Chapter 4: Party Wahala

For one dark corner for the room, Segun and school beauty, Amaka, just dey together.

The way dem position, anybody go know say na coded something dey happen. Amaka dey smile like say e win Miss Nigeria.

Tonight, Amaka wear crop top and tight skirt, her waist and legs dey show.

That skirt wey she wear, I sabi am—she dey borrow am from her senior sister. Her makeup set, even her edges lay well. Boys dey look, but Segun get her full attention.

Both of them just dey separate from others, dey talk like say na only them waka come.

Dem body dey touch small small, the kain body language no need interpreter. For Naija party, as music dey play, if you see two people dey whisper, gist dey there.

Even through the phone, I fit feel the way tension dey high between them.

DJ dey spin Wizkid, boys dey spray small cash, girls dey snap selfie for Snapchat.

Mumu dey zoom the camera, so I see as Segun hand dey brush Amaka back. I bite tongue, dey hold myself.

My chest just tight like say something dey press am.

No be small thing. I dey struggle to breathe, dey pray make Mumu move camera.

Segun talk for afternoon say na her e wan chase, by evening e don succeed.

My eye don clear—no be me e dey want. All the small hope wey I get don scatter.

For one game, Amaka pick dare: make man do push-up with woman under, she suppose choose guy.

Na their clique dey run that game, truth or dare. Me sef sabi the style. I dey count how many times e go choose Segun.

As I expect, Segun quick volunteer.

E jump up like say na award. Everybody dey hail am, dey shout 'omo baba olowo!' E dey flex.

Everybody hail.

The whole room scatter. Boys dey whistle, girls dey giggle. The way dem dey carry the thing, you go think say na MTV Base live show.

Amaka blush, just lie down for sofa.

Her dimple show, she cover face small. She dey enjoy the attention, no doubt.

Segun position himself on top her, do plenty push-up, no touch her body.

Na gym instructor Segun dey form. Everybody dey count, dey shout, 'one, two, three!' E dey flex muscle, dey smile.

But for the last one, whether e weak or na plan, e just fall on top Amaka.

Na there dem shout pass. Even Mumu burst laugh for phone, say 'see acting!' I just dey look, my eye no blink.

Room scatter with shout and laugh.

Na full carnival. Some people dey record with phone, others dey clap. I dey wish say I fit mute the call.

Both of them blush reach ground.

Dem dey shy, dey hide face, but I sabi say na coded joy. All eyes dey on dem.

As everybody dey cheer, Segun just bend, kiss Amaka.

My mouth open, my heart break finish. Segun na public showman, the kiss loud.

Dem kiss, French kiss sef, like say nobody dey there.

If not say my phone strong, I for drop am. Mumu dey zoom, dey shake camera.

E last reach three minutes before dem stop.

For my head, na like ten years. My brain dey melt, my chest dey twist. The room dey spin.

For those three minutes, I just dey look my screen, forget to even breathe, my heart dey break.

I dey clutch pillow, dey press chest, dey try make I no shout. Mumu dey whisper, 'sorry o.'

I wan cry, but after all the tears wey I cry afternoon, water no remain for my body.

Even my eye dey burn, I no fit blink. I dey numb—na only heart dey knock like ogene for festival.

My heart dey cut like suya knife—sharp, hot, no mercy.

"Tsk tsk tsk, Sade, you see am? Dem dey kiss with saliva everywhere—Segun don really fall for her!"

Mumu voice no soft, but I sabi say she dey try help. I just nod, dey swallow pain like bitterleaf.

Mumu sigh, turn camera, waka commot for the room.

She dey dodge make people no see her, waka go quiet place. I fit hear her shoe dey tap tile.

She find quiet corner, talk serious:

Her voice come low. E no get echo, na only her true mind I dey hear. "No vex, Sade. No be your fault."

"Sade, no vex. If I no show you with your eye, you for never gree forget this guy."

Na true she talk. If I no see am live, my mumu for continue. Mumu sabi me pass myself.

My throat dry, my voice crack:

I dey struggle to talk. Voice dey break, na only 'mm' I fit push. I wan strong, but e no gree me.

"Mm. I no blame you."

I try smile, but e no reach my eye. Na my way of telling her 'thank you.'

Na my own foolishness keep me for here since.

I dey count how many times I forgive Segun. My sense dey always lose for love.

Just because dem let me dey follow Segun, I think say na my place be that.

If I see am for road, I dey follow. If party dey, I dey there. Even for school, na so I dey sit near am. I dey reason say, na so e dey start.

"I just no like how Segun do. E know say you like am for years, still dey pretend, dey carry you along, make you fall deeper!"

"You see am now. I beg, no let am waste another four years for your university life!"

Na real friend dey talk so. Her voice sharp, no pity. She dey protect me, even when I dey act blind.

"I no go let am, Mumu!"

I cut her, talk with clear mind:

I try sound bold, but my heart dey shake. I wan convince myself say this na the last time.

"I no go give myself another chance!"

I dey stamp foot for ground, dey try believe am for real.

"Mumu, I don decide—I go university for Port Harcourt with you!"

The relief for her voice sweet me small. I dey smile, but pain still dey.

"But abeg, keep am secret for now."

I fit trust Mumu. For Naija, secret no dey hide, but she go cover me. I dey hold hope like wrapper for harmattan night.