Chapter 3: Cold No Dey Forget

Rainy midnight, streetlight dey struggle with darkness and storm. I press body for wall, dey beg for small mercy from breeze and cold. Shirt glue me like second skin, every part of me dey shake.

Nothing to do pass to wedge myself under the roof eaves, hope say e go block small rain. Shoes soak, lips dey tremble. Thunder dey grumble for distance, remind me say I no get welcome for inside.

Pei Yan get wetin him want. I picture am inside, dry and warm, maybe dey sip hot Milo. That thought bitter pass cold.

I no know how long I dey there, till my hand turn white for cold. Breath dey fog for air. Time long, like water drip from broken gutter.

Pei Yan show for door with Lin Xi. She wear pastel jumper, already dey soak. She blink, eyes wide, but mouth lock. I wonder if she fear me.

She cling to Pei Yan shirt, as if e be lifeline.

Pei Yan look me down, eye cold. Face like carved stone, lips tight.

"So, you still no wan apologise?" Him tone flat but sharp.

If na two hours before, maybe I go still argue. But rain don wash all pride, leave only need. No more talk, just shiver.

But if Lin Xi no frame me say I thief class money, I for no expose her. I remember as her voice dey shake that day, everybody look me like thief. Blood dey hot, but cold pass am.

Lin Xi no fit bear the look, run comot, injure leg. She limp dey cry, pass head teacher window. Even principal come out for the noise.

Pei Yan blame me. Truth no matter—na who suffer pass dey count.

At this point, pride don die. Lips blue, hand dey shake. If I fit take back my words, just for small warmth, I go do am.

All I sabi be say cold dey turn my head. Thought scatter, only pain for bone dey hold me.

I open mouth, rain rush enter. I cough, swallow bitter rain, throat dey burn.

"Sorry, Lin Xi." My voice small, rain almost swallow am. I bow, forehead near touch my knee.

"I no suppose do am." My words just hang for air, limp for storm.

Lin Xi hide behind Pei Yan. She twist her wrapper, bite her lip, pride and shakara dey fight for her face. "But I no wan forgive her..."

Pei Yan rub her hand, gentle. He wipe rain for her cheek, voice soft like say e be another person.

"No worry." E sound like promise, for one moment, I nearly believe am.

He look me long, face blank. Eye wey dey sharp before, now empty.

"E don too late." The words pain. Door close, leave me with pounding rain.

My body dey shake, nearly fall. Every joint dey ache. My knee dey knock as I try stand.

Rain beat me like say e wan bury me. I hug myself, shiver. Everything blur, only cold dey real.

Pei Yan shadow long for tile, like angry uncle for house.

"You disgrace Xixi for everybody. Na just to shame her? You know the answer." Him voice low, each word heavy.

He give small cold smile. I remember when him real smile dey sweet me—now e be story.

"But wetin give you right to disgrace her?" Him voice hard, I no get answer.

"If no be say dem plan make you marry me, you for still dey village dey hustle? You think say you be princess?" Him word cut deep. Maybe I no fit belong for here after all.

Lin Xi cough, voice sweet but eye dey corner, half proud, half fear. "E too cold, Pei Yan, abeg make we enter inside."

He frown, see her skirt dey soak. Concern flash for him face.

He carry Lin Xi inside, door close with soft click, like hope snap.

"Make you no catch cold again." E talk am to her, but I hear am as curse.

Last light disappear. Only wind howl and rain dey slap me.

My eyelid heavy. Maybe na tiredness. Body far, numb.

I hug my knee, squat by the door, sleep off from wahala. Strength no remain to care again.

Tomorrow, maybe, the rain go forget my name—but tonight, na only cold remember me.