Chapter 3: Big Moves, Big Heart

Thirty minutes later, I drive my new car comot for shop. I dey play latest Burna Boy track, dey feel myself. Who wan try me?

Sales guy even nice—explain instalment plan, beg me make I no pay finish once. Omo, I no expect am. For this Naija, who dey beg make you no pay finish? Na so I respect the guy more.

Hmm, next time I wan buy car, na him I go find. For Lagos, loyalty dey pay. E no dey hard to spot correct plug.

But Kia no get those big money cars. Maybe I go reason am to join GAC Motors? I dey imagine myself for GAC, dey wave to babes for Lekki. That one go mad!

As I dey think, my phone ring. Na so I pause music, prepare for next package.

Ah, now I get money, time to upgrade phone too. Na so, my Infinix dey act like say e dey jealous. I dey plan switch to iPhone Pro Max, just dey wait.

I park, pick call. Na my padi since childhood, Musa Danladi. This Musa, na that guy wey e no dey call unless matter serious. So I know say e no be play.

"Hello?"

I clear throat, dey form boss. But voice still soft for padi.

"Tunde, abeg, help me. I need borrow money."

My mind first dey think, hope say no be new Yahoo idea. But Musa na correct guy. Borrow money? Na my chance be this!

You know as e dey be when padi come beg you—na time to show say you don level up.

"How much? When you need am?"

I ready to hear big figure, dey hope say I go still get change.

"My mama dey hospital. We short fifty thousand. I go pay you back in six months max."

My heart touch me. For Naija, family na everything. Fifty thousand for health? E no too much.

After I confirm address, I zoom go hospital. I no even waste time, na so I dey rush. That hospital for roundabout side, everybody sabi am.

Musa dey waka up and down for entrance. The guy face show serious wahala. I just park anyhow, rush go meet am.

I reach, pat am. "Make we go pay for your mama treatment."

He look me like say angel just land. For Naija, person wey fit show up for you, na better padi.

"Brother Tunde, God bless you!"

Musa hug me, dey pray, "God wey bless you, e go run your own too."

Even nurse dey look me, mouth open, as if say I be Dangote pikin.

"No need thank me, your mama na my mama too. But wait, wetin do am?"

I no like make e go round bush, so I just ask direct.

Musa dey reason long, see say I go soon vex, e rush talk:

You know our northern brothers, dem no too like to yarn deep pain. But as e see say I dey serious, e just pour out.

"Acute leukemia."

My heart cut. This matter pass just ordinary malaria.