Chapter 10: The Tenth Call

"I dey go school tomorrow."

One month later, Tobi call me.

The call surprise me, because I no expect am again.

Comments talk say he don hold himself for long.

[Everyday, he dey check phone, dey wait for babe message.]

[The hard guy wey come down from his high horse—who no go fall for am?]

[But why babe just dey act like she no send?]

Me sef dey wonder. Abi I don harden my heart too much?

I just answer am with small "hmm".

My answer short, like text for exam hall.

My eyes just dey look the gardenias wey dey bloom for Kunle Musa compound.

Those flowers fine, dem dey open like say dem no get sorrow. Life just dey go on.

Dem don open finish.

White and pink, smell dey sweet. Na so Kunle dey arrange bench, dey look flower.

He dey sit for pavilion, dey read book.

Sometimes he go wave, I go nod. Na simple life.

"When I settle for there, let me know when you dey come."

Tobi talk again.

He dey try keep connection. But I no sure say my mind dey there again.

"Anwuli, you go be adult for university. Your parents no dey make money easy like that."

Advice wey get blade. E dey poke my pride.

"No dey do big girl, like say you wan show everybody say your family get money."

I shock small, suddenly the guy just dey talk too much.

E never talk like this before. I wonder if na me dey cause am.

So I never suffer before?

I dey reason—na who be this person?

I no be mumu.

I dey talk with pride, because I sabi myself.

"My parents dey make money easy, abeg."

If you know how we take hustle for this country, you go understand. Nobody dey dash money for Naija.

When you reach one level—

E get as e be. But make we see how tomorrow go be. Life no dey finish for here.

I wan tell am say my own suffering no dey show for face, but my heart don strong pass iron.