Chapter 2: Book Life, Real Life

True talk, I land for this life before I even born. After I chop poisonous mushroom for modern world, I kpeme, next thing, I land inside book.

Omo, no be small thing. One moment I dey inside Lagos traffic, next thing, I dey hear old woman voice for background, na so I realize say I don change chapter—literally.

For the story, as the main guy’s sister, na so dem spoil me, I dey do anyhow, dey vex for my quiet brother, dey beat and disgrace am when nobody dey. When I grow, I begin find wahala for the main girl, till my brother send me go abroad. How I take die? Nobody sabi.

E get as e be, the way dem paint am, like all those wicked aunty for Nollywood. Even my own conscience no gree me rest sometimes, when I remember say na so people dey judge me from page to page.

In short, I no survive. Chai. So after I get another chance for life, na to die more worse? Lai-lai. I still fit save myself.

Abeg, who wan use second chance take collect more gbas gbos? Even Yoruba demon go fear. I gats package myself well.

The WhatsApp comments just dey catch up:

[Wetin this sister dey plan now?]

[She just dey form for Mummy!]

[Make dem leave her and the main guy alone, you go see her real colour!]

If you see as dem dey drag person for group chat, e go be like market women dey gossip you for junction. No joy.

I bone them, waka go meet Ifedike. Mummy look worried, eye Ifedike, then tell me, “Morayo, your brother dey shy for strangers. Since you just come back, go rest small.”

I just sigh, because Naija mama sabi protect the quiet one. She no want wahala make e start from the first day.

As I hear am, I look my brother again, as I reach near, he shift back small, I just nod, “Okay.”

I gats respect myself. I know say Naija house, if you do pass yourself, dem go use eye show you. I no ready for that.

Omo, I no even plan to dey form for Ifedike. As long as I no disturb am, no bully am, I go fit dodge the wahala wey the story plan for me. With that, I jolly enter my room.

As I waka enter, I smell small izal from the corridor. Na home be this, for better or for worse.

I no notice say, as I dey go, the boy just dey look my side for long, before e finally drop eye, like person wey disappointment catch.

If to say I see am, I for yarn better word. But for that moment, everybody just dey adjust.