! Some boys just scatter run, others dey watch.

As fight dey go on, Tunde Okoye quick explain:

"Dem dey disturb staff. As dem refuse, wahala start, so I join."

"Mm," I reply, grab another attacker, twist him hand for back. The guy scream.

Na so street dey. You must fit defend yourself, no dull.

Fight scatter more. For my side eye, I see person dey swing iron rod go Tunde Okoye side.

I shout, "Watch out!"

My voice loud, scatter the air. For street, if you no shout, nobody go hear you.

Everywhere slow. As the iron rod wan land Tunde Okoye, one small figure rush block am.

Gbam—

The rod land for body, the sound no funny.

Halima Musa use her body collect am for Tunde Okoye.

She fall like person wey NEPA just seize light. Boys shout, some dey run.

E turn, shock for him eye. Halima Musa face twist with pain. As she wan fall, Tunde Okoye catch am.

Sweat full her face. Her eyes dey blur, but with her last strength, she talk three words:

"Tun... de... O..."

And she faint.

The way she call his name, e weak everybody. For Naija, to sacrifice like that na strong tin.

As I finish the last thug, I clean blood from my sleeve, look up.

The fine girl dey unconscious for him hand, her face calm like say she dey sleep.

He look her, him normal playful eye now just dey confused and helpless.

E be like one wall just rise between us.

Me, I just be spectator for this their love story wey dey break person heart.

I carry my mind comot small, think of all the soap opera I don watch. This one get as e be.