This chapter is dedicated to my lovely sister FortunesOmoniyi for reading and commenting on every single one of my chapters despite her super busy schedule. Love you baby muahhðð and to FavourMedahunsi my number one watty fan ððshe never lets my chapter go cold before she reads it, love you wifeyâ¤ï¸â¤ï¸. Dedicated to all my readers ð« y'all keep me going. I declare this part OPENNNN
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Third Person's POV
The senior members of the swim team are in two separate lines based on their gender clad in the customized jackets they all had as the principal addresses them regarding their new coach; a man who stands tall among them with eyes that look like he is anything but pleased to be standing in front of his newly found crowd. The students whisper among each other and some give squeals evincing their excitements about a change of leadership air
"I would like to introduce you all to your new swim Coach Mr Ubong. He's as experienced as he is disciplined and any misbehaviour by any one of you-"
She zeroes her eyes on the female swim captain Adetoke directing her next words to her
"-will be directly reported to me and I won't hesitate to punish ANY one of you" she emphasizes on the 'any'
Their rendezvous is interrupted by a swim team member running into the venue. All eyes turn to her as she pants, they wait for her to speak. She bows awkwardly aware of the attention she's gathered. She scampers behind one of her teammates
"Oh Amanda I was wondering when you'd join us"
Amanda apologizes briefly with her eyes before the principal goes on with what she's saying
"At this point I'll leave the rest to your coach" she gives a tight smile to the crowd before turning to give the coach a wider smile as she walks off
The coach looks around as everyone holds their breaths. He stares as if trying to peer into their souls by seeing right through their body. After what seems like a visual X-ray scan he finally speaks
"Which one of you is the male swim captain"
The crowd starts to murmur, Toke starts to look at her nails like she just got it done. The coach notices this
"You! Aren't you the female swim captain? Where's your other?"
"He's probably bailing on us like always" she says without looking up from her nails
The coach stretches his neck further till it rests on Amanda. He takes a scrutinizing gaze at her then calls her forward
"You, late comer come forward"
Amanda looks beside her praying he is addressing someone else till she looks up and meets his fiery glare. She wobbles forward, intentionally wasting time walking through the cohort of students. She walks forward with her head bowed lightly not liking being the centre of attention
"Why were you late?" He asks the timid student
"Look at me when I'm talking to you" he demands coolly
Amanda looks up to the new coach's eyes trying not to shiver in fright
"My teacher didn't leave the class early sir" she finally makes out
"Are you the only one from your class that is here?"
Amanda looks around briefly and suddenly a newly found bravery enters her
"Actually yes sir, the teacher was in class and he took three extra minutes from our extra curricular time and i couldn't leave before he left" she says without blinking
The coach smiles as if he took a liking to her reply
"What's your strongest forte in swimming?"
"Forward stroke"
"Weakest?"
"Butterfly"
"What's your part in a relay?"
"First or last"
"You must be a fast one then"
"I definitely am"
He nods slowly at her answer as if processing what the girl had just answered. The latter on the other hand is amazed at herself with the speed and confidence she used in answering those questions, it didn't feel like her but she liked it
The coach moves on to his next subject, the boy standing in front of the line for boys; Justin
"What's yours?"
The boy seems confused, he stutters. The coach looks up as he notices Erling walking into the scene with the least care in the world. He doesn't join the line, instead he grabs a chair and seats down beside where the coach stands with one leg placed above the other as he observes
"Good morning Coachie, I'm Erling the swim captain"
He stretches his hand to the coach who looks astounded. The coach regains his composure, clears his throat then finally asks, clearly ignoring Erling's hand gesture
"Why are you late?"
"Actually my teacher took extra time, Goldie here should have told you that"
He gestures towards Amanda with his head. He flashes her a brief smile which she doesn't return
"Why are you sitting when your mates are on their feet?" He asks with a serious face
Erling unfolds his leg and starts to spell out like he's talking to a little child
"Coachie calm down ehn, you see I've had 8 classes back to back non stop and for one of the classes I even had to stand through the whole 45 minutes so you can understand the pain I'm feeling"
Some people laugh, many others wait to see drama unfold between both of them. Erling on the other hand grabs the coach's hand and takes it round his neck
"Coach see all this places your hand is touching, I can't feel them"
He lets his hand go
"I'm in severe pain" he adds with a little drama
The students laughter increase as they watch the expression of horror on the coach's face. It starts to look as if he is more scared than annoyed with the boy he regards from head to toe. He goes back to his evaluation before he dismisses them
ERLING'S POV
(Erling Tobechukwu Kingston)
The teacher's high pitched voice smashes through my thoughts and my attention snaps back to the board as she slaps the pages of her lesson notes against one another as if she is trying to get back at the school for giving her little time by tearing her notes. That way it'd be her loss, right?
Even the way it seemed everyone couldn't wait to get out of the class, I am silently yearning for her to extend the class to postpone when I'd have to face my demons. As soon as the petite teacher dismissed us I notice the small form of Amanda dash out through the door into the hallway leading to the gymnasium. I sink further in my seat contemplating whether I should go or not
After 7 minutes of counting and recounting time I finally decide to get off my seat. I run my fingers through my hair for the hundredth time before skipping out through the hallway. I stand at the entrance of the pool arena for what feels like minutes wringing then stretching my fingers. My palms ball into fist severally out of nervousness as I take a step forward and two steps backwards each time I make for the door.
I've not come close to this pool ever since the school's golden swimmer fell. Who am I kidding, it wouldn't take long before they'd decide I needed to be changed. I'm not even fit to be swim captain at the moment, probably not anymore. I'm about to head back when I hear the coach start to question Amanda. I look at her in awe as her normally shy demeanor is replaced by one which I hardly recognize, one I wished she would show more. No insecurities clouds the girl that is speaking, she holds her head high as she speaks to the coach, her voice laced with growing confidence. I chew out of her web of confidence and take long strides into the arena fully aware all eyes are on me
ââââââââââââ
I sit on the floor in the living room in between Idara's knees as she weaves my hair into big braids that fall on my face. I take one of them in between my fingers enjoying the soothing feeling the crease gave my fingers. My obnoxious cousin hits my hand with the comb she has with her, the pain causes me to quickly retrieve my hand understanding her message of not touching the hair until she's done with everything 'so I don't make her work look rough'
"Your dad is coming home today Tobe" she states as she weaves the last strand of hair on my head
My gaze leaves the TV and drops to the polished marble floor beneath me. My breath hitches up for a moment as the words leave her mouth. Of course I knew he'd be coming home but I just prayed each day that he'd extend his working days and probably never come home
Mr Edward Turugo Kingston, my father, is one person I've feared since forever. His fierceness was meant to be a sort of training for me but ever since my mum left, it became all too much. She died when I was seven and dad gave his all to work. He'd been so used to climbing the ladder and bagging success after success back to back that he couldn't stand a slight slip up by any of his children. Ethan is so lucky to be away in college, away from all this unnecessary tension. When my dad's around, everyone literally holds their breaths as they walk. I became the main target for all my dad's frustrations being his only immediate family around, he always finds something to complain about. It became even worse when I messed up
I was a golden child for as long as I can remember. Stellar grades, great athletic skills in swimming and sprinting. I gave up sprinting in SS1 though because my dad was convinced I needed to focus on one sport and he didn't particularly like running. He was proud of me, I knew that because Ethan told me anytime my dad had boasted to any of his friends, but he hardly complimented me directly, or made a comment without making it sound like I wasn't trying enough. Our relationship turned entirely sour when- ughh it hurts so much to relive the moment I threw my life out of the window
The atmosphere is less tense when Idara is around though. She's the elder/twin sister I never had. It's nice having someone other than housekeepers and cooks working as company all day. We literally became best friends right from the night she moved into my house, our worst night but a blessing in disguise. This family is more like a healing fortress for her. She still had some dark days when she'd walk around the house like a ghost then stay in her room for the better part of the day shutting everyone out. Dad made sure he was never around on those days, made sure I alone had to deal with it, pure cowardice!
Idara is now sitting on a different chair now with her legs crossed and some freshly baked cookies in front of her. She thanks the cook who replies with a smile
"Madam Agatha no cookies for me?" I pout at the middle aged woman dressed in her chef attire
"There are some in the oven but Idara here asked first so she got the first batch" she says as she slightly pats my cousin's back
Idara chews loudly while humming just so I could salivate, not gonna happen Sissy. I walk over and steal one of them not so casually, I only succeeded cos she let me, if not I'd probably have gotten hand slapped for the almost tenth time today!
I love moments when she is so carefree and happy, when she is the true Idara. Anytime my dad is home with us he makes sure he doesn't say anything that would tick her off or anything to make her feel bad, he is extra nice to her, she didn't like being treated like a bomb that would explode at any slight provocation. That was the kind of treatment she got from those who knew her, those who were there...
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Taranrantaranran. I'm doneeeeð«ð«. So many mysteries to uncover
1. What happened to Erling?
2. What happened to Nancy ð«ð«
3. Why is Mr Kingston so cold for Pete's sake ð
Welcoming the new character Coach Ubong!!! Or as our boy Erling would say 'Coachie'
Let's pray Coachie doesn't throw Erling out the window one of these days ðð he was being so creepy!!
Vote and comment y'all ðð