Chapter 6: Eyes Wide Open

For keke, e still be like dream.

Once I leave Ifeoma, those floating words vanish.

But everything I read don stick for my mind.

Dem talk say Ifeoma no be original again—na another person from somewhere enter her body.

No wonder. No wonder since half year ago, after my real sister fall inside river, she change finish.

Before, she no sabi book, now she dey write poem anyhow, every one na correct.

She even dress like man go beer parlour, no sabi many normal things.

Even Tunde, he start dey mention her to me, even when I tell am I no like Ifeoma.

He go say: "Miss Ifeoma don change o. I see her give beggar money for road today."

"Miss Ifeoma no bad at all, just young and small wahala. She even sabi, you no know just now..."

I sure say he no even notice.

When he dey talk about Ifeoma, he no dey frown again, he dey smile small.

"I don agree with third miss—she no go bully you again."

I no talk much.

But for my mind, I dey laugh. Dog fit ever change?

To me, she still dey do anyhow, just hide am well.

Yes, she no go push me inside river for fun, or laugh me for front of other big girls again.

But she go just act innocent, talk: "Second sister no tell me, I no know."

So, all blame go land for my head.

Big brother, papa, mama, grandma—all of them like her pass me.

I dey feel am. She dey look me down, and she dey try hide or show say she better pass me.

And Tunde—he dey look her pass me.

I notice, but I no fit stop am. I just pretend say nothing dey happen, dey comfort myself say he go still marry me.

"Why my madam own dey always hard?" Sade talk, vexed. "How young lord Tunde go treat you like this? I think say you don find better man, see as he do you."

"Maybe na third miss plan am—she always like to fight you. Other things she fit leave, but now even your husband-to-be she dey drag."

I stop am. "Mind your mouth."

"Yes, but madam, what you go do now?" Sade sigh, worry full her face—she know my mind. "If that Young Master Okafor come again nko...?"

What to do?

To even think of Okafor, Minister pikin, dey vex me.

From those floating words, Ifeoma na the real main babe for this story, me just be her stepping stone.

Looks like I no fit run from this fate.

I think say with Tunde, I go fit leave Shen family wahala, but last last, he follow Ifeoma.

I suppose know before—good thing no dey reach my side for free.

If I want better life, na me go fight am!

After small sorrow, I strong my mind.

No matter wetin, I no go end up like before!

One sharp idea just enter my head.

My heart dey beat fast.

"Sade, quick, bring powder, rub my face, follow me go one place." My eyes dey shine as I ready myself.