Chapter 10: Sweet Suffer Finale

After that, anytime I see Musa Ifedolapo for school, as we pass, I go dey hear e mind, e dey sound like person wey wan cry.

[Kamsi, abeg talk to me.]

For my ear, the thing dey sound like gospel music wey don crack.

For night, Musa Ifedolapo video call me. I ignore the first one. As e call again, I pick.

“Wetin?” My voice cold like freezer.

I arrange my face well, form say nothing fit touch me.

Musa Ifedolapo still dey form hard guy: “I hear say journalism club president say you suppose interview me. If you need help, you fit come find me.”

“Oh.” I answer, cold, I no gree, I no refuse.

[Kamsi really dey vex.]

[She don misunderstand me and Zainab?]

I just eye am small.

I dey form like say I no dey moved. For inside, my body still dey shake.

Musa Ifedolapo purse e lips: “Ifedike Kamsi, I wan explain something.”

“No be me and Zainab dey. Our families na padi, but I no go do engagement with her.”

“That kiss gist na lie.”

“She just fall, jam me, but… I no gree make she touch me.”

[Na true! That girl even try kiss me! She think say I no know wetin she dey plan? E dey turn my belle! I push am commot sharp!]

[Kamsi, no vex for me. Na you get my body, na you get my heart!]

As e finish, Musa Ifedolapo eyes just soft for me.

[Kamsi dey smile.]

I sharply press down my mouth make e no bend.

“About the interview, I need your help. Make we start now?”

As I talk, I carry the cat head wey I abandon since, hug am for my chest. The soft body cool my chest, like fresh sachet water for hot afternoon.

One soft gasp escape from phone. Musa Ifedolapo face just change.

I dey rub the sleep companion doll, form say I no know. “Wetin? You dey feel anyhow?”

Musa Ifedolapo squeeze e hand: “Nothing.”

E face still dey form cold, but for e mind e dey fly:

[Ahhhhh!]

[Kamsi dey pamper me again!]

[Ahhh, I don happy again!]

[Chai, if she fit just kiss me.]

I pause, dey flip my notes. Look up, see as Musa Ifedolapo dey try hold himself, and, as if spirit enter me, I ask: “You want kiss?”

If to say my mama dey this room, she for don shout say "Kamsi, wetin dey worry you?!" But for this moment, na me and Musa world. My heart dey beat gidi-gba, I dey wait for wetin go happen next. For this Naija love, na bold step dey win, no be all this form.