Chapter 2: No Turning Back

When I see the comments, I no even shock.

Na everyday dem dey reason person matter online. If I wan shock, I for don tire since.

But I no look back.

I no even bother to check whether Tobi get any feelings for me inside him eye.

[Why the babe no wan look back? Abeg, just turn back small!]

[See as him eyes don red—e wan cry like this.]

Me, I just bone face.

My face strong like person wey swallow bitterleaf. Even if my chest dey tight, I no let am show.

In fact, I even feel small relief—thank God he never gree yet.

To dey chase person tire person sha. Na relief enter my mind, small breeze of peace blow.

Thank God this na just the ninth confession.

As if tenth for be national issue, abeg. Na only for Nollywood you go see person confess reach twenty times.

But I no expect say person like Tobi Okonkwo, wey dey always do shakara, go come find me by himself.

Him pride na another level. Even for assembly, e dey raise shoulder like turkey. I shock when I hear say e dey outside gate.

He stand for my family compound gate.

His slim, cool figure just dey stand under the hot June sun—nobody fit ignore am.

His shadow long for ground, him fine face dey shine, even sun dey shame for am. My auntie wey dey sweep compound sef pause to look am.

As he see me, Tobi stretch hand give me the box wey dey with am.

"These are the things you gave me before. I think say I suppose return them to you."

The June heat no get part two. Even as I wear only singlet, sweat just dey my body anyhow. Even the smell of fried plantain from neighbor window dey mix with my sweat. Na this Naija weather—one minute you fresh, next minute you dey sweat like goat for Sallah. My singlet don soak, but abeg, who get time wear cloth dey sweat more?

I no get strength for talk, so I just look the box, collect am from his hand. My hand shake small, but I bone face. E no go good make Tobi see say e pain me.

No drama, no wahala. Just collect am like say na pure water.

His mouth move, like say he wan talk more.

Then, the comments start again.

[The babe do am on purpose—see as she come out with singlet, na sharp girl!]

Abeg, who go wear sweater for house?

[The main guy gather plenty courage to come see her. She suppose appreciate am.]

[Na small status gap remain now. In few years, he go be the rising star for Port Harcourt.]

[By that time, even the babe family go need am, abi?]

[……]

Yes now, the comments dey talk true.

But na because na me give Tobi Okonkwo the capital for his start-up.

And na my papa show am where to invest.

All those connections, my papa sabi run am well. Everybody for our street sabi say e dey help people, but I no know say e go reach Tobi level.