It was the fifth month after his mother's death. Austin was still struggling to stomach the loss of the only woman who had made him feel loved. He saw his father as a chronic cheat, even before her death, they never saw eye to eye on any matter. His twin brother Allen was far away in another school studying due to his rebellious behavior and he wasn't sure how he took the death of their mother because they never spoke, and even as kids they never did anything together."leaving for school already?" Austin's father asked him as he was making his way outside the house. "Yes, Dad," He blurted out reluctantly."Your money for lunch is…" "I took it Already". He replied hastily, almost shutting up his father. Walking out and making sure he slammed the door hard as if to signal to his father that he would never respect him.Staring at the door with his glasses bent over his nose with his hand, his father shook his head in disbelief He was aware that he was never going to make it early for
"Coach Damian, please can I use the Restroom""Sure"Nala made her way out of the class and Austin hurriedly picked up his bags running after her."Austin!" "I'm sorry coach"Austin ran after her, but her steps only increased in pace. "Nala please wait" He held her bag, which made her stop to look at him. Nala turned, staring at him without saying anything. Austin couldn't mutter a word either as he was busy panting with one hand on his knee and one hand up, gesturing for her to give him a minute."Are you going to say something or not?"Taking her arms into his hands, he just couldn't find the word to say to her. He was terrible with women and hasn't had to apologize or even ask a lady out in his life. In summary, Austin had never experienced anything intense with the opposite gender.Looking up to her face " I miss you Nala""You miss me?" Nala looked confused, " that's what you thought to say, that you missed me Austin?""Okay wait…, urgh, maybe I messed up" She shrugged her a
Trying to open her eyes, but she felt the Sunray perfectly directed at her eyes. She adjusted her body and tried to stand up. Everything seemed blurred to her and she almost lost her balance. "Where am I?" She questioned herself. She could see a perfectly dug grave in front of her with no coffin inside or name on it like it was been prepared for someone. Still confused, she looked around and saw no one except different graves with names on them. She still couldn't understand what she was doing there or how she got there. She could remember last night, she and Justin, her boyfriend, were out having fun then."Oh, that bastard" she just remembered they had an issue last night but still couldn't fathom how she got to the cemetery. "You know you shouldn't be speaking to him after everything I told you" Justin grabbed her arm making her squirm in pain"Why are you so insecure?""Why would I be insecure about someone like you?"She stopped abruptly, "what do you mean by that?""Uhh?" Pret
Austin couldn't hold the pain in anymore, why did his mum have to leave him in this cruel world? Everything just seemed difficult for him. He never forgot waking up in the hospital after the news. She was everything to him, he never forgot the first toy she got him for passing his exams, regardless of him not being at the top of the class. All he wanted was to make her happy when he was of age but she left.On that fateful day, he could hear his mum telling his dad to come to pick her up from her place of work because she would be running a late shift. She was a Nurse at the only standard hospital they had in the city there."Could you come to pick me up from the hospital at 8 pm" his mum requested while packing up her bags."I'm sorry, I have something to do this evening" his dad shouted back from his room because he was far away from her."Richard, just do this for me. Please" He barely heard her call his dad Richard except when they had one of their regular fights and she was awar
Austin rang the bell on Nala's door hoping to see her get the door so he'd apologize. "Oh, Good day Mr. Ben" The look on his face showed he was surprised to see Nala's dad home. He thought he wasn't going to be home until Christmas. Her father was a contractor and he was never home. He was always moving to different countries trying to close deals for his firm so he barely had time to come home." Austin!" Mr. Ben ushered out his arms to squeeze him for a hug. "Come in, Nala's upstairs."He came in and made sure to greet Mrs. Ben, who was busy in the kitchen. Their house was everything perfect to him, the decorations, the lights, and most importantly the fact they were still together. That was everything he dreamt of. He got to her bedroom and knocked twice."Who's there?" "It's me, Austin"She opened the door halfway, hiding her body and just showing her face, " what are you doing here?""Can you let me in so we'll talk?""No, I'm busy""Come on Nala" He tried to push the door a b
Austin Started off the morning with his dad waking him up from his sleep which he found disturbing. He left him with instructions on things he needed to do before leaving for school. His dad had no idea he was suspended and He planned to leave it that way. Right after his dad left, he flew back on the bed.After almost 2hours, he woke up to his phone beeping. NalaRemember the training by 5 pmHe smiled after reading Nala's text and went back right into trying to do what his dad told him to do. He started by trying to fix himself a meal. On opening the Refrigerator, "ugh, not again" he was disappointed at finding just cheese in it again. His dad made sure to leave him with enough pocket money, so he couldn't complain about the meal at home. He reminisced about the wonderful night he had at Ben's, he missed being around happy faces and eating good food. He couldn't stay home till 5 pm, the school was going to dismiss by 4, so he needed to keep himself busy till then. But he had no fri
It's been over 15 minutes and Tasha hasn't moved or let alone breathe like she was alive. Austin was scared and sweating profusely. He looked around but no one came to his aid. Whenever he screams "help" his voice comes running back to him.Confused and not knowing what to do, Tasha was just in his arms, as he sat on the ground, downcast.He suddenly felt her moving with her eyes opening gradually "Tasha!" He shook her aggressively as if he wanted her to be up quickly"What happened," Tasha asked, as she held her head and gradually sat up,then squinted her eyes. She could feel her head banging like a music concert was being held there. She couldn't see clearly, the tree and even Austin's perfectly dark skinned toned face and fairly shaped brows were all blurred. She felt like she was stunned by an aggressive hit from a fist or something harder."You passed out as we came out of the cemetery"She looked back and saw the average iron gate of the cemetery, it was silver in color and the
"You can't be serious!" Austin's Father fumed as he barged into his room. "Get up from there now"Austin used the pillow to cover his head to prevent himself from hearing his father's voice. He felt his father aggressively grab the pillow from him"What is it this time?" Austin reluctantly asked his father with his eyes still shut."I said, get up!"He slowly stood up and sat at the edge of the bed."I know your mother's death has been tough on you""Oh please dad" He interrupted his father immediately, standing up to leave, but his father grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back to the bed."Listen to me! I have condoned your disrespect and every other thing, but so help me God this continues. I'll…""You would what?" He stood up immediately facing his dad with no space left between them. His father was dark as night, his beard rough and hair scattered like he had no time for himself."What would you do that you haven't done before Dad?" His father held his fist and sighed slowly
Austin kept running, stumbling and looking back. Repeating this over and over again, anytime he looked back, he saw her still fuming and coming at him. At that point he couldn't think of what she'd do to him, all he thought of was to get away from her. How could he have forgotten about the plans he made with her. He slapped himself, like he was trying to punish himself for forgetting. He ran into the school hallway, it was the shortest route to leaving the school premises. But as he ran towards the Entrance, it looked like it got farther away. He was Panting and running, his legs were getting weak already, but he couldn't stop. He had no idea the school hallway was this long. He looked back this time and didn't see Tasha, but he kept running. "Yes" he said triumphantly, as he exhaled. He was about getting out of the school when he stepped on his show lace and sent himself flying on the ground. He laid there with his head facing the ceiling, his muscles weak and reluctant to carry him
"You know I have training also tomorrow" he said to Nala, as he hurriedly pulled him towards the stadium. Austin found it difficult to cope in the class earlier that day, with Jade hammering on his case, not in a bad way but it was still frustrating for Austin."Come on, you have to tell me who she is" he kept Hampering on it, even after Austin told him he mentioned that name by mistake. Jade didn't buy it but had no option but to leave him alone after their teacher got into the class."So you and Jade, now best friends" Nala asked, eyeing Austin as he wore his kits."What makes you think so?" He arched his brow."Well" Nala started, "you guys smiling and discussing. It was almost as if you guys were friends for a long time""You guys smiling?" Austin questioned with his eyes wide open, Nala understood his message immediately."Well scratch that, but you get my point" she insisted."He was just on me about something..""What thing?"Austin swallowed hard, shocked by how fast she asked
Her eyes were calm as the ocean banks would be at dawn, and he was drowning in them. Her hair flung back as the air pulled it along with it. Austin couldn't move not because he tried to but he didn't want to, she felt safe and he wanted to be there with her. The smile on her face, breaking more as she witnessed him lost in whatever fantasy he had going on and his eyes stuck on hers like a magnet."Are you thinking about me right now?"That question pulled Austin back into all consciousness and he pulled his hand away from hers, maybe a little too hard because he went sprawling on the floor."Are you okay?" She asked. Ausin couldn't sense any sarcasm or jest in her voice."I'm fine," he replied as he stood up, wiping the dirt off his shorts."You are bleeding" Tasha said quickly as she hurried towards him, but he swung his arm back as she attempted to hold him. He looked at his elbow and noticed blood sliding down his hands. Luckily for him, it wasn't something serious. "Let me take a
"What in God's name happened here" Austin exclaimed.He had woken up that morning in high spirits, regardless of what happened between him and his brother. He smiled all through his journey to school, jumping and trying to touch branches of some trees along the way to school. His happiness was proudly sponsored by Nala and not following the bus was just an attempt not to see her till his training session with her again.All his happiness vanished as soon as he entered the class and noticed that his table was missing a leg."What happened here?" he repeated, directing his questions to his classmate who sat at the front roll. He shook his head indicating he didn't know what happened. His eyes searched the classroom and stopped on Jade who sat at the back with some of his friends laughing. The only reasonable thing he could think of was Jade messing with him again because of his brother. He marched towards him with every ounce of anger. He pounded his hands on Jade's table hard and that
That night, their father got home early to their surprise and bought dinner on his way back. He made them both have dinner with him while talking and narrating his ordeal at work. Austin couldn't help but think his father was drunk and he could bet his brother thought the same with the disbelief written all over his face.But Mr Richard wasn't drunk, he had gotten promoted at work that day, something he had been dreading ever since the loss of his wife. He put his career In Front of everything else in trying to subdue the pain he felt losing her. This night, all he wanted was to share his happiness with his sons. The mood was getting lighter and Jollier as kept going on with his stories, Austin laughed and his brother was busy smiling from time to time. They would sneak a peek at each other and pretend like they didn't notice it.After dinner, They both tried to clean up but their father stopped them and asked them to rest up and he'll do that. Austin couldn't just believe what was ha
"Okay, listen" Tasha readjusted herself Infront of Austin, "I'm not dead""You are not what?" Austin said, confused with what she just said."I'm not dead" she repeated with a bright face, Austin sat there looking confused with what she was saying and couldn't understand why she was so happy about it."Is this why you've made it your life mission to ruin my life" Austin shrugged, "Just to tell me you weren't dead""I didn't make you my life mission," she scoffed."So what is it witch, I need to go to class."Tasha gasped, "you did not just call me a witch." His eyes shot back, indicating he had no intention to take it back. "Well, I'll let that slide just because I need your help""Whatever," Austin rolled his eyes in discomfort, being under the sun for that long was already getting to him. "Just state what it is you want. I do not know if ghosts feel things, but this sun is competing with hell, so be fast" Tasha swallowed hard, bracing herself up for what she needed to say " I nee
He stood under the scorching sun, that was busy setting the grass ablaze. They were the only ones alone on the field, but he had no idea why she chose this time for them to come out."I still don't understand why you wanted us here by this time," Austin said, squinting and covering his eyes from the harsh rays of the sun. Nala kept herself busy setting up the cones he needed for his footwork. Austin sat there, smiling and he remembered asking her for help, but never expected her to be this serious with it. He stood up, attempting to clean off his body, and then realised there was nothing on his shorts."Hey nala" he shook her shoulders. She raised her head to look at him but quickly covered her eyes, "The sun right?"She wiped off the sweat dripping down her cheeks with her handkerchief, "why are you not wearing your boots" she queried Austin with a harsh tone.Austin smiled, and replied "chill chill, don't ""Don't what? It's either you are serious with this or not," Nala interrupted
Austin couldn't close his eyes throughout that night, after that happened. He sat at the edge of his bed, with his mopping stick held tightly to his chest, ready to smash Tasha's head into the wall. He automatically saw her as a threat to his life. Hearing her call his name, he flung his phone straight to the wall and went right under his bed. His breathing was uneven, and even with the air-conditioner on, he was sweating like someone who ran a marathon. Anywhere he looked, he could see Tasha's face. It was all dark, but he couldn't help seeing her face everywhere. He wasn't so sure about how he treated her, and now he regrets it."What happened to your eyes?" Mr Richard asked with concern, walking towards Austin who was making breakfast before leaving for school. He tried to cover his face but his father took away his hands and notice his swollen eyes and even cheeks."Allen!""Sir" Allen's voice echoed from the bedroom upstairs and soon the staircase Started making hard sounds, annou
Just before Allen landed his well Arranged Punch on Austin, Nala stood in the way of both of them, stopping them with her hands stretched out and holding their chest. She could feel their heart pounding and the rage running through their veins. She knew this wasn't about her and they probably needed an excuse to let their tension out."You both are not going to use me as an avenue to sort out your issues" she screamed, having them pay attention to her. "Nala hey….""Do not talk to me" she shut Allen up even before he could complete his sentence. She went back to her seat, packed up her stuff and stormed out of there, leaving them behind."You are so lucky, she stood in between us" Allen pointed his hands at him"It's funny how you think you stand a chance against me" Tasha's eyes widened in surprise at the statement Austin made."What did you say to me?" Allen asked, pretending he didn't hear it the first time and walking towards him fast but was held back by the guys who accompani