Chapter 1
CHAPTER ONE
The Show of Generosity
The sun was sinking behind the rooftops of Gboko Road, painting the evening sky gold as laughter echoed across the courtyard of the Tiv Youth Community Centre.
Plastic chairs scraped the concrete floor, a Bluetooth speaker hummed softly, and the smell of fried snacks filled the air.
Every weekend, the youth gathered here, more than a hundred and fifty of them.
Students, tailors, barbers, small business owners, all from different corners of town.
They came to plan outreach programs, skill trainings, and social events, but if you looked closely, it was also a place to show face, make friends, and sometimes, to be noticed.
That evening, one person stood out without trying too hard.
Lex.
Tall, Fresh, Clean haircut that caught the light.
He wore a white polo and navy jeans that fit perfectly. His sneakers were spotless, his watch shiny, his cologne quiet but commanding.
He wasn’t the loudest member, he didn’t need to be. People noticed him automatically.
“Lex, you dey always dress like say na award night,” a guy joked as he passed.
Lex smiled, adjusting his wristwatch.
“Presentation matters, my brother. We represent the community.”
They laughed, but there was a quiet kind of admiration in their tone.
When the meeting started, Peace, the community’s youth coordinator, clapped her hands.
“Alright everyone, settle down abeg! Today’s agenda, the children’s outreach at Mbaapen village next weekend. We need volunteers and support for transport, food, and materials. Let’s make it work!”
The courtyard quieted as members started pledging donations.
₦500.
₦1,000.
₦2,000.
A few ₦5,000s.
Then silence.
Lex leaned back in his chair, eyes half,focused, pretending to think.
He waited, just long enough for the silence to stretch, then said calmly:
“I’ll support with ₦50,000.”
The courtyard went still for a heartbeat.
Then, murmurs.
“Did he say fifty?”
“Lex don burst everywhere o!”
“Ah,ah, this guy too!”
Peace blinked, stunned but smiling. “Wow, that's really generous, Lex. Thank you so much!”
Lex gave a modest nod. “It’s for the community, no big deal.”
But inside, the warmth of attention spread through him like fire.
He could feel eyes turning, admiration, surprise, maybe even a little envy.
That was the feeling he loved.
After the meeting, small clusters formed, laughter, teasing, and casual talk.
Lex leaned on his car, a silver Toyota parked under a neem tree. A few guys gathered around, eager to know what he did for a living.
“Nothing serious,” he said, with a halfsmile. “A few online businesses, some small real estate moves. You know, just pushing.”
“Ahh, no wonder!” one of them said. “You're too soft, guy.”
As they laughed, three girls walked by, chatting and holding Fanta bottles.
One of them, Anna, turned slightly and smiled at Lex, a shy, genuine smile that lingered just a second longer than it should have.
She wasn’t dressed to impress, plain top, jeans, natural hair packed neatly, but her calmness caught his eye.
She wasn’t loud, just, graceful.
Lex watched her walk away, and for a brief moment, he forgot what the others were saying.
Then Peace called out from across the yard, waving a clipboard.
“Lex! Please wait, we need your details for the outreach sponsors list!”
He strolled over casually, filled out his name, and smiled as she thanked him again.
“Make sure to list me for refreshments next weekend too,” he added.
“Let’s make the event big.”
Peace looked surprised. “You’ll handle refreshments too? That’s very kind of you.”
Lex’s smile deepened. “Let’s give people something to remember.”
As evening melted into night, Afrobeats floated through the compound.
Boys danced near the snacks table, girls laughed in small circles, and the orange bulbs flickered against the walls of the community hall.
Lex sat in his car for a while, engine off, watching everyone through the windshield.
People were still talking about his donation. Some admired, some questioned, but it didn’t matter, they were talking.
He noticed Anna again, laughing gently with a friend by the gate.
He smiled to himself, tapping the steering wheel softly.
This was his zone, being seen, admired, desired.
He didn’t know what next weekend would bring,
but he already knew one thing:
Anna had noticed him.
