Chapter 6: Young Love, Old Scars

I meet Akinlolu for secondary school. He no suppose enter our small town, but after family wahala, he come stay with my grandpa.

That year, assembly ground hot, red sand dey stain white socks, principal voice dey thunder for morning. New boy for town cause small commotion. People yarn anyhow.

That time, he wild. Not long after school start, he among first to get punished publicly. Others go pretend sorry, but him, even for front of whole school, just dey act like nothing concern am.

He stand for assembly ground, face strong. I dey look am from back, dey wonder if e get conscience at all.

I no like people like that, so I keep my distance.

I dey avoid wahala. My mama warn me: "No follow stubborn boy o."

But when dem falsely accuse am, I no fit keep quiet. From that day, he start follow me—from school to my house, no gree leave till I enter upstairs.

People begin talk. Gossip fly for street. My own na to pretend I no dey see am.

"If no be me, dem for don deal with you. Good students no suppose join wahala."

He say am with pride, as if na community work.

He no care—fight, set up, punishment—nothing shake am. But when my papa fist, after beating my mama, wan land on me, he rush come kick am down.

Compound scatter. Neighbours rush. My papa shock, but Akinlolu no fear. Na there I know say his stubbornness get good side.

My mama scream, hold papa, eye me, curse me. Akinlolu freeze. Next thing, he drag me run.

We run like police dey pursue. My slippers cut, I no care. For once, I feel safe.

He cook indomie for me. Overcooked, too salty, veg still raw. Worst indomie I ever chop, but I finish everything, even water.

We sit for kitchen floor, leg crossed. Na there friendship turn family.

For that troubled youth, two lonely people, we just dey warm each other, push each other go front.

World cold, but we dey share small fire.

But everybody against us. School no want early love. Akinlolu people look down on me. "I don see many people wey wan climb, but never see person start so young."

Gossip tire. Even teachers call me for office. Name enter bad list.

My mama, red-eyed, slap me, call me disgrace. Akinlolu taken by force, I become outcast for school.

The shame reach bone. But na pain dey make person strong.

But he run away, bring all his Christmas money, even wound leg. He say, "Make we run together."

He limp come house, face dirty, eyes bright. Na there I know say our love no get boundary.

I hug am, head on his. "One year. Make we enter same university. Then nobody fit stop us. Just one year."

Tears roll, but hope dey inside. Young love stubborn.