Chapter 2: Airport Wahala

Flight delay wahala!

I no come down from plane till midnight!

If you see how my body dey pain me, I almost quarrel with the air hostess. Dem announce delay, my back dey stiff, hunger dey bite. I dey dream of hot suya and chilled malt, but na only airport gala dey smell from far. Naija style, people dey grumble but nobody wan gree vex pass.

2:30am, airport dey cold, everywhere dry like say spirit dey waka.

I shiver small, zip my jacket, dey look around. Only cleaners and security dey waka slow, drag leg. Even dem dey fear cold.

No keke, no okada, no taxi!

If you see outside, everywhere just blank. The only motor wey pass, na one old airport shuttle, but e park one side like say e dey sleep too. I dey reason whether to trek go main road.

Small fear dey catch me too!

My mind begin play film—what if dem kidnap me, or area boys show? Naija night no dey joke. I adjust my bag, hold am tight. I dey pray small inside mind.

I messaged my brother, Obiora:

[You dey sleep, bro? Abeg come carry me for airport.]

After I send am, I come dey frown because of the extra letter wey I type for 'bro.'

E no too gel!

E come dey somehow!

Normally, I dey call am 'bro,' no be 'brother!'

We get each other number, but the chat dry—show say we no too dey yarn!

But e no mean say we no dey close o!

Na just say, as siblings grow, e dey hard to get gist!

You know say as everybody dey hustle, na so gist dey scarce. Na only for family WhatsApp group wey dem go post Happy Sunday, then e go die down. Sometimes, Aunty Ifeoma go drop 'It is well' or prayer chain, then everybody go ghost.

I wait for ten minutes!

My brother send two voice notes:

[Which small sister be this one?]

[Send your picture make I see.]

E dey talk anyhow!

I just weak! I for slap am through phone if e possible.

E sure me say he no even save my name for phone!

I sabi say my brother na sharp guy!

But this one na first time wey I see am dey misbehave for my front!

The yeye for him voice too clear, I almost vex, but sleep dey disturb me. I dey wonder whether to form angry or just ignore am. Na family—person no fit pick fight.

I no waste time, I do video call!

As the call connect, light for him side low, background noise dey.

My brother just dey relax for sofa, eyebrow up, eyes dey shine with mischief!

He still hold wine glass, just dey flex!

We look each other for screen for some seconds.

He sharply sit up, all that gra-gra disappear!

I smile: "Tomorrow I go ask Mummy and Daddy how many sisters you need!"

"How far, brother~"

My brother nearly pour wine for body as he begin cough!

One guy for him side shout:

"Obi, this your sister fine o!"

"If you no want am, abeg introduce give me!"

My brother face change, he kick the guy:

"Comot for here, na my real sister be this!"

"Shut up!"

I guess say the phone dey table before!

My brother stretch hand, screen zoom close!

He come dey look somehow, "Why you no tell me say you dey come house?"

I still dey smile, "If I tell you, I no go know say you get plenty sisters!"

"I go report you to Mummy and Daddy when I reach house!"

My brother just dey rub him head, dey beg, "No vex, abeg no tell Mummy and Daddy!"

I just hiss!

One kind soft laugh come from the screen—low, sweet, even dey somehow dangerous!

Na that type laugh wey dey make person heart skip. I no know who laugh, but e be like say e get wahala for body.

My brother eye the person for side!

"I don drink, I no fit drive. I go send person come carry you!"

Before he finish—

All the guys for there shout:

"I go go!"

"Sister, na me go carry you!"

"Your brother get plenty sisters, but you fit get plenty brothers!" Na so dem dey rush like Christmas rice.

The noise loud, dem dey show teeth, dey form guy. Na so guys for Naija dey do—any small chance, dem wan play.

My brother vex: "Comot for here, all of una no try!"

"Na my sister you wan carry? Lai lai!"

He look me, "See, I go send my finest, most well-behaved guy to come carry you!"

Camera turn go one side—

I see one fine bobo!

If you see this guy, e fine no be small!

Kunle Adigun!

My brother main guy!

I don see am for face two, three times before.

My brother senior me two years. We attend same secondary school for small time, so I dey see both of them together sometimes.

We no be strangers, but we no close!

I never even talk to Kunle Adigun before!

Next thing, for screen, our eyes jam!

I shock small!

Kunle Adigun just smile, dey gentle!

Before I fit talk, my brother end the call!