Chapter 3: Seyi—Wahala With Swagger

Just like Amaka, Seyi na school celebrity too. The guy dey always command space—if e enter any gathering, na im everybody wan greet, whether na better greeting or fear dey inside.

The guy fine, and nobody sabi where him family from. Dem say e just transfer from one government school for Agege—nobody sabi the full gist. Some people dey say him papa na big man for Abuja, others dey say na just street boy with luck.

Plenty girls dey trip for am, but nobody dey show am openly. All those SS1 girls go dey form, but na Seyi name full diary. Even teachers dey waka on eggshell for where e dey.

After all, Seyi get bad reputation—temper no good, wahala full him body, dey do anyhow, no dey fear anybody.

If person talk say wahala get friend, na Seyi be the name. E dey fight, dey skip assembly, dey argue with principal.

I even hear say just last week, he chase one English teacher comot. Even principal no fit do anything. Dem say the English teacher talk anyhow, Seyi just stand, tell am say, "Oga, shift!" Next thing, teacher resign. Till today, people dey yarn gist for staff room.

But na person like that still manage catch Amaka eye. I wonder which juju e use. Maybe na the way e dey carry body, or the freedom Amaka never taste before.

“I know say everybody dey fear am because of him bad character, but last time wey I jam some boys wey wan harass me, na him rescue me. He no be like how people dey talk—he just dey cold for outside, but inside, he get good heart.”

Amaka yarn me this one with passion, like say she dey talk about hero for film. Her voice dey soft, I just dey look. Amaka prop her chin for hand, her face just dey shine like morning sun after rain—fresh, hopeful.

Anytime she talk about Seyi, her eyes go dey light, dey shine like say star dey inside. I never see am dey happy like that before. Her laugh get ginger, eyes dey shine, even her body dey restless. Totally different from the way she dey look me. If na me, she dey form serious, dey talk like say na assignment we dey do.

For my last life, even on our wedding day, her best friend cry tell me make I treat her well. That day, I remember, her bestie Adaobi cry reach soak scarf, dey tell me say make I cherish Amaka, say she too suffer for life. But as bride, Amaka just maintain one calm, polite smile. From beginning to end, her face no even shake. She tie gele well, but if you look her well, na just duty she dey perform. No single joy for her smile.

Later, I understand: na because she never love me. She fit calm like say she no send. I blame myself then, dey pray say maybe time go change things. But na so love dey show for eye, no be for mouth.

But when she love person true, even if she cover mouth, love go still dey show for her eyes. Now I dey see the difference—her face dey shine for Seyi, but me? Na just arrangement.