Chapter 7: Family Reveal and New Alliances

Suddenly, my head begin pain me. Why this boy too dey talk?

I dey reason say if na my house, I for don send am message with backhand.

If people no full here, I for don use him socks block him mouth.

My hand dey itch, but I gats behave. Parents full class, teacher fit enter anytime.

I check him result slip.

I dey scroll the paper, dey nod my head like say na big achievement.

English: 92

Math: 140

Science: 255

Try well.

No be bad at all. For this school, na top score. If na my papa, e go buy am one cold malt and gala.

Then I see English—92.

My eyebrow raise small. I dey reason say na where e miss road.

Just manage pass.

If na my papa, he go say, "Try more next time."

I know say he no dey too try for English, but this one bad.

I dey think how I go fix am before next term.

Chibuzor just smile: “Na small mistake.”

E dey act like say na small pikin matter. But I know say if I slack, next time e fit drop.

No many parents, so nobody notice us. I just hiss, punch am small.

I use small knuckle for him arm, no be serious hit. E just jump, laugh.

Small mistake? You no even follow the reading plan wey I do for you? You need better beating.

Next term, na reading marathon I go give am.

Na then, for corner of my eye, I see familiar person.

My body just stiff. I dey sense drama.

I look up, jam eye with Teacher Folarin. That moment, I see as one kind wave pass for him usually calm face.

E resemble when person see ghost. For a second, e shock.

—Teacher Folarin don recognize me.

Finally, e know say na me.

And my hand still dey up.

I dey mid-knock, na so I freeze.

I remember him message: [If I see you dey bully Chibuzor for school again, I no go just look.]

The warning loud for my head like police siren.

But see me, dey beat am for front of am.

My matter na strong head. I gats defend myself.

So? Wetin Teacher Folarin go do?

I dey ready for anything. If e like make e call police, I no go deny my brother.

After few seconds, he face another side.

He just bone, focus on him file. Na so I reason say, "Na better man. E no wan do drama for public."

No wahala. If mountain no come meet me, I go meet mountain.

I ready myself, adjust shirt, clean mouth. Time to face the matter like champion.

I arrange my skirt, put on smile, waka go front.

I dey channel my inner slay queen. Na today be today.

“Teacher Folarin, abeg, I be Chibuzor real sister o—no vex for all the wahala.”

I talk am with confidence, dey smile. My hand stretch for handshake.

Teacher Folarin face stiff small, but he arrange himself quick.

E shake me small, then adjust glass. E dey try hide surprise.

He say, “Hello. Chibuzor try well this time—na only English dey drag am. If he fit improve am, he go enter better university.”

E dey talk like say e wan impress me. My ear dey open.

I just dey smile, dey look as he dey dodge my eye.

I dey watch am. If e like make e hide, I go catch am.

I talk slow: “Na so? Make we exchange contact. My papa and mama dey busy, na me dey monitor Chibuzor reading. Make we dey talk about am.”

I dey yarn am with that sweet, mature voice. No be small pikin talk.

I bring out WhatsApp QR code—the same one he delete me from last night.

As I stretch am, my mind dey laugh. God of second chance.

No matter how he bone me yesterday, today he must add me back, no escape.

Today, na my turn to hold the ace.

I hold phone, my eye full mischief, like say I know say this day go come.

I dey shine teeth, dey wait make e scan am. Na correct revenge.

“E good like that, Teacher Folarin?”

My smile dey loud. I dey give am pressure.