Chapter 3: Leg Don Hang

As I reach office, I shock.

See wahala—my personal things: files, table clock, that small plant wey I keep, dem pack am put for one nylon bag, drop am by door. For Lagos, na sign say your leg don hang for office—like when NEPA take light, everywhere just dull.

All my things dey outside my workstation, dem just pack everything put for office door.

I peep inside, my seat empty. New face dey behind my desk. E choke.

I look around, my colleagues dey pretend say dem dey work, but dem dey peep me.

I catch eye with Chigozie, she look away quick. Everybody dey do like CCTV.

"Abeg, wetin happen? My office leak or something?"

I try use joke clear air, but the room cold. For Naija office, silence na bad sign.

Some people look themselves, but nobody answer me.

Na so you know say wahala pass be careful.

"Baba Tunde, why you come today?"

Sharp voice from back, e sound like pesin wey dey front of crowd. I turn, surprise catch me.

Na our new intern, Seyi. E wear suit, stand gidigba, dey look me with pride.

Na the first time I dey see am dress like this. Even his shoe shine pass wetin he wear before. The thing shock me.

I no fit understand the attitude.

Seyi, wey last week dey run errand for me, now dey talk with chest. E weak me.

This same Seyi, since he start as intern, always dey hail me as 'Baba Tunde'. Today, he just change mouth, I sef never notice.

Normally, I for correct am say make he use proper title, but today I no get energy for that one. My mind dey somewhere else.

Even though e no good to dey call your supervisor nickname for office, I no get mind to correct am now.

The way he dey talk, dey show say e get new authority. I dey watch am well.

"I get work matter. I see say my things dey outside. Wetin do my office?"

I talk am with calm voice, but my eye dey measure everybody reaction.

As I ask, Seyi face come proud well-well.

E puff chest like peacock. If pride dey sell for Balogun, e for buy full bag. "Supervisor suppose get office, abi? You no know say na me be new supervisor now, you just be ordinary staff."

The way e yarn am, e sure for himself die. I dey observe am.

He bring out phone check something.

I see am dey scroll company WhatsApp group, as if e dey wait announcement.

"Announcement never drop, but by tomorrow you go see am."

He dey talk like person wey dey practice for bigger position. My mind just dey race.

But I no fit wait till tomorrow. I gats know wetin dey happen now.

I gree say patience no go work for this kain matter. I arrange my bag, face HR.

I waka go HR manager office.

I take deep breath, knock well. For Naija office, HR na last bus stop for wahala like this.

"Abeg, wetin dey happen for company personnel matter? Intern, Seyi, dey claim say na him be new sales supervisor."

I talk am straight, no time for story. My heart dey beat.

Aunty Kemi no even shock. She just adjust her glasses.

She dey arrange paper for table, no shake. E clear say she don dey expect me.

"Na true. From now, na him be your oga. You don dey here long, so try support your new boss."

She use that office tone, voice dey low, but e cut deep. I dey wonder if na dream.

"Why now?!" I shout.

Voice crack, because e pain me. You work tire, dem just shift you for corner like expired thing.