His sudden change in attitude disturbed me, it might have not been much but the changes were significant.

❦︎

~[VICTORIA]~

I should have followed my instinct; I knew it was a trap.

First, he made me run several laps around the court as a 'warm up', claiming that my muscles had to be ready for the drills I was going to do.

After the drills, I felt a glint of hope when I saw how the rest of the team looked at me in admiration, murmuring my praises amongst themselves... everyone except Jason. Instead, his face was marred with a stoic expression. Frankly, I wasn't surprised.

It wasn't a surprise either when he stopped Jude from receiving me into the team, insisting that we had a ten-minute half court match.

I tried, struggled to take on both Jason and Jude with any technique I could think of. Alas, the game ended with me not making a single basket, as against the eighteen points they had against me.

My heart sank, disappointment slapped me hard on my face.

The place... the court, it felt like home. I was at peace with the ball in my grip, the sound of sneakers screeching against the floor was soothing in a way.

But now, I could only watch from a distance. Surely, I wasn't going make the team, not after my miserable flop. My heart broke again, just like years ago when Mom told me that I'd never play basketball under her watch.

To say the least, I was despaired.

But was like an unusual luck shone on me. A round of praises erupted from the crowd of teammates around us... my praises. These people were cheering for me, insisting that I should be let into the team.

I tried to suppress the hope that was brewing inside me, Jason still had the final say in the matter.

I still struggled to hold it in when Jason took a step forward, reluctantly forcing his lips open.

And then my heart did a double flip when he finally let out his words, "Welcome to the team."

I smiled widely as I registered his words, finally realized that my hope and dream was beginning to materialize.

And for once in months, I let myself be truly happy.

°°°°°

“I can’t wait to cheer for you!” Tracy was even more excited than I was, someone else would think she was the one that got in the team.

“Yeah.” I could not think of anything else to say as we were walking towards the exit of the sports arena, headed toward the administrative block to receive my jersey. It was a tiring distance from the football field we had just left.

I felt relieved as soon as I sighted the back of the administrative block from the front of the clinic, where we presently were.

“Oga!” someone yelled, making us jolt. Tracy groaned beside me, running a hand over her face. “Oga!”

Tracy whipped around, pressing her palm against her hip, rested her weight on one leg. “Jude, what do you want now?” I could not see her face because she had her back facing me but I was sure she was displeased.

“Oga, this one you're doing face like this.” the boy who had shouted earlier had sprinted his way to where we stood. I remembered him; the guy that conducted the tryouts with Jason. “Any problem?”

I now had the time to look at him better. He had dark, shiny skin with curly, brown short hair falling slightly over his forehead. His thick, dark brows were furrowed as he looked down at Tracy, arms crossed.

“Jude,” Tracy's voice was stern. “How many times have I told you to not address me as oga again?” she hit his forehead, making him pout. “Is it something difficult?”

“But you're my oga!” he protested, looking at Tracy like she had lost her sanity. “I should call you oga.”

“Being my assistant doesn’t make me your boss. It just a post for crying out loud!” Only a deaf person would not hear the frustration in Tracy’s voice. She pointed her index finger at him. “This would be the last time; I won’t warn you again.”

“But oga—”

Tracy hissed, not letting him finish his sentence. She turned around and grabbed my hand, pulling me along to continue our journey to the administrative block. I looked back at the boy and he was still standing there, looking confused.

I chuckled, the guy really resorted to calling her 'oga' because he was made her assistant.

We were finally at the administrative block and Tracy led the way to the sports administrator’s office. It seemed like she had suddenly forgotten what soiled her mood because she was suddenly all smiles again.

Cycles, I remembered. She had cycles to her personality. Just like when she abruptly switched moods after we saw those girls fighting in the rose bushes yesterday. I was both scared and excited to discover more points in her cycle of personalities.

°°°°°

I knew that jersey was going to be one of my most priceless possessions as soon as it was placed in my awaiting hands.

KANAYO  with the number 10 was boldly written on the navy-blue jersey in a pink bold font.

The whole time we were walking out the building, I had been staring at it, my body tingling with excitement.

I was forced to look up when I had almost tripped, and then my eyes caught an all too familiar figure approaching. He also looked surprised when he laid eyes on me, brows furrowed.

I watched him as he walked closer, pondering on what he could possibly be doing here, “Dad?"

“Vicky, you're here?” he chuckled nervously and scratched his neck. He visibly tensed up, looking around to see if anyone was watching. And he stared hard at Tracy, carefully observing her. He then relaxed, perhaps he decided she wasn't a threat.

“Yeah, I school here.” I deadpanned. “What are you doing here?"

“Um—” he scratched his neck again – a common habit he displayed when he was nervous. He suddenly looked at Tracy again, sporting a forced smile. “This girl! She’s your friend, right?”

“Yes,” I nodded. “But what are you doing here?” I pried.

“I'm here to see Fi— the principal… I'm here to see the principal.” he looked away, avoiding my eyes. Something fascinating must have been going on at the entrance of the block since that was where he was looking at. Again, he looked at Tracy abruptly. “What’s your name?”

“Tracy!” she was overly excited as she stretched out her hand. “I'm a huge fan!”

“Why thank you there.” Dad adjusted the jacket of his dark brown suit, pride oozing off of him. He tapped her shoulder after they had shaken hands. “I hope we meet in the future. I have… business to attend to now, dear. Goodbye.” he walked into the block before I could even say anything.

I shook my head, turning around to find Tracy glaring at me... at least trying to.

“What?”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were the daughter of Kevin Kanayo?!” she shrieked. “The owner 3K couture!”

Because he doesn't want anyone to know, that answer almost fell off my lips.

“I did not deem it necessary.” I replied instead, shrugged as I started walking. Nobody asked me who my father was and I couldn’t just be like ‘Oh, my dad is your fave, Kevin Kanayo by the way’. “Plus, I don’t want anyone hearing this, okay?" I had to earn her.

Meanwhile, my mind was still bugged, wondering why Dad was suddenly comfortable letting Tracy, a stranger, know that I was indeed his daughter. On a normal day, he would look the other way if he somehow ended crossing paths in public.

His sudden change in attitude disturbed me, it might have not been much but the changes were significant.

Tracy fell into step with me, latching onto my upper arm. “I'm guessing you have so many pretty dresses, seeing that you have a designer for a father.”

“I guess so.” I shrugged.

“I'm jealous,” she pouted, not even trying to be subtle. “I want pretty dresses too.”

I chuckled. “We can just shop at any 3K store here in Lagos.”

“Really?!”

“Yes,” I laughed.

“I’ll hold you to that one, Ria.” She smirked, her chest quivering in a closed mouthed laughter.

“And I’ll keep to my words.” I laughed too.

°°°°°

~[JASON]~

“Shades of grey.”           

That stupid, annoying voice invaded my sense of hearing, successfully ruining the solitude I found in the library. I ignored him nonetheless. Maybe he'd go if pretend he didn’t exist.

“I know you can hear me,” he sat across me, chuckling as if anything funny happened. “Come on, man. Loosen up sometimes.”

I glared at him, getting even more annoyed when I saw that his stupid smile. “If I wanted to loosen up, it would not be with you.” I said frankly. “And please, stop addressing me by the name of an erotic movie.”

“But you're erotic.” he grinned even wider, wiggling his eyebrows at me suggestively. “The name suits you. Shades of grey… you're all shades of erotic.” He licked his lips and even dared to purr seductively.

My goodness. I shook my head and massaged my temples. “Fidel, if I have to beg you, I will. Leave me alone!”  

“But baby, are you sure you want to leave all these?” he caressed his chest, trailing the path up to his lips to bite his finger and then winked at me. “You're missing out on a lot of fun.”

Who did this fowl just call baby? Me? Jason Ugonna?

I was already having a headache. Just listening to him talk made my brain bang against my skull. It was really chaotic just looking at him make futile attempts to seduce me. If I didn’t know better, I’d have he was actually serious but Fidel was just the kind of person that did random stupid things. Just like now.

It was even more unfortunate that he was the assistant head boy and I had to work with him most of the time. The school clearly did not think their decision through.

“For goodness sake, Fidel, stop this.” I groaned in frustration. “You're giving me a headache.” 

“I know a nice way to get rid of that headache.” he winked at me again, even blew me a kiss.

“You know what?” I got up, stacking my books furiously. “I’ll leave this place for you.” I glared at him. “And don’t even think of following me.”

I made to start walking and paused when I heard him say,

“Yes, Daddy.” in a girl-like voice.

Ew...

I walked away without saying another word, not giving him a chance to say more ridiculous things to my hearing.

°°°°°

I finally got to be alone in the gents. It was the only place asides the library where people did not loiter during free periods.

I turned on the faucet, letting the cold water from the tap cool the skin of my hands. It always worked for me; my whole body relaxed. I also took the liberty to splash my face a few times, relishing the cool sensation of the water against my face. I closed my eyes, lowering my head as I took in long, slow breaths.

I heard a toilet flush from one of the stalls and the sound of the door followed shortly after. The person’s footsteps got closer and they turned on one of the taps, most probably to washed their hands.

“Jason?”

Oh no. Not another crazy classmate.

I refused to respond; my eyes still closed.

“Jason, are you crying?” he tapped my shoulder. “Jason…” he shook me when I did not still respond. “Jason, stop crying.”

“I'm not crying,” I said dryly, opening my eyes. “I just washed my face.”

“But you closed your eyes…you were crying.”

“I was not cry—” I paused when I looked at him. Tears had brimmed his own eyes; he was really about to cry. “What is making you cry now?”

“You're crying,” he sniffed. “I don’t like seeing people cry.”

“But I'm not c—” I sucked in a deep breath, exhaled and said, “Look, Jude, I only washed my face, I'm not crying.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“You're really not sad?”

“I'm not sad.”

“Okay,” we wiped his eyes with the back of his hands, blinking multiple time to get rid of the remnant tears in his eyes. He then looked at me and smiled weakly. “Don’t be sad, It’s bad for your health.”

I nodded. “Sure, thanks.”

“Bye.” he scampered out the door before I could even reply. I did not plan to, though.

I did not even realize when I began to chuckle and soon it was a full-blown laughter. If anyone had walked in at that moment, they would have been convinced that their head boy had run mad.

I caught eyes in the mirror, my laughter slowly subsiding. I observed my grey eyes, they were dull, lacked the shine I once used to see.

You stole all the good genes, her voice sneaked into my head. I'm jealous... especially of your eyes.

Your dark eyes are beautiful, I had told her in all honesty. They're like Dad's.

Whatever, she playfully rolled her eyes. Just know I might pluck them out one day.

We both laughed at her silly threat, even struggled to get our breathing back to normal as we gasped for air, still laughing like mad people.

Still staring at my reflection, I noticed a year seep out my left eye. My chest ached with sorrow.

Two years and I still hadn't accepted that she was gone, a part of me was gone.

A part of me still hoped that one lucky day, I'd wake up and find her making one her masterpieces, as she called her paintings. She'd look at me and smile, call me a chipmunk as she used to.

But my reality was clear as day, and I had to face it... accept it. That I'd never see my sister again.

•
•
•

A/N

Was supposed to update on Saturday, but I was busy.

I'm even lucky to have the time for this today.

So... How do y'all like the new cover?

Anyways, thoughts on the chapter?

Not too much happened though...

And let's take a moment to acknowledge how crazy Fidel is🙂. The guy is just not a normal human being.

Before I forget. Please, if you've been enjoying this book so far, share with or recommend to your friends. It'll really help to support this book.

Don't forget to vote too!

I really don't have much to say, so bye!♥️

Hopefully, I'll be able to update on Saturday.😗