I blinked at the screen, unable to comprehend the words before me.
Ok this has got to be a mistake or a prank, I thought. And the same thing must've occurred to Princess because she typed a similar reply in the chat.
Is this some sort of joke, Amina?
The response was fast.
No, it's not!
Listen to this audio!
A sound bite popped up next on my screen and took about a minute to download.
"Hey Ak-"
"Sssh!" I tapped the play button, ignoring Chad as he drew closer. A crackle fizzled out of the speakers, mixed with a few shuffles, then Coach Sarah's voice entered the blend.
"...and you promised me you wouldn't let Ethan get to you, now look what you've caused!" She sounded quite frustrated and I could visualize her rubbing her temples.
"You can't pin this on me!" Daniel's defensive tone joined in. "Ethan is to blame too, he's the one who kept provoking me."
"Well you should've ignored him instead of choosing to break your goddamned captain's nose! I cannot let that go unpunished!"
"But it was an accident, Coach. He made me so angry, kn-
"That's not an excuse! Accident or not, you hit your team captain and I'm a hundred percent sure it would've gotten worse if Seth and the other boys hadn't stopped you." Coach heaved out a sigh, "You have issues, Daniel. You clearly haven't gotten over that incident that happened two years ago, and it was my mistake for believing that you have and putting you back on the team."
There was a brief pause. "What are you saying?" Daniel asked in a very cautious tone.
The person secretly recording the convo must've gotten excited because there were a few rapid shuffles, in an attempt to move closer to catch the juicy details on tape. When Coach spoke again, her voice came out clearer than before.
"I'm taking you off the team, Daniel. Go and clear out your locker."
"Oh my God," a feminine voice whispered with a chuckle.
"What the fu-" Daniel cut the curse word from flying out of his mouth. "That's not fair!"
"It is in my eyes," Coach countered. "It will give you enough time to get over that stupid grudge you insist on carrying. That competition happened two years ago. You lost, accept your defeat and move on for crying out loud."
"No! I'm not going to because Ethan cheated!" Daniel was yelling now. "He was on drugs! But you were all so dumb to ac-"
"That's enough, Daniel!" Coach had finally reached the end of her rope. You could hear it in her voice as she roared, "Get out of my office, now!"
As to whether Daniel did or not, I couldn't tell because in the next second the audio came to an end.
"Woow!" Felix chortled beside me. "Talk about drama."
"I know, right," someone else responded.
When I lifted my head, I met all nine faces of my group members. They had stopped working and were now surrounding me, drawn in by the audio from my phone. I pushed down on the power button, causing the screen to go black. "Ok guys, shows over. Let's get back to work."
There were a few mumbles but everyone retreated to their initial position. Thankfully, Shola and the other groups hadn't noticed the disruption. They were still occupied with their section of the robot. I also did same, picking up a screwdriver and getting back to work.
The wandering thoughts bombarding my brain were like a thousand rain drops falling from the sky. I understood that Coach needed to punish Daniel to serve as a warning to other members of the team not to pick fights. A simple suspension would have done the trick, but she kicked him off the team entirely. In my opinion, that was just too...harsh.
"Hmm, the swim team," Felix rumbled and when my gaze landed on him, he grinned, "You guys are walking on eggshells around that coach, huh? Just a single punch and Daniel is off the team. I wonder what would've happened if the whole shower thing had blossomed into a fight," he chuckled, propping his legs up on a vacant stool. "There probably wouldn't be a swim team by now."
"You weren't listening well, Felix," Chad voiced out from where he stood, fixing on the second traction motor. It was only when he'd completed his task that his eyes moved to us. "The coach didn't kick Daniel off the team because he punched Ethan. She kicked him off the team because he has past issues with Ethan. I bet you're all thinking the punishment was a bit too harsh, but if you ask me, it's the best thing she could've done, looking at the history of those two."
"Their history?" Felix quizzed with a laugh. "What are they? A couple?"
"No, but they were friends once. You know that, right?" Chad directed the question to me and I nodded.
"Yeah, Ethan hinted at it a couple of times."
"Wait, so if they used to be friends, how come they're behaving like Naruto and Sasuke now?" Felix pulled his leg down, readjusting himself in the seat. "What happened to them?"
"Well," Chad sighed, drawing closer so the other group members wouldn't get reeled in again. "It's a long story but...it all started with the 2018 edition of Penfield's Annual Swimming Competition. It was down to the final race that would determine Penfield's next greatest swimmer. Daniel and Ethan were in it with six other swimmers, but the spotlight was on both of them because they had each won every single race they were in. So people really wanted to see who'd win the final one and get the title," he paused, "and you already know who did."
"Ethan Osei-Boateng," Felix mumbled and Chad nodded.
"Yep, he won. But before they could even award him, Daniel started yelling at the top of his lungs that Ethan cheated with drugs; steroids to be specific. Of course, no one believed him since all the swimmers were tested before the competition began, but Daniel kept insisting so they called off the award ceremony just to test Ethan again. The results came out clean, so Ethan took the win. Daniel still refused to accept the decision so, he quit the swim team, only to return this year..."
"Because Ethan won the same competition again last year. He came back to get his revenge," I added, remembering what Daniel had said the first day I met him at the tryouts.
"And unfortunately, it didn't work out," Chad continued. "Ethan is currently the first ever two-time reigning champion of Penfield's Annual Swimming Competition, plus he's the Mayor's son. That's why everyone adores him."
Upon hearing the entire story, I slowly began seeing everything in a different light. Ethan was one of the best athletes in this university. He came from a very prestigious family and to top it all up, he was good-looking, attracting female attention everywhere he went. He was basically living the life every regular uni guy dreamt of. Could all of that have been enough reason for Daniel to get jealous, and go on a false accusation spree just to destroy Ethan's reputation? Or was he accusing Ethan of cheating because it was true?
It wasn't true, my subconscious chipped in. Chad said they drug tested Ethan a second time and the results came clean. Daniel is just a jealous prick who doesn't want to accept the fact that he's a sore loser.
Shaking the thoughts from my head, I sat back down on my stool, attempting to use work to distract myself from falling deeper into issues that didn't concern me.
¤¤¤¤¤
As time ticked on, the early hours of dawn rolled away, paving way for the sun to begin its shift.
My heart threatened to leap out of my chest in the next minute and I took that as cue to slow down, coming to a complete stop in front of the shuttle station. Placing my hands on my hips, I sucked in huge bouts of air, allowing my racing heart to calm down. The first meet for the semester was starting next week and I really needed to stay in shape, otherwise Coach wouldn't even dream of putting me in any of the events.
Swiping a string of sweat beads off my forehead, I turned around to find a heaving Akunna, throwing himself on a nearby bench. "This," he panted, "is the last time...I'm letting you," he managed to point a finger at me before his hand collapsed, "coerce me into going for a run."
"Oh c'mon," I chuckled, plopping down beside him. "It's not that bad. Don't you feel so alive and energetic right now?"
"You call drenched in sweat and smelling like an onion feeling alive?" Akunna shot me a questionable look. "What planet are you from?"
"Stop that," I gave him a light shove, then glanced at my watch. "It's currently six o'clock. We should be able to hit the showers in the next fifteen minutes if we start jogging back."
"Jogging? Oh hell no!" My roommate retorted. "We'll wait for the shuttle."
"It's a Saturday. The shuttle doesn't work on weekends, remember?"
Realisation hit Akunna in the face and he cursed, "Shit. Now what are we gonna do?"
"Walk," I suggested but it didn't make him feel any better.
"Arrgh fine," he groaned. "But let's pass by Lizzy's so I can get a bottle of my favourite banana smoothie." He reluctantly pushed himself up.
"After a run like that." I joined him on my feet. "The only thing you should be thinking about is water, not a smoothie."
"There's water in the smoothie so it still counts as a refreshing beverage."
"Ah," I laughed, finding his way of thinking amusing. Nevertheless, I let him have this one because arguing with Akunna was like telling a giant rock to move. You could talk and talk for hours and it still wouldn't budge.
In the next twenty minutes, we'd reached Lizzy's. It was a small convenience store located across the street, about a ten-minute walk from our hall. I went into the shop and purchased Akunna's smoothie along with two bottles of water, in case he changed his mind and decided to drink actual water. I stepped out, finding him perched on one of the foldable chairs in front of the shop.
"Here." Placing the three bottles on the table, I took a seat in the other vacant foldable chair.
"Thanks." Akunna wasted no time snatching the smoothie bottle. "Mind if we take a break here? My legs feel like mush."
"Well, you better start getting used to it cuz we're going to be doing this every Saturday." I screwed my water bottle open.
"Oh hell no!" My roommate's head snapped in my direction and I chortled at his expression.
"Stop laughing. I already told you, I'm not gonna let you rope me into any of your dumb athletic training routines. Today is the first and the last. I have the physique of a rich sugar daddy." He gave his big belly a pat. "And I intend to keep it that way."
A snarky comment was at the tip of my tongue when a sudden buzz on my thigh captured my attention. I pulled my phone out, finding a WhatsApp message from Princess. It contained a picture of Akunna and I, running earlier this morning. Well, I was running. Akunna was just...
Another message popped up.
Princess: Lol, ur friend looks like he's about to dieð
The comment pulled a soft chuckle from me.
"Hey." Akunna poked my arm. "Hey, look."
"What?"
"Over there." He pointed across the street. "Isn't that the guy who got kicked off the swim team for punching your captain?"
"Oh yeah." Opposite Lizzy's was the side view of Nkrumah hall, and parked right in front of the expansive building, was a sleek black saloon car. The driver, an elderly man dressed in a well-pressed suit, stepped out of the gleaming vehicle to have a little chit chat with Daniel, who had a bulky backpack hanging from his shoulder. His next move heightened my curiosity.
Not only did Daniel toss the bulky backpack into the car's open trunk, he went back into the building and wheeled out two stuffed suitcases.
"Oh shit, he's leaving." Akunna stated the obvious. The obvious I was finding hard to believe even though it was happening right in front of me.
"Huh," my roommate mumbled. "I guess he couldn't handle all the drama and the mockery."
We both watched him load the suitcases into the trunk before shutting it closed. Daniel then moved to the side of the car, taking a long look at the student residential building. His mouth moved, saying something into the air then he turned around, pulling one car door open.
That was when my curiosity jerked me out of my seat and pushed me across the street.
"Woah wait, Akwasi!" Akunna yelled behind me, but I had already made it to the otherside, running across the lawn.
"Daniel! Daniel wait up!"
My cries hit their destination because Daniel's eyes soon fell on me. He then stepped out of the car, shutting the door behind him. As I approached, I had no idea what I was going to say to him, since the two of us weren't exactly friends. Nonetheless, I stopped in front of him, starting with a simple "Hey."
"Hey," he responded, eyes drifting up and down my frame with a hint of inquisitiveness. "Going for a run?"
"Uh yeah yeah, with my roommate." I shot a glance behind me. Akunna was still perched in front of the shop, drinking his smoothie and watching us like a hawk. "We were just taking a break at Lizzy's."
"Oh cool." Daniel shoved his hands into his hoodie pockets. "The first meet of the semester begins next week Wednesday." And as he said this, he tried acting indifferent. "It's good to know that you're preparing hard for it."
"Umm yeah...I am." After that, a truck full of awkward silence hit us. "So uhh..." I attempted bringing up the issue that brought me here by gesturing to the car. "Hope you don't mind my asking but are you...are you taking a break from school or...?"
Daniel shook his head with a chuckle, "No Akwasi, I'm not taking a break." He straightened out his shoulders. "I'm leaving Penfield, for good. I'm transferring to Dortmund University in Germany."
"Germany." My eyebrows flew up. "Wow, that's...that's amazing."
"Thanks."
Another dollop of awkward silence settled in and I loudly cleared my throat. "So... your departure...is it because of...you know..."
"Not entirely." he shrugged. "My dad has been talking about how great Dortmund is for a couple of months now, but I didn't want to transfer because I thought my place was here." He paused, "Now it's pretty obvious that it isn't so...there's no need to stay."
For some unexplainable reason, a ball of guilt and remorse tugged at my heart. "Look Daniel, I'm sorry about the whole shower thing."
"Why are you apologising?" He quirked up an eyebrow. "You're not to blame for it."
"Yeah, I know, but Ethan was talking to me when he called you a pussy and I... I shouldn't have let him say such things about you."
Daniel continued to stare at me in wonder, then he pulled a hand out. I clasped mine in his, giving him a firm shake. "You're a good guy, Akwasi. I don't know how you became friends with Ethan but...watch your back when it comes to him."
He had sounded this warning so many times that it had created a well of doubt inside me. Nevertheless, I gave him a nod as a response.
With one last smirk, Daniel let go and hopped into the awaiting vehicle. The engine roared to life, gradually taking its leave off Penfield's campus.
******