Chapter 1: Hunger No Get Respect

The fan for ceiling just dey blow hot air—chalk dust and sweat dey mix for nose. The hungriest year of my life, na for Ochuko hand I dey work. Every day, I go dey copy notes just to chop one meal.

That year eh, I swear, hunger nearly use me do example. If you see the way my neck long, my eye hollow—omo, hunger no get respect! I dey copy notes for Ochuko, sometimes even help am arrange chalk just so I go fit see one small plate of food. My mates for class go dey jollof anyhow, but me? My own na to dey eye people’s lunch like say I dey calculate their destiny.

Later, after I finish university, na so Ochuko come find me.

E just waka come my side, dress fresh, perfume dey fly. The kain boldness wey e take talk, my belle first turn. For my mind, I dey wonder if this na joke or prank. Ochuko just look me, serious face, like say na business proposal.

"Two million. Abeg, come be my fiancée."

The thing weak me. I blink, check Ochuko face, check my own hand—na real life? My heart dey pound like generator wey no wan start. I wan laugh, but laugh no gree come. Two million naira just like that? Na wah o, this life fit play you jazz when you least expect.