Thrice.

That was how many freaking times my eyes met with Stephen's honey brown ones as he professionally bounced and threw the basketball round the court.

Immediately we arrived at the national basket ball court in yaba, we met Alec. Then together with the boy, Chijioke decided to go and meet our school players. I begged them to go ahead without me, then Chijioke thought it was wise to leave me with Vincent. We stood together awkwardly at first before Vincent started walking to the bleachers. I followed six feet behind him because getting lost or left behind was not on my to-do list.

The basketball competition was organized by the state government of Lagos. The final match was supposed to be played before I got my scholarship admission but there were few setbacks and I was able to meet the competition. My former school didn't even participate in these kinds of things so I never even knew the government even hosted sports competition.

"That hot player is my best friend!" Chijioke yelled beside me to no one in particular. I rolled my eyes and stole a look at Vincent who was on my left side. Even though I made sure to leave enough space between us, Chijioke had come back from his greeting session and forced us to literally rub bodies all in the name of sitting close. Vincent looked not the slightest bit interested in what was going on in the court. Even Stephen's play didn't seem to have any effect on him.

I would be honest. Stephen moved around the basketball court with skill and finesse like the court was his own kingdom and the ball occasionally bouncing under his hands was his sceptre of power. I was forced to admire the way he played, with undiluted skill and passion.

Vincent caught me looking at him and turned away in a millisecond. I noticed his eyes darted everywhere and I couldn't help but continue staring at him as I wondered what the problem was. His dark brown eyes met mine again and he scrunched his face into an ugly frown.

"What?!"

I ignored him. If he was upset that I talked back at him earlier then he might as well hug a transformer for all I care. What he did was insensitive and it annoyed me. I knew how much it hurt to be yelled at as a kid when I had done nothing warranting the yells. I knew what it was like to believe that the person that was supposed to love you hated you. Constance thought he hated her and instead of him to squat in front of her and make her believe otherwise, he yelled at her. Worst of all, she was still grieving. That action of his triggered emotions within me.

I just turned my attention back to the game at the same time, Stephen scored. Chijioke shot up from his seat and was jumping up and down.

He distracted me and I didn't know when Vincent sneaked away from my side. Fortunately, Regal high got the cup in the male category. We could have gotten the female cup but at the last seconds, Olamide played a foul causing the opposing team to get a free throw which pushed them ahead of us by a point. And I have to admit, Olamide was actually good. I mean one she wasn't even intimidated by the height of the girls on the opposing team. Those girls were damn tall it seemed rather unfair that both teams hoops were on the same height. Two, Olamide dribbled and passed well enough and the girl was fast. Even without long legs, she ran across the court like an ostrich. Amanda was also good. She was able to score some clean hoops from impossible angles but sadly the team lost.

After the game, Chijioke led me to where our school players were since he wanted to greet his "dudes". From the entrance, I saw Amanda squatting in front of someone, it seemed like she was consoling the person. I decided to say hi to Amanda and commend her play instead of disappearing like I intended to after the basketball game.

"Chimamanda," I called when I got to close to her. I heard sniffles and I looked over her shoulder to see Olamide wiping her eyes.

Amanda turned to me, gulped the water in her mouth loudly and stared at me with a wide eyes that said how the heck are you here?!

"Argh!" She screeched throwing herself upon me and flinging her water bottle away in the process. "You came!"

"I-" I tried to ignore the nauseating mixed scent of oil perfume and sweat

"It's official. You love me!"

"Erm-" my eyes caught Olamide's teary gaze. This competition must have meant a lot to her.

"Kenya." I scowled. I would have almost felt bad for her, almost but she had to call me Kenya.

Her lips trembled like she wanted to cry again. "I'm going to the locker room." She said to Amanda and left us.

Amanda watched the girl's back with a forlorn look. "This game meant so much to her. She really wanted to win. Now she keeps blaming herself."

"So sad," I replied trying to flow with the convo.

"You know she founded the female basketball team."

"Really?" That actually piqued my interest.

"Yeah. She came here in JSS 2 and when she found out that We didn't have a female basketball team, she taught it was unfair. Basketball was actually what brought her close to Stephen and Vincent." Vincent keh? What did Vincent know about basketball? He didn't even seem interested in the sport. "In JSS 3, with the help of the sports prefect and game master she was able to convince the school to have a female basketball team," Amanda chuckled lightly. "She got spirit, I tell you."

Amanda sat where Olamide had been sitting. And I sat beside her. "The team has faced challenges though. Regal high is reluctant to put us in competitions and they never agree to invite a coach to train us. Since we don't have a proper coach, we spend more time practicing because we have to let Stephen and co coach us. Her parents now claim that basketball is taking her time and they want her to stop playing. She wanted to get this cup to change her parents mind-"

"Mandy," Stephen interrupted from no where. He sat on her other side. "You played really well."

"Shift away from me Steve. You stink."

"So do you," he grinned. He looked at me and I looked away. It wasn't intentional, it was sort of a reflex action.

"I wanted us to win though," I heard Amanda whisper. I saw tears welled up in her eyes. "I know it's just supposed to be fun and whether you won or lost shouldn't matter, but loosing sucks I tell you. This is the second time we've lost the cup. I might as well quit the team because I swear I don't enjoy the loss at all. It's so terrible. This is why I stick to academics because I never fail at it. I hate failing." Amanda was crying now.

Crap, what was I supposed to do?

"Mandy don't cry na. It's all part of the process. Last time, the female team didn't even get to quarter finals but this year you were in the finals. Who knows next year you guys might win. You're still a growing team. You guys are just three years old chill okay?"

"It still sucks!"

"Amanda?" Someone called. It was Aliyah. She squatted in front of Amanda. "Why is she crying?" She looked between me and Stephen for some sort of explanation. "Naya how are you?"

"Good. She lost."

"She didn't loose the team did," Stephen corrected. I just rolled my eyes.

"I watched it. Let me handle her." She helped the girl to stand then she started leading her away. Stephen followed them

When I watched them leave, I felt something sting me in the chest. Stephen left me. I almost thought he was going to try talking to me. Wow, I was beginning to sound like I wanted his attention. Honestly, I just missed his company. I liked Chijioke because he was sweet and all but I actually liked Stephen's company. Chijioke was fond of conversations in which I had to actually contribute enough, bringing up all the wrong topics and probing into personal matters but in Stephen's company, we talked about things like my art, his interest in basketball, his family, his absolute love for video games, more like addiction, and some other irrelevant stuff and honestly though I've never actually talked about myself with the guy. He knew how to make the good conversations in which I didn't have to pause or think of lies. We talk without talking, if you get what I mean. Maybe because he did most of the talking like Jessica did since I have nothing interesting to talk about apart from my love of drawing and painting.

Chijioke flung my arm over his shoulder as I watched Stephen, Aliyah and Amanda.

"I'm the worst friend in the universe." I told Chijioke.

"Huh?"

"I didn't even know how to console her."

Chijioke sighed and threw his own arm over my shoulder. Then he led us away from there. "I don't think you are. You don't just know how to care for others." Well ouch. He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Or should I say you're new to having to be there for someone. To being a friend."

Well, I had to give it to him. He was accurate as hell. I have never had to be there for someone. Richard was always the one taking care of me. I had never had any reason to actually be a friend to him. Regal high's scholarship had changed lots of things in my life honestly. I removed Chijioke's arm from my neck and decided to go outside and maybe get fresh air. Chijioke followed me.

"Where is that big head that calls himself Vincent sef?"

Chijioke dialled a number on his phone and brought the phone to his right ear. "Black man where you dey?. . .Home keh?" Chijioke frowned then a look of pity crossed his face. "Oh my. I'm sorry. I didn't think. . ." Another interruption. "I'll try coming over before going home. Be good K?" The the beep came.

"He went home?"

"Yes." We had continued walking aimlessly.

"Why?"

He gave me a look I couldn't comprehend then shrugged. "I don't know."

I scoffed.

He definitely knew.

*

I stared at Jackie, Vincent's Rottweiler, wondering if that's where the dog had been since we left in the morning. It was still in the same position under the carport. Stephen's father had dropped us at Vincent's place and left for home not without telling Stephen to come home before seven.

Vincent was not at home. According to Chijioke he went for a walk to clear his head and would be back soon. Chijioke and Constance were with the dog, leaving me alone with Stephen. I and Stephen sat at the round table outside the house saying nothing in particular. Well, I was standing and he was sitting. If I wasn't so scared of dogs, I would have left Stephen by himself. I was already even considering going to join Constance and Chijioke When Stephen decided to start a conversation.

"Nairobi." Did he think I was going to answer him?

"Nairobi." He called again. I still kept my eyes on Chijioke and Constance. Constance seemed not to be interested in playing with the dog but Chijioke was making her to.

"Jesus! Nairobi!"

I whipped my gaze to him with so much force that I feared my neck would snap. "What?!"

Constance, Chijioke and the dog all looked towards us but turned away after some seconds.

"Why did you act like you weren't hearing me?" He asked with a frown.

"Because I didn't want to answer you. Obviously." Stephen looked at the table then looked back at me.

"See girl, I love my cous-"

I hissed furiously. This was his apology? Okay maybe I was being too forward. Why was I even thinking he wanted to apologize? "Bloody nonsense! You love your cousins doesn't mean you should hate me okay! Like what the hell sef, it was just a big mistake and misunderstanding and now you decide to be a big jerk about it. Ride on sir! Defender of the family-"

"Why the hell is she yelling?"

I turned my attention to Vincent who was standing in between our groups. He was staring at me with sincere confusion. Chijioke left Constance, went to Vincent and peeked into the nylon bag he was holding.

"Vince bobo bought ice cream for us!" He squealed like a toddler dancing very stupidly. I couldn't help my smile.

"If I nod you," Vincent told him. Even he was finding it hard not to react to Chijioke's sheer silliness. Chijioke pouted like an angry infant and marched over to me and Stephen.

"What was that about?" His arms were folded and he looked from me to Stephen with a raised brow.

"She was just being dramatic." Stephen brought out his phone and started thumbing away.

Excuse me?

"Stephen you're an idiot," I said glaring at him. And I was not done. "You're a big jerk and asshole. Ode. Vincent's attitude is understandable but you, what's your problem sef?"

Chijioke stared at me with surprised wide eyes. "What the. . .Nairobi stop it!"

Stephen only chuckled. "Nairobi no matter what you do or say, nothing changes the fact that everything was your fault! Accept it. You did something very terrible, fucking accept it! See girl you need to learn manners. You need to learn how to treat people and take responsibility for your actions. I don't care if you have had the worst experience in life you need to learn how to treat people right. See what you did to Ayo's family and I'm guessing you don't even think it's a big deal. Oh is it because CJ is shining teeth with you? My guy just has a very useless policy about never holding grudges if not. You really think you've been wronged? And you even have the guts to call me a big jerk, really?" He chuckled humorlessly. "I think it's obvious who the biggest jerk between both of us is."

I took a step back. And another. And another. I didn't know why what he said seemed like a huge blow to my heart. This was the last thing I expected from Stephen. I knew he probably hated me but I never thought he would say such things to me. I actually didn't expect him to talk back at me so I was brutally taken off guard.

You're a terrible person, fucking accept it. That what he was trying to say right?

Right?

And then I felt it. Something itched behind my eyes. There was no way on earth I was going to cry for this people again. I was not going to shed tears because of the nonsense Stephen spewed now. Never.

"My problem with you is that you keep trying to push all the consequences to me and make me look wicked?! " Every living being, I mean everyone including the dog was watching with expressions I couldn't and didn't bother to understand. "I must have been a catalyst or something but if Vincent had been decent enough-"

Stephen interrupted me with a groan and pinched his brows. "You see my problem with her."

This boy.

"I am not at fault. I am not to blame okay? I am not a bad person like you're painting me to be," I'm not good either. I managed to keep my voice low while speaking now. Everyone's attention was already on us. "See Stephen, I just wanted to do what I felt was the right thing to do. I wanted to help." I chuckled slightly at my last statement. "At least I've learnt now that helping is not among my strong suits. I wanted to at least do something good for the people I want t-to care about and fe-feel that happiness people feel watching the people they care for happy. You think I don't care about Constance and Vincent? You think I don't regret everything that has happened so far? You don't think I have thought of how I could fix this mess? How can I even do it with you and your beloved cousin hating on me like I'm the popular Judas." It was now I even realized how grateful I should be for Chijioke.

Silence.

And more silence.

"It was just a mistake and misunderstanding on his-"

"Not 'just a mistake'. It did and is doing a lot of damage."

I stared at Stephen and he stared back. I was aware of Vincent watching me. His eyes were just on me but I didn't think much about it. I blinked like I had suddenly caught a non-stop blinking virus. I took a deep breath and looked at Chijioke.

"I'm going," I announced. I didn't give him even a second to process that before heading for the big gates.

It was very obvious Stephen was hell bent on making me the sole cause of the misfortune and he wasn't willing to reason with me or even try to understand me. One could say it was an undisputable fact that Stephen Olarewaju hated me now. That feeling was going to be mutual. I would make sure of it.

With my back turned to them, I heard Chijioke urge Stephen to apologize. There was a silence after that and I could imagine the glare Stephen was sending Chijioke.

When I was outside the gate, I rubbed my forehead and dragged my palm down my face as realization hit me. I lost Jessica first and now Stephen.

Just great! I thought.

Someone came out of the gate and I expected it to be Chijioke but I was astounded when Vincent came into my line of sight. When I heard the gates, I was ninety nine point nine nine percent sure Chijioke was the one. I wondered what Vincent had come to say. I didn't expect anything good so I made sure to set a very good scowl on my face.

"I can call the driver to drop you off," he said.

His statement caused my scowl to turn to a look of confusion. When exactly did both of us reconcile?

"Ehn?"

"I said-"

I flicked my wrist to stop him from speaking. "No need. I heard you the first time." I looked him up and down hoping to see a sign of mischief or something. I thought this guy hated me and we exchanged words this morning?

I swear this boy confused the hell out of me. He needed to be unraveled.

I just even exchanged words with his oh beloved cousin and here he was offering to call the driver.

Perfect definition of too good to be true I tell you.

He seemed to be waiting for me respond so I told him, "I have my transport fare." And I walked away.

Hello there 🌝

3000+ words wow! I'm proud of myself but my thumbs hurt. I've been editing this chapter for ages. Let me share a tiny reveal; if I had updated yesterday or even two hours earlier, what you would be reading would be totally different from this. I had to edit the next chapter too. I prefer this version by far Sha.

Sooooo....
Who sees reason in Stephen's words?

If you were to support someone would it be Nairobi or Stephen?

And honestly Vincent tho? What's my guys deal?

Vote. Comment. Share.