Chapter 7: Protective Jealousy

Few days later, after e cook breakfast, e wan go out again.

E dey wear black shirt, spray small perfume, tie sneakers. I dey look am, dey wish e go ask if I wan follow. But I dey shy, I just wave.

Still talk say e go bring lunch for me.

E dey always talk am, “Sisi, I no wan hear say you order food o!” I dey nod, dey smile.

I wan talk say I fit order food, but e no even gree, just waka go.

E no dey wait for answer. E dey do like big uncle. I dey admire the way e dey protect me.

For afternoon, I chop small puff-puff, then boredom catch me, I decide play game.

I carry my phone, on data, open game app. My hand dey shake, maybe na hunger or na excitement.

As I log in, plenty invites land. I choose my roommate own.

My phone dey vibrate, invite dey fly like mosquito. I accept Ifeoma own, my main roommate for school.

I no expect say as I join, she go add our club senior.

My heart jump. Senior na big boy for game. E sabi play well, but e dey always find way to run me small joke for chat.

The senior na good guy, dey always look after us, but I sabi say e get interest for me.

E dey always dey ask, "Sisi, how far na? You dey alright?" For school, e go buy me gala or coke. My friends dey tease me say e wan toast me.

Normally, I dey avoid am, make am know say I no dey interested, but today, I jam am again.

Na mistake. I no plan. I dey hope say game go end quick, make I waka.

"I never play game with Sisi before o."

Senior voice loud, e dey yarn as if e dey try impress my roommate. I dey tap my feet for rug.

Senior just on mic, dey talk, my roommate start game.

Ifeoma dey form hype girl, dey talk, “Senior go win!” Me, I dey mute.

The senior sabi play, after e get triple kill, me and my roommate begin praise am.

Na so e dey play. E show muscle, kill three at once. I shout small, “Senior, you try!”

"Triple kill, senior, you too much."

I dey form hype, but for my mind, na Tunde be my real champ. I just dey do like everybody dey expect.

Na that time I hear door open, as I talk finish, Tunde enter, dey carry lunch pack. Our eyes jam.

As I hear door, my heart cut. I quick look up. E stand for door, brown nylon for hand. E eye dey sharp.

For phone, senior still dey form humble, him voice clear, "Sisi, come collect blue buff."

The line echo. My mind dey run. I dey look Tunde, dey look phone. Tunde dey frown.

I see as Tunde face change, eyebrow rise, e drop lunch pack for my front.

The way e drop am, I fit hear the nylon sound. E dey vex, but e dey try hold am.

I just talk for mic, "No need," then mute am quick.

I quick press mute, carry food, look Tunde. My voice low, “Thank you.”

"You don come back."

E voice deep, e no dey smile. I dey panic small, but I try balance.

He just hiss, "You no see?"

E hiss, twist mouth. My mind dey turn.

I smile anyhow, but e just come close, ask, "Sisi, you get boyfriend?"

E jaw lock, eye dey sharp like person wey just catch thief. My hand almost drop phone. I dey shake, dey find words.

E just throw am like that, and the way e talk, danger dey inside.

E eyes dey shine, like say if I lie, thunder go fire me. My belle dey fly.

I shake head sharp, no wan make e misunderstand.

I twist neck, “No, I no get. Na just game we dey play.”

"Na just my roommate and senior, na all of us be friends."

I try explain, voice dey shake. E still dey look me, I dey try form smile.

He relax, touch my hair, warn me, "Better no get o. If you get, I go tell your brother."

As e touch my hair, e be like say I dey melt. E voice soft small, but e still dey warn. My heart dey pound, I dey blush.

As e go upstairs, my senior and roommate dey ask why I quiet.

My phone dey vibrate. Dem dey call my name for mic, “Sisi! You dey hear?” I dey form say network dey disturb.

I just lower my head, smile, on mic tell them I no dey play again.

I talk, “Sorry, I wan rest.” My voice low, but my heart dey dance.

I think... maybe e dey care about me small.

Maybe, just maybe, na me e dey reason. I dey hope say tomorrow go bring better talk. As I drop phone, I hug teddy bear, Tunde’s warning still dey ring for my ear—maybe tomorrow, my secret go finally burst.