Chapter 4: Loyalty, Jealousy, and Silent Tears

After that, me and Chijioke no talk to each other for one week.

I count the days. Each morning, I dey wait for text, but nothing. School dey dry, even food no sweet me.

At first, Chijioke no believe say he do anything wrong:

For him mind, e dey do wetin correct boy suppose do. But me, I dey reason am another way.

"I always see Halima as my sister. She injure leg—how I go ignore am?"

He go dey wave hand, dey try explain. But for my ear, na just excuse.

I look am with straight face:

My eye red. I no want cry, but I no gree smile.

"She injure leg, she fit call her mama, or your papa driver. Why she wait for you?"

I for add more, but I hold myself. Some things no need shout.

"You see her as sister, but you sure say she see you as brother? You fit swear say you no know she like you?"

I no say am with anger, but e pain me for throat. I dey wait make he open up.

Chijioke eyes just shift, then he sigh, hug me.

As e hug me, my body just soft small. I fit feel the way him heart dey beat fast.

"Naza, na you I like. I go talk to her clear, I go give her space, okay?"

His voice gentle, as if e dey beg God make I forgive am.

I close my eyes:

Tears wan drop, but I just swallow am back.

"Okay."

I hope say this time, things go change.

After that, Chijioke really go talk to Halima.

The next day, I see am for back of class, dey reason with Halima. Her face swell like person wey cry. My heart cut small, but I just waka go.

I no know wetin he tell her, but I see Halima come out from class dey cry, and since then, she no find Chijioke again.

Even for assembly, she dey stand alone. People begin dey talk, but nobody fit ask question.

I think say the matter don finish.

I thank God say my relationship fit survive small wahala.

But one day, Chijioke come meet me, frown, dey reason:

E no too like to bring Halima matter come me, so I know say this one serious.

"Halima say one guy from another school dey disturb her. She don reject am many times, but the guy no gree. Today he invite Halima and her friends go out. She say make I pretend be her boyfriend, so the guy go fear."

As e dey talk, I dey watch im face—na real concern e get for Halima. I just dey reason whether to gree or not.

He look my face, add:

E try use soft voice. E dey beg make I understand.

"Na just for one night, make the guy understand."

He dey expect make I no vex. My head dey hot small.

"No be so una dey start? Today she need you carry her go house because of her leg, tomorrow she need you pretend be her boyfriend because of one guy—wetin go happen next?"

The words just fly come out, but I still dey try hold myself.

Chijioke no get quick temper, but with me he dey always gentle:

He dey look ground, voice low. For him mind, he dey owe Halima family something.

"If no be say her papa die save my papa, she for get her own papa protect her. I no fit just leave her. Just this once. If you no too feel am, follow us go, abeg."

E dey beg, I dey see pain for him eye. If to say na another girl, I for just walk away. But I still dey soft for am.

At this point, I know say to argue with Chijioke no go work, so I just gree.

I reason say maybe if I follow, the guy go know say e no get chance. I just no wan wahala.

"Just one day. I go follow una."

My voice no loud, but e hear me.

Chijioke smile, hold my face, kiss me.

That kiss no be ordinary one. E just hold me small, whisper for ear, "Thank you."

"My woman dey understand. Na you I love pass."

E dey try make I sure say I still be number one.