Chapter 9: Dangerous Games

For the original novel, male lead na real wahala.

Everybody for book club know say Jide na boss for drama. If you see the kind chapter wey dem dedicate for him wahala, e plenty.

If he catch you, anything fit happen—tie, belt, handcuff, name am...

Even slippers join. No be small matter.

So the original heroine dey always run.

She dey jump window, climb fence, hide for under bed. For Naija, if woman dey run, e get reason.

Anytime dem catch her, wahala go increase... her face go red.

I dey pity her. But today, na me be scapegoat.

Before I know, Jide Nwachukwu don carry me reach him house.

E get big house, na mansion, dem say river dey for backyard. You go think say na governor dey stay there.

Big mansion, light everywhere, for hill by the river—no escape.

No keke for area. If you wan run, na marathon you go do.

He go bath, no talk. I lie for him big bed, dey reason:

Bed soft, but my back dey sweat. I dey pray say make system come rescue me.

“The ‘performance’ he want... e sure say no be wetin I dey think?”

System dey quiet. If wahala land, e dey mute. Only when food dey, e go talk.

System: “I dey see all the rubbish for your mind, but no other way. Try am, na.”

System voice dey faint, like generator wey fuel finish. I dey curse am inside.

“Try wetin! Male lead suppose love heroine. If I mess up, he fit finish me!”

I dey argue with system, but my voice dey low.

“I feel say he wan finish you even before you mess up.”

System no get pity. For this life, na only yourself fit pity you.

“...”

I bite lip, my mind dey run scatter.

“Host, wetin you tell Jide Nwachukwu for car just now? Why him wahala value still dey rise?”

I dey replay conversation for my head. Maybe I talk too much, maybe too small.

“Erm...”

For car, he just pin me down, no talk.

E quiet, but hand strong. The air for inside car cold, but his body dey hot.

I just dey talk up and down.

I dey yarn any nonsense. My own mouth no dey stay one place.

Like:

“You and Adeola fight? Girls dey like throw small tantrum. Just pet her, she go calm.”

I dey advise am like Aunty Bisi for radio show. Na so I dey teach lion how to drink garri.

“Why you no dey talk... You no sabi pet babe?”

Na question wey fit vex person. But I no fear. Na my mouth dey do me.

“I go teach you. Talk ‘behave’ for me.”

I yarn am, dey laugh small, hope say e go ease tension. But e be like say I pour petrol for fire.

System: “...”

System dey quiet. E know say wahala don pass level.

Bathroom door open soft.

The door creak small, light spill enter room. My body dey prepare for anything.

Jide Nwachukwu come out, only towel, him body dey show for glass.

For my mind, I dey shout "Holy Ghost fire!" E strong, e dark. Na only chest dey fill my eye.

System: “Host, you dey on your own.”

If system dey see me, e for wave white cloth. I dey reason say maybe I go faint.

I shout: “Wait! No go! System!”

I dey beg, but voice no reach anywhere. Na so my luck finish today.

Jide Nwachukwu off bathroom light.

Room dark small. Only him silhouette dey show.

Step by step, he reach me.

The way he dey come, e resemble lion dey hunt goat. My own heart dey run race.

I hold breath, shift back.

My back don reach bed edge. Nowhere to go. I dey squeeze pillow.

Wetin I suppose talk, wetin I no suppose talk...

I dey pray say make system just off the script for tonight.

This man body set die.

If they dey do Mr. Nigeria, e go win am for free. My own eye dey run up and down.

But this one get story. For a moment, I forget say I dey fear. My hand dey itch. But my sense tell me, "If you try am, you fit hear ween."