Chapter 6: Pepper Night and Karma

Nobody dey hostel. I waka go corridor. As expected, my panties get that same useless fishy smell.

"Stubborn idiot."

I grit teeth, hiss. The insult wey people dey talk about me don reach limit. Any small pity I get before don burn finish. Na my own thing—wetin bad if I disinfect am?

For Naija, if person wan dey safe, you go apply wisdom. As I dey soak the panties, I dey sing one Fela song for mind, dey imagine as the pervert go jump next time. I no dey carry last, never.

I wear gloves, pour pepper extract inside water, soak the panties. After small time, I wring them one by one, then use brush rub another layer of pepper extract. I spray perfume on top and hang them for corridor as usual.

I lock the door, dey look back, just in case anybody dey peep. For Naija hostel, eye dey everywhere. If dem catch me for corridor dey do all this, story go change again. I hang the clothes, clean hand, waka enter room.

After all this, I go bed sleep small.

That evening, my roommates finally show. Aisha dey talk with excitement:

"Her bag na limited edition, dem talk say e worth hundreds of thousands. Who know how many old men she don follow to get am. I hear say now, rich old men dey rush university girls."

Funmi voice soft:

"But what if na her family buy am?"

"Abeg, leave that talk."

Aisha laugh, e dey pain ear.

"I see her come down from Benz last week, bald old man dey drive. I hear say stage two syphilis dey spoil face. Make una avoid her."

Their voices dey echo for room, e dey pain me but I bone. Dem no know say karma dey wait person for corner.

I drag my bed curtain open. Aisha jump, scream.

"You... when you come back?"

I wave my phone, show them recording app.

"Solid evidence. Enough to finish you for defamation."

Aisha face red like palm oil for new market.

"I dey talk true! Sue me if you fit. Make we see who go believe you—"

Funmi hold her arm.

"Enough, stop to talk."

She even begin beg small, say make Aisha no carry gist go outside. I just dey laugh for mind—dem think say dem wise, but village people pass them.

I no even send them. I close curtain, turn face, sleep back. I need rest—make I wait for the pervert.

By 2am, everywhere for hostel don quiet. I dey sleep well.

Suddenly, one serious scream scatter everywhere.

I jump wake.

No be joke?

The pervert really show?

Hostel light come on one time.

People dey rush come out, some dey shout 'Holy Ghost fire!' Some dey try hide their nakedness with wrapper. For my mind, I dey smile small. If person chop Naija pepper, e no dey forget in a hurry. Today, pepper go show pervert shege. I ready to watch drama from front row.