Chapter 2: Bad Boy Energy

When I reach Musa's shop again, he dey do eyebrow piercing for one customer.

Na that kind salon wey e get small signboard, generator dey vibrate the floor, the smell of fried akara from next compound dey mix with antiseptic for air. From where I dey, I fit see him sharp side profile well well.

Him long hair get small wave, e tie am for back, but some strands still dey fall for him forehead.

The light for shop dey shine on am, make e skin look golden. Na person wey sabi take care of himself.

As I enter, he notice say person don come, so he look up.

When he see say na me, he just frown small—if you no dey look well, you no go notice.

Him lips tight small, but e just focus, like person wey dey watch ball but no wan show say e dey vex.

"Just siddon for there small."

I nod, go siddon for one side, dey wait.

Na so my leg just dey tap for ground, like say I dey play talking drum for my mind. My chest dey drum kpom-kpom.

Musa bend head continue him work.

Since him no dey look my side, I begin dey peep am.

I dey count how many tattoo he get for him arm. E get one lion, one cross, and small star. Na bad boy, but na the gentle kind.

Today, him wear one loose sleeveless top, muscle just dey show—guy dey fit.

The muscle get vein wey dey cross am like small snake. Na that time I remember when I do cartilage piercing last time. Because I fear pain, I just hold him arm tight.

My fingers just sink inside muscle, I no even shame. My body dey betray me.

The muscle under my hand dey strong, warm.

Na like say I dey hold electric wire. My face just dey hot anyhow.

That time, Musa hold needle, dey check where e go pierce.

He no vex, he just talk calm: "I dey find correct angle. I go tell you before I start, abeg calm down."

E voice just cool, no rush, like say e dey talk to pikin.

"Mm."

But my mind no even dey there again.

E be like say na only me and am dey for world. My heart just dey run race.

Musa no talk anything again.

And I no still gree leave him arm.

I wan release hand, but my body just dey stubborn—na so crush dey do person?

I just dey grip am, like say if I release, I go fly.

"Okay, get ready."

"1, 2, 3, done."

As the pain just land, I hold him arm even tighter.

I bite lip, no wan shout. I leave four crescent marks for him muscle.

Musa just smile, begin put the jewelry, dey talk about how I go take care am.

Gentle, patient. He wipe sweat from him forehead with back of hand, voice low like evening radio.

Na that time I see dimple for him cheek. I no believe say person wey look so wild, dey do rebellious work, fit get that kind soft hand.

Since that day, na so so him I dey think.

If I dey read book, na him face I dey see. If I dey chop, na him hand I dey remember. But because I dey fear pain, I no fit find another reason to go meet am again.

I go dey pray make rain fall, make excuse land. Na by luck, my ear come swell after e touch water.

Na so excuse just land for my hand.

This na the third time.

I touch my swollen ear, dey feel somehow guilty.

As I press the spot, my conscience dey bite me. But which kind wahala be this love sef?