Chapter 10: Lagos Wahala

Inside bus, I still dey read Chinelo message:

[Mama go come back Nigeria next week. Then I go tell her say I wan go private school, then go abroad.]

I dey laugh. She dey plan big, but she no know say Madam Ife hand strong. Abroad no be beans. My own mama get eyes like eagle, nothing dey hide from am.

[We don sit together for three years, so e mean something. As long as you keep all my secondary school secret, I go give you small hush money before I travel.]

She dey talk like say she be governor. All this hush money na wash. But e sweet me say she dey try play rich girl role well.

For midnight, she send photo of fine night view from bedroom window:

[You dey jealous? Chinelo, this na penthouse for big mansion wey you no fit ever enter, and life you no go ever get.]

I look the photo, laugh. House fine, but for my mind, nothing dey inside except loneliness. I dey miss the compound noise for Chinelo house.

Last two message just now:

[Princess don send you 5k.]

[Chinelo, I just see you dey wait bus. Your mama leave you for your sister again? Sorry o. Use the money take keke come school. I dey wait you for class.]

I collect the money, off the phone.

E shock me say she dey spend money like water. She no know say money hard for street. But I understand—she dey enjoy her new life.

E be like say Chinelo dey enjoy to be "Ifedolapo." All those tasteless, healthy food, the serious private lessons, the big empty house—she dey handle am well.

She fit dey snap picture for Instagram, dey form posh. Me, I dey here dey learn to manage.

She really fit be the kind daughter my mama want.

Obedient, quiet, sharp. She go fit play that role better than me. E pain me small, but e sweet me too.

My mama always want daughter wey go obey like robot. After seeing how Chinelo do yesterday, she go happy finally.

Wait...

My mind pause. Something dey off. I dey reason am, dey sweat for palm.

Suddenly, I realize something. I grip my phone, hand dey sweat.

Chinelo don make three big mistakes.

Mistake wey fit change everything for both of us. I dey fear for her, but I no fit talk am yet.