I Love My Life

Episode 15

I pretended like I didn’t take notice of her, playing a smile on my lips. I won’t like to get myself embarrassed. So I kept on walking, Tricia holding my hand. Her other friends were following us behind. Kosi jogged and passed me, taking a look in my direction… Some kind of “F–k You” eye contact but I smiled instead. Tricia seemed to notice the reaction.

Tricia: Who is she?
Me: You mean?
Tricia: She… The one that jogged pass
Me: Oh! You mean her? Never mind
Tricia: Is she your girlfriend?
Me: Isn’t she too beautiful?
Tricia: Am already feeling jealous. Isn’t she gonna break up with you?
Me: I won’t have to run to you if she does
Tricia: Why?
Me: because you are the bone of contention and reason for the break up.
Tricia: You are so rude
Me: I don’t compromise issues… I say things the way it is on my mind. Am not here to impress anyone.

I drew my hand off and walked past her. She caught up and grabbed my hand again.
Tricia: Am sorry… I was eh em…
Me: Don’t bother yourself. Moreover, we just met.
Tricia: Hug me
Me: You dream a lot
Tricia: Just do it
Me: You wanna make your friends jealous?
She giggled. I stopped and waited for her friends to catch up with us. I took the hand of the prettiest and kissed it.
Me: You look beautiful
Girl: Am flattered.
Me: Pleasure meeting you
Girl: Me too.

I took off to meet the coach. With directives from the Governor, all the activities going on in the stadium were called off and everybody were asked to seat down. The Governor’s voice blasted from the microphone.

Governor: Good morning all. I will just go straight to the point due to want of time. In honor of my daughter’s birthday today, I have invited contingents from the five states that make up the South Eastern Geo political zone, for a honorary athletic display. This is how the future is built. So, a
group of athletes here are going to perform… I mean a race is going to take place. A 100m. Only the 1st position is needed. So all must strive to win.
The winner will be going home with the sum of 500K and a car and will also have the opportunity to cut the birthday cake with my daughter..

There was a loud ovation in the stadium. I wasn’t much interested in all he was talking about.
Coach: Wally
Me: Coachie
Coach: You know you have to win
Me: Am not fit ooo
Coach: But you are the only better athlete around… You must make me proud and the state too.
Me: I will try my best but don’t blame me for failure.
He tapped me in the back and left. Each States presented 3 contingents each and the 1st-4th were needed from the two categories. I looked around and saw Kosi standing with Jegede and Williams.

They were hailing my name. Even Tricia and her friends too. I was the centre of focus, this is because I was the National champion in the just concluded Nigeria Universities games.

I was going to run first and I was in high spirit.

We knelt on our marks as usual, waiting for the whistle to go. I was lost when the whistle blasted. I didn’t pick my pace well and I was rewarded with the 4th
position and I felt my muscles tearing. I felt so bad but determined to win a good position in the final level. My coach was disappointed with my performance. One guy from Ebonyi state was just spearheading the day, he was known as Flash and he actually behaved that way. He was way too fast and was likely to be the champion. We were given time to cool off and relax our muscles in anticipation for the final test of the day… I went to meet my cartel.
Williams: I swear, I go break your head if you lose eh
Me: No wahala… Na me be jet na
Jegede: Go and win this race jaree. You pass that Abakaliki guy. Na our city be dis o
Me: By God’s grace.
I was expecting Kosi to say something but she didn’t and I left. Tricia jammed me on the way.
Tricia: I known you are gonna do this… Just do it
Me: I will try my best
Moderator: ALL ATHLETES SHOULD COME TO THE TRACK FOR THE FINALS
Me: I have to go
Tricia: All the best dear
Me: Thanks I touched her face as I left.
I took my position in the 4th lane while Flash took the 6th lane. He was very much confident about himself. He looked at me and I recognized him. We met in Calabar during the National Sports Festival.
The whistle blasted and we took off…