Chapter 6: Estate Agents and Street Lenders

"Good afternoon, sir. You dey find flat or duplex?"

Agent dey look me up and down. For this Lagos, dem dey size you before dem answer.

"You get any house wey ready to move in?"

I no get time for story. Sharp sharp!

Agent shake head like agbalumo. "Area A flats and Area B duplex finish since. Only small bungalow remain for Area C."

He even use hand gesture, dey paint picture. For my mind, anywhere wey head go rest, I dey okay.

Bungalow? Perfect—more money to spend. You know say, if space small, you fit buy plenty things join—TV, fridge, generator—money go dey finish!

"How much be deposit?"

I dey hope make e no too cut neck.

Agent pause. "Bungalow deposit na ₦100,000, we go reserve am for half month."

He dey look me like say I fit price join.

I reason: in half month, system payout go pass thirty million. I dey plan buy estate for my village sef. E go do.

At least, I fit dey live well before system kpai me.

I pay deposit, carry contract, dey go. I dey walk like landlord, my chest high.

One skinny, sharp guy approach. The guy slim, face sharp like razor, eyes dey shine like torchlight for blackout.

Na so all those street boys dey smell money. The guy package e self well, but eye dey shine like torchlight.

"Oga, you need small cash?"

He dey try form humble, but I sabi the runs.

I glare am, wave bungalow contract. I dey give am that "I no get your time" eye.

"I look like person wey need money?"

Make dem know say I no be all those maga.

"No na! Oga, you be big man!" The guy shine teeth. "My company dey do private loan. See my card—if you need urgent cash, just call."

Na so dem dey start—fake humility. But as e hand me card, e dey watch my body language.

Ah, na loan shark. I fit see for im eye—this one dey run coded business. But sometimes, na street sense dey pay.

Idea flash. "You dey collect collateral?"

As I ask, I dey size am. Make e no go carry my new car.

"No need. I know say you get money! Collateral na for people wey I no trust. Your repayment? I trust die!"

He dey try sweet talk me. But na me go run am!

Perfect.

I dey nod head like say na business meeting. I drag am go meet agent. I want make everybody know say I dey run town.

"How many bungalow remain? I go buy all."

Dem shock. For Lagos, no be everyday dem dey see this kind matter.

"Pay deposit first. Full payment in half month."

Agent dey sweat, lender dey smile like person wey win sport betting.

I tap the shocked lender. "Oga, pay."

Na so deal seal, my level rise.