MY HOUSEMASTER

MY HOUSEMASTER

"That black magician of a boy, Kunle, always swims with magic," Bright ranted, his voice rising above the murmurs of the crowd. "He only wins because he cheats! There’s this leaf he always chews before a competition—it makes him faster than any normal swimmer. Hahaha! But today, he met his match. He thought he was racing against an ordinary swimmer, but he was up against a true Aqua-being! What an honor it is to be in the same class as you, my prince."

His words sounded like the ramblings of someone who had secretly taken too much marijuana. No one paid him any serious attention—except the security personnel. Before he could say anything else, they rushed toward him, grabbed him, and forcefully escorted him out. Where they took him, we didn’t know. Later, we heard he had been taken to a hospital, and rumor had it that he went completely mad on the way there.

Well, the celebration continued without him, though his outburst had slightly dulled the excitement. The crowd, which had been wild with jubilation moments before, now seemed more subdued. His strange behavior left everyone unsettled. But in a way, I was grateful—at least no one was chasing after me anymore.

Finally, I could be with Cynthia.

The reason I had even entered the competition in the first place—the person who made me push myself beyond my limits—was now standing right in front of me, her face beaming with joy. Super Cee and Charity were right beside her, practically bouncing with excitement.

"Oh my God, Damian! You were amazing!" Cynthia gushed, throwing her arms around me.

Charity, as usual, was the loudest. "Damian the Merman! Damian the Merman!" she chanted, her voice echoing through the entire field.

Soon, the entire school joined in.

I couldn't help but grin. Hearing my name being chanted like that made me feel like a superstar. It was a moment of pure glory, one I would never forget.

Then, as the celebrations continued, the principal stepped onto the podium, clearing his throat into the microphone. Instantly, the noise died down.

He started his speech the way he always did—long, formal, and full of things most students weren’t really interested in.

"This year's tournament has been an extraordinary success," he announced. "We have witnessed many new athletes rise to the challenge, and we’ve seen a refreshing shift in the competition. For three years, we have had the same champion. But today, we finally have a new Merman.

"Moving forward, this school will ensure that every year brings forth a different champion. It is important that our students always have fresh opportunities to shine.

"As you all know, our school is not just about sports. This year, we have hosted significant events—the arrival of the FCT Minister, Student Week, and house competitions such as the march-past, races, and more. We still have our much-anticipated prom night coming up, which will mark the end-of-year celebration."

The students cheered at the mention of prom night. The principal waited for the excitement to die down before continuing.

"Unity is what makes this school strong. That is why we value our Friday fellowships. It is always a joy to see students, teachers, and staff come together in prayer because, as the saying goes, 'A family that prays together stays together.'

"That said, this year has been a remarkable one. We have accomplished many goals together, and today, we celebrate the crowning of a new Merman. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you… our new champion!"

The crowd erupted into cheers again. I barely had time to react before my housemaster appeared out of nowhere, his face flushed with excitement.

"What is wrong with you?" he scolded, pulling me away from Cynthia and the others. "Didn’t you hear the principal calling for you? And you three—" he pointed at Cynthia, Charity, and Super Cee, "—will you give this poor boy a little breathing space?"

I sighed and followed him as he led me toward the stage.

As we walked, he lowered his voice and said, "My champ, do you know what the Bible says about the love of money?"

I frowned. "That it’s the root of all evil?"

"Exactly," he nodded. "Now, let me tell you another one. Do you know what causes the downfall of most men?"

I shook my head.

"The love of women," he said seriously. "Mark my words, Damian—be careful. You're a good-looking young man, and from now on, women will flock to you like bees to honey. If you’re not careful, they will either make you or break you."

I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or take him seriously. But before I could respond, we arrived at the stage.

He released my hand and stepped back, standing proudly among the teachers. I could see the pride written all over his face. If I thought I was excited about winning, my housemaster was on a completely different level.

He kept turning to his colleagues, boasting loudly, "I trained that boy! It was my hard work that made him into the swimmer he is today!"

I chuckled under my breath.

"Hahaha! It wasn’t easy, I tell you," he continued, puffing out his chest. "But the boy is lucky to have a coach like me! I drilled him every single day for an entire year. He has my determination! He wanted to win, and so did I—that was our driving force!"

I shook my head, amused. Well, I didn’t mind. At least he was taking some of the attention off me.

The journalists kept pushing forward, trying to ask their questions. The same question came up over and over again—how was I able to swim that fast after being underwater for so long?

Before I could even attempt to answer, my housemaster jumped in.

"Of course, it’s possible!" he declared. "You see, I took this boy to train with Olympic swimmers! He practiced every single day—no breaks! Nearly a year of non-stop training. And look at him now! The results speak for themselves."

The reporters weren’t satisfied. One of them asked again, "But how did he manage to maintain such speed after being under for so long?"

My housemaster smirked. "And why do you think that’s impossible?" he challenged. "Where is the impossibility? Show me! Tell me! There is no such thing as impossible. In fact, the word 'impossible' itself says 'I’m possible!'"

The journalists were momentarily stunned into silence.

I couldn’t hold back my laughter anymore.

That man really had a way with words.