Chapter 3: Sisterly Hustle and Public Disgrace

Honestly, this thing dey funny die.

Na pure comedy, but e dey pain small. Hunger no be mate!

Since Chibuzor enter this school for SS2, na so he dey shout about their cafeteria food.

That boy go dey list menu for table, dey make my mouth water. Even my mama sef don dey suspect say I dey plan collect his food one day.

One day, my mouth ‘mistakenly’ chop the egg pancake wey he bring come house. My God—na heaven.

I no even gree share. Chibuzor dey look me with sorrow eye, I no send. Na me get seniority, I gats chop.

After that, I begin plan anyhow to make Chibuzor dey bring food for me. From bribe with chop money to threaten am—just three days, e gree.

You know say if you use small soft voice, e go gree. If you use eye, e go fear. So, I dey mix am. Chop money, threat, even emotional blackmail: "If you love me, bring food."

Every morning, I go wait for fence make he finish morning reading, bring breakfast. Afternoon, I go wait for am to pack lunch. Night—I no dey chop. I dey try lose weight.

Sometimes, I go use small face cap, dey hide. Neighbours don dey suspect say na business I dey do. Dem no know say na food trafficking.

E never even reach one month, na so his class teacher catch me.

Karma fast o. Hunger fit make person forget sense, na that day I forget say teacher dey observe for corner.

And the teacher think say I dey bully Chibuzor?

Imagine, me wey dey manage myself, dem say na bully. I just dey reason the matter.

I just laugh.

E no get how you go explain. If dem like make dem call school security, I no go deny my food.

When Chibuzor come house for weekend, I tell am: “From this week, no bring food for me again.”

I do am with bold face, but my mind dey pain. My tongue go miss that pancake.

Chibuzor happy, shout: “God don see me! Finally, person don come save me from this foodie! You know wetin girls for class dey talk as I dey buy two food every day? God don see me, God don see me, hahaha… Chineke!”

Na joy overflow, like person wey just win bet. E even kneel down, dey thank God.

I no fit take am, I knack am slap: “Go do your practice work. If you no enter top ten for monthly exam, I go finish you!”

That slap no get anger inside—na just tradition. The boy no dey hear word if you soft for am.