Chapter 5: The Last Stand

Tunde hiss, blow alcohol for my face. “Ifeanyi, so na my leftover you dey talk?” For im mind, na competition.

“Or you dey claim say you get babe wey fine pass Morayo?” Dem all dey look me, some dey smirk, others dey wait gist.

As Tunde talk finish, im boys stand to back am. Their chest dey like stone, eyes dey red from drink.

“Yes now, Ifeanyi, wetin you mean? You dey talk say our class fine girl no reach your babe?” The hall dey noisy, but their voice pass others.

“If you no talk, no dream say you go waka.”

“Yes, if you get mind, show us your babe. Make we see if she fine reach. No come dey talk say you find one wey no fine, na why you dey dodge.”

I just look dem, talk calm, “No be so. Class prefect babe fine well, but for my heart, my own girlfriend na my goddess, I love her die.” As I talk, the hall quiet small. Some people dey look me with surprise, others dey shake head like say I dey lie.

As I talk am, Morayo eyes shine. E be like say she surprise say person fit talk that kind thing about another woman for public.

Tunde no gree believe. “So, wetin your girlfriend dey do?” E cross im hand for chest, dey size me.

I answer, “She be Air Force pilot. She dey always busy.” I talk am soft, but with pride. For my mind, I dey picture my babe in uniform, strong, fearless.

Morayo jump enter, “Ifeanyi, your girlfriend na big deal o. I hear say na only three female pilots dey come out every year. Wetin be her name?” Her tone change, small respect dey inside.

I shake head. “Military rule no dey allow me call her name. Abeg, I really get urgent matter. Tell your fiancé open door, make I go.” I dey try maintain small dignity, no wan over talk.

As I talk finish, everywhere quiet, then laughter burst everywhere. E be like say I yarn film trick.

People laugh sotey some dey wipe tears. Even the waiters dey smile. For Naija, if person yarn something wey dem no believe, na so dem go take am catch cruise.

One guy laugh sotey im no fit breathe. “Ifeanyi, you don give me laugh for whole year. ‘Military rule,’ abeg!”

One freckle babe agree, “Yes now, maybe e don dey form for office, e no fit stop even with us.” Her eye dey twinkle, her laughter dey loud.

Before she finish, everybody laugh again. The hall scatter with jeers, but my mind don dey far from dem.

I check my time. E dey run—I really need go. I dey pray make wahala no escalate.

But before I move, hotel staff block my road. Two bouncers big like wrestler stand, dey eye me, their hands for chest.

Tunde blow drink for my face, dey mock me. “You just dey form. You know who my papa be for this city?” E yarn am with boldness, like say na only him dey Lagos.

I give am cold look. “Whether I dey form or not, no concern you. If you make me miss my meeting, na you go see wahala.” My chest dey pump, but my face still dey soft.