Chapter 1: New Flat, New Trouble

As guy wey just move into Ibadan, I no expect say house matter go turn drama. One weekday afternoon, I just dey prepare go baff, na im Morayo, my female roommate, waka come my side. She just wrap correct Ankara towel for body—e fit her well, like person wey sabi style.

For Naija, if person catch you like that for corridor, towel for body, e go shock you small—especially as I no dey expect any visitor. That corridor smell like old mop and last night’s stew, bulb dey flicker like NEPA wan take light. The way Morayo waka, her steps light, almost as if she dey try dodge eye. Her towel sef na bright Ankara print, make am shine for the dull corridor light.

Na that time, the other roommate for next door just open her door, so I sharply run back enter my room. I no fit let dem catch me dey waka half naked for corridor—gossip go fly sharp sharp.

My heart beat quick, as if say dem catch person for wrong place. For house wey be say everybody dey mind their lane, I no wan give anybody reason to dey talk my matter. For my mind, I dey beg make Morayo sef no go fall hand, say make we no jam wahala.

"Abeg, make I follow you enter—before dem begin talk nonsense." Morayo follow me enter my room. Na so we take start to sabi each other.

You know as Naija dey—sometimes, na small wahala dey bring two people together. As she talk, her voice low, almost as if she dey fear make the other babe no hear. As we close door, I notice small soap foam for her hand, sign say she don ready to baff before that unexpected interruption.

The other babe for next door shout, "Who get all these things for bathroom?" Before you know am, she dey gist with the caretaker for parlour dey crack joke. I just hiss for mind—this girl no dey ever mind her business.

Her voice dey carry wahala sometimes, always sharp as blade. The caretaker dey laugh loud, him voice dey echo for the tiled floor. I hear am dey talk say, "All these our young tenants, ehn! Dem go dey scatter everywhere!" I just dey hope say nobody go call my name join the matter.

Na as my body dey ginger me be that, I come dey reason say make I close to Morayo.

Inside me, I dey reason say, ah, this babe get levels. She dey shine her own way, dey different from the other ones wey I don meet before. E be like say spirit dey push me make I try know her more.

"No, I no fit do my boyfriend like that."

Her voice serious, her eye dey bright, like person wey just win awoof, as she talk am. E show say she get respect for her relationship, e still dey her chest like pride. For this Naija wey everybody dey quick judge, I gree say she strong.

Morayo tell me no, but later she come find out say her boyfriend na real wahala guy.

You know as street talk dey fly—before you blink, gist go full everywhere. Na so I hear say Morayo boyfriend dey give her headache. The guy own wahala too much—gossip say e dey owe people for street, dey follow wrong padi them.

Shey Morayo go finally turn queen for my room?

People go talk o, say two of una dey hide dey, anything fit happen. But for Naija house wey gist dey fly, person need mind e steps well. Time go tell if Morayo go change mind, abi she go still dey loyal to that her wahala boyfriend.