Chapter 2: Mark for Chest, Wahala for Heart

To tell the truth, as I see that message from the group admin, my body just freeze small.

My back even cold. E be like say NEPA just off fan, but na fear dey catch me. I rub my chest, dey wonder who this person be wey know this kind thing about Morayo.

Since I join that group, me and the admin never really talk. I try add am as friend before, but e dey always decline my request.

I even remember that time dem do Secret Santa, I say make I send am small gift, the guy still snub me. Na so I just leave am for lane. Who get time?

After a while, I just reason say maybe the guy no too like talk, so I no send am again.

Na normal level. Everybody get as dem be. Some dey use WhatsApp only for business, some just dey observe dey collect gist.

But tonight, after I drop my gist for the group, na so this mysterious group admin reach out to me direct.

E just be like film trick. I dey ask myself whether na April Fool, but this one serious.

Why? Earlier that night, as me and my babe Morayo dey do our thing, I bite the tattoo for her chest, she just vex and throw me comot from bed.

I never see her vex like that before. The way she use leg push me, na like say I pour acid for her body.

I just wan complain small o, but somehow I mistakenly add the group admin as friend.

Na as I dey press phone anyhow, my hand press the wrong thing. Even me shock.

Wetin shock me pass na the next thing wey e talk.

E talk with confidence, like person wey don dey follow us for back since.

"Your babe tattoo get one bright red swastika mark?"

The swastika wey e talk, na the same shape wey dey those old Indian films, but this one get Nigerian touch, e be like say e mix with ancient Nsibidi symbol. The mark for her chest be like Nsibidi sign join with those Indian film swastika—red like palm oil, e dey shine sometimes like new Ankara. Very strange.

"If e dey, abeg run o."

The tattoo for my babe chest really get as e be: one small figure, the face no clear, e dey stretch hand hold one swastika shape.

The way the color dey, sometimes e dey shine, sometimes e dull. Me self no understand the design fully.

When we first start to dey, I ask her about am because I dey curious.

That time, I use style, say make she no vex. She just laugh, say e no mean anything. But I know say Naija girls sabi hide story if dem no trust you finish.

She talk say na birthmark she carry come this life, so she just tattoo small thing on top make e no too show.

The way she take talk am, I reason say maybe na family thing. But birthmark for that kind place? E get as e be.

Mole for woman chest no be small thing o.

Some people go say na sign of good luck, some go say na spiritual matter. My mama sef talk say make I dey careful with woman wey get mark for chest. I just wave am that time.

But tonight, this group admin just mention am like say e dey see everything.

E too accurate. My body begin dey do me like say person dey watch us from wall.

Na so cold catch me. I reply am with caution:

I type slow, dey read my message twice before I send am, make I no fall mugu.

"Who you be? You sabi my babe?"

E no answer quick.

The three dots just dey roll. E be like say na spirit dey type from another realm.

Then e reply: "I no know am, but from wetin you talk for group, I fit guess. That mole for your babe chest—how e take be now?"

I vex. My spirit just dey boil. Na so I wan para, but I hold myself. Wetin concern this person with Morayo body?

This one don pass boundary. E even dey do like say e sabi my babe pass me. I begin vex small.

Before I fit block am, another message land:

Sharp sharp, e message land. My hand shake, I almost throw phone.

"If that thing don red well well, your own fit finish soon o."

I feel one kind sharp chill. Na so all the gist for group dey sound like joke, but this one just serious. My hand stiff, I no fit block again.

My hand stop for air, I no fit block am again. My curiosity win me, I reply:

I tap screen small, reason say make I hear am finish before I judge. Maybe na play, maybe na warning.

"Wetin you dey talk?"

E come reply like person wey dey surprised:

E even add one rolling eye emoji, like say I too dey dull.

"You never notice anything strange for your babe body? You never see as that mole dey change color—from brown to dark red, then e dey red dey go?"

As I read am, memory just dey flash for my mind. E be like say na now my eye dey clear.

I still dey reason say maybe na pervert, but my mind begin flash back to the color of that mole.

I remember last month, e be like say the color dull small. But tonight, e red like palm oil.

Na that time my babe waka come out from bedroom, throw wrapper give me.

As she throw am, she just bone face, no even look my side. Me sef hold wrapper like mumu.

"Today you go sleep for parlour. No near me."

Her voice strong. You know say when Naija woman vex, na real thing.

I just look her chest by reflex.

I try hide am, but my eye sharp. I peep well.

Through that her thin nightie, I see am clear—one bright red dot for her chest.

E red like hot pepper, e be like say dem just use marker draw am.

The red just dey shine like blood go soon comot from there.

My body just cold.

E be like say spirit touch me. I no fit shout, no fit move. My mind dey run marathon for fear.