Chapter 5: When Result Dey Shake Ground

On the day of national physics competition, I finally fit relax.

The air for exam hall tight. Everybody dey fidget, dey squeeze biro. As dem collect scripts, e be like say person remove big stone from my chest.

As we comot exam hall, Halima ask, “Morayo, how you see am? Make we go meet teacher check answers.”

Her voice dey sharp, but e carry small tension. I fit feel say her mind no dey here—she dey think next move.

[Meibao dey wise, o!]

[Of course! With only three swaps, Meibao wan use each one for big turning point. Na so strong woman dey do.]

Na bullet commenters dey set game plan for everybody. Dem sabi analyze pass DSTV sport presenters.

I look the bullet comments, I nearly burst laugh.

For my mind, I dey reason how these people fit dey so sure about other people life.

So na so-called turning point be to thief another person sweat.

For Naija, dem dey call am 'long-throat' if you dey eye another person result. But for bullet comment world, na strategy.

I waka go physics teacher office, recite all the questions, break am down.

Aunty Grace dey nod her head, dey smile. I dey talk with confidence, my hand dey fly for air as I explain step by step. Na so e dey be when you sabi your onions.

Except the last big question, everything almost perfect.

That last question na correct wahala—e nearly twist my head. But I show am how I try solve am. Teacher dey impressed.

Physics teacher hail me. “Morayo, you don get am.”

I dey blush small. E sweet when person wey you respect give you thumbs up. For Naija, teacher praise dey make person chest rise.

I see small jealousy for Halima eyes, but she hide am quick. “Morayo, na you sure pass…”

Her mouth twist, but she still dey smile. I notice her finger dey tap table small-small. Na sign say she dey restless.

[Meibao, hold on! See how many things Morayo get for back? Na only her family help am.]

[No be only top teacher help am, she get national tutor for weekend join.]

[If Meibao get this kind team, she for get same result.]

[Go Meibao! Once you swap, e be your own.]

These people go fit write their own version of the story. E dey amuse me how dem dey measure success.

“Thanks, Halima. You dey practice with me since. If I get that slot, I go buy you food.”

I smile for Halima.

I fit see say her smile dey tight, like say she dey force am. Na that type wey you go use when your plan no dey work the way you want.

But her own smile dey force.

E dey almost pain person to look am. I just dey maintain my own peace.

Bullet comments dey rush: [Meibao need your food? Money dey make person craze.]

[Funny, she still dey dream about guaranteed slot? Meibao no go let am.]

[‘I go buy you food’—I dey laugh!]

Even for food matter, dem dey drag comparison. Na only bullet world you go see this kind wahala.

“Okay.” Halima hold her fist, force smile.

She dey try hold herself, but I sabi say her mind dey boil.

“By the way, Halima, how you do?” I pack my papers.

I ask with real concern, but I dey observe her reaction. Her face squeeze small, she no too open up.

“E no too good. I gats try for JAMB.”

Her voice quiet. I know say e dey pain her, but she no go show am for crowd. Na strong head.

After Halima return class, she no smile again.

She just dey her seat, dey draw circle for notebook. I fit tell say she dey reason serious matter.

I know say she dey reason whether to swap with me or not.

For her eye, I fit see calculation. Na game of chess wey everybody dey play.

But e no matter. Before result come, she still get time.

I dey prepare myself for any surprise. For Naija, e good to always get plan B.

The day physics competition result drop, teacher dedicate class just to show am.

Everybody dey ginger. Some dey arrange desk, dey ready for drama. The air tight, like when rain wan fall for August.

Halima spirit high. She come meet me. “Morayo, congrats in advance.”

Her voice high, but I fit see say na act. For her face, pride and anxiety dey fight.

“Result never come, no rush.”

I talk am calm, but my heart dey pound. Anything fit happen for Naija school, especially when teacher wan announce big result.

I look her. “But you sure dey confident.”

I dey test her, see if her courage real or na just bravado.

Halima just smile, no talk. “Morayo, after class, I go buy you food.”

The air thick with tension. Everybody dey watch, dey wonder wetin go drop next.

[Meibao don stand!]

[I dey ginger. The real show dey come!]

I hold my laugh. “No wahala, na you go buy.”

I dey play along, but my mind dey reason different angle. For Naija, you no dey show your plan until e land.

As I talk finish, physics teacher enter my exam number, check my score first.

Everybody dey wait.

Some dey hold breath. The class quiet like say NEPA just take light.

Result show.

[0 marks.]

My body cold, my hand stiff. Na prank? I rub my eye check again. Zero ke? For paper wey I almost finish? People dey murmur, dey look me like say I be ghost.

“How e take happen?”

Physics teacher look me, confuse. “Morayo, wetin happen? You answer everything…”

Aunty Grace dey shake her head, dey tap mouse like say computer go change result. Some students dey whisper, some dey try peep the screen.

I wan cry, but for Naija, tears no dey solve anything. I just lock up, dey form hard girl.

I look Halima, see as her mouth dey twist up before she hide the smile. Her eyes dey shine, but she cover am with face. Na only sharp observer go notice. My chest dey tight, but I force my face make e still dey straight. Inside, I dey boil like ogi for hot pot.

[Hahaha, wetin happen? Our Meibao just swap am!]

[Meibao don collect that slot! Joy dey my body. Too bad Morayo no get low score for JAMB join, enter one yeye university.]

[No wahala, na just first step. Meibao get more chances.]

People dey celebrate my loss like say na festival. But for Naija, if you dey up, expect people to dey count your mistake.

“I no sabi how e take happen.”

I stand, sigh. “I fit mess up answer sheet? Or write big question for wrong place? But e no matter, aunty. JAMB still dey. I fit try again.”

My voice steady, but inside me e dey pain. I no go let them see me fall.

“I go check later. Make we start class.”

Aunty Grace clear throat, try calm the tension. But I fit see worry for her eye.

Physics teacher clear throat, wan start, but Halima cut in, “Aunty, my score never show. My own no important?”

Her voice sharp, her eye dey shine. She dey push her luck, dey claim her moment.

[Why this teacher dey do like say Meibao no dey?]

[He go soon shame.]

[Meibao say she no do well to confuse am, and e fall. Wait till he dey beg her.]

[How you go treat our Meibao like this!]

These bullet comments no dey tire to twist story. Everybody wan push their own angle.

Tunde laugh, knock desk. “No be so, Halima. Your physics always dey below Morayo own. If she no pass, how you wan get slot? Who you be?”

Boys for class dey chuckle. Some dey side Tunde, some dey side Halima. Na so tension dey build for Naija school—competition dey everywhere.

“Why e no fit be me?”

Halima hold her fists. “I dey try too. Na only first dey human? I no fit get slot?”

Her voice choke, eyes wet. Everybody quiet, dey watch. The pride for her voice strong; she dey claim her space.

“Morayo, na so you see me? Say I no reach you, say I no mean anything?”

Na direct shot. E surprise me. I swallow, look her straight. For a moment, e be like say everybody vanish, na just two of us dey for class.

Her sudden talk make class quiet.

Na so people dey listen for gist wey hot. I fit hear pin drop. Some dey look me, dey expect my reply.

“Halima, person suppose know herself.”

I tilt my head, drop all that polite talk. “Better no check. Make we write JAMB together.”

I talk am plain. For Naija, sometimes you gats talk true, even if e pain.

[See as supporting female true color show. Bad belle supporting character.]

[Because you get money, you dey look down on people. I wan see as she go shame.]

[This time, supporting female go chop sand.]

I dey hear the background whispers, but I no gree let am enter my mind. Na so life be.

“Oh, true, we never check Halima score. Make we do am well.”

Aunty Grace try balance matter, dey type Halima number for computer. Everybody dey lean forward.

Physics teacher calm everybody, sharp sharp type her number.

Halima eyes no comot from screen, hope full her face.

She dey grip her table, dey squeeze her lips. I fit feel her tension from where I dey.

She bite her lip, look me. “Morayo, I know say you dey look down on me. My grades no reach yours, but you no fit just rubbish person wey dey try. I no be useless…”

Her voice dey break, but she still dey hold ground. Na Naija spirit be that—never give up, no matter wetin.

Page load.

Her guaranteed slot just dey her front.

Her eyes wide, hand dey tremble. Small smile dey her face, but e mix with tears. The class burst into small claps—some out of joy, some out of surprise. For Naija, everybody dey celebrate comeback, even if na your rival.

I clap too, but inside me, I dey plan my next move. For this life, e never finish until person see final result.