Chapter 4: Fame and New Game

My boring life suddenly get gist.

Na so drama take enter my life. People begin dey notice me. Even teachers begin dey call me for extra lessons, like say my name na magic. My phone dey ring nonstop. If I open Instagram, DM full. I dey shine pass generator for night.

People just dey rush me anyhow—all of them get money or connection.

Boys wey never talk to me before, dey send 'Hey dear' every morning. Some dey claim say dem wan help me carry bag, others dey flex new ride. For Naija, once you get small fame, everybody dey claim friend.

"Mimi, that new restaurant sweet o. Make I carry you go."

Tunde from Class 11. Six foot plus, sharp mouth.

Tunde sabi use mouth scatter babe head. If e no dey toast girl, e dey talk football or dey argue with teachers. For school, everybody sabi say Tunde get gist for everywhere.

Na Amara cousin and one of her padi. Fine boy, good family, and everybody sabi am for woman matter.

Anytime dem do party, na Tunde dey organize. Even for debate club, e dey use style dey impress girls. My own no pass ordinary greeting, but dem go twist story.

He chase me openly.

For assembly, he go shout my name. For canteen, he go pull chair for me. I just dey observe, dey wait to see if e go tire.

Because na only him I dey sometimes answer, people begin yarn say we dey date.

My seatmate go dey tease me, 'Madam, when you go invite us for wedding?' I just dey laugh. For Nigeria, rumor dey move fast.

Form teacher call us go office, with Class 11 form teacher join.

As we waka enter staff room, dem close door. I know say matter don set.

Tunde teacher strict die. He glare am: "You suppose dey face your book. If your result no good, no go drag another person down. I don call your papa and mama. Tomorrow, write 1,000-word apology."

Tunde just bow head. For that teacher hand, anybody fit fear.

"And I talk to your parents yesterday. They no want you do art. No think say art na shortcut. Your art teacher talk say you too lazy—no fit for exam."

Tunde face come change, e be like say e wan cry. But pride no go let am show am for public.

Tunde fist tight well.

You fit see vein for him hand. E dey try hold the anger, but teacher no dey look face.

His teacher no gree, just dey fire him with talk.

"If your parents dey pay this kind school fees, you go dey draw cartoon for back of note? Oya, pack your bag, go home." Na so e dey talk.

The place noisy.

Other teachers dey waka pass, dey peep inside. For staff room, once two teachers dey quarrel, everybody dey want look face.

When his teacher come talk again say make he no spoil my own result,

I cut in, face blank: "Aunty, him no go disturb me. I go still carry first."

I talk am, my face cold. The other teachers look me, surprise say I no shake.

Class 11 teacher choke, wan vex, but my own teacher rush defend me.

She no gree, she quick change topic. She sabi say na me be class pride. For Nigeria, school like to dey show off brainy students.

"Okay, okay, two of you fit go."

We waka comot, Tunde still dey vex, but I no send am. For corridor, some girls dey look us, dey whisper. I just dey walk my own.