Chapter 4: Pepper Soup Advice & Uyo University Cruise

06.

Blessing hear say na just one sentence I use forgive Musa Garba, she put hand for waist, vex: “He explain that Zainab Musa matter?”

She no dey take nonsense. Blessing dey protect me like big sister.

I shake head, small shame catch me: “I think say na just friend, and Zainab get boyfriend…”

I dey try defend Musa, but Blessing dey look me like say I dey craze.

“You sabi say she get boyfriend, why the boyfriend no dey hospital with her?”

I pause, no talk.

That question hit me for chest. Sometimes, Blessing mouth sharp like pepper.

Blessing stamp foot: “Which juju he use for you? You go still cry last last.”

She hiss, turn back. I just dey look ground.

“He no use juju. Na me just like am—seriously…”

I dey reason my matter—love dey blind person, true true.

Blessing no fit talk again, just roll eye, but no too vex again.

She drop zobo cup, sit for bed, dey look ceiling like say she dey calculate my future heartbreak.

“You go regret, you go still cry, watch.”

Me, if I vex, I dey quick calm down. I unblock Musa Garba.

All my cruise don soft—after all, Naija babe no dey hold malice too long.

Things just dey change small small between us.

For the first time, guy dey reply chat fast, dey drop small small gist. I dey notice am.

The cold guy begin dey open up, dey talk him mind straight.

But he never really gree or reject my confession.

Na the limbo dey pain me, but I still dey try.

Blessing say Musa Garba just dey use me, dey enjoy the chase.

I no blame her—Naija boys sabi run package, but me I dey reason say Musa different.

Me I no gree, I chase am more.

If love na war, me I carry flag enter.

Musa Garba don turn celeb for Uyo University—him fine face and correct result make sure of that.

Even lecturers sabi am. Any small debate, dem go use am as example. I dey proud.

Any basketball match wey he play, crowd full. If I no book seat early, forget am.

Girls plenty dey try, but he dey bone them.

The way dem dey flock around am, sometimes I dey laugh. Some dey send him lunch, others dey come cheer for court. Musa just dey focus.

We no dey same department. If I wan chop with am, I go trek go meet am.

Even when rain dey fall, I go wear slippers, waka go the other side. Guy go just smile, keep seat for me.

He go save seat for me for library, dey explain calculus for me tire.

I dey carry maths question come, he go dey yarn me like lecturer. Sometimes, e go throw pen for my head, say I stubborn.

As na only me dey with am steady, people dey reason say we dey date.

Rumour fly reach hostel. Some dey call me 'Musa babe,' others dey hail me for junction.

One day, I hear him roommate ask, “Musa, that Amina from Computer Science Class 2 na your babe?”

He just look the guy, no talk. Roommate see me, begin hail me ‘sister-in-law’.

Everybody for room burst laugh. Na so boys dey do for hostel—every gist na comedy show.

He no deny, he no gree.

But for my mind, I dey happy.

That kain silence dey give person hope. I dey shine teeth, dey form big girl.