This chapter is dedicated to mish-girl0221 enjoy ✨

˗ˏˋ༻ʚ♡︎ɞ༺ˎˊ˗

Kim couldn't get a full response yesterday about her flyers being pasted, but right before the last period, Toyosi walked over to our seat to inform her that she'd gotten permission from the vice principal. Now we were in our sportswear, with me in Red House and Kim in Green House, as we both taped the flyers on the notice board.

"I knew the VP would approve," she started as I handed her more flyers. "Debate club is the only beneficial extra-curricular activity in this school."

"Isn't that looking down on the others?" She stretched out her hand, and I handed her another flyer.

"No, it's not," she said, taking another flyer from me to paste on the board. I wasn't sure how many she was meant to paste, because one for me was okay. "I'm just stating a fact."

"No matter how many times you tell her that the debate club isn't all that, she won't listen." We both turned, only to see Romeo approaching us. "I've watched other people try."

"Hey Romeo," I acknowledged him, while Kim completely ignored him as she turned back to what she was doing.

"Hey," he responded. I took a look at his sportswear and smiled a bit, knowing he was in Yellow House. I was in Yellow House in my previous school.

"Where are you headed?" I questioned.

"To the field," he answered, eyeing the flyers Kim was focused on. "I'm going to football practice. Aren't you supposed to be heading there? You are meant to meet Mr. Akpan, right?"

"How did you know about that?" I questioned, handing Kim yet another flyer.

"Overhead, you telling her," he nudged his chin in Kim's direction. "Now is a great time."

"Don't you see she's helping me?" Kim finally turned. "Why don't you go practice football? And I hope Krystian beats you while you're at it."

"No one cares about your debate club, not even the school," Romeo responded coldly. "They don't even bother hosting debate events or finding competitions for your club to go to. Work on that first."

Kim's face turned grim as she turned to face the board. Romeo completely ignored her and focused on me instead. "Are you coming or not?"

I looked at Kim, who'd fallen quiet and was looking somewhat sad, before placing the remaining flyers close to her feet. "I've got to go, Kim."

"Good luck," she voiced out. It wasn't my fault. I wasn't interested in her debate club. Running kept me sane, and I needed that if I wanted to remain in this school to uncover the truth. She had two more members in her club, right? She should just call one of them to help out.

"Let's go," I said to Romeo, and we both turned, leaving Kim behind. We started walking silently until we got to the back of the school. "Can you stay sane being on the same team as Krystian?"

"Why's that?" He questioned.

"I mean, you've got an unspoken competition with him."

"I've got no unspoken competition with him," Romeo tried to defend himself. "Who said that?"

Said everyone with eyes? I wasn't sure who was the top student in class, but I was pretty sure Krystian and Romeo were close to that position. They answer pretty much every question in class. Teachers trust either of them to perform tasks, irrespective of the fact that Kim was the class rep. Now that they were both on the football team, I wasn't sure how that was going to work.

"I'm the goalkeeper, and the best one at that," Romeo said proudly, as if reading my mind. "Krystian works the field. There's no competition. I just don't like him—any of the rich kids, to be honest."

"But here you are, with me." We were closer to the sports complex, and I could see different practices happening in the various sports spaces.

"Because you seem to be the only one in school that hates him," Romeo shrugged. "So I find you interesting."

"I hate him because he's rude."

"And I hate him because everyone in school thinks he's all that." Romeo patted me on the shoulder. "We are on the same pace."

I wanted to tell him that it wasn't Krystian's fault that he was so loved, but Romeo was already jogging towards the football field to meet his coach and the rest of his teammates. My eyes moved to Krystian, who wasn't aware of me and was wriggling his left ankle and stretching his hands backwards. Sighing, I decided to make my way to the track field. There were lots of things surrounding Krystian, and I wasn't sure how to circle it.

I arrived at the track to see girls from the team running laps. I noticed the dark man, probably in his mid-thirties, holding a jotter and a stopwatch in his hand while watching the girls run. Boys were also present, but they had their distance as they did their practice.

"Excuse me, sir." I jogged over to him. Ore, who heard my voice, immediately stood up from the floor where she was seated to approach me.

"Yes? Can I help you?" Mr. Akpan questioned.

"Yes, sir." I nodded. "I would like to join the team, sir."

"Coach, spots are full." Ore stood between me and the coach.

"Didn't someone tragically leave the group?" The coach turned to Ore before focusing his attention back on me. "Are you any good?"

"Yes, sir." I nodded without hesitation.

"Yes, coach," he corrected.

"Yes, coach."

"Okay," he said, blowing the whistle hanging low on his neck, and the girls that were running stopped. "You'll have to race one of the girls."

"No," Ore stepped forward, as the girls running earlier started jogging over to us. "If she's going to join this team, then she'll have to race me."

"Don't be hard on her," the coach scolded. "You are new, aren't you?

"Yes sir—er . . . coach." I nodded.

"Coach," Ore wasn't having any of this. "We don't need someone to be a liability to our group. Let me race her. If she can't beat me, then she should leave."

"Ore—"

"I accept," I said, cutting the coach off. "I'll race her."

Most of the girls around started whispering amongst themselves. I ignored them and focused on Ore. "If I'm not good enough to beat you, I'll give up and leave."

That brought a triumphant smile to Ore's face.

"Both of you should start warming up then," the coach said, looking at his wristwatch. "I'll be right back."

I nodded as the coach left us to go do what he wanted to do, while I proceeded to do the warm-up Krystian was doing earlier. It wasn't like I was copying him or anything; it was my usual warm-up routine. After that, I sat on the track to stretch out my legs as I watched Ore move far away from me to do her stretches.

"Hey," a girl in a low cut walked up to me, and she was accompanied by another fair girl with pretty long black hair that was braided nicely. "Are you insane?" I recognised the girl in the low cut; she was Daniela from my class.

"Yes, o," the fair girl squatted to my level. "Just say bye-bye to joining the team, babe."

"Why?" I questioned. I side-glanced at Ore. Looking at her, I knew I could outrun her.

"She dey ask why," Daniela laughed, looking at her friend. "Chika, abeg, tell her."

"Ore is the best female runner in our school. She wasn't the best, but she is now." Chika said. "It's her time to shine, and she won't hesitate to embarrass you while she's at it."

"Have you seen me run?" I asked both, and they shook their heads. "So why conclude?"

"Babe!" Daniela chuckled. It wasn't a heartfelt one; it sounded like she was pitying me. "Chika," she said, nudging her head towards me. "Tell her."

"Ore is like The Flash," Chika said, almost automatically.

"And if she's The Flash, then I'm Superman." I got up once I spotted the coach, and Ore did the same. She moved to stand beside me, and we both stayed still to listen to him.

"Okay, here's how it's going to be," he began. "You two are going to run one lap. That's it."

"Yes, coach," Ore and I responded at the same time. We both moved to the starting line and at the same time, other girls gathered to watch the race that was about to start.

"At the sound of my whistle," instructed the coach. "On your mark, get set . . ."

Phew!

I sped up at the sound of the whistle, with my back slightly bent forward and my knees almost hitting my chest as I ran fast on the lane. At every step I took, I felt the adrenaline rush through me. Running was what kept me at ease. That was what kept my brain working. Everyone had disappeared at this point: the coach, the other girls from the team, and Ore. It was just me and the wind, the way I liked it. I wasn't sure what happened, but the coach blew the whistle, and I stopped running to see that I was back at the starting point with Ore running behind me.

"What's your name again?" The coach walked up to me when Ore finally got to me. "You remind me so much of Danielle. Doesn't she, girls?"

A lot nodded in acknowledgement, and I couldn't help but ponder. Danielle doesn't run. I was sure of that.

"It's Delphine, sir," I responded.

"Welcome to the team, Delphine," he said, spreading his arms wide. "You'll be a great asset to the group. And please, call me coach."

"Coach, she . . . she—"

"You sound out of breath, Ore." Mr. Akpan said, cutting Ore off. Unlike me, Ore was sweating like she'd been standing under a scorching sun. I mean, it was cloudy, and the breeze was evident. So I wonder why she was sweating so much for someone who claims to be so good. A smile appeared on my face. I couldn't help but feel proud. Once the coach had excused himself to go talk to a student who had gained his attention, Daniela and Chika ran over to me.

"That was insane!" Daniela exclaimed.

"It was insane!" Chika mirrored.

"Sorry, we looked down on you," Daniela continued. "Who would've thought?"

"Beginners luck," Ore breezed her way into the conversation with her hands strapped on her waist. "And don't think you're any good."

"I don't think," I said to her, "I know that I'm that good."

That got Ore fuming. She scoffed as she bit her lower lips. "Let's see, shall we? Shey, you're on the team now. Let's see if I'll let you beat me for the second time." And with that, she turned and stormed out.

"You've got the attitude too!" I turned to Daniela.

"I've got what?"

"Tell her, Chika." I turned to Chika, whom I was referred to by Daniela.

"The only person that could run at that speed was our captain." Chika began.

"But I thought Ore was your captain." I pointed in the direction Ore had stormed off in.

"She is, but wasn't." Chika was now confusing me. "Danielle was our captain, and Ore was only the assistant. I guess she hated that word as much as Danielle did."

"You're confusing me,"

"You're allowed to be confused," Daniela laughed off. "I mean, it's none of your business, right? It's not like you know her."

"Right." I decided to shut up.

"Anyways, the only person that could match that speed of yours was Danielle." Chika continued. "I bet Ore will be shaking by now, thinking you're here to get her captain position."

Again, Danielle doesn't run. She never had any other interest aside from writing. If she was running, then I would've known. She would've told me. Or was Danielle keeping something from me?

"Were you the captain of the track team in your previous school? Did your previous school have that position?" I jumped back to reality at Chika's question.

"Yeah," I said, shaking my head. I needed to settle my mind. "I was."

"No wonder!" Daniela exclaimed. "Ehen, I for say."

"Should we go for a run? One lap at least." I suggested. I needed to clear my head.

"Against you?" Daniela stepped back, and Chika followed. "No way. Nerit might get a chance, though." I looked in the direction to see Daniela pointing at a chubby girl, making me tilt my head sideways with interest.

"Forget her size," Chika added. "Girl can run."

"Nerit!" Daniela called out, and the girl in question turned to us. "Want to run with the new girl?"

Nerit glanced at me before shrugging and getting up from the ground. "Sure." She walked over to me and stretched out her hands. "I'm Nerit; what's your name?"

"Delphine," I said to her, "Delphine Peter."

˗ˏˋ༻ʚ♡︎ɞ༺ˎˊ˗

That's it for this chapter. What do you think about it? About Romeo's continuous taunting towards Kim? How about the runoff between Delphine and Ore? Too bad it doesn't look like it will humble Ore😅

Updates are no longer Wednesdays and Fridays, but only Fridays, starting from now. I'll be busy starting from next week so updating twice a week won't be possible. But whenever I'm less busy, I'll try✨

Till next time, Bye!