Chapter 8: Crossing the Line

With her right hand ‘broken’, Yemisi just dey wild, dey hang with Seyi every day.

One Sunday, my mama dey kitchen, call me, "Tobi, abeg, go call Yemisi come chop for here."

I no wan go, but my mama frown. "Wetin una quarrel again? Yemisi hand break, her papa and mama travel, she dey alone—see as the girl dey suffer."

"Be man, forgive and forget. Go call am."

For my mama eye, Yemisi still be that her sweet pikin.

I just reason am, say I go go, come back, talk say she no dey house.

Yemisi house na next door. Her family compound big, but that day everywhere too quiet.

As I reach, I hear some kind laugh wey I sabi as adult. My body cold.

I wan waka go, door just open.

Seyi stand there, no shirt, cigarette for mouth, clearly after knack.

The air get one kind smell. I shift small, try cover nose.

"Four-eyes, you dey enjoy eavesdrop? You know say you go pay for that, abi?"

Behind am, Yemisi dey rush button her shirt, hair scatter, face red, marks full her neck.

Worse—her right hand dey okay.

So na all lie. No fracture.

But I no expect say dem bold reach like this—dey do am when nobody dey house. Wetin eyes no go see for this Lagos?

Seyi push my shoulder, eye cold. "Continue to look, I fit remove your eye, virgin."

Yemisi waka come, threaten, "Tobi, if you try tell my parents, I no go fit guarantee wetin Seyi go do you."

Her lips swell, bite marks everywhere.

I no want wahala. "My mama say make you come chop, but since you no dey house, forget am."

Seyi just smile, kiss her, blow smoke for her mouth. The thing dey pain me, but I waka commot, hold my pride for hand.

Before I commot, I add, "No try disturb me again, or I fit talk something wey go pain you."