Chapter 10: Okada Run and Showdown at the Glass

Before I know, I don bike eight blocks.

I fly for okada, pass traffic, dust dey my hair. Lagos sun dey bake everybody, but I dey shine teeth. Okada man dey hail, “Aunty, you dey run from EFCC?” I just laugh, dey enjoy breeze.

Musa look the scattered mama put for my hand, dey reason.

Musa just dey look my takeout—meat no dey, soup spill. But e still dey smile.

I just wan breathe small—how I end up dey please male lead?

I dey reason my life. When wahala too much, even palm wine fit taste bitter.

Na plot power be this? Fear catch me.

I dey suspect say author dey use my head do turn-by-turn.

Phone dey ring—sure na Obiora, whether hunger dey worry am or na vex.

If you see the number of missed calls, you go pity me. Na so I put phone for silent.

My body dey tingle. I try say, “These mama put don scatter, I go give pig chop. Next time, I go treat you.”

I dey form strong, but na lie. My own mouth dey run faster than brain.

Musa block me: “No wahala, Ifeoma. Make I treat you. Since dem say make we contract, we suppose know each other.”

E smile, open door for me. E dey gentle, but muscle still dey show under shirt.

For sunlight, e too fine reach heartbreak.

Sun dey hit him hair, e eye dey shine. I dey wonder if e be real person.

But na main girl man—anybody wey touch am dey find wahala.

My head dey warn me, "No try am. Main girl go show you pepper."

I wan refuse, but wetin come out na, “Okay~”

I cover my mouth.

Mouth faster than brain. If dem check me for hospital, dem go say na love virus.

Next thing, for corner of my eye, I see Obiora and Halima stand for outside glass window.

Na so game scatter. My mind dey race—should I hide or fight? Today no go end well o. I dey ready for round two.