Chapter 5: Let Them See Real Talent

E hit me like thunder.

The pain, ehn—na like slap. My heart dey beat anyhow. If not say people dey office, I for break computer.

When Halima Musa first come, she dey ask me about rent, housing allowance, all those things.

I remember the question—how much dem dey pay for Lekki, how company dey do house allowance. I think say she dey find house. I no know say she dey try use style check my salary.

I think say she wan rent house, dey seek advice.

Na so I dey carry her along, dey give her advice like big sister. Na me mumu pass.

Na lie, she dey use am calculate my salary.

Now, I see sense. She don dey use me get information, dey laugh for back.

And I see am as my own person.

I open up to her, even dey gist her about boss wahala. She dey do like say she care. Chai.

All this while, I dey guide her well, but behind, na mock she dey mock me.

True true, no be everybody for office be your friend. I don learn my lesson. Na so life be.

I vex reach point wey I calm.

I just take deep breath. My spirit just rest. No more vex, only cold mind.

I open the copy wey I dey edit for her, undo one of my corrections. Make she submit am as e be—let dem see real talent.

I remove the headline correction, let her original mistake show. Let her shine with her own true work.

When she come back, I send her the document.

I smile as she enter, dey bounce like person wey win lottery. I just click send.

“Halima, I don help you revise the copy small. Abeg check am again. This trending topic wey you pick dey hot—submit am quick, e go blow.”

I sweeten the thing, make she rush submit. Let the world see her true colour.

She happy die. “Serious? Mentor, thank you o!”

She dey almost kneel down, dey praise me. I just dey look her like say I dey watch film.

Halima Musa don dey here three months, never get any result.

All her videos na flop. She dey try hard, but e no work. Na me dey save her every time.

She dey rush to get her own viral hit like me.

She wan prove say she fit, but she never sabi road.

I just smile, no talk anything.

Inside, na only God know wetin dey my mind.

Then I write my resignation letter, send am to Femi Lawal and Ngozi Okafor.

I craft my letter, no insult, just pure truth. I no even add long story. I send am—make dem read am themselves.

Next, I delete the proposal wey I almost finish for my computer: “A New Strategy for Differentiating Short Video Content.”

I look the file for last time. I think of the sleepless nights, the stress. I no get strength again. If dem value newcomer, make dem use new ideas.

I use two months of my own time, lose sleep, to research and arrange this thing.

Sometimes, I go wake 2 a.m., dey jot down idea. My own na sacrifice, but dem no dey see am.

Before, I want help company solve creativity wahala, as video content dey too similar.

I see say our videos dey repeat, followers dey tire. Na why I try do better strategy. But now, make dem solve am themselves.

Now e be like say na just sentiment dey worry me.

I dey laugh myself. Na emotion dey push me work pass my pay. Never again.

No be Femi Lawal talk say newcomers dey sharp?

Let newcomers do am. I no be scapegoat.

Make newcomers solve am now.

Let them use their own head. My own don end.

When I finish, I check time: 5:47.

I never close this early since I enter here. I check my watch again, smile. Na new life be this.

I pack my things sharp sharp, just on time to leave by six.

I no even greet anybody. I just dey pack my bag, carry my small food flask. Let dem ask question tomorrow.

Na my first time to close work on time in six years.

E shock me, but e sweet me too. For once, I dey feel like human being.

Aunty Kemi from business, wey be my person, surprise as she see me dey go. “Morayo, wetin happen? You dey go early today?”

She dey smile, think say na joke. I just shake head, eye still dey red small.

I reply gently, “Aunty Kemi, I don resign. I no go come tomorrow.”

I talk am soft, but the way her face change, e show say wahala dey.

For once, I sleep like person wey no get boss for head.