Chapter 1: When Beads Become Wahala

Na generator hum dey background, boys dey play FIFA for common room, indomie aroma full everywhere. Before my roommate meet him online babe for real life, na so e dey insist say e wan do that bead runz wey dey craze everybody for hostel.

You suppose see as Okechukwu dey hype himself, dey talk like say once e do that thing for down below, e go open door to new life. For hostel, gist full ground—some boys dey try all sorts to impress women, but this one pass level. I just dey look am, dey shake head, dey wonder if na jazz dey worry am.

I try my best talk sense into am, warn am say all this bead wahala fit carry big risk. I no wan see my guy enter problem because of woman matter.

I no just yarn as e dey sweet my mind. I even show am WhatsApp voice note wey say one Oshodi guy do bead, now if e wan piss, na bucket e dey use. The thing weak me, but as bros, I gats try.

E hear my advice and gree say e no go do am again. At least, e talk say e go chill.

E come be like say Okechukwu don calm, just dey nod head, dey form like say my advice touch am. My mind rest small, na so I drop the matter—thinking say e don hear word.

Later, the rich madam dump am, go carry one small internet celeb wey don already do the bead runz. Omo, e pain Okechukwu reach bone. The madam no even send am WhatsApp voice note—just post the new guy sharp sharp. The small celeb dey do influencer things, dey dance for Instagram, dey pepper us for TL.

That internet celeb just blow overnight, enter that so-called A9 level. A9 na hostel code—if you reach am, na chairman life, no more struggle.

You suppose see the way everybody dey talk for hostel—say the boy don hammer, na him time to shine. People dey compare am to Big Brother winner. Omo, envy full everywhere, jealousy dey fly like mosquito.

My roommate pretend say he wan thank me, come jollof me out. E send me text, say make I meet am for our usual spot—where dem dey sell cold pure water and fried yam for junction. I no suspect anything.

He show with one big nylon full of beads. When I see the nylon, I think say na party pack. I even dey expect chin-chin. But as I near am, I notice say the nylon dey heavy, dey jangle like aboki belt.

He drug me, tie me for table. Omo, na one small plastic bottle e use. E pour for my malt, I drink, next thing my eyes dey turn. I wake up, I no fit move.

"Na your fault o. If you no put mouth, na me for dey drive Benz, dey chill for Lekki mansion by now."

E voice dey shake as e talk am. Like say e dey vex but fear dey inside. E eyes red, e hand dey tremble. Chai, women go show you shege.

E carry razor, tear me down below, begin stuff bead like say na suya spice. I feel cold for my blood. The pain na like electric shock. I no fit shout sef. My spirit nearly comot body. I dey beg, voice no come out. For my mind, I dey call my mama.

Na pain kill me. I see darkness, e be like say my ancestors dey call me. Everything come blank, cold pass harmattan night for Jos. I smell Dettol and wet towel—my hostel room again. E shock me.

When I open my eyes again, na the same day my roommate dey insist on doing that bead runz I land. E shock me. Everywhere dey the same—my old phone wey I change screen last week dey beside me, Okechukwu dey hum that same Davido song. But this time, I get memory of pain wey fit change everything. I no go dull.