Chapter 6: Pocky the Plug

Rufai Wen na my school roommate, sharp guy, get money.

People sabi am as Pocky. Even for hostel, e dey run things—always get correct plug for snacks, generator fuel, anything you need.

E like that snack wey bear the same name, always dey chop am for hostel, so we call am ‘Pocky.’

Na nickname wey stick. Even now wey e dey run business, e no fit drop am.

After school, e take over family business, begin invest everywhere.

Na true hustler—real Naija man. No dey dull, no dey carry last.

Whether na luck or brain, every investment dey pay. E multiply family money well.

Even e papa dey hail am say e pass all the old generation for business.

For two years now, e dey beg me make we start company together.

Anytime we link up for beer parlour, na the same talk: "Kunle, forget office, let's build empire."

That time, I busy with Ribo, I no gree.

I dey loyal to my project, no wan jump ship.

I sit down for Range, soft seat, dey reason my life.

As I sink for leather, my mind dey replay all the things wey happen. Na silent moment.

Outside, Ribo building with rainbow logo dey disappear for distance.

I just dey watch am from tinted glass, dey wave goodbye for my mind.

Pocky look me for mirror. From my box and my face, e understand.

E sharp, e no even need ask question. From my body language, e don decode.

“Ribo people dey craze? Dem sack chief engineer?” Pocky shout.

E vex for me, like say na e dey pain pass. E raise voice, driver sef shock.

I look am for mirror. “How you take know say I be chief engineer?”

I dey surprise, because na only company people suppose sabi.

Ribo development na company secret. I never talk am outside.

No be everybody fit know who dey behind system. Na big man dem dey show for news.

Public only sabi Ribo plan from Musa launch talk.

Everywhere na Musa poster, but na me dey build code.

Pocky laugh:

Na real laughter. If you see e teeth, you go know say e remember old days.

“You forget that competition wey we do for school?”

As e talk am, memory just flash me. Those early days, we dey dream big.

“You talk say you wan run virtual interaction for car window, so you no go dey touch GPS as you dey drive.”

Back then, na correct big idea. People laugh us, but we push till dem gree.

“With that idea, you write Ribo prototype, we win gold medal.”

We collect trophy, even VC for school dey snap picture. My mama sef frame the certificate.

“That time, hardware no dey, so prototype just dey as idea.”

But we no gree. We dey hungry for tech.

Na true.

I fit still remember that night for hostel, as we dey code dey dream of future.

I work tire, school don be like past life.

The hustle no easy, but the passion dey carry us.

Pocky grin:

E dey smile like say e don see tomorrow. True friend no dey hide pride for your success.

“I think say you na genius from heaven, I swear say I go follow you anywhere.”

Na so e talk am for hostel, na so e still dey talk am now. Loyalty no dey expire for some people.

I force smile.

I wan gree, but this kain sack dey pain. E hard to smile when world dey fall for your head.

Virtual interaction na my dream since.

Since wey I small, I dey dream say I go connect real world to tech, make life easy for people.

Life no too get magic. I wan add small wonder to real world, hold rainbow for hand.

Na why I name am Ribo. Rainbow for hand—na the dream.

Rainbow—Ribo.

Sometimes, name dey carry power. E remind me why I start.

Those three years wey Ribo blow—of course I dey proud.

If you check, na my code dey run 24/7. I fit sleep for office, just to fix small bug.

But last last, my rainbow just be empty show.

If I no dey there again, e be like say my effort vanish. But inside me, I know say na my work.