**LIFE AS AN INTROVERT**
**EPISODE 1**
**WALES' POV**
"Wales!" my mom (Mrs. Salewa) yelled my name like
I was missing in the Sambisa forest.
"Yes, mom," I yelled back in response to her call.
"Where've you been?" my mom said, resting her hand
over her waist.
"Obviously in his room," Sola said, smirking. I
scratched my head in frustration.
"God will help you, this child of mine. It's not like
you're crippled; you'd stay in a position all day without moving around,"
my mom lamented and hissed, "Mtcheew… my friend, come over here," she
lashed at me. I stood not too close to her, listening to what she was saying
without knowing what was going to happen next.
"Mom, I'm here," I replied hoarsely.
"I need you to go to Oshodi market to purchase some
scotch pepper, fresh tomatoes, and salmon fish. I'll be using them to cook for
dinner," my mom squeezed the sum of N15000 (fifteen thousand naira) into
my palm. "Hold the money properly; I don't want to hear stories, o! Oya,
*now* get going," Mom said and snapped at me. I couldn't show my
displeasure in her presence. I had to hide it. Sola noticed this and grinned
widely.
"What are you waiting for?" I gave her a bad look
and left the house. Now, I had to deal with elders on my street staring at me
weirdly. Automatically, in my brain, I knew I had to greet them. I spent about
10 minutes trekking till I got to my destination. Oshodi market is one of the
busiest markets in Lagos. *But is there any market in Lagos that isn't busy?*
Just thinking about it, I don't think so. If there is, it's definitely on the
island, not here on the mainland.
I entered the market, and as expected, it was very noisy.
It's hilarious how many Lagosians haven't gone deaf. *Not kidding, I'm dead
serious.* I had to negotiate with the sellers, which is the most tedious task
I'll ever do. I went to a woman selling scotch pepper in the market.
"A bowl of scotch pepper costs N3000 (three thousand
naira)," she said. *Unbelievable.* I needed to negotiate with this woman;
I couldn't purchase this pepper at that price. If not, my mom would skin me
alive.
"Ma'am, you no go gree for N2500?" *Can I purchase
the pepper for N2500?* I tried negotiating.
"No nah, you know say pepper don cost now. I no fit
give you for that price." *No, I can't. You know how expensive pepper is
currently.*
"Ok, ma'am, I go come back when I get the money."
*Alright, ma'am, I'll be back to purchase it when I have sufficient funds,* I
struggled to say. I moved away from the lady to others. Later, I was able to
buy the pepper for N2000. I knew my mom would complain, but this was all I
could do. I ended up spending up to N10,000 to purchase everything I needed. I
took a cab home.
Arriving at my house, the first person I met was my mom. She
had an indescribable expression on sighting me.
"Good evening, ma," I greeted her.
"You're back so quickly. Did you buy everything I asked
you to buy?" she questioned.
"Yes, ma," I replied.
"Ok, go keep the stuff in the kitchen. I'll be right
back. I want to see Mama Chima, our neighbor who lost her husband. Let me go
and sympathize with her so people won't think I'm the one who killed her
husband," my mom narrated.
"Yes, ma, I've heard you."
"Take care of your sisters. I don't want to hear
stories when I'm back, o!" my mom added.
"Bye!"
My mom left the house for the deceased neighbor's house. I
was so relieved for now that my mom didn't get to ask me how I purchased the
goods she sent me. *Yay!*
I entered the sitting room and met Sola watching a movie.
She coughed "urgh…" to get my attention.
"Wales, how was the market?" she asked.
"It was fine."
"Ok, if you say so," she uttered and focused on
the movie she was watching. I flew to my room. *Just exaggerating.* My room
isn't so spacious, but very conducive. It's my world; I call it my small
cinema, maybe because Hisense TV 120 Laser. I also have the latest PS5. It was
given to me by my uncle *Uncle Tunde* living in Japan. I love my uncle so much.
He's just a bachelor who loves tech. I'm not sure he's gonna get married soon.
He once said I should come live with him in Japan, but my parents insisted that
after high school, I could go live with him and finish my studies there. I was
so excited to hear this when I was told.
I took out my PS5 and started playing my favorite game, "God
of War Ragnarok." While I was playing the game, I got interrupted by my
sister, *Bisi.* She barged into my room to greet me.
"Bro Wales! I'm from school," cutie Bisi yelled.
"Yay! You're back. Welcome." I went to carry her.
"How was school today?"
"School is how it has been since the day I've been
there," Bisi stammered, saying.
She's really a cutie. She's just 2 years old and sometimes
helps me in washing my clothes. She tried pulling off her shoe herself but
couldn't, and she insisted on my help. I just let her be. Finally, she was able
to remove her shoe. She waited for me to carry her to my bed so she could take
a nap on it *like she owns it.* I don't know where the entitlement originates
from. Bisi has her own room, but she's always taking a nap in mine. I made sure
I didn't disturb her.
My phone rang. I checked; it was one of my closest friends,
*Alex.* I picked it up.
Alex: "Hey, what's up?"
Wales: "I'm good."
Alex: "Guy, match dey for field today. Con go join
us." (My friend, there'll be a match today at the field. Come and
participate.)
Wales: "When e go start?" (When will the match
begin?)
Alex: "4 pm. E go end before 6 pm. you dey come?"
(It will begin by 4 pm and end before 6 pm. Are you interested?)
Wales: "Guy, I no too sure, o. Make we see how e go be
nah." (My friend, I'm not too sure if I'll be interested. Let's see how it
goes.)
Alex: "I dey come your house now. If I see your mama, I
go tell her say we get project wey we dey work on. Chillax." (I'm on my
way to your house. If I see your mom, I'll tell her we've got a project to work
on. Chillax.)
Wales: "Ok, no wahala." (Okay, no problem.)
Alex: "Oya nah." (Alright.)
I hung up the phone call. I took my player kit, which
included a jersey, pairs of socks, and my spikes. I kept them in my school bag
and wore it, not forgetting my JBL headphones and my phone. I wore my
headphones, vibing to my best song, *"When I Grow Up" by NF.* I
walked to the sitting room and still met Sola watching a movie. I informed her
I'd be with Alex at his house doing some school project.
"But Alex is here already," Sola yelled. Alex's
name from inside the house replied, "Hey, sis."
"Wales, he's here now. You can do your project
here," Sola said. Alex gave me the look of *what did you tell her.*
"Erm… sister, we can't do the project here," Alex
said confusedly.
"Why?" Sola replied, turning her full attention to
us. "Don't tell me you guys have another aim. By the way, why do you have
spike shoes with you? Is it needed for the project?" Sola blurted at Alex.
"Oh, this one," Alex looked at his hands stupidly.
"It's not for me. It's for a friend. I want to return it to the
friend."
"Spill it. What're you hiding? Let me guess, you two
are going to the field to play football," Sola said in an interrogatory
tone.
"Yes," we said in unison.
Sola smirked at us, saying, "Did Mom know you two are
going to play football?"
"No, she doesn't."
"Fine, you guys can go at your own risk," Sola
said to us.
"Thanks, sis. You're the best," Alex exclaimed.
I felt perturbed but didn't mind. I left the house with Alex
for the field. On our way, the other guys joined us in walking to the field. We
played songs from my JBL. Everyone was jamming to the songs. In a twinkle of an
eye, we were at the field. We started changing our current clothing to the
football clothing. One old guy claimed to be the coach. He picked the players
for both teams that would be playing on
the field. The first team was named *The Stars* while the second team was *The
Diamonds.* I was selected as the goalkeeper for The Stars, while Alex was
selected as a striker for The Diamonds.
In a few minutes, the match started. There were people who
came to watch, supporting their respective teams. The Diamonds were fierce and
scored a goal early on. I was terrified whenever the ball was kicked towards
the goalpost. I kept praying the ball wouldn't enter, and this trick worked for
the first half. When it got to the second half, I accidentally granted my
opponent a penalty. *So disheartening.* My team supporters yelled in anger
while the opponent supporters rejoiced. As if that wasn't enough, they scored
another goal, and another. The very last goal was scored by Alex.
Soon, The Stars' supporters stormed the field to confront me
and the players scoring the goals. This action turned into a conflict, with
everyone insulting each other. Everywhere was scattered. Some guys wanted to
sabotage me and my teammates for not winning a bet they had placed against The
Diamonds. Alex came to defend me, but it somehow led to an argument where Alex
was punched and his clothes were torn. I tried to rescue the bleeding Alex, but
I was also beaten to a pulp. I could barely notice what was happening around
me; I felt the universe spinning. I tried to get a grip on myself but to no
avail. I remember hearing distant voices yelling, "Alex!" But the last person I
saw made me pass out completely!
Readers, guess who Wales saw before passing out?