Chapter 4: The Accident That Changed Everything

For the book, Chijioke feelings for Amina start with keke accident.

The plot dey clear for my head. As I dey watch my life, e be like say I dey act script wey no be my own.

When I realise am, I try stop Chijioke from going out that day.

That morning, I wake early, cook his favourite yam porridge with correct palm oil, just to delay am. The sweet smell of palm oil and uziza leaf fill the room, but my heart still dey shake. I even hide his car key, pretend say I no see am.

He no understand, he think say I just wan lazy for bed, so he carry me up and kiss me.

He laugh, call me "lazy bone." My heart dey skip, but I still dey act stubborn.

"Baby, if you no stand up now, you go late."

His smile wide, his eyes dey shine. I pretend vex, roll for bed, cover my face with pillow.

I wrap my legs for his waist, push am back for bed, rest my head for his chest.

I feel his heartbeat, steady, strong. Na that heartbeat be my safe place since we small.

"Chijioke, you no fit go anywhere today. Just stay house with me."

He chuckle, hand dey play with my hair. Small spark dey fly for air.

"So you dey jealous like this? But if I really wan go class nko?"

He dey tease me, but I no let am win. I squeeze my face, pretend pout.

"Unless you tell me something sweeter to do for house."

Na so I talk, voice small, eye dey twinkle. E no dey hard me to play along.

His finger run from my nose to my lips, his eyes deep and playful.

He run the finger slow, make me shiver. My heart dey jump like frog inside bucket.

I just catch am, bite his finger.

He shout, "Ah, Kamsi, you wan chop me finish!" We both laugh, the sound echo for the small room.

"You dey do anyhow."

He laugh, turn me over, pin me down. "How e bad to kiss my own girlfriend?"

He talk am with play, but small truth dey inside. I giggle, my fingers poke his side.

He bend kiss me. I block am with my hand, so he kiss the back of my hand, then kiss go reach my arm like small chick dey pick corn.

I fit no lie, the way he play dey sweet my body. I laugh, twist, try dodge, but he strong pass me.

His play make me laugh and twist under the cover, but he just carry me, press me for wall.

We dey roll like children wey dey fight for pillow, until my hair scatter, and my heart dey beat double time.

After plenty time, he finally let me go when my lips don numb from kiss.

My lips swell, my hair rough, but I no care. Na that kind morning dey make person forget say wahala dey outside.

But he listen to me and stay house all day.

We binge old Nollywood films, laugh at the acting, forget world for some hours. I think say my plan work.

I think say everything don change.

I dey praise myself for my wisdom. I even message my best friend, "Babe, e be like say God don hear my prayer."

But the next day, as Chijioke dey drive me go class, one keke lose control jam us. I come realise say nothing change.

Just as I dey smile for his side, music dey play low for radio, the keke appear. The crash loud, life slow for one second.

To protect me, Chijioke turn the keke last minute, put himself for danger.

My mouth open, no sound come out. My heart dey pound like masquerade drum for village festival. I shout his name. He grip steering, twist, use himself shield me. I see his face last minute—fear, love, sacrifice.

I just feel small pain, but no wound, while Chijioke full body na blood.

Ambulance rush come, people gather, dey look with concern. My own na just scratch, but Chijioke dey unconscious.

As dem carry us out, I see Amina dey give Chijioke first aid.

She kneel beside him, her hands steady, her face calm, people dey praise her for bravery. I stand there, helpless, as if na outsider I be.

That time, I know say all my struggle no mean anything.

Destiny strong pass human plan. Even my own smartness no fit change wetin don already set.

Male and female lead must meet and fall in love.

I sigh, surrender. The more I fight, the more I dey sink inside water wey no get bottom.