CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
NADIA
Just a date, or….?
Phil had approached me after training that evening with a serious look in his eyes. I could barely read his expression, but the way he held himself made my heart flutter with uncertainty. “I’ve got good and bad news,” he started, his tone casual but serious.
“Which should I begin with?” he added, almost as if he was deciding on a plan.
“The bad,” I replied flatly, gathering my training kits from the floor. I didn’t care about what the bad news was. Nothing could be worse than being abandoned by my mum or dealing with the constant bullying from Alex, Sandro, and their girlfriends.
Phil’s expression shifted, and he crossed his arms. “Well, the man who gave you the money for your college fees won’t be making it for the final today,” he announced a hint of disappointment in his voice.
“Why!?” I exclaimed almost as a protest, my frustration erupting. He had promised to be there for the final game if we made it, and now, he wasn’t going to show up again! I felt a surge of anger and almost threw the bag containing my training kits away.
“He has a meeting with some business partners,” Phil explained, sounding sincere. “He is sorry, Nadia. He wanted to be here in person to cheer you and the team on.”
“Well, he’s not going to be here,” I said, fuming and feeling a little overwhelmed with frustration. “Just… great! That’s just great. What’s the good news?” I added, almost desperate to move past the disappointment.
Phil smiled slightly, trying to lift the mood. “Well, it still involves the same man. He wants to treat you to something nice after the game.”
My eyebrows arched in confusion. “What do you mean? Something nice like dinner?” My voice was steady, but my heartbeat doubled.
I had anticipated meeting this ‘stranger’ but the thought of meeting him alone caused a strange heat to move through my body. What did he look like? How will he react to seeing me? So many thoughts raced through my mind and I tried my best to suppress it.
“Yeah, something like that. He said he would send his driver to pick you up after the game. I guess it’s a little celebration since you made it to the finals!” Phil explained, clearly excited about this part of the news.
My mind raced. “Do you have any idea where he’s taking me?” I asked, curiosity piquing my interest, despite my initial skepticism.
“Nope! He didn’t say,” Phil replied, almost sheepishly. “But it must be somewhere good. He seems to be very wealthy and classic. You will enjoy it, I’m sure,” he sounded convincing.
I shrugged, unsure how I felt about this. “I don’t know, Phil. I mean, it sounds nice and all, but… what if it’s weird? I don’t even know who this stranger is, or what he looks like. Should I even go? Shouldn’t I be afraid?”
“Hey, it’s an opportunity!” he encouraged. “You’ve had a rough time with the twins and their girlfriends, and this could be fun. Why not give it a try?”
“I guess,” I said slowly, feeling torn between skepticism and intrigue. “Maybe I will. I’ll think about it.”
“He doesn’t want you to think about it,” he said behind me as I made my way out of the training center.
Lucy was very excited about this when I told her. “You should go,” she said. “We could go together if you don’t feel comfortable about it,” she added.
“Don’t worry, I will go alone,” I said to her. I couldn’t afford to go with her, especially since I had no idea what to expect. If it went south, I didn’t want the news to spread. With Lucy, I couldn’t guarantee it wouldn’t reach the whole school.
As the game was about to start later that afternoon, I found myself pacing in the locker room. I approached our coach, who was busy preparing our strategy. “Coach, I don’t feel like starting the game,” I said, surprising even myself with my sudden hesitation.
“Why, Nadia? You’re one of our best players. Are you feeling unwell?” he asked, looking stunned by my request.
“Um, yeah… kind of,” I replied, lying through my teeth. In truth, I couldn’t stop thinking about my date with the man later that day. My heart fluttered, and I felt torn between excitement and anxiety.
“Okay, you should rest a bit. You will come in when we need you,” he said.
As I walked out to join my teammates on the court, I scanned the stands for familiar faces. I saw Sandro and Lara kissing like they were newlyweds, but I frowned when I realized Alex wasn’t there. It piqued my curiosity, but I forced myself to push the thought aside.
The first half of the game was brutal, just like the semi-final. Our team struggled to find our rhythm, and we were losing heavily. At halftime, the coach walked over to me, his expression serious. “Nadia, how are you feeling now?”
“Slightly better,” I said.
“Well, I can do with a half-fit version of you. It’s time to come on,” he said, looking at me with expectation.
I nodded, steeling myself. When I joined the court, I was immediately taken down by one of the opposing players, who knocked me to the ground. Laughter erupted from the opposing team’s fans, and I felt a wave of humiliation wash over me.
I looked over at Sandro, who couldn’t stop laughing with his friends. My heart sank. “Great,” I thought bitterly. “Just what I need.”
The medical team quickly rushed to me, checking my injury. The coach turned to the doctors and asked if I was okay to continue. They shook their heads, saying that my left knee was badly injured. “She will aggravate it even more if she plays on. And I can’t guarantee she can run on it,” one of them said.
Our coach looked devastated, and just as he was about to call for a substitution, I managed to get up, the adrenaline coursing through me.
“I’ll continue,” I said firmly, surprising myself again. But then, that’s what I had been doing all day.
He looked stunned, his eyes wide. “Are you sure about this, Nadia?”
“Yeah, I’m sure! I can do this,” I insisted.
“You will be endangering your health even more,” one of the doctors said to me, his eyes pleading for understanding.
“I know, but my teammates need me, and I can’t let them down,” I said to him. Turning to the coach, I voiced out, “Don’t worry about me. I will be fine.”
My coach sighed, clearly unsure, but he nodded. “Alright, then. Get back in there and make those motherfuckers pay!”
I felt something shifting within me as I re-entered the game. The opposing team had prepared for me, expecting to take me down again, but I was ready for them this time. Fueled by the taunts from them and the laughter I heard from Sandro, I charged through, determined to prove myself.
I weaved past defenders, dribbling the ball, my body moving with instinct and agility. When the first opportunity arose, I took the shot and dunked it in with all my might. The crowd reacted-cheers exploding from our bench and the stands filled with my supporters.
Point by point, I fought back, empowering my teammates around me. Each basket ignited a fire not just inside me, but also lit a spark in my team. As the final minutes approached, I sensed victory within reach.
We pushed harder, and I could feel the momentum shifting. My knee was hurting bad; it felt like it could pull away any moment, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to get over the line, and then, what will be will be.
The opposition, confused and frustrated by my newfound determination, faltered. I was relentless; every time someone knocked me down or tried to intimidate me, I got back up, my resolve only growing stronger. I could hear the crowd singing my name, and that gave me even more spark.
Oh, I was just on fire, and I didn’t feel like stopping!
When the final whistle blew, and we emerged victorious, the adrenaline crashed over me like waves. My teammates hoisted me high in celebration, shouts of triumph echoing in the gym. I was declared the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, and the recognition sent my spirits soaring.
As I stood basking in the applause, I felt a flutter of pride. But amidst the celebrations, I felt the need to find Phil. I needed to tell him we won!
As if he didn’t know already!
When I finally spotted him, my excitement grew, but then I noticed something strange. He was standing with Bethany, deep in conversation. Bethany looked animated, gestures flowing freely as she spoke, and Phil nodded along.
That’s when I knew something wasn’t right. An uneasy feeling settled in my stomach. I could feel the tension rise. What could they possibly be talking about? It had to be something to do with me, I guessed.
Quickly, I grabbed my stuff-my bag and other items-my heart racing with foreboding. I didn’t want to hear whatever they had to say, whatever it was that concerned me. I turned and walked away, heading back to my room, leaving the festive cheers behind me, pondering over what might come next.
At least, I had a date to prepare for! One that made my heart skip excitingly.