Chapter 1: The Contract Wahala

You know that kind wahala wey go make person sigh and shake head? Na so my own start. After all the celebration, dem still get mind do me anyhow. For this Naija, if dem see say you dey shine, some people go dey plan make your light no too bright pass their own. Na so.

On the last day of the transfer window, na so the manager throw contract for my front.

He no even look me face, just drop the paper like sachet water for gutter—no respect, nothing. The thing vex me, but I hold myself. E get as e go be for this business. If na village, I for say e dey use juju hold the pen.

"Either you renew your contract and take pay cut, or you terminate am."

Him voice carry as if na favour him dey do me. I just dey look am like, 'Oga, abeg, na which kain wahala be this?'

"I go advise make you reason am well. E get plenty young top laners wey go collect less money pass you now."

You see as some managers dey do—if dem wan pressure you, dem go dey yarn say another person dey wey fit collect less pay. Even my spirit reject the nonsense.

Even my teammates dey beg me make I gree.

Dem dey talk small small for my back, some dey press phone, but I sabi wetin dey their mind. Na fear dey hold dem; dem no want wahala. As dem see say management dey ready throw person, dem no want make e reach their turn.

Na joke be that. If na me wey dey always gree, dem for no dey call me Calm.

This nickname no be for mouth. Na inside game and life, e mean say I dey hold my own. If I dey gree for rubbish, Calm for turn to Mumu.

I no talk again, I just brush my hand waka comot, begin my new life as streamer.

For one second, only the hum of the AC and the far-off sound of generator for street dey enter my ear. My hand dey sweat small, but I no show am.

As I dey waka commot, I just remember say for this Lagos, you gats get sense. I go show dem say road still dey outside Wolf Team. That day, breeze blow well for my face, e dey sweet me.

But before spring split even finish, manager rush enter my stream, dey spray gifts, dey beg make I come back.

The man no get shame. I dey live, my fans dey hail me, na so I see Mr. Tunde dey drop big gifts and dey comment as if na new pikin. Some fans even dey ask, 'Is this not the same man wey send Calm go?'

"Kamsi, Wolf Team don lose 8 matches back to back. If you no return, we no go even enter playoffs!"

E shock me, but for inside I dey laugh. See who dey beg now. For this life, tables fit turn any day.

Me: "Sorry, na 9 matches now. I don already sign for new team. My debut match? Na una I go face."

I drop am sharp, no shaking. My chat scatter, emojis everywhere. My fans dey shout, 'Omo, Calm no dey gree!'