STICK WITH ME

“Don’t be sad Leo. We can pair together next time” I comforted Leo.

Leo ignored me.

“Hey!, what’s wrong with you!” I hit him on his back.

Jay laughed.

“Leo, are you really sad because you can’t pair up with Mia?” Jay laughed.

“Yes, it’s really sad!” Leo retorted.

“There’s nothing wrong with your partner though,  I mean she’s cute” Jay laughed. I joined him too.

Leo walked out immediately.

“What’s wrong with him?”

“Do I know? Let me go meet him” I smiled.

“Mia, wait” Jay called me back.

“Yes”

“Are you free after your basketball practice?”

“Am not sure. Am visiting my sister in the hospital and my part time work too” I replied.

“What about our assignments?”

“Maybe, weekend.  Am free by that time” I walked out.

“Uhm, Mia” Jay called. I couldn’t answer because I was running fast to meet up with Leo. “Leo, what’s wrong with you.? I mean, why will you walk out that way. We were just joking” I sighed breathing heavily.

“Mia, do you like Jay?” Leo asked avoiding my face.

“What’s wrong with you. The question is absurd. How is that even possible?”

Leo secretly smiled immediately he heard that.

“Why are you smiling?” I laughed.

“I mean, you’re happy whenever you are with him and you were very excited when you found out you will be pairing with him in the assignment” Leo sighed.

“What if I like him?” I asked hiding my smile.

Leo looked sad immediately.

“But you said that’s not possi-

“It’s alright, it’s alright.  Nobody likes anybody. We just like each other as friends” I cut in.

“Friends?”

“Yes, of course. Just like how I like you as a friend ” I said locking his arms with mine.

“So, am still in the friend zone” Leo said in his mind.

“It’s alright. Let’s go for practice. The master is waiting for us”

“Okay” I nodded my head.

We ran together to the Basketball court Immediately. The Master was already waiting for us.

“Mia, you’re here?” He waved at me.

“Yes” I bowed down my head.

“Hi Leo” The master shook hands with Leo.

We started practice immediately.  The practice went well. My performance has improved very much too.

“Leo, you will play against Mia. It’s a 1v1 match” The master ordered.

“No, Master. I can’t play with him. He’s in a higher level than me.” I convinced the master.

“Don’t worry Mia. I will go easy on you” Leo smirked.

“Master” I cried.

“It is what it is” The master dismissed us.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

I played with Leo and won against him. It wasn’t easy but I was able to win against him because he thought he will win.

“Yayy!” I shouted with joy immediately I won.

The students practicing were surprised including Leo, the master and Olivia opened their mouth I surprise.

“How is that possible? She just transferred few week ago. How can she win against Leo?” The students murmured.

My popularity eventually increased highly for winning against theif Prince charming.

“Mia, that’s awesome. This time around you will play against Olivia” The master smiled.

“No, no. I can’t.  Don’t go there” I declined immediately shaking my head in disapproval.

“There’s nothing wrong with it, Let’s play. 1v1” Olivia said smiling.

“Olivia! Olivia!!” Her friends and fans cheered for her.

Only Leo and Jay were cheering for me.

“You can do this Mia!” They shouted in unison.

“Okay then” I agreed.

The game was quite a tough one. I know few skills in basketball but Oliva seemed perfect.

1-0

Olivia won at first. This moment I wanted to give up. It makes no sense playing with her because she will end up winning.

“Come one Mia. You can still do this!” Jay and Leo smiled at me. This comforted me.

I reduced my speed of playing. I went easy while playing.  I was playing slow but steady. I won against her for like 4 times.

1-4

The crowd were surprised at this moment.  The noise increased too.

It’s one win left for me to win. Olivia increased her ability but I won against her.

4-5

The Master blew his whistle excitedly to end the game.

I was the headline of the day. Everyone was talking about me.

Olivia is actually the most popular girl In school for now, so winning against her made me popular too.

After practice that day, alot of students asked for my social media account details. That was how I suddenly became popular in school.

“Today is such a hectic day in school ” I sighed.

“Are you going home or to the hospital?” Leo asked eagerly.

“To my part time work” I replied sharply.

“I think it’s too early. You should rest a bit. You worked hard today.” Leo advised.

“I want to go early today. So, by evening I’ll be done. Then, I’ll visit the hospital, to help my sister out ” I replied.

“Okay then, I’ll be going now. Call me on phone when you’re visiting her. I’ll like to join you” Leo said and entered the bus.

“Okay. Bye” I waved at him. I worked into the place I work and changed my dress.

Winter was already there working.

“Hey Mia!” She called out to me.

“Hi” I waved at her.

There weren’t much customers, so were sat down to discuss for a while.

“I heard someone was duped in the hospital” Winter said to me.

“Really?” I asked curiously.

“Yes. But I don’t know the person. ”

“I hope it’s not my sister” I murmured.

“Okay then” I continued using my phone.

“Mia, I want to transfer to your school” Winter said excitedly.

“Okay. Then” I replied.

“It’s nice right?”

“Yes, very nice” I nodded my head.

I received a text message from Leo. He’s already waiting for me outside.

Winter didn’t look happy. She didn’t get the kind of discussion she wants.

“I’ll be going now. My friend is already waiting for me. Bye” I waved at her and left.

“She’s ignoring me” Winter sighed.

Winter made an attempt to leave but she saw Leo and shouted. This distracted the customers so she closed her mouth with her hands immediately.

“Isn’t that Leo?” She asked taking a picture of him and Mia. She zoomed it and sent to Alison.

Alison received it Immediately and called her on phone.

“Is that Leo and Mia? You saw them together?” Alison asked aggressively.

“Yes. Leo came to pick her up and they’re riding in the same car now” Winter explained.

“Wow, Mia is such a wonderful person. Don’t worry, let her enjoy when she can because am coming for her. I’ll be there in two days time” Alison said and ended the call.

Leo and I walked into the hospital.

“Thanks for the ride” I thanked him.

“My pleasure” Leo replied.

We opened the door to Monica’s ward to meet her crying heavily.

“What’s wrong Monica?” I ran towards her.

“Am sorry Mia, I have duped by my boyfriend” Monica cried.

“What?!” I exclaimed.

“Am truly sorry, I did this out of greediness. He promised to double it for me” Monica cried.

“Are you a fool?!” I asked her angrily.

Leo was very surprised.

“Me, fool?” Monica asked me.

“Yes, you!” I retorted.

“How can you be duped by the so called person you called your boyfriend? I worked hard to earn that money,  coupled with restless night.  Mum is nowhere to be found” I cried.

“Mum, is nowhere to be found?” Monica asked calmly.

“She said she was travelling to God knows where and we haven’t been able to contact her for some time now. I’ve been the one helping out in the family” I continued crying.

Leo left us immediately.  He went to the place where the hospital bills are paid. He paid for Monica’s hospital dues.

“Don’t reveal my identity.  Don’t tell them who paid it. Please” Leo begged the nurses. They agreed.

“You can leave now, miss Monica. Your hospital dues have been paid” A nurse said to Monica.

“What?! Who paid for it?!” We asked in unison.