(017c - The Paragon Part 3)
Brace yourselves for some gbas gbos 🌚.
P. S. For everyone confused as to why they already have their votes on a chapter that just got updated, this chapter was formally an author's note I published before. I just unpublished the author's note and replaced with this one. If you read that author's note and voted on it, your votes are already here, so don't fret. 👌🏾
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𝐉𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐍𝐀
(Jidenna Leo Okojie)
My mind was a minefield of thoughts. Several thoughts.
It was just about an hour to the final game of the Paragon, the American Football game. The Basketball match had been a success, Crestview leading with sixty-seven points to forty-five against LIC. But I knew if I don't get my thoughts in order, I might mess up the final game of the night for my teammates.
That's why I was seated on one of the benches in the locker room, a secluded one away from where most of the other guys were, trying to get everything she had said to me out of my mind. I held onto my helmet, taking in a deep breath as I tried to empty my mind.
Nothing was working. All her words, as well as her expression when she spoke, were ingrained in my mind.
She was the first person that will show it, without any remorse, that she didn't like me. She has succeeded in getting under my skin and staying there. It was a new feeling I didn't expect and was not ready to welcome. She was challenging everything I have ever worked for, everything I have ever done to remain relevant in the school. She was making me question if it was all worth it,
Because what was the use trying to get into everyone's good book if there was that one person... that one person that didn't like me. That one person that saw through every single one of your facade. That one person that has been able to figure me out for the first time in a long while. That one person that broke me down completely just by looking at me.
Adela Yongo.
Frustrated, I allowed my mind to wander back to the conversation we had. The conversation that will be ingrained in my mind for a very long time.
I stood in front of the infirmary, leaning against the wall beside the door. My ankle had gotten better, thanks to an aggressive massage from the health prefect herself, the same girl I was waiting for to come out of the female ward I had seen her enter a few minutes ago. It seemed a little stalk-ish, but I just felt the need to clear the air after what she had said on the field.
There is NOTHING special about you.
Six seemingly harmless words struck a very sensitive nerve in me. The way she had said it so nonchalantly, the way she had held my gaze so intently while spewing those words like fairy darts that pierced me brutally, the way she had been so unapologetic about it. Everything she had said got to me. The way she had said them made me feel intense unease.
There is absolutely no way she can tell me that she doesn't have a problem with me and I'd believe.
Adela has a big problem with me and I needed to find out what it was.
I heard approaching footsteps and I straightened, waiting for her to come out. I knew she was the only one in the ward so there was no other person that would come out except her. Holding my breath, the footsteps got louder till she came into view, stopping abruptly when she saw that I was standing in her way.
Goosebumps sprouted on my skin and my mouth became dry because of the way she looked at me, with so much... disinterest.
"Do you mind?" She spoke first, eyeing me slowly. "You are standing in my way." She added, cocking her head to the side, her gaze still fixated on mine. I swallowed, trying to put up a more intimidating font.
"We need to talk," I told her, allowing my voice to sound stern and austere. Adela held my gaze for a few seconds and for that simple moment, I felt vulnerable under her stare. But I dare not show it, so I engaged her in the staring contest, holding her gaze as well.
Her eyes gave me a scrutinizing once-over, and I thought she was going to speak. But No, She didn't speak. She bypassed me and began to walk away, knocking the breath right out of me in utter shock.
She didn't just ignore me.
Turning around on my heels, I fired a question at her, the main reason I was here in the first place. Even if she was going to walk away from me, I wouldn't let her without answering that question.
"What is your problem with me?!" I yelled. That did the trick because she stopped walking and turned around to look at me. I began to limp my way closer to her just as she spoke.
"Excuse me?" The fact that her expression held confusion had me letting out a humorless chuckle. Though her expression gave absolutely nothing away, I was sure she knew what I was talking about. Her acting oblivious only made me annoyed.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Adela," I said when I got to her. Her name sounded so foreign on my tongue, maybe because I've never seen any reason to call her by her name before now.
"I don't," She answered, her eyebrows quirked upwards.
The confusion that was still in her tone made me almost tearing my hair off my scalp in even more annoyance. I almost believed that she had no idea what I was talking about because she sounded so convincing, but I knew better. I wasn't going to let her work my emotions this way.
But not gonna lie, it was hard.
Taking a deep, calming breath, I repeated my question.
"What is your problem with me? Why don't you like me?"
I watched as her expression turned from confusion into a knowing look. But she didn't answer my question. She only folded her hands across her chest and looked on, keeping her eyes on me. The way she looked at me was intimidating. No one has ever looked at me like that before. But I wasn't going to let her see me fidget under her stare.
I continued speaking.
"What did I ever do to you? We've barely had a conversation with each other, ever, and yet you are giving me so much attitude!" Her impassive look riled me up even more. She was getting under my skin, making me lose my mind. I couldn't stop myself from ranting even further.
"Just early this week, you disrespected me in front of Gigi. A few minutes ago on the field, I saw the way you were with the other teammates, so carefree and jovial. But with me, it was like... you couldn't stand me like you couldn't wait to get away from me! You treat me like I don't matter... like I am irrelevant,"
"That's because you are." She answered so casually and audaciously, cutting every airflow to my lungs.
Wow!
(A/N: E Choke! E restrict airflow💀)
I was completely stupefied, staring at Adela with my eyes widened like saucers while she still kept up that impassive expression, watching my entire font come apart before her very eyes. She made it seem like she didn't say anything that big of a deal. She said it so casually like she was talking about something so simple.
But those seemingly "simple" words hit another sensitive nerve, hardcore. I have never felt so embarrassed and belittled by anyone in this school.
When she opened her mouth to speak again, I realized she wasn't yet done with me. She probably was just getting started.
"And why do you care if I don't like you?"
Her expression again had switched from impassive to something between amused and mocking, her question beginning to play in my head. I didn't even have an answer to the question, still very much speechless. But it didn't seem as if she waiting for me to answer since she was still talking.
"You are Jidenna Okojie. You are not supposed to care what anyone thinks about you, isn't it?" She cocked her head to the side for the second time since we started talking, eyeing me derisively.
I was supposed to walk away with the little dignity I had left, but I stood frozen, like a statue. And, she wasn't yet done.
"You are supposed to be nonreactive, immune, invulnerable, unaffected by what one person - me - thinks about you. You are supposed to be Invisible." She spoke so calmly and daringly, I held my breath knowing that she was about to drop a bombshell, a bombshell I knew would destabilize my entire being.
Jidenna, leave this place!
But I stood rooted to the ground.
And she dropped the bombshell.
"Except, you are not any of those things. You are just a pathetic little boy."
Everything came crumbling down at that very point. Every single facade I have put up. The Strong Image I have built for myself in my mind. The Strength I have always told myself I had. Every single one of them collapsed like the tower of Babel.
Just by the words of her mouth.
"You are neither invulnerable, nonreactive, immune nor unaffected. You are the exact opposite." Adela wasn't done. She kept spewing fire blazing arrows, brimstones, and sulfur from her tongue with so much calmness that irked me to the core.
"Which is why you care what I think about you. If not, you wouldn't have walked from the field to the infirmary, with a broken ankle, to ask me why I don't like you." She paused, a small smile quirked at the corner of her lips as her eyes still held my almost teary ones.
Her words were breaking me.
Then she scoffed out a peal of laughter. "Now it all makes sense, why you do the things you do and make the decisions you make. And, sadly, you'd go as far as hurting someone you are supposed to care about just because you want everyone to like you. Just because you want to be in the good books of everyone." My ears perked up at that.
What is she saying?
Is she talking about Hilary?
Does she know the truth about what happened?
I couldn't help but ask myself.
"W-What do you m-mean?" I was stuttering like a complete idiot. She laughed again and shook her head, muttering something like and he is supposed to be a smart person before she looked at me again.
"I've said what I need to say," She stated, the impassive look making its way back to her face. "But at least, now you feel a fraction of what Hilary is feeling by making the entire class turn on her."
And with that, she turned on her heels and walked away from me. But her words lingered, every single one. Especially the last statement she made.
She knows everything.
"Guy!"
A slap came to my back and my head jerked up immediately to see Tekena hovering above me, staring at me like I was some sort of alien. It was at that moment I started feeling the pain of the slap he had given me and winced.
"Tekena, do you know how hard your hands are?" I queried, rubbing the spot at which he had slapped me. "If you wanted to get my attention, all you needed to do was call my name."
"I've been standing here for the past twenty minutes, shouting your name on top of my voice but you were caught up in whatever trance you were in." He retorted, folding his hand across his chest. I frowned, wondering what he was talking about.
"What do you mean?" I asked and he rolled his eyes.
"You spaced out for twenty minutes. I don't understand how someone can space out for twenty minutes but, that was some serious shit." He stated shrewdly and my eyes widened slightly.
I spaced out for twenty minutes? Wow.
"What's up with you?" Tekena asked, bringing my attention back to him as he settled down on the bench beside me. "You have been off since yesterday and I'm really worried." He said calmly and I sighed.
Yes, I haven't told Tekena about my encounter with Adela. It's not like I didn't know how to tell him but I thought really hard about it and decided that telling him wouldn't be the best decision. Tekena would definitely suggest something drastic and I didn't want that at all, especially since Adela knows what she knows.
I'll just handle this my way. By talking to Adela and try to reason with her.
"I'm fine," I told Tekena instead and he leaned back, watching me intently like he knew I was lying. I tried to be nonchalant the entire thing because if anyone could read me, it would be Tekena.
"I've been stressed about tonight's game. Besides, I sprained my ankle during yesterday's practice so my ankle is still a little sore." I told him, internally applauding myself on how I was able to come up with a cover-up so easily. I wasn't lying, my ankle was still a little sore.
But that wasn't the reason for all of this.
The reason was somewhere around the sports complex, getting her team ready for the game.
"If you say so," Tekena still wasn't buying it, eyeing me skeptically. I nodded, not saying anything else. There was a moment of silence before he spoke up again.
"But you know you can talk to me about anything, right?" I looked at him and found him staring right at me. The concern in his voice was evident. I wasn't sure how to respond, so I just nodded and mustered a small smile on my lips.
Tekena doesn't know everything about me. He thinks he does but he doesn't.
He doesn't know that I'm doing all of these for my father. The sports, the academics, the popularity, my position as a prefect - it was all for Kingsley Okojie. He doesn't know that my family utterly and completely messed up. He doesn't know I have scars, several scars on my back, as well as other parts of my body, courtesy of my father. He only knows what I want him to know, what I tell him.
Tekena Tamuno was supposed to be my best friend and I was supposed to trust him, especially after everything he has done for me. I owe him everything. But are some things that are better left unsaid.
"Enough about me." I started, wanting nothing more but to change the topic from me to something else. "You guys won the basketball match. That's dope." I hyped, giving him a small part on the back with a smile still playing on my lips.
But Tekena didn't match my enthusiasm. Instead, he scoffed and looked away. I knew immediately that he wanted to complain about what Sochima must have done and my mood turned sour.
It's always about Sochima.
"What did he do again?" I asked Tekena before he even started speaking and he hissed, turning back to look at me. His eyes were blazing in undiluted and raw anger, his jaws locked as if he was gritting his teeth too hard.
"Omo, if I catch that guy outside, e go rough," Tekena growled out and I looked up, waiting for him to continue. It was like the flood gates opened and he began to para.
"Can you imagine the proud motherfucker!" He snapped, alerting some guys still dressing up just a few meters away from us. Tekena didn't care that his voice was loud, he still kept ranting.
"The fool just wants to keep taking the glory for himself, wants to be the reason why we win! Anytime the ball gets to him, he wouldn't pass it to me, always trying to shoot a three-pointer.-
Coach too was supporting the fool, making me look like an idiot. Out of all the sixty-seven points we had against LIC, I only scored twelve. The remaining fifty-five was all him! Bloody showoff!" He fumed, only stopping to catch his breath. I looked on, not knowing what to say but that didn't stop me from fuming either.
I didn't watch the game because the American football team was doing a last-minute practice, so I didn't witness what Tekena was talking about. But, there's nothing anyone could tell me that would change my mind about Sochima.
He was a showoff.
Whether it was intentional or unintentional, I honestly didn't care but he was a showoff. There was no place this guy would walk into and not turn heads. People loved to listen to him speak. Everyone loved to be around him. He was respected, almost as well as Kizito.
It would have been better if he was a prefect. But he wasn't. And that made it even more painful. That someone who isn't supposed to be relevant, someone who isn't supposed to be important, is.
It was fucking infuriating.
"It's supposed to be me!" Tekena continued like he hadn't paused, and I looked at him. "I'm supposed to be the captain of the Basketball team, not him! I'm supposed to be the one calling the shots, not him! The spotlight is supposed to be on me, not him!" He growled, stabbing the air with his index finger every time he said not him. The venom oozing in his tone caught me off guard.
But he wasn't done.
"He is a fucking scholarship student! What does he have that I don't!" He continued, and this time, it was like he was talking more to himself than he was talking to me, staring right ahead.
"Is it money? The looks? The swag? I have everything! Way more than he does! Yet, he keeps taking everything away. He keeps getting all the spotlight on himself!" His tone didn't get any less venomous. If anything, it became make intense. It made me a little worried.
Then he said something that caught me.
"She was even looking at him! Smiling at him! She was cheering him on. He fucking waved at her and she waved back. They were smiling at each other, gazing..." He stopped talking all of a sudden, making me even more confused.
What's he talking about? Who is she?
"Who are you talking about?" I had to ask. Tekena finally looked at me and I nearly fell off the bench at the intensity of his gaze. It was nothing I have ever seen on him before. I have never seen him look this... scary.
But, in the blink of an eye, the look was gone. Replaced with a rather impassive and annoyed expression.
The confusion I was feeling tripled.
"Tekena," I called to him calmly.
"Forget about it." He stated dismissively, his tone just as impassive as his expression, the previous venomous and gall-like tone gone. It scared me. I was going to prod him further but he stood up with a start, causing me to veer back a bit.
"I should get home and put things in order for the party." He stated monotonously and I frowned slightly, wondering where that was coming from. Before I could ask him any further questions, he was gone, in a flash.
Strange. Everything was strange.
Just this afternoon, when I asked him about the party, he said he had people setting it up for him, that everything was almost ready. Now he was going to put things in order for a party that was most likely ready. It was an excuse to get away from me because he knew I wouldn't stop asking him questions about his behavior just seconds ago.
Who was the girl he was going on about? And why was he furious that she was talking to Sochima?
I tried to rack my brain but I couldn't bring myself to know which girl he was talking about. And as far as I knew, Sochima was friends with everyone, so I couldn't place a particular girl's face with him. I also don't think Sochima has a girlfriend, to the best of my knowledge. Or maybe he did and it's someone Tekena has a thing for. But Tekena wasn't a one lady guy and everyone knew that.
And then, that tone Tekena was using when he was talking about it. Not to mention his expression. He looked so different... scary different. His eyes had a literal fire blazing in them as he spoke about Sochima. Then it transcended into an unearthly look when he spoke about the girl with Sochima. His tone was poisonous, too poisonous.
And this was a first. Because anytime we spoke about our simultaneous dislike for Sochima, it has never been this deep... this intense. Tekena has never sounded this way
This was all so confusing and cryptic. And I wasn't sure whether to be worried or not.
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"Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to the last game of this year's Paragon!"
I heard the commentator's voice in a distance and the cheers from everyone that followed the announcement. Holding my breath, I brought out my phone from my pocket and checked to see if Tekena had replied to my message or any of my calls. From the lack of notification on my screen, I knew he hadn't replied to any. And I exhaled.
Looks like he won't be around for the game. I thought.
I was trying not to overthink what had happened earlier. But it was hard not to.
I'll ask him about it again. I decided within myself. Letting out a sigh, I brought out my helmet and mouthguard case. I was already dressed in the complete gear and almost everyone was too.
The team's gear consisted of a deep blue colored jersey and grey knee-length pants. Because of the kind of rough sport we were playing, we were expecting to be padded from head to toe which was why we had shoulder pads worn under our jersey, as well as knee pads and girdles under our pants. Not to mention the helmets. We also wore gloves, so that we would handle the ball better and sports shoes.
I had a teeth retainer, to protect my teeth. Being someone that used to wear braces, my teeth weren't that strong yet.
Everything was a necessity, and Kizito's dad helped in providing all the equipment we need. He was the biggest sponsor of this sport because he was a big-time, popular player of American Football.
My phone made a sound and I picked it up, thinking it was Tekena that finally replied one of my messages.
It wasn't. It was someone else entirely.
Someone I have been trying to avoid ever since I made that stupid mistake.
+23480***3567
𝑯𝒆𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 🤤😍.
Are you kidding me?
Another message entered immediately after and I looked at it again. Thankfully, my read receipt was off so there's no way she'd know if I've read the message or not.
+23480***356
𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏'𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔😫.
Why would I want to fucking pick your calls?!
+23480***356
𝑨𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝑲'𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒚? 𝑾𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 "𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒖𝒑" 🌚🍆🍑
My eyes widened.
What the actual...
"Can I have everyone's attention?" Big Guy's deep voice alerted me. I didn't even know when he got there.
I quickly switched off my phone and kept it in my bag before standing upbalong with the rest of the team so that we could have a better look at the huge man standing in front of us, with Kizito right beside him, willing myself to under and forget the messages I just received.
We were in the American Football Team Private locker room, right under one of the bleachers in the arena. The commentators were still welcoming everyone to the game and recognizing the people on the high table. We were waiting to be called out, so it seemed like the coach was using the little time left to give us a short pep talk.
"This is the last game of the night." He started, his voice booming through the quiet room. "I don't have much to say to you guys, but all I'm going to say to you is that whatever you do out there, you must put in your best. Don't let all our efforts be in vain. Am I clear!"
"Yes sir!" We all chorused.
"Your captain would like to say a few things to you." Big Guy stated, nodding at Kizito who nodded back before moving closer to us. I swallowed involuntarily, gripping my helmet tight.
If there was anything that would ruin the game for us, it would be what was going on between Kizito and me. And the last thing I wanted was for us to ruin the game for the rest of the team. I'd have to talk to him before we are called in. We need to come to a compromise.
"Hey Guys, I can see y'all are ready." Kizito started, a small smile playing on his lips. Everyone gave an enthusiastic response, some guys slapping hands together and saying We ready die!
"That's good because we need to be ready to beat them," Kizito stated and the chatters died down, everyone's attention coming back to rest on him.
"We started this game in this state. Crestview is the pioneer for American Football, but it doesn't guarantee us winning. Just because we won last year, doesn't mean we'd win again, if we don't put our all. Are you with me?"
"Yes, Captain!"
There was a pin drop silence after that chorus and it looked like Kizito was gathering his thoughts together. When he opened his mouth to speak, his voice was calmer than before
"The reason why I'm taking this more personal this year is because this is my last year as a captain of this team, and as a Crestview Stallion." He paused, looking around the room, trying to watch all our expressions. From the look on everyone's faces, It seemed like that fact just started registering in everyone's mind.
It hit differently with me because never for once have I thought in that direction.
Since American Football started when I was in JSS1, we have never had a standard captain for the team because no one knew the Sport. No one knew the game better than Kizito Alade-Martins, but he couldn't be the captain because he was still very young. So, Big Guy took it upon himself to train us, till we got to SS1. It was then Kizito was appointed the captain.
People felt it would have been a problem because we had a lot of seniors on the team then and putting a junior over them was pretty insultive. But surprisingly, no one minded. Kizito was never disrespectful and he was in most seniors' good books already. Everyone likes him. Everyone respected him.
He was the first and has been, the only Captain of the American Football Team. Which was why digesting this wasn't easy. And it was obvious on everyone's faces.
No one can do it like Kizito Alade-Martins.
"It's also the last game for some of us, the SS3 students." He quickly added. For a moment, just a brief moment, he met my eyes but before I could register the look, he turned away from me and face the others again.
"I'm not saying this for you to be sad, or to start missing us or something." He said, clasping his helmet in his hands. Then when he was going to speak again, it was his chest puffed off with pride.
"I'm saying this because I want you to understand what winning this game would mean to me... would mean to all of us. This is the biggest game of the year, so I need you guys to BRING IT!"
"Yes!!!" Everyone cheered!
"We are going to show LIC Eagles who is boss!"
"We are the boss!"
"Who dey breet!" Kizito yelled and the entire room scattered with cheers. I couldn't stop the grin that stretched across my lips as I watched every one. Even Big Guy was smiling, patting Kizito gently on his back and whispering something to him, probably hyping him too.
And as if on cue,
"Let's welcome... The Crestview Stallions!"
The cheers from the guys got even louder as they all rushed out of the locker room and into the field, followed by the thunderous cheers of our school and our parents. It was like I froze at the thought of my Dad also being in the crowd, seated at the high table most likely. It sent uncontrollable cold shivers running down my spine.
I hope he isn't. I prayed in my heart.
I prayed so hard that this was that one day he forgets that I exist. That one day in every month he totally forgets he has a son called Jidenna. I prayed this was the day.
"Are you not going to the field?"
A familiar voice alerted my senses back and I looked up to see that everyone had gone out. Everyone except for Kizito and me. He was the one that had called my attention. He was standing right there at the entrance that led to the field, literally staring me down. I suddenly felt uncomfortable under his gaze.
"I am. I just..." I swallowed, walking closer to him. "I need to speak to you about..." He cut me off.
"If this is about what's going on, just know that I've put my beef with you aside because this game is more important to me. You mean absolutely nothing to me." He stated apathetically, his expression stolid and impassive to show his lack of interest in the topic.
Though, his last statement got to me.
Ouch.
"After the game, we can go back to hating each other's guts." He said such disdainful words with such nonchalance. "Let's just get this over and done with." He muttered, wearing his helmet. I sighed, wore my tooth retainer before wearing my helmet, following behind him as we made our way to the field.
If I said I wasn't hurt, I'd be lying to myself. But then, what can I say? He had every right to hate my guts. I knew there was nothing I could do at the moment to redeem myself. The least I could do right now is to help him win the game.
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
The whistle went off, signaling the end of the third quarter of the game.
"It's the end of the third quarter of the game and the LIC Eagles are leading by five points against the Crestview Stallions..." I blocked the commentator's voice out and followed the rest of my teammates out of the field and to where the coach was waiting for us.
"What's going on? How are they leading us?" I heard one of the guys another one walking beside him.
"Are you asking me?!" The other guy snapped, obviously out of frustration. Then he hissed. "Please, free me." He mumbled, plopping down on one of the benches laid out for us to sit on.
I sighed and picked one to sit down on too, dropped my helmet on the floor, and removed my retainer, keeping it in its case. I caught a glimpse of the medics, being led by Gigi and Adela, going round to give everyone a bottle of energy drink.
One of the medics threw mine to me and I caught it effortlessly, squirting the blue liquid into my mouth. Adela got to where I was and started talking to Ola Davis, totally ignoring me again. I resulted in looking away, not wanting to feel more awkward than I already am with her around me.
My eyes caught Gigi and I watched as she walked to where Kizito was sitting down, alone. I watched as she crouched in front of him, both of her hands on either of his thigh, speaking to him in hushed tones. It was obvious that she was trying to pacify him and calm him down. But there was no calming Kizito down with the way the game was turning out.
I sighed again.
Unlike soccer, American football was a sixty minutes game, divided into four quarters, that is fifteen minutes per quarter. The first quarter started well, with Crestview Stallions winning the first touchdown. But then, we realized LIC Eagles didn't come to play as well. They countered back with full force, winning their own touchdown and bringing us to a tie in the first quarter of the game.
Second-quarter was no better. Their defense became tighter and more aggressive. We'd hardly made it to their end zone before they would snatch the ball from us, cutting through our defense and scoring touchdowns. We struggled to win a few field and safety points as well, but at the end of the third quarter, they were ahead of us by five points.
That has never happened before and it was getting very embarrassing. We only had fifteen more minutes to win and we knew for a fact that LIC won't relent in their effort.
I heard footsteps approaching and I looked up to see Kizito making his way towards us.
"Everyone, let's gather around." He called to the guys and everyone stopped what they were doing to hurdle in a circle around Kizito. I stood up from the bench and joined the circle.
There was complete silence for a minute before Kizito sighed and started to speak
"We are behind by five points." He began, keeping his eyes on all of us. "That has never happened before. We only have fifteen minutes to the end of the game. We only have fifteen minutes to win this."
"Captain," Ola Davis called, indicating that he wanted to speak and we all turned to him. "Let's not deceive ourselves. The Eagles didn't come to play at all. It honestly seems like Umar got bigger this year-"
"Yes, he got bigger." I cut in, nodding affirmatively and everyone turned to me. "He got bigger and stronger and that's why it's easy for him to knock down all our defenses. We win through field kicks and safety kicks anymore, because we have exhausted all our chances. It's frustrating." I breathed.
"And let's not forget their quarterback, Jidenna Kalu." A guy from the back pointed out.
Jidenna Tyrone Kalu and Umar Hasan Bello were the backbones for LIC Eagles. Both of them were good, very good at American Football. That was probably why they were appointed as Sports Prefect and Assistant Sports Prefect respectively in LIC. Jidenna was a quarterback like Kizito and Umar was a wide receiver like me.
But even with their expertise, they have never been a threat. At last year's Paragon, we beat them thirty-six to twenty-nine points, mostly because their team was "divided". This year, however, things were taking a whole different turn, a negative turn for the Crestview Stallions. We needed a plan and we needed it fast.
"Honestly, the muscle of their team is Umar, not even Jidenna Kalu." Kizito started to speak again and all attention was on him again.
"Kalu is their quarterback, yes, but without Umar, he wouldn't have been able to cut through our defenses. So, if we want to win this, we have to take out their muscle, Umar. Taking Kalu down is just going to be an easy bonus" He snapped his finger, peering at all of us to be sure we understood him.
"Why don't we break..." Ola Davis piped up and everyone shot him a weird look, and he immediately kept quiet.
"We are not breaking anyone's leg, Ola." Kizito sighed, shaking his head.
"It was just a suggestion." He murmured.
"A suggestion that will get every one of us disqualified." I snapped at him, then gave him a small tap on the head. "Idiot," I murmured.
"No jokes, guys. We need to thin..."
Two voices, male voices, stopped Kizito from talking further. We all turned out heads to see two players from LIC, just a few feet away from our corner engaging in a heated argument. That wasn't the most interesting part. The most interesting part was that one of the guys was Umar.
"You have to calm down, Umar."
"Don't tell me to calm down! Don't fucking tell me to calm down! I cover his fucking ass and he takes the glory at the end of the day. What the f* is that!" Umar snapped, his voice thundering with so much anger. Anyone looking at him could see the steams exuding from his nostrils and ears.
Only Heaven knows what could have gotten him angry.
"What will your anger do now, ehn?" The guy with him asked, a bit of sarcasm laced in his own tone. "You and I know Coach won't let you play quarterback. We are more than halfway gone in the game and you have been doing a great job assisting all the wins."
Oh, this is getting interesting.
"Can you hear yourself, Ethan?" Umar fired at the guy. "I've been assisting in all the wins. That's my job, right? To always be assisting!" He thundered, the disdain evident in his tone when he said "assisting"
My ears perked up and I'm certain I wasn't the only one that got more interested in the conversation going on. Umar and the other guy were still oblivious of the fact that we were hearing them loud and clear. Umar wasn't even done ranting about his obvious jealousy for Jidenna Kalu.
This was like last year all over again.
"If not for me, that fool wouldn't have made it past the Stallions defenses." The bigger guy continued. "I made all the wins happen, I didn't just assist! I should be the quarterback! I can break through the defenses and still score touchdowns at the same time!"
I glanced and Kizito and saw the way he was smiling like he was cooking up something in his head. Something big.
"But you know Coach won't let that happen." The Ethan dude stated calmly, trying to reason with Umar who wasn't giving him an audience. "You know what Coach says. Divide and Conquer. You shouldn't do anything that will jeopardize this game for us."
"I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize the game," Umar said. "But I going to win a touchdown for the team. I'm done working as an assistant." He growled.
"Umar!" Ethan called out, but the bigger guy was already walking away. His friend sighed and followed behind.
"Well, that was perfect timing." Kizito's voice called our attention back to him. By now, everyone was already grinning from ear to ear, including me. We all knew what was about to happen.
"History is about to repeat itself," Kizito began, the smirk on his lips not faltering. "and we are going to manipulate it to work in our favor. All we just need to do is stay alert and stay sharp." Everyone nodded.
He continued. "Our dear friends haven't settled their beef from last year and again, it's going to work at our advantage." Then he turned to me. "Jidenna, mark Umar. Keep your eyes on him."
I nodded.
"Yes, Captain,"
"I'll keep my eyes on Kalu." He then turned to the rest of the guys. "You guys should stay in your positions and wait for my signal. Don't do anything till I give the signal. Umar will come for the ball and so will Kalu, so both of them will struggle to get the ball at the same time. That's where everything will go down. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Captain!" Everyone chorused. Kizito nodded and stretched his fist out. We all followed suit, mimicking his gesture
"Crestview Stallions on three." He said, and we nodded. "One. Two. Three."
"CRESTVIEW STALLIONS!"
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
"It's the last quarter of the game. Who will emerge as the winner? LIC Eagles or Crestview Stallions? We'll find out in this quarter."
I let out a deep breath, digging my mouthguard into my mouth, and wore my helmet before taking my position. Ola Davis and I exchanged a look before he gave me a thumbs up and I nodded. I looked at Kizito, kept my eyes on him, and waited on the signal.
"Kizito Alade-Martins, the quarterback and Captain for the Stallions is about to make his call for the team. Let the games begin!" The Whistle went off.
"Six Eight Pump on Two!" Kizito called out to his teammates. No one knew that code except the Crestview Stallions and from the confused expression on the LIC Eagles, they had no idea what it meant either. Which was the point all along.
The "Six-Eight Pump" call was just talking about the routes the wild receivers, Ola Davis, and I would take to catch the ball from Kizito. Meaning I'd take route six and Ola would take route eight. The "Two" call referred to the count on which Kizito wanted the ball snapped to him. In other words, the center would snap the ball on the second sound, which is Hike.
"Set!"
"Hike!" Kizito yelled, and the center guard passed the ball to him, causing him to immediately run backward, watching Ola and me as we ran towards our routes.
Cheers from the crowd increased as The LIC Eagles' defense team began to divide themselves to attack either Me, Ola, or Kizito. Our defense team tried to hold some of them back as much as possible. I kept running forward, waiting for Kizito's signal. I immediately locked eyes with him and he nodded, before hitting his helmet three times.
That's was the signal.
The players from LIC saw that it was directed to me and most of their defense team began to make their way towards me, feeling like I'd be the one Kizito would pass the ball to. But that was the entire point. I was meant to serve as a diversion.
"Eight!" Kizito shouted, changing course and throwing the ball to Ola, who was open and clear. He caught the ball effortlessly and began to make his way towards the opposing team's end zone. LIC Eagles realized it was all a diversion and tried to get to Ola, but they couldn't.
He was already far gone.
"Touchdown, for the Crestview Stallions!" The commentator screamed, followed by the cheers from the rest of the school, as the scoreboard counted six points additional into our previous point, making us a point ahead of the LIC Eagles.
"Yes!" I yelled, fisting my hand and throwing it into the air. I ran towards where everyone was hurdled around Ola Davis, hailing him for winning the touchdown. I got to him and traded him a high-five.
"They didn't see it coming." He said, laughter laced his voice and I joined him, chuckling heartily.
"They didn't," I replied. I looked back to see Kizito standing in the middle of the field, grinning from ear to ear, and I smiled. Like I said earlier, the least I could do was help him win his last big game in this school, and that's already in motion.
We only needed one more touchdown to win, and we had only three minutes to make it happen.
"Everyone, back to your position. We only have three minutes to go." Kizito called out to everyone and we began to walk back to our places. "Jidenna." I stopped short as Kizito called me.
"Yeah?"
"Good Job." He commended and my face lit up. He had said it monotonously, but still, he commended me. I couldn't stop the smile from stretching across my lips.
"Thanks," I answered but he didn't say anything else, looking away from me immediately to look at the rest of the team.
"It's game time. Let's do this." He said and everyone clapped, going back to formation. I went back to my position as the wild receiver
"It's just two and a half minutes to the end of the game. Crestview Stallions are back in the lead. Let's see if the LIC Eagles will dominate before the end of the game."
The whistle went off, Kizito made the call, and immediately, the Centre guard passed the ball back to him. The LIC Eagles, again, divided their defenses between Ola and I. Jidenna Kalu was running to get the ball from Kizito. Umar was also on that same pace, using his hulk-like self to knock down every one of our defenses blocking Jidenna Kalu from Kizito.
To everyone else, it looked like he was helping Jidenna clear the way. But every Crestview Stallion knew better. And just like we predicted, after the defense had been cleared, instead of Umar standing down, he also started making his way towards Kizito to get the ball.
"What the Fuck!" I heard Jidenna Kalu shout, loud and clear, definitely confused by Umar's action. Umar didn't stop, and just liked we figured out, Jidenna Kalu didn't stop either. Both of them advanced towards Kizito like raging bulls.
But Kizito saw this coming and as soon as they got to his front, trying to knock him over, he skillfully maneuvered, causing Umar to knock Jidenna Kalu the ground, falling on top of him as well. That caused an uproar from the crowd.
"LIC Eagles top players, Jidenna Kalu and Umar Bello are down, and Crestview Quarterback, Kizito Alade-Martins is advancing into the end zone to score another touchdown!"
The one-man army had already started running into the field, bypassing every single defense that was coming up against him. Every single one of us Crestview Stallions began to help him clear his part, knocking down any defense that tried to come up against Kizito.
Everyone from Crestview, Students, Parents, and Teachers, were on their feet. I glanced at the clock.
Five Seconds to go.
I looked back at Kizito, who had not gotten to the end zone yet.
Come on Kizito.
Five...
Four...
Three...
Two...
One of the LIC players succeeded in tackling Kizito. But it was to our advantage. It made Kizito tumble faster into their end zone, crossing the goal line with the ball still in his hand, just as the whistle signaling the end of the game blasted in the air.
We Won!
"Another Touchdown by Crestview Stallions just at the last minute, winning with a total of sixty-one points to fifty-four against LIC Eagles!" The commentator screamed into the microphone just as the Crestview crowd screamed for victory.
Everyone from the team ran towards Kizito, who was still on the floor, and legit jumped on him, forming a heap on top of him. I laughed heartily, watching it all. I also caught a glimpse of LIC Eagles. They were all hurdled around Umar and Jidenna Kalu, who seemed to be in a heated argument about what happened. Umar was going to get a mouthful from everyone
I was about to go join the guys to celebrate when someone held my hand, stopping me from working further. I turned around to see my bodyguard, Tola standing right behind me. My heart picked up the beat and goosebumps sprouted on my skin as my mind began to work in overdrive. If Tola was here, it only meant one thing.
My Father was here too.
"He wants to see you," Tola confirmed it.
Bloody Hell.
𝐀/𝐍
Nawa o, It's as if no, they have finally swear for Jidenna. First if all, it was Adela. Now, it's his father. Only God knows what that evil man will say to him bayii😪
But gosh, Adela has a mouth on her! See how Jidenna is now thinking about his entire life. Chisos! 💀
And Tekena though🤔. What up with him?
I don't know when next I'd update but we rest assured that the next Chapters will definitely come with a truck load of drama, back to back. You know I don't disappoint 😌.
See you when I see you.