Chapter 4: Cafeteria Vibes

Now wey I know say Musa Ifedolapo and the sleep companion doll dey share sense,

I no throw am away for night.

I still dey squeeze am between my legs sleep as usual. Na since I small I dey do am—if I no get am, sleep no dey come.

Person wey grow for Naija know say childhood habits dey hard to comot. Sometimes, na only these small things dey make body and soul relax for this country wey dey hot.

Next morning, I wake up fresh. My padi and roommate Halima drag me go second cafeteria chop breakfast.

Halima voice dey always loud like bus conductor for Oshodi. She dey act as if moin-moin na gold. "Kamsi, stand up jare! You dey dull!" Na so she go dey drag person.

“Hurry up, Kamsi! If we late, we no go see fresh moin-moin!”

For my mind, I dey pray make dem never finish indomie and egg too. I fit fight for that combo.

I never even reach cafeteria finish when I hear that familiar inner voice for my ear:

[When I go fit call her Kamsi for open?]

[I wan chop with her too.]

Na so all my sensors rise. I look left, look right, dey find where the cold breeze dey come from.

As I step inside, the air full of fried plantain and stew, with small smoke from the akara stand for back. I stop, look around, na so I spot Musa Ifedolapo for one corner, e usual cold aura full everywhere. As e see me, e just narrow e eyes, nod like say nothing dey.

For my mind, I dey laugh. See this bobo wey dey act hard for public, but for night e go dey form pillow.

My heart begin beat fast.

See wahala!

How e dey form this cold for public? For private, na real soft guy. The difference ehn!

E too sweet.

I wan shine teeth but I hold am, dey form coded. I force myself look am just once, then sharply face front waka go. Na so I hear e aggrieved inner voice again:

[She don waka.]

[As expected, she no go look me again.]

[No, I wan chop with Kamsi.]

I just dey laugh for inside.

If Halima sabi wetin dey sup, e for don drag me go Musa side by force. I just dey pray make she no catch the eye gist.