CHAPTER SEVEN
After a very long day of fun, Shola and Seun walked out of the movie theater, Shola holding on to his arm and laughing heavily.
"I am so glad you agreed to watch the cartoon."
"Didn't have much of a choice," He said "You refused to watch 'Finally yours'."
Not after what you did last time
"I didn't feel like." More like she didn't want to.
"Is this about what happened before at my house?"
"No. And i don't want to talk about it."
"That was a long time ago Shola!"
Shola walked forward, taking a gentle breath. "Have you noticed it hasn't rained for a while now?"
"Everybody has." Seun replied "Don't change the topic." He added, following her.
"What topic?" Exasperating him even more.
"Shola!" Seun yanked at her arm from behind.
Almost immediately, she pulled back, "Hey!"
"I don't want to talk about it!" She clipped with a stern look.
Seun was always used to being in the driving seat of every situation, controlling things and having them go his own way. The boss, the big man everyone had to pay attention to, everyone but Shola. Because with Shola things were slightly different. With her, he always had to focus on controlling himself rather than the situation if he was to ever get a chance with her.
"Okay," he said "Let's forget it. I am sorry."
Shola smiled. "It's okay. We are friends."
"Yes."
Until I make you mine, of course.
They both continued on to hang around the city mall, window shopping. An activity that Shola loved so much. Even though she could afford almost everything she saw, she didn't fancy purchasing any if she didn't need them.
For a sport that she loved so much, she was initially nor herself. Feeling a little uncomfortable as her thought drifted back to what had happened between and Seun in the past.
"I can't believe you would to such a thing Seun" Shola fumed out of Seun's dorm.
"I am sorry babe"
"And all you can think about is my father not finding out?!!" She turned around to him.
"I don't know what came over me, please forgive me Shola." Seun tried to place his palms on her shoulder.
"Take your filthy hands off me!" She quickly shrubbed them off.
"I can't risk anything like this happening again Seun."
Seun's expression was easy to read, "What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean Seun!" She turned her neck, looking over her shoulder.
"We have to break up." Her voice trailed off. It hurt her as much as it hurt Seun because she knew him as the only person she trusted. At least, until he tried to take advantage of her.
"No, no, no, w... we can't end it this like this." Stammering as he held her hand.
"What will your father think about me?"
Still disgusted that Seun wasn't worried about what she thought as much as he worried about her father's thoughts, Shola pulled herslef out of his grip and walked off.
"Shola! Shola!" Seun tried to follow before falling to his knee.
"Alright Shola the time is already 'past four' let's go home." Seun snapped Shola out of her thoughts.
"Past four?!!" She jerked,
"What are you thinking about?" Throwing her a curious look.
Drawing out her phone to confirm the time, Shola exclaimed. "Oh no! Jimmy's game."
"Jimmy?" The furrow on Seun's face underscored his confusion "Who is…?"
"Sorry I have to go now!!" She ran off uninterested in hearing out Seun.
"Jimmy?" Seun murmured
Could he be…?
No! He has to be.
***
"Jimmy you have to get your head into this game now!" A voice yelled, snapping Jimmy out of his thoughts
"Yes Jimmy what are you playing?" Another person said
"Remember. If we don't win, we won't get to play the finals."
"I am sorry" Jimmy replied, shaking off his thoughts.
The first twenty minutes were over and it was almost time for the second half to begin, but neither Samuel nor Shola had arrived.
The referee blew his whistle, signalling both teams to get back on the field. Jimmy's team was already a goal down and needed to get back into the game fast.
"Alright boys, lets go!!" The coach encouraged them "Jimmy please focus we need you." He tapped Jimmy's shoulder.
But how could he? Jimmy had all his hopes that he would see his brother and Shola at the game but neither of them came. He kept scanning through the spectators through out the first half hoping to see them but was disappointed.
Time to forget those no-shows and win this game. Jimmy jogged into the field, taking position. After a few nods of readiness with his teammates and a deep breath, he was ready, until…
"Jimmy!!!" Shola yelled from the stands. "I made it!" A wide grin began to form on her face as she yelled.
She made it! A sudden smile drew on his face. Almost immediately the referee blew the whistle to start the second half. As the piercing sound of the whistle vibrated into Jimmy's ear drums, his brief feeling of euphoria quickly morphed into a more focused and determined feeling. Determined to win!
Ten minutes of the second twenty had ended and the score was level already, a goal that was assited by Jimmy. Shola who wasn't a fan of football found herself enjoying the game and even tried to get Samuel to come before it ended.
"I thought I was going to see you here."
"I had something important to attend to" he replied her text. "Tell him I will watch the final."
"What if they lose today?"
"I am confident they won't. I have seen Jimmy play and he is good. When he plays well, his team can't lose."
"Okay bye."
Shola returned her gaze back to the game, staring at Jimmy as he controlled the game with his play. The score was still level and the game had five minutes of play time remaining. Surely Samuel didn't know all these facts but he had full trust in his brother.
There is something about you Samuel. You never seize to amaze me. A wide smile anchored across her face, falling even deeper in love with Samuel.
"GOOOAAAALLLL!!!!" A portion of the crowd jumped in celebration.
Who scored? Shola didn't notice, until she saw Jimmy wheeling away in celebration.
"Gooaalll!!" She joined the rest of the crowd to celebrate. Jimmy's team had scored, courtesy of another assist by Jimmy.
The game was won for sure now. With only two more minutes to play, Jimmy's team switched to a defensive mode leaving only Jimmy ahead as he was the fastest of all his team mates. His speed would be useful for a counter attack. They waited and wasted the rest of the time with substitutions until the referee blew the final whistle.
There was a huge roaring sound as their fans celebrated their comeback victory. A victory that was very well deserved.
"Well done Jimmy! I had never seen you play before" Shola embraced him with a hug
"Yes, that's why I reserved my magic until you came." Jimmy winked with smuggery.
Shola laughed "I trust you did."
She held his hand as they walked out of the field, Jimmy preaching moments of the game that he enjoyed the most.
"But I am upset about one thing."
"What is it?" Shola crouched to meet his height
"Your 'ugly' boyfriend didn't come." He said.
"Oh Jimmy," Shola hugged him "I am very sure he would have loved to come"
"Then why didn't he come?"
"I don't know, but he is your brother. You can talk to him, he will surely explain."
"I would have loved to see him here today though, but your presence is enough." Jimmy wore a cute smile.
"Awww... Thanks Jimmy." She could already feel a blush.
"I know!" A cunning smile began to draw on his face.
"Huh?"
"Yes!" He said. "He is jealous because he couldn't make it to the final during his time!"
Shola burst into laughter "How do you know that?"
"My gut feelings"
"Okay. Whatever you say champ." She chuckled as they continued their stroll back to her car.
***
"Were you able to get all that I asked for?"
"Yes sir, but how do they help our course?"
"Please just send it all to me and stop asking me foolish questions!" Seun's voice laced with disgust.
"Okay sir."
"We have all the necessary information concerning." Seun stood at the patio talking on the phone. "When the time is right I will give the go"
"But sir Jimmy is not her…"
"I honestly don't know what your problem is!!" Seun curt.
"Will you do as I say or I have to find someone else?!" Seun barked, briefly looking back at the house hoping no one heard his voice.
"Sorry sir. You know say me I just dey follow anything you talk sir."
The man Seun spoke to was just a thug that he sent to do all his dirty work. After completing numerous missions for Seun, he knew by now that Seun didn't tolerate any objections to his ideas.
"Hmm..."
"I will do as you say sir." The man replied
"Good!" Seun said. "Now I want you to gather all the men that you will need befire I am ready."
"Yes sir!"
"And listen. I don't want to hear any excuses okay?"
"Yes sir!"
"Good." Seun cut the call.