Chapter 1: System Shock and Pride Fall

When I waka go stand between the legs of that poor student just to disgrace am, na that time the system just activate, come tell me say: na him be the villain.

I remember the day well, as I stand there, chest dey rise and fall, system voice just cut through my pride like cold harmattan breeze—my skin prick like say mosquito dey bite. You know that kind warning wey dey hit you from nowhere—e just land, no room to argue. As the thing land my ear, my body just freeze. Na so I waka commot with small shame dey bite me for mind. From that day, every time I see am, I go remember say na villain I almost provoke pass my level.

After that day, I stop to dey disgrace am.

I swear, shame nearly finish me. My own spirit no even gree me do pass myself. Anytime I spot am for corridor or school junction, my leg go dey carry me sidon for far corner. I go dey pretend say I dey busy with my phone, or say I dey check assignment—anything wey go keep me from e wahala. E just dey my mind, say if I near am again, thunder fit strike person. People for class sef notice say the energy don change, nobody fit explain.

Anytime I see am, I go just sidon for far place, avoid am like say na wahala.

Sometimes, my eye go meet e own for distance, and I go quickly look another side. If I see am for library, I go turn back, make sure I no even cross e path. E dey remind me of all those superstitious things mama dey talk—if you offend spirit, just avoid am, respect yourself. Even my friends sef dey ask why I no dey disturb the boy again, I just dey dodge the question.

But the way e dey look me, e just dey turn dey somehow, dey strange…

Omo, e get as e be. Sometimes e go look me with one kain deep eye, like say e dey see through my soul. Sometimes, e eyes go dey sharp, sometimes soft, but always serious. My body go just cold small, e no resemble all those boys wey dey form anyhow. Sometimes, I go feel say e dey try read my mind, e own look dey make person chest catch cold sweat. E resemble person wey dey carry secret for heart.

One day, I catch am dey grab the system, dey para: “Why she no dey tease me again? Abeg, you don go tell am who I be?!”

I shock. The thing be like Africa Magic for my koro-koro eye. The way Musa dey vex, e hand dey grip tight, like say e dey quarrel with invisible person. E voice loud, frustration full am, na so I just hide dey peep. I laugh small for mind, but e pain me too—na so life be, sometimes na who you think no get power dey talk to system like padi.