Part three and final part of the paragon collab with Iyanuoluwa-Temi✨

⊱𝚄𝚖𝚊𝚛⊰

Basketball was over half an hour ago, and it didn't end well for us. We lost to Crestview, but I must say it was a good game. We sure didn't go easy on them. Sixty-seven points to forty-five.

Right now, both teams were preparing for the American football game coming up in a few minutes. I was in the locker room with the rest of the boys, cleaning and prepping our gears while coach went over our formation with us.

This win is very much needed.

Last year was a complete disaster, courtesy of Jidenna Kalu, the asshole. I had to call a friend of mine to pick me up from Crestview and take me straight home before all hell could break loose.

It was terrible.

He was the quarterback last year which made him act like a freaking god on the field. And that stupid ego didn't make him see that we were supposed to play as a team. I must admit I had my share in it too trying to prove myself a better player than him.

But Jidenna Kalu was the one at most fault.

We got a good scolding from coach and he laid us off the team for a month. No training whatsoever with the rest of the team and we missed two games.

I didn't have a large field back home, so all I did in place of training was toss balls with Kanye or a few of my guys and then my regular visits to the gym.

But I wasn't going to let that happen today, even if it meant putting our dispute aside. I just prayed in my heart that he wouldn't do or say anything which would push me to the edge. And even if he did, I would try my best not to react which I know might be quite difficult.

I left the locker room with the permission of coach to find Oma. Her sister had given me a message and something to deliver to her since she couldn't find Kanye anywhere. He must have been with Hugo's boys at that time.

Oma, by the way, wasn't pleased with her position and so was I. I wasn't pleased and I wasn't disappointed either. I should have been able to win Simisola Jordan.

I should have done better.

As I was about to go into the sports complex to search for Oma, I sighted Hugo who was seated on a bench with his head down with Zina beside him who looked like she was consoling him.

The basketball captain wasn't taking the loss well.

I approached them and Zina raised her head as she noticed my presence.

"Hi." She said to me in a low voice.

"Hi."

Zina and I seldom really spoke to each other. The times she did was to remind or pass on information to the rest of us prefects as the assistant head girl.

From the joint classes we have together, she doesn't speak much except when asked a question by the teacher which is almost all the time, being the smartest girl in sciences and our set entirely. I guess that's what earned her the prefectship post as the assistant head girl.

Zina couldn't have winged it as the main head girl because of her social skills. She hardly spoke to anyone except her group of friends. The probation given to her at the beginning of the year must have been a wake-up call for her.

You cannot be an LIC prefect and hide in the shadows. Even if you do, you will eventually have to come out.

"Hugo," She tapped him. "It's Umar."

"Hey man."

"Hey, Umar." He responded soberly with his head still down as I sat down beside him.

"Are you doing good bro?"

"I'm fine." He replied. But he obviously didn't look fine.

"Dude, tell me what's going on. Are you okay?"

"No Umar, I'm not okay. How could I be? I just lost a game."

"Well, it's just a game, Hugo. There'll be others." I consoled, putting a hand on his shoulder for added comfort.

"It might be just a game to you, but it isn't to me. I was going to win this for my parents, for the school, for..." He stopped, closing his eyes just as I noticed his voice begin to break. His jaws visibly and continuously clenched as he was trying so hard to fight back tears.

I regretted my words instantly and gave myself a mental smack. I knew Hugo was sensitive to these things.

"I'm sorry, Hugo, and you did your best." I only got a nod in response, but I continued.

"And I'm not just saying it to make you feel better either, I saw how you led your boys and how they played so well. That was the epitome of teamwork bro."

I was being honest. That was teamwork at its finest, one I hope our team would have today. Hugo and his boys were flawless on that court.

"And I'm sure your parents would be so proud of their boy right now." I patted and gave his shoulder a light squeeze.

"Yeah." He nodded, a small smile making its way and brightening up his face.

"Thanks, Umar."

"Always," I responded, getting ready to leave.

Glad that I could make him feel better, I smiled back.

"Good luck by the way, and don't let Jidenna get to you."

Slightly irked by the mention of that name, I stood up and picked the bag with me from the ground, and adjusted my sweatshirt.

No way I'd let my disdain for him ruin the morale I had built up for Hugo.

"I won't," I responded, walking away and continuing my search for Oma. I was about to go into the sports complex when she stepped out.

Just the person I've been looking for.

"I just wanted to find you and wish you good luck." That was the first thing she said without even giving me a chance to say a word.

"Thanks. You did great by th-"

She held her hands up at me. "Don't try to console me, Bello. It won't work."

Her performance was great back there and proof that all the training paid off, so I didn't still get why she wasn't happy about it. But then, it's Oma and she isn't always pleased when she doesn't get what she wants.

"Oma-"

She wrapped her hands around me, successfully pulling me into a hug as I stood there surprised by the sudden action.

Okay?

"Good luck, Umar," Oma said before pulling away. She turned and was about to walk off, but I held her wrist to stop her and held the blue bag out to her.

"Adaora said to give you this and to tell you to remove whatever is in it and keep it in her drawer when you get home."

She took the bag from me then I let go of her wrist and she walked away.

I sighed and retraced my steps back to the locker room to see that everyone had begun to or were already geared up.

"Umar!" Prosper called out to me and I went to him.

"Where'd you go? Coach was looking for you." He handed me my helmet which I placed on the bench.

"I went to give something to Oma." I took my gear from him and began to strap it on with his help.

Soon, I had everything on. From shoulder pads down to thigh and knee pads. I slipped on my mouth guard and made sure it settled well in my mouth.

Then the sudden screams of the boys startled me and I was about to lash out when I saw C.C Newton walking into the locker room and I almost joined them.

"He's back!" Prosper said excitedly, grinning from ear to ear. Even I couldn't hold back my smile. I watched as every boy in the locker room swarmed the man.

Once the noise had died down a bit, he looked in my direction.

"Bello."

"Sir." I walked to the front of the locker room to meet him and almost immediately, he pulled me into a hug.

"I've missed you, my guy!" He patted my back, more like smacked me and I laughed. I've missed him too.

Newton is the only staff I relate very well with in the entire LIC. I tend to roll with guys older than me, and if we weren't staff and student, there's no doubt that we would have been buddies.

C.C Newton pulled away and held me at arm's length, still beaming.

"It's good to see you again, Bello."

"You too sir." I nodded. He didn't need to say anything, but I knew he had a lot of things to tell  me about his trip which would be for later. I went back to my seat.

"This man loves you oh," Prosper whispered beside me as I sat which made me smack the back of his head as he laughed.

"I'm just coming straight from the airport, my flight landed an hour ago and I met the crazy Lagos traffic on my way here."

"Welcome back to Naija!" Tega shouted and everyone laughed. Lagos state and terrible traffic are 5&6 and you'd be lucky if you beat one or get out of one in time.

"I thought I wasn't going to make it. But I'm right on time."

And thank God you are.

I knew fully well that he wasn't going to make it, but a part of me kept on hoping that he would just show up, and he did. That alone gave me a huge boost more than anything.

"In a few minutes, you all are going to be out there against those stallions and I don't any mess up. I haven't coached you guys for a month now, but I know that your sub coach has done a good job. He has been sending me clips of your training sessions and I love them."

"Ehen! No wonder!" All heads turned to Ese who was standing beside his brother at the back.

"We all knew you had a hand in last week's drill."

Murmurs of agreement followed.

That training the sub coach gave us was the work of the man standing right in front of us. We all knew that because only Newton would give us drills as tough as that.

"Okay!" He chuckled and clapped his hands, ordering silence. "So you guys are going to go out there, and show those boys what LIC eagles are made of."

"Yes sir!"

He nodded and slipped his hands into the pockets of his joggers.

"Now, Kalu and Bello,"

Oh boy.

"Sir." We both answered.

"Please leave your bullshit right here. Lock it up in one of those lockers or whatever, just keep it away from that field. Don't let it follow you out there. You can pick it up after the game."

"Yes sir."

"Total concentration and optimal performance. Don't fuck this up, you guys."

"Yes sir!" Came our thunderous reply with cheers and chants following after as we trooped out of the locker room.

It's showtime.

~•~•~

The whistle went off, signaling the end of the third quarter of the game.

Fuck this!

I took off my helmet and stormed out of the field to wherever my legs would lead me to. We were leading by 5 points, a good thing, but I wasn't focused on that.

Jidenna Kalu, that boy was at it again. Showing off and acting like a fucking god. I never agreed with the sub coach when he chose Jidenna as quarterback for this game because I knew it was going to go straight to his head and he would not fail to rub it in my face. I let it go eventually and focused on my swimming and helping Oma.

I have been tolerant of his bullshit, and that tolerance has come to an end. I've had enough already.

Ethan was calling my name and kept on doing so. I knew he had been following me from the field, probably to advocate for his fucking best friend.

Bunch of assholes.

"You have to calm down, Umar."

Calm down?

I stopped in my tracks and turned back to him. For some reason, his presence seemed to anger me more.

"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 fuck is that!"

"What will your anger do now, ehn? 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."

Assisting.

Assisting.

That one word I hate more than anything.

"Can you hear yourself, Ethan?" I fired at him. "I've been assisting in all the wins. That's my job, right? To always be assisting!"

First, I got robbed of my rightful position as the sports prefect and I was given the assistant. Way before Sunny got to be captain of the team, Jidenna was the captain, and guess what? Yes, I was the freaking assistant.

"If not for me, that fool wouldn't have made it past the Stallion's defenses. 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!"

Sick, tired, done, and over assisting anyone or anything.

"But you know Coach won't let that happen," Ethan stated calmly, but I wasn't having any of it. "You know what Coach says. Divide and Conquer. You shouldn't do anything that will jeopardize this game for us."

Jeopardizing was the last thing on my mind because we need this win.

"I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize the game, but I going to win a touchdown for the team. I'm done working as an assistant." And I walked out.

"Umar!" Ethan called out.

I went back to the field with one thing on my mind.

To win this game no matter what.

"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 got into position with my team and so did the Stallions.

"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. I could sense the confusion within our team at this, but we still focused on them anyway.

"Set!"

"Hike!" Kizito yelled, and their center guard passed the ball to him, causing him to immediately run backward.

Our defense team began to divide themselves to attack either Jidenna Okojie, the center guard, or Kizito. Theirs tried their best to hold some of us back as much as possible and then I noticed Okojie lock eyes with Kizito who nodded, before hitting his helmet three times.

I wasn't the only one, the entire team saw it too and charged towards Okojie, so when Kizito passed the ball to him, we would have him down.

"Eight!" Kizito suddenly shouted, and I stopped immediately he did, turning back abruptly just in time to see him changing course and throwing the ball to their wide receiver who caught the ball and began to run towards our end zone.

Fuck!

A fucking diversion. It was a damn diversion and we immediately tried to get to the center guard, but it was too late.

He was already far gone.

"Touchdown, for the Crestview Stallions!" The commentator screamed, followed by the cheers from the rest of the school. I looked up at the scoreboard as it added six points to the Stallions' previous point. They were now a point ahead of us.

Damn it.

We got back into position. This time, I was ready to take the ball into my hands. I was going to bring us to victory, and Jidenna Kalu wasn't in any way going to stop me.

"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 and Kizito made the call for his team and immediately, the Centre guard passed the ball back to him. As our defense team divided, Jidenna went after Kizito and so did I, knocking down every one of their defenses in my way.

And once they were cleared, I continued going for Kizito. I wasn't going to give Jidenna a single chance at this.

"What the Fuck!" I heard him shout, but didn't stop. My sights were set on taking that ball from Kizito. Jidenna didn't stop either and both of us charged toward Kizito.

I got to his front, trying to knock him over when he skillfully maneuvered, causing me to knock Jidenna down to the ground and fall on top of him.

What the...

"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!"

Shit, shit, shit!

I got up from the ground and watched as Kizito ran into the field, bypassing every one of our defense that was coming up against him. Then the Crestview Stallions began to help him clear his path by knocking down any of our defense that tried to come up against Kizito.

It was then my eyes caught sight of Ese charging towards Kizito and succeeded in tackling him but that made Kizito tumble faster into our end zone and cross the goal line with the ball still in his hand. The whistle signaling the end of the game blasted in the air.

We lost.

"Another Touchdown by Crestview Stallions just at the last minute, winning with a..." The commentator's voice faded into the background as well as the victory screams of the Crestview crowd.

The realization that we just lost this game hit me hard, weakening me so much that I wasn't even able to move a muscle from where I stood.

"You bastard!" Jidenna yelled drawing my attention to him as he got up from the ground and stormed towards me.

I wasn't up for his bullshit right now. The force of the loss was still hitting me.

"What the fuck was that?" He yelled again, but I said nothing and walked off to where the team was, trying to suppress my rising anger, but Jidenna was determined not to let me go.

"What the hell was that?! Answer me!"

I finally stopped and turned back to him, ready to tell him off politely.

"Jidenna—"

"You fucking asshole!" He shoved me hard and I staggered back. I found my balance and shoved him back.

No way I'm dealing with his shit today.

"That was your fault, not mine! Don't even try to pin it on me." I yelled, defending myself.

"Heyy! Umar fucking calm down!" Elias came in between me and Jidenna, but I wasn't having it. If Jidenna wanted to be an idiot I'd gladly show him his place.

"Don't fucking tell me what to do!" I screamed back at the boy trying to separate us.

I was fuming.

"You cannot do this here!" Elias said, ignoring my comment.

"Leave him! Abi he wants to fight? Let him come and fight!" Jidenna barked like the rabid dog he was and I was so tempted to punch his fucking face.

"Shut the fuck up Jidenna!" Elias hissed, reprimanding him.

"Don't you fucking dare act like this was my fault Kalu! You're just as much to blame." I raged, pushing Elias away.

Jidenna looked stunned, but I hadn't finished, in fact, I was just starting.

"I've tolerated your shit for way too long Kalu, no fucking more." I pointed at his chest.

Get a grip Umar.

We weren't on LIC premises, so I had to restrain myself from saying another word or doing anything.

I exhaled, then looked around for C.C Newton who was nowhere in sight. A groan left me because I knew that he wasn't going to take this lightly.

He warned us.

Taking off my helmet, I left the field to the locker room. I took off my gear and everything I was wearing then changed into my tracksuit, dropped the gear on one of the benches and packed the rest of my things into my sports bag, and left for the bus.

I could not be anywhere Jidenna. It would only take one word from him and all hell will break loose. I didn't want that, I didn't want to fight with Jidenna, I didn't want to fight anyone at all.

No matter how bad I want to put him in his place, I couldn't. At least not on school premises or anywhere near it. Finding and dealing with Jidenna outside school is something I could do without breaking a sweat.

Still, I wouldn't do it.

Settling into the back seat of the second bus that conveyed the rest of the students, I pulled my hoodie over my head, put my AirPods into both ears, and connected them to my phone, blocking every single noise out.

Music could do little to get me calm, but I just had to do with it for now. I kept on dropping numerous messages in Morgan's dm and getting pissed each time I checked my phone and he had not replied.

I needed the damn guy to be there to pick me up immediately after I arrive at school.

My line had been blocked for the past three days because of this NIN bullshit, so any call I made couldn't go through. My second sim was in the phone I gave to Morgan to help me out with something so I was more or less stranded.

All I could do was to stay clear of Jidenna in the meantime.

~•~•~

We arrived at school and everyone got down from the bus. Everyone except me. I stayed put and waited till I was sure there was no one in the compound before I got out.

Morgan had replied to my message that he was being held up in traffic, so the only thing I could do was avoid everyone till he got here.

"Oh boy. You no go come down? I wan lock bus oh." The bus driver said as he checked the seats for any student property.

"Sorry, sir." I picked up my sports bag and alighted from the bus.

The former administrative building is the only place I could escape to now. I was bound to come across a student or two there, but at least I would be away from him. I was about to make the turn to the back of the school where the admin building is when someone yelled out my name.

"Umar Bello!"

It seems like the devil was thirsty for violence because that was the one person I was avoiding like a plague and for his good.

That seemed to draw the attention of those nearby. I took in a deep breath and exhaled, then kept on walking, ignoring him and everyone outside.

"You fucking coward, I'm calling you!"

I increased my pace, wanting to be far away from him as possible, but all of a sudden I felt someone grab my sweatshirt from behind and pull me back, causing my hoodie to fall off.

Rage surged through me, burning me on the inside and out as I stood there and I shut my eyes. There was no use trying to calm myself because I was far gone. All that remained was a trigger, one word, an action, from Jidenna Kalu.

Feeling a presence in front of me, I opened my eyes to see him standing right in front of me. Everyone had come out now and I could feel their eyes on me, on us, waiting for who would throw the first punch.

"Leave the way, Jidenna." I balled my hands into a fist.

I don't want to fight you.

"You stupid fool, you cost us a fucking game and you stand here telling me to leave your way? You fucked this up and you're still spitting bullshit?!"

God help you Jidenna, one more word. Just one more.

"Fuck you, Umar! Fuck y-"

I blacked out. Completely.

By the time I was back to my senses, I found myself on the ground. I blinked, breathing heavily as my vision settled on Jidenna being helped up by some boys. He was groaning loudly and continuously, and there was blood all over his sweatshirt.

I looked down at my hands and they were bloody too with little cuts on my knuckles.

What happened?

Slowly getting up from the ground, I looked at Jidenna again. A slight sigh of relief left me as I saw that he wasn't so badly bruised, which meant whoever stopped me must have done it in time.
Because Jidenna wouldn't be standing if there was no intervention.

You need to find a way out of this, Yaya. Therapy or something. You could kill someone innocent for crying out loud!

My cousin's words to me a month back replayed in my head after she had witnessed one of my outbursts.

Getting up, I ignored the sharp pain that shot through my side and rushed past the many students that were gathered in the compound and into the male restroom.

Looking at my reflection in the mirror, there was a long slash from right the side of my head down to my cheek with blood oozing out of it. Jidenna sure left his mark, which his ring must have probably caused. And then bruises were already beginning to form around my left eye.

Fuck.

I opened one of the stalls and rolled out a generous amount of tissue paper. I placed it under running water and then brought it up to my face to gently dab my wound with it, wincing as it stung badly.

Once I had cleaned the blood off, I did the same to my knuckles and I noticed an old stitch that had reopened. Seems like a clinical appointment will be needed today. I took off my sweatshirt and tore out a piece of my singlet to wrap it tightly around my knuckles as it refused to stop bleeding.

Fighting in school is something I have never done and never dreamt of doing. But I just did and in front of almost the entire LIC students. In the presence of the juniors who looked up to me, I lost myself and acted like a monster.

He should have stayed away. The stubborn ass should have just left when I told him to and this wouldn't have happened. Fear settled within me because if anything happened to Jidenna, that would mean my expulsion.

Being the son of a public figure doesn't mean LIC will pardon something as serious as this, and even if they do, there's always Jidenna's parents. Especially his father who would throw anyone in prison for laying a hand on his son.

Therapy or whatever it is, Amira. I can't go on like this.

A loud beep came from the intercom, and I knew what was coming next.

"LAUREATE UMAR BELLO AND LAUREATE JIDENNA KALU. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE NOW."

~•~•~

"Acting like rogues, fighting on school grounds!"

"Do you have any idea the implication of your actions?" A furious Mrs. Kadiri yelled at Jidenna and me who were seated in the principal's office with her. Mr. Johnson had been absent for the past one week and was going to be until the end of next month, so she was in charge.

Only her footsteps could be heard as she paced back and forth in the office. Jidenna's physical state wasn't that bad to have Mrs. Kadiri talking about expulsion, so that had been checked off the list. The two things which got me worried and made me regret my actions were the fact that I might be relieved of my post and then get pulled out of the team, which I'm very sure C.C Newton is going to do himself.

Speaking of Newton, my stomach churned as I remembered that I wasn't going to escape his wrath.

Getting in trouble with my parents was the last thing I could think of because my father obviously doesn't give a shit. The only thing on his mind were political campaigns and how to make more money then distribute to each of his wives and their children. And even if he did give a shit, I couldn't care less.

This news wasn't going to get to my Mum. I was going to try my best to keep it from her, even though I'm not sure what story I would cook up when she sees my injured face.

Mrs. Kadiri finally stopped pacing around and faced us. She was ready to pass her judgment.

"Suspension will not be possible, so I'll just have to take away your prefectship positions from you for a month."

What the hell?!

"What!" We both exclaimed in shock.

"Ma, that's so unfair!" I protested. Not the post, she could do any other thing but not take away my post.

"Well, that's my final verdict." She pulled out her chair, sat, and began to flip through a book. I just sat, dread filling me as her words sank in. Surely the entire school was going to know about this because our punishment was going to be officially passed on the assembly ground come Monday.

Senior Umar Bello, debadged and kicked out of the football team.

"Next time you will know better than to act like animals. Turn in your badges first thing Monday morning and I will also make your fellow prefects and the prefectship committee aware of my decision. Now, leave my office."

I didn't waste a second. I got up and left the office and went straight outside school. I got a call from Morgan but I didn't pick it up because I already sighted him in his car parked across the street.

"Are you okay?" He asked once I got in, looking at me through the front mirror.

I stopped burdening Morgan with my shit a long time ago, even though he keeps on telling me that he doesn't mind being ranted to and that I needed to let out my problems sometimes.

"I'm fine." I lied, knowing fully well that he wasn't going to buy it. I mean, there was a long red gash on my face, bruises around my eye, and a bloody knuckle. Even a child wouldn't believe me.

He sighed, turned the ignition, and began driving. I was relieved that he didn't probe further because I didn't want to talk about the events of today.

"I'll have Raphael tend to your wounds."

I nodded as I accessed the reopened stitches on my knuckle. During one of my recent outbursts, I decided to take my anger out on the wall. The stitches were almost due for removal, but it seems like I'll be needing new ones.

We were on the highway now and thankfully there was no sign of a traffic jam. I just wanted to get home, fill the bathtub with warm water, and sit in there for as long as possible, then get into bed and sleep till God knows when.

"He's here." Morgan broke the long silence.

"Oje."

Great. Just great.

Just when I thought I was going home to peace of mind and rest, he shows up.

"I was on my way to pick you up when Raph called me and told me he got in."

I wasn't going to ask how he got in because I know what he was capable of.  Someone who could pick open high security locks, one small door wasn't going to be a hassle for him.

Just thinking about encountering him was giving me a headache already.

We finally arrived home, I got down from the car and Morgan helped me carry my sports bag in.

I opened the door, stepped into the living room, and there he was. Seated on my couch and even drinking my fucking liquor. The anger I expected to feel didn't come, only fatigue did. I was drained and all I needed was peace of mind, not this.

"What a splendid game today, Hasan." He placed the tumbler on the center table, stood up, and faced me.

"Although you could have done better if that boy wasn't in your way."

I knew what he wanted, and I wasn't in the mood for his bullshit.

"It wasn't my doing, Oje. Whatever that was, it wasn't me."

He shrugged. "Or maybe it was one of your guys."

I looked back at Morgan who just shook his head. I know that he would not go behind my back and send our guys to their deaths. He wouldn't dare.

I turned back to Oje.

"I didn't give anyone orders and I sure as hell wouldn't want to be up in your fucking business. You know what? Just leave my house, Oje. Leave if you don't have anything reasonable to say."

Making my way towards the stairs, I walked past Oje, trusting Morgan to see him out.

"Jidenna Kalu."

I stopped.

"How much of a pain in the ass is that boy to you? Or don't tell me you haven't thought of pointing a gun at his head."

I slowly turned back to see the smirk plastered on his face. I badly wanted to wipe it off.

"I know you have, Hasan."

"Oje, I swear-"

"I say this only for a friend. I do not go about putting holes in innocent people's heads."

"Ahmed was innocent you fucker!" I growled, remembering one of my trusted guys who was wasted by this bastard without remorse.

We all knew Ahmed was a strong-headed one and he was bound to do all sorts of stupid things, but he didn't deserve to die. Oje and Elo couldn't look for another way to pass their stupid warning and had to use him as a scapegoat. All for something we didn't even do or had a damn idea about.

"Ahmed had blood on his hands!" Oje fired, leaving where he stood to come towards me. Then let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "You don't even know what he did, do you?"

"What could Ahmed possibly have done to warrant death, Oje?" I questioned, taking a step closer to him. I wanted to know what silly reason he had for ending Ahmed.

"Ending one of Khalid's boys and messing around with his deals. That's what Ahmed did to warrant death."

"So Khalid couldn't do his dirty work himself, and he used you."

"He used Elo actually. I had nothing to do with it."

I scoffed.

"Right. Like Elo doesn't tell you everything. He's your fucking right-hand man for fucks sake so I'm certain you would know about it."

"I'm not here to argue with you, Hasan. I'm only here for two things. To place an offer on your table and give you a personal warning."

He picked up the liquor filled tumbler from the table and took a sip.

"As I said earlier, I have a guy who dislikes that Jidenna Kalu more than you do, and seeing that you are closer to him, you could help in taking him out."

What?

I shouldn't be shocked, but I was. Did Oje know what he was telling me to do?

"I am not killing Jidenna Kalu or anyone. As much as I hate his guts I will not waste a life because of something so petty."

Especially what I have no idea about. I don't know what issue Oje's friend has with Jidenna, but using my dislike for him as a reason to do his dirty work?

No.

Oje chuckled like there was something funny about what I just said.

"If only you know what is being offered to you on a platter of gold Hasan, you won't turn this down. Higher rankings, you and I both know all that comes with it. You'll get to be one of the top dogs, guy. Think of the privileges."

It was my turn to chuckle. Did he really think he could come to my house and buy me off just by mere words and a petty offer?

"Are you forgetting that I'm already one? We're on the same fucking level, Oje, so I don't see what you could offer me. Don't talk to me like I'm some subordinate."

Dropping the tumbler down, he clasped his hands together and let out a sigh.

"My bad for forgetting that, but what he's offering is even better than being a top dog. You're going to be a fucking boss Hasan, and you know the benefits that come with that rank. I know you can't fly your sister and Mother out because of some trouble, but he can get you that with a snap of his fingers. All your worries would practically vanish if you take this deal.

You'd be invincible Hassan. Fucking untouchable."

No, Oje. Not that.

The one very thing I didn't want to happen, this bastard was using it against me. But well, what do you expect from a maniac like him? I should have known it would come down to this.

"Don't bring my family into this, Oje," I growled.

"They won't have to be involved or dragged into your mess because we both know that sooner or later if you don't accept this offer, they will be. We both know what could happen."

I'd be lying if I say I wasn't about to consider this. I didn't want Mum and Habi dragged into all of this, my shitty lifestyle, I don't want it. I don't want them to suffer for my mistakes and my fuck ups.

And I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened to them.

"Think smart, Hasan." Oje continued, bringing me out of my thoughts. "Get them out of here before tragedy strikes. Trust me, you don't want to know what it feels like to lose someone you hold dear."

Something flashed in his eyes, but it was gone before I could figure it out.

"It's simple. End the boy, and your wishes come true."

Are you really considering this, Umar?

"Your warning?" I asked, shutting out the little voice in my head.

"Yes, my warning."

He took a few steps forward until he was right in front of me. The strong scent of his cologne invaded my nostrils, almost choking me.

"If I see any one of your pathetic little boys anywhere near my territory, they'll meet their brutal end. And you know I keep my word, Hasan."

I will gouge out your fucking eyes, Oje.

"That's all. I have other pressing matters to attend to."

He retreated and picked up his black leather jacket from the sofa nearby before turning back to me.

"Till we meet again Hasan Aliyu," Oje said and walked out.

If looks could kill, Oje wouldn't be alive to have had this conversation with me. He wouldn't be alive to break into my house and make me a stupid offer.

The one that you're considering? 

Sighing, I raked my fingers through my hair.

"Morgan, get the guys. We have work to do."

───────•••───────

How are we all doing?🙃

Jidenna don finally collect😩😭💔😂

Do you think Umar will go on with what Oje told him to do?😂

Your thoughts in general.

The next update is coming up soon, so stay runed.

Ehennnnn!!! Please, you guys should check out In fourteen days by _oleev_. I'm in love with that book😩😩😩❤❤❤❤

And also It's Bloom! by Doodeelolaski and see Jude and my baby Kanye get featured there soon🌚 It's a beautiful book too❤

Till next time😘