Chapter 4: The Long Game

Na so my wahala to win am over start.

Mission wey I no plan for. My head just dey hot, but my body no gree leave am alone.

To tell truth, Jide Nwachukwu no easy to near.

He get wall, tall pass fence. If you try climb, you go tire quick.

To fit reach am, I transfer to him school, join him class.

Na there I see real Jide. School wey get plenty rich men pikin, but this boy na the one wey boys dey fear pass.

Na there I discover say: all that weak, bullied pikin wey e dey do for house, na half acting.

For house, him play victim. For school, na lion. Street smart pass me sef.

For real, he get top brain, and e sabi fight.

One day, I see am dey solve maths, teacher dey praise am. Next period, I see am wipe boy wey collect him biro.

If he talk, boys go follow am; if you mess up, na beating go follow.

Small king for playground. Nobody fit drag table with am.

I even happy: “E good, at least he fit defend himself.”

But deep down, I dey worry. Street tough dey easy turn wahala.

System para for me: “Good? Soon, e go dey hurt people.”

No be lie. Once pikin see say strength dey work, e go dey abuse am.

True o.

Na so system dey remind me say make I guard Jide well. If not, e go use power spoil show.

My work na to make sure he no turn wahala.

Na full time job. Na like N-Power wey no get salary.

So I start dey try change am.

Small small, I dey encourage am, dey yarn am better word, dey show am say e fit get friend for this world.

When teacher make group, nobody gree carry am, I rush, hold him hand:

I smile big, dey form like say I no see others dey dodge am.

“Make I join your group, Jide?”

I dey shine teeth, even when I know say e no send me.

For school trip, teacher say make nobody waka alone, he still dey alone, I rush:

I rush like person wey dem pursue from village, stand by am.

“Make we move together, Jide. I fit fight goat, you no go lose.”

That one make small boys laugh. But I mean am. For this life, everybody need padi.

At first, Jide Nwachukwu no send me. Later, e vex dey bark at me:

Everyday, "Comot." "No dey follow me." "Go play another side."

“Comot.”

“No dey follow me.”

“Go play another side.”

I no mind. Person no dey change overnight, abeg.

Even Jesus no change water to wine twice for same place.

Time still dey.

If patience na money, I for don build mansion for Lekki.

He still get years before he go collect Nwachukwu Group, meet heroine, and begin craze.

System dey remind me everyday. "Relax, no rush."

So, as time dey pass, I dey follow am like tail.

Na so I dey waka behind am, dey form bodyguard, dey smile. If e like, make e no talk to me.

As long as I dey, nobody beat am again;

No brother step on him face again;

No teacher accuse am or shame am for being motherless.

Even the bullies sef don dey fear me. I use my mouth, my eye, and sometimes my slippers settle matter.

Later, when he start business, I help am dodge drug trap, avoid bad headlines, and make sure him family no disgrace am.

Any small bad belle for company, I dey use small trick remove. E good to get brain and eye for wahala.

He win back the company, career begin move.

His shine no get part two. Dem dey carry am for magazine, dey call am young lion of North City.

Next, na just to meet heroine, enjoy happy ending.

For my mind, I dey count down. My ticket back to my world dey wait.

So why e still...

Why wahala still dey follow am? Why darkness dey strong pass before?

Enter darkness?

Na this question dey keep me awake. Wetin I miss? Abi na my wahala still dey chase am from inside?