Chapter 7: Shortcut No Be Road

After night prep, as I dey leave school gate, I hear motorcycle sound. The sound loud, like say okada dey drag with police for third mainland.

Seyi, with Amaka for back, park for my front, block my way. He dey form like Nollywood gangster, hand on throttle. Amaka dey hold him waist, dey smile like say she win jackpot. Behind them, group of touts just dey follow.

The boys dey wear black, chewing stick for mouth, dey spit for gutter. I ask, “Wetin una want?” My heart dey beat, but I no show fear.

Seyi just eye me, no talk. He bring out cigarette, one tout rush come light am. The way him boys dey rush, you go think say dem dey do movie. He puff smoke, raise chin: “You get mind vex my babe? Four-eyes, you try.” He dey call me by my glasses—old insult, no pain me again.

Amaka hold him waist, dey brag, “Lanre, apologize, and do all night lesson for me these few days. Then I go tell my boyfriend make him leave you.” She dey use power—if you no gree, wahala fit land.

See wahala. This kind shame I never chop before. My chest dey tight, but I refuse to break. I never believe say she fit shameless reach this level. Na here my eye open—her own get as e be. Maybe na me dey deceive myself since.

For my mind, I dey reason say na love, but na only my side e dey. Na my affection make me dey see her as angel. I dey imagine say she go change, but na so she dey show me pepper.

I just sigh: “I no wan wahala. But Amaka, I always dey cover you. If I tell your parents, you fit still dey do anyhow?” My voice low, but my words dey bite.

Amaka smile just freeze. Na so her play stop—she dey fear true consequence.

I continue, “You know as your parents dey value you. If them hear say you dey act like tout, dey date for school, you go still fit waka?” I dey remind her say every action get reaction.

Seyi just laugh: “If them hear, so? Worst case, I go greet my in-laws. With guy like me, them go happy!” E dey boast, like say na him be Messi for their eyes. See pride. Boys dey hail am, girls dey giggle. Only me dey see say pride dey go before fall.

Amaka throw her cigarette pack at me, vex: She hiss, call me ‘oversabi’ as she fling the pack. The thing land for my chest. I dodge am, but she no care.

“You think say I need your notes? Bookworm! I get my own way—just wait!” Her voice sharp, her face dark. She dey boil inside. “Husband, make we dey go!” She dey mock me, call me husband, but na insult.

Seyi show me him fist, then waka with him boys. Dem waka go, noise follow dem. Only me dey remain for gate, moon dey shine for my head.

That night, Aunty Ifeoma call me: “Lanre, thank you for helping Amaka with her studies. Your own exam dey near—try focus on yourself.” Her voice soft, she dey try show concern. I know say Amaka don fill her ear with half-truth. Amaka must don talk bad about me.

She fit say I too dey selfish, no dey help her again. I just shake head, dey reason my life. She go talk say I dey too busy with my own book to help her. For her mind, if things spoil, na me cause am. Na her style—shift blame, dodge wahala.

But e no matter again. From now, anything wey happen, her parents no fit blame me. I dey prepare my evidence. Anything wey burst, my hand clean. Her life no concern me again. No more crossing fire for her matter. I dey focus on my own lane.

The first mock exam finish soon, and school give us small break. Everybody dey relax small, some dey go watch film, others dey sleep. I nap for house, chop, then rush go night prep. My own day set, book dey my mind. I dey read like say na WAEC we dey write tomorrow.

As I enter class, I hear people dey talk, “You hear? Amaka and Seyi get catch for exam malpractice—school don call their parents.” My ear first fail me. I ask again—na so the gist spread. Their own way na shortcut, but shortcut dey lead people enter gutter. Life na turn by turn, everybody chop consequence for him hand.

So na this be Amaka so-called ‘her own way’. Na so shortcut carry dem enter gutter—my own eye don clear, I dey face front.

I just sit down, dey thank God say I no let old love blind me again. For this new life, na my own way I dey follow.