Excited Face With a Huge Smile

"Don't you think you are using the stationary bicycle so much? You'd wear yourself out before the first round, and it's in a month. Give yourself some resting period," Efe said to his brother Brume.

"The reigning champion should be working twice as hard. And I am the reigning champion and I need to win this year's cycling competition also," replied Brume, breathing heavily.

Efe wasn't buying the idea of his brother overworking himself. Yes, he knew his brother was good but a little fatigue would be what would spoil his efforts even from the first round.

Efe dropped the dumbbell in his hands and picked up his towel and wiped his face, then drank a little water.

"Hey, Brume, remember last season, the guy who was in direct competition with you? I can't remember his name though."

"His name is Sholly, or something like that," Brume still sounded like he was about to lose his breath.

"Yeah, yeah. Shola. He registered with his friends from his hood and those boys are very good, better than you, I heard."

"Now you see why I need to train harder. I won the last time because of luck. His breaks failed at the last turn last competition."

"How much longer do you intend to stay here for?" asked Efe.

"Maybe 30 minutes to an hour more. Why?"

"I want to take your bike for a little ride around the block. I am done with the gym for now."

"Sure, no problem. I will call you when I am done."

"Thanks, bro."

Efe hurried outside and took the bike for a ride. He was a decent cycler too, but for some reason, he didn't want to join the competition and hadn't been in any competition at all.

While he rode the bicycle, he noticed a girl from afar looking directly at him, with a huge smile on her face, she seemed so excited.

He ignored it and kept on riding. Not a little while later, he heard fast steps behind him, he turned and noticed she was running in his direction.

Efe increased his speed and took a turn around the third building, only to be met by that familiar excited face with a huge smile.

"You did that on purpose," she bent down, holding her knees, trying to catch her breath.

"Did what?" asked Efe.

She didn't reply, she was trying to catch her breath. So, Efe just looked on and waited for her.

"Okay. You noticed I was running towards you, and you rode faster. You know I had to run around the block so I could meet you in front?" She responded.

"I haven't run this fast in a long while, I didn't want to miss you."

"Oh, we haven't met and you don't want to miss me. That's lovely," Efe smirked.

"That's absurd, you know what I mean."

Not long after, a second person ran towards them, sat on the floor and eventually laid down and breathing so fast.

"I said we should take a walk, not run. Why in God's name did you run?" she said while sitting up.

She looked at her friend, and then took a closer look at the stranger in front of her.

"Oh, baby girl. You should have told me before running. You wanted to get a closer look at him, this handsome fellow, with a lean, toned body. I am sure if he were putting on a shirt, you would not have noticed all these."

They all laughed so hard that Efe nearly fell off his bike.

"Have you both done the lovey-dovey introduction? I am Aisha, by the way."

"I am Efe, nice to meet you," He shook Aisha's hand.

"But your friend here hasn't told me her name," He continued.

"This girl blushing so wild here is Nkechi. Let me allow you two to do your thing, I'll be over there."

"Love is a beautiful thing," Aisha sang to tease her friend while walking away.

They both laughed.

Efe and Nkechi stood for a short while looking at themselves.

"Don't worry, I can't hear anything from way over here," Aisha teased again.

"Is your friend always like that?" asked Efe, laughing.

"Yes, she is."

"Nice bike. I have been looking for something like this but I haven't found it yet," she continued.

"You ride too?" asked Efe.

"Yeah, I do. So, I am in this cycling competition."

"It starts in three days," they said together.

A dramatic pause and intent staring between the both of them and Nkechi blinked and threw her face away.

"You said you've been looking for this type of bike, I could hook you up."

"Would you like to take a ride with mine?" asked Efe.

"Sure, I'd love that," she replied.

Efe handed the bicycle to her, stepped back, folded his arms and watched her ride around. He was intrigued by her, her boldness and her beauty.

One thing remained though if she was more interested in the bicycle than she was in him. With time, he'd find out.

He took out his phone from his pocket to check if his brother Brume had called, no call yet. He put the phone back in his pocket and continued to enjoy the view of the beautiful lady riding his bike, his brother's bike anyway.

"Hey, Efe. Don't worry, she's single and ready to mingle. I can see the way you're looking at her," said Aisha.

She let out a smile and plugged her earpiece back into her ears.

Efe smiled and turned back his gaze to Nkechi. He wasn't sure how it was happening so fast. Was his mind playing games on him? Was it the beginning of something good? He kept on thinking of different things to prove to himself he wasn't making up the thoughts about the things he was seeing and feeling at the time.

While he still pondered on his feelings, Nkechi was done cycling and was riding toward him.

"Thanks for letting me ride," said Nkechi.

"You're welcome. Do you stay around the neighbourhood?" asked Efe.

Nkechi told him she stayed in the neighbourhood, they exchanged phone numbers and parted ways.