Chapter 5: Hard Reset and Family Duty

After that night, Teacher Folarin no reply me again.

He just ghost me. Na so I dey stare chat, dey refresh, no blue tick. Silence wey long like NEPA blackout.

No matter how I greet, or use Chibuzor take threaten am, he just blank me.

I dey house dey bored, na so call from Chibuzor campus card enter.

My ringtone even sound like church bell. Na so I answer am.

“Sis, I shock o. Our class teacher really believe say dem dey bully me? He even wan make I open up. I no even know say I dey suffer!”

Chibuzor voice dey echo for phone. E be like say e dey happy say e don get senior attention.

I come understand. So Teacher Folarin don give up for my side, now na Chibuzor he wan save.

Omo, the man no wan gree for me. E wan carry crusade go my brother side.

I just click tongue, laugh.

I laugh reach bathroom, na so my mama ask me, "You dey craze?"

Chibuzor think say I craze, insult me, then talk the real thing: “By the way, parent-teacher meeting dey Friday afternoon. Make sure say Mummy or Daddy fit come. I do well for monthly exam! You must buy me that skin wey you promise!”

As e talk about skin, I know say na game e dey talk. Boys and their mobile games—wahala.

I just wave am, cut call, rush go braid stand to redo my pudding hair.

My hair stylist sabi me—she dey shake head, dey say, "Sister Ngozi, you and this your color!"

Six hours later, I wink for mirror, talk: “Just small effort and I fine pass you, small boy.”

I even snap selfie, send give group chat—make my friends see fresh glow.

When I reach house, na ten o’clock.

I sneak enter, tiptoe like thief. My mama just dey look me, no talk.

As usual, I send Teacher Folarin good night.

I no dey expect reply, but e shock me.

Surprisingly, he reply.

[Even though I no know your name, I believe say you junior to me. As teacher, I advise you: no disturb my student again, or you go hurt yourself and others.]

[Your plenty small-small message this few days don disturb my life. I don talk everything I fit. I no think say I fit help you again. I hope you go hear word.]

[That’s all. I dey delete you. If I see you dey bully Chibuzor for school again, I no go just look.]

The message land like government memo. E no sweet, but e clear.

Me: ?

I just dey look my phone, heart dey squeeze. E pain me, but I gats form hard girl.

For my mind, I dey reason say, "Shey na me e dey warn so?"

I no know wetin that stubborn Chibuzor tell Teacher Folarin, but I sure say—Teacher Folarin still no know say I be Chibuzor real sister.

If e know, e for no use 'bully' dey talk to me. But as e be, e still dey form guardian angel.

As I send another message, na ‘friend request rejected’ notice I see. He really delete me.

Na that time, my mama knock come in: “Ngozi, I get meeting tomorrow, no fit go parent-teacher meeting.”

She dey adjust wrapper as she talk. Her face get that tired look wey civil servant dey get for month end.

I nod.

No wahala. Duty dey call. As first daughter, I gats answer.

As the number one rat for this house, I volunteer: “Mummy, I go go.”

She smile small, talk: "God bless you, Ngozi. Make you represent us well. No go disgrace me o!"