Love comes softly

Topesatin2001,arestaurantinNewhall.Justinhadaskedthattheymeetthere.Itwas

twodaysaftertheymetandtheyhavebeentalkingsteady.Shelookedatherwatch.She

wasearly.Shesmiled.Hehadbeenonhermindallday.Shecouldn'twaitforher

lecturestobeover.Justthen,hewalkedin.Shewasnotfarfromtheentrance.She

waved,tryingtogethisattention.Hesightedher.Hesmiledandwalkedovertoher.He

waswearingglasses.Hegottowhereshewassitting.

"HeysorryIkeptyouwaiting."Hesaid.

Shesmiled."Actually,you'rerightontime."

"Iam?"

Shenodded.Heremovedtheglasses.Helookedather.

"Youlooknice."Justintoldher.Topetriedherbesttonottomakehimknowthatshe

blushed.

"Wow.You'renowsobig."Shesaid."IrememberbacktheninschoolIthinkIwaseven

tallerthanyou."

Hechuckled."Weallgottagrowoneday."Helookedaround."Wanttogetsomething?"

"Onlyifyou'regetting."Topefeltlikeshewasflirting.Shesmiledinwardly.Hestoodup

andwenttooneofthecounters.Justthen,herphonerang.ItwasMercy.Shepickedit

up.

"Heybabewhereareyou?"Mercyasked.

"Onadate."Topesmiled."WithJustin."

Mercylaughed.Itwasascornfullaugh.

"What'sfunny?"

"Nothing.Enjoyyourself.I'mgoingoutside.IwanttogetsomethingatYaba."

"Okay.I'llcallyoulater."ShelookeduptoseethatJustinhadcomebackwithaplateof

jollofrice,salad,turkeyandabottleofcoke.

"Ipresumeyoulikecoke."

"Yeah.It'smyfavorite."Sherepliedandsmiled.

"I'llberightback."Hesaidandleft.Probablytogethisfood.

Woah.Topethought.Thisshouldcostlikealot.Theturkeyhereshouldcostabout#600.

Shestartedeating.Justincameback.Healsoboughtthesamething.Buthebought

fantainstead.Hesatinfrontofher.

"Heythanksforthefood."Topestarted.

"Shhh,eat.Talkafter."Hereplied.

Topesmiled.Shecontinuedeating.Afterawhile,shewasdone.Shewasaquickeater.

Justinwasstilleating.Sherelaxedandwatchhimeat.Topestartedwonderinghowshe

gottolikehimallofasudden.Shelikedhimbacktheninsecondaryschool.Butitdied

downwhenhelefttheirschool.Buthereshewas,fallingforhimalloveragain.He

finallyfinishedhisfoodandpushedtheplateaway.

"So,how'sitgoing?"Heasked.

"Prettygreat.Imean,I'vebeenhavingagoodtimehereinUnilag."Shereplied.She

leanedcloser."WeneverheardfromyoueversinceyouleftCaleb."(Caleb,thenameof

thesecondaryschool.)

"Yeah.Mydadmovesalot.Thattime,wemovedtoAbujacusofhisbusinessand

stuff."Hesippedhisfanta."Whenhisbusinessgotstrongandcouldcopewithouthim,

wemovedbacktoLagosandIchoseUnilagasmyfirstchoice.IwasluckyandIgotin."

"Nice."

"HowcomeI'mjustmeetingyou?"

"Icameinasadirectentrystudent.Icouldn'tgetinwhenItried.SoIhadtodo

diploma."Sheexplained.

"Oh,that'sprobablywhyI'venotseenyouuntilnow."Justinpickedhisglassesandput

themonhisface.

Topelookedaround."IhopebaeisnotangrythatI'mwithyou."

Justinlaughed."Bae?Iwish.I'msingle."Heplayedwiththecoverofthefantabottle.

"Whyareyoustillsingle?"

"Idon'tknow.IguessI'venotseenwhoIwantyet."

Topesmiled.I'mgonnabetheone.You'llsee.

"Issomethingfunny?"Heasked.

"Nonothing.Nothingreally."

"Doyouhaveanywhereyouhavetobe?"

"Nowhereinparticular.Why?"Topewascurious.

"Myfacultyisorganizingasportscompetition.Todayisthesemi-finals.Iwantedtosee

thematch.Iwasthinkingyou'dcomewithme."

"Sure.Areyouready?"

"Ofcourse.Wemightevenbelate."Hegrinned.Hestoodup.Shedidthesame.They

lefttherestaurant.Astheywalkeddownthestairs,Justinmetoneofhisfriends.

"Ah,bosshowfarna?"Hisfriend.

"Ideyjare."Hereplied."Wetindeysupna?"

"Iwangochopjare."ThedudenoticedTopebesidehim."Iseeseyyoudeyenjoyna.Na

thebabebethisabi?"

Topeblushed.

"Abina."Justinreplied.

"Nayouooo."Theguysaidandwalkedup."Laterna.Wegochill."

"Okayna."

TheywalkedoutofNewHall.

"Whatwasthatabout?"Topepretendedshedidknow.

"Ah,it'snothingmuch.Justnormaldudestuff."Hereplied.

Shenodded.TheywalkedsidebysidetowardsSportscenter.TheygotinandJustin

tookhertowherehisfacultywasplaying.Itwasfootball.Theygotthereandacoupleof

Justin'sfriendscameovertothem.

"Geee!"Oneofthemexclaimed.

"Wedonthinkseyyounogoshow."Anothersaid.

"Ahnona.ItoldKingthatI'llbearound."Hesaid."Sowhat'supna?Whenareyouguys

playing?"

Thefirstfriendlookedatthepeopleonthefield.

"We'vequalified.Butwestillhavetofaceyear4."Hesaid.HeglancedatTope."Who's

thechick?"Heasked.

JustinlookedatTope."OhhernameisTope.Mysecondaryschoolpadi."

"HeyTope,mynameisChristopher.CallmeChris."Thefirstguysaidwaving.

"Hi."Suddenly,Topefeltshy.

"AndthisisSamuel."Justinpattedtheotherguyonhisshoulder.Hewaswatchingthe

game.

"HeyTope.Nicetomeetyou."Samuelsaidwithoutlookingback."PASSTHEBALL!"

Justinchuckled."Don'tmindhim.That'sjusthowheis.Footballfreak."

Topesaidnothing.Shejustkeptonsmiling.Thematchwasover.Justin'sclassgot

readyandthefootballersgotintothefield.Topewatchedthemastheylinedupintheir

formation.Shesawthelookofdeterminationontheirfaces.Ohthisniggasarewinning.

Shethought.ShesawthatJustinstoodbesideher.Hewasn'twearinghisfootballkit.

"You'renotplaying?"Sheasked.

"Ohno.Footballisnotmything.AlthoughIlikethesport"

Shenodded.JustthenJustin'sclassscored.Thewholefielderupted.Topewas

beaming.ShesawJustin'sfriendsjumpingupanddowninjubilation.Sheglancedat

Justin.Hejustshookhisfistwithalookofsatisfactiononhisface.

"Thatwasfast."Shesaid.

"Iknowright?Theboysarereallygood."Hereplied."Comeonboys,youcantrash

them."

ThematchwentonwithJustin'sclassdominating.Topesecretlylikedfootball.Her

brotherswerebigfans.Sobasicallyshewatcheditwiththem.Justin'sclassadvanced

intotheopponentpenaltyboxareaandTopeunconsciouslygrippedJustin'sarm.

Unfortunately,theylosttheirchanceandtheballwentout.Sherealizedshewasholding

hisarm.

"Sorry."Shesmiled.

"Nobiggie.Ineverimaginedyou'dlikefootball."

"It'smyfavoritesport."

"Okay."Hesaid."RonaldoorMessi?"

"Messialltheway!"Shereplied.

"Ohyeah.AnotherMessifan."Justinraisedhishandforahighfive.Topejumpedup

andsmackedhishand.

"He'sthebest.Nofurtherargument."Shecontinued.Thefielderuptedagain.300lvlhad

scored!

"Awman,wemissedthegoal"Justinlamented.

"Shoot.Yourteamisreallygood.Thisistotaltrashing"

"Yeah.Theytrainregularly.Themembersoftheteamarequitefamiliarwitheachother."

Theycontinueddiscussingthematchandotherfootballstuff.Thematchendedand

300lvlwon3tonil.Thefinalfixturewas300lvlvs100lvl.Theywalkedtowardstheexit

ofSportscenter.

"So,tomorrowforthefinal?"Justinasked.

"Sure.Wouldn'tmissit."

"Great.I'llwalkyoutoyourhostel."

TopestayedinQueenAminahall.Theywalkedsidebysidetoherhostelandwhenthey

gotthere,Justinhuggedher.ShewentintoherhostelandJustin,feelinglazytowalkto

hishostel,decidedtotakeacab......

Justinsatinclass.Hewaswatchingamovieonhisphone.Hewasreallyengrossedin

whathewasdoingthathepracticallyshutouttherestofhiscoursemates.Suddenly,

hefeltsomeoneyankhisleftairpodfromhisear.Alarmed,hepausedthemovieand

lookedsideways.Hesawthebeautifulfaceofhiscoursemate,Silviastaringathim,

smilingwiththeairpodinherhand.

"WhydidyoudothatSilvia?"Heasked.

"I'vebeencallingyou.Thisthingisgonnadamageyourears."Shesatbesidehim.

"Ijustwantedtowatchthismovie.It'sagoodone."Hesaidandsatwell."So,what's

up?"Hestretchedouthishandforhisairpod.Shedroppedthedeviceinhishand.

"Nothingmuch.Ijustwantedtotalkabout,youknowus."

"Whataboutus?"Justthen,acallfromTopecamein.HerpictureshowedandSilvia's

eyesfollowedit."SorryIhavetotakethis."Justinsaid.

"Sure."

"HeyTemitope.What'sup?"

"Nothingmuch."Topereplied."Iwantedtoknowthetimeforthematch."

"Ohit'sby5pm."

"Okay.Can'twait."Therewas

excitementinhervoice.

"Iknowright?Seeyouby4:30.I'llcometoyourfaculty."JustinglancedatSilvia.She

wasusingherphone.

"Okay.That'llbecool.Seeyouthen."

"Bye."Thecallended

Whowasthat?"SilviaaskedassoonasJustinputhisphonedown.

"Ohthat'sTope.She'smyfriendfromsecondaryschool."Hereplied.

"Okaythen."ShetypedsomethingonherphoneandJustin'sphonestartedringing.It

wasacallfromSilvia.Justinwassurprised.

"Whydidyoucallme?"

"Howcomemypicturedoesn'tshowwhenIcallyou?"

"That'saweirdquestion.Ididn'tsetitthatway."Justinrealizedwhereshewasheaded.

"Butherpictureisclearlyshowingwhenshecallsyou."

"Doesitreallymatter?"JustinwastiredofSilvia.

"JustinyouknowIlikeyoualot.Butyou'redenyingthefactthatIdo.Idon'twanttolose

youtoanyone."

"Silviawe'vebeenthroughthisalready."Hesatwellandfacedher.Shelookedsober.He

feltsorryforher."Thethingis,I'mactuallynotyetreadyforcommitment."

Silviasighed."Soyoudon'tlikeme?"

"Ididn'tsaythat."

"Soyoulikeme?"

"Ididn'tsaythateither."Justinreplied.

Silvialookedathimblankly.

"Thiswasuseless."Shesaidandleft.

Justinsighed......

"Girl,youandthisJustinguyarehittingoffprettyfast."Mercysaidtoherfriend.They

werewaitingfortheirnextlecturertocome.

"Yeah.Babe,Ilikehimalot."Topereplied."I'mhangingoutwithhimagainthisevening."

"Woah.Yourock."Herfriendsaid."Youknow,I'venotactuallyseenthedude."

"Don'tworry,you'llmeethim.

"You'resurehe'sstillsingleright?CusI'msurehe'scute.Imean,isn'titrareforcute

guystobesingle?"

"Iaskedhim.Hesaidhe'ssingle.He'shonest.I'veknownhimsincesecondaryschool."

Mercyglaredather."Easybabe.Don'tyouthinkyou'refallingtoohard?"

"AmI?"

"Ifeelyouare."Mercyopenedhernote."Ihopeyou'venotgivenhimhintsthatyoulike

him."

"Ishouldn't?"Topeasked,surprised.

"No.Heshouldn'tknowyoulikehimyet."

Why?Sheaskedherself."Why?"SheaskedMercy.

"Youknow,soitdoesn'tgetintohisheadtoomuch."

"Oh."

"Yeah.Yousee,whenguysrealizethataparticulargirllikesthem,boom!Theystartto

messup."Mercytouchedhershoulder."Soifyouwanttokeepthisdude,makehimfall

foryou.Nottheotherwayaround."

Woah,thatactuallymakessense.Shethought.CanIactuallydothat?

Thelecturercameinforthelecture.

"Oh,he'scomingheretogetmesoyou'llprobablyseehim."Topewhisperedtoher

friend.

"Great.Ihopehe'scute.Ifhe'snot,it'satotalNO!"

"Ican'tbelieveI'venotshownyouhispicture."

"Idon'tevenwanttoseenow.Iwanttobesurprised."Mercyreplied.

Thelectureraskedforhisassignmentsthathegavethepreviousweek.Thetwofriends

submitted.Whentherestoftheclasshadsubmitted,thelecturestarted.Abouttwo

hourslater,thelectureendedandthelecturerleft.Mercywaspressed.Sheranoutto

thetoilet.Topesat,revisingwhatthelecturerlectured.

Someonetappedhershoulder.Shelookedback.ItwasDamian.Oneofhercours

mates

"Hey."Hesaid."Canyoulendmeyournoteforthiscourse?Imissedthepreviousclass."

"Surething.Makesureyoureturnitontimesha."

"Thanks."Thedudewalkedaway.

Topecheckedherphoneforthetime.Itwas4:22.ShestartedexpectingJustin'scall.

Almostimmediately,hecalledher.

"Hey,"hesaid."I'mtakingacabnow.Comingtoyourfaculty."

"Okay.I'mwaiting."

"You'regonnahelpmethough.I'veliterallyneverbeentoFSS."

"Really?"Sheasked.

"Yeah.SowhenIdropatFSS,I'llcallyoufordirections"

"Sure."

MercywalkeduptoTope.

"Okay.Bye."Hehungup.

Mercyshookherhead,laughing.

"God,what'sfunnyagain?"Topefrowned.

"You'regoingtogetobsessedwiththisboyoo."

Toperolledhereyes."Hejustcalledtotellmehe'sonhisway."

"Okay.PretendIsaidnothing."Shesmiledthiswickedkindofsmile.

"Whyareyousmilinglikethat?"

"Nothing.Actuallynothing."

"Itbetterbenothing."

Mercyhissed."He'scomingabi?"

"Yeah.Ijusttoldyou."

"Endon'teatmena!"

Topegrinned.Herphonerang.Shepickeditupimmediately.

"Youhere?"

"Yes.Sodirectmetowhereyou'reat."

"HowaboutIjustmeetyouatthegate?"Topesuggested.

"Nah.Justtellmehowtogettoyou."

"Okay,ifyouinsist."Shewentaheadtogivehimthedirections.

"He'llsoonbehere."ShetoldMercy.

"Who?"Theyheardbehindthem.Topegroaned.NotAjayiagain.

"It'snoneofyourbusiness."Shelashedout.

"Calmdownna.I'mnotfightingwithyou."Ajayisaid."Howareyou?"Hetriedtohugher

frombehind.Topeshovedhimaway.

"I'mokay.I'mexpectingsomeone.Whatdoyouwant?"

AjayiwasTope'sannoyingcoursemate.Topealmostthrewupwhenhecameoneday

andsaidhelikesher.Sheturnedhimdownonthespot.Buttheduderefusedtogiveit

up.Heleftherforawhileandonlystarteddisturbingherrecently.

"Whoareyouexpecting?"Heaskedagain.

"Ajayi,"Mercystarted."Don'tyouknowwhentoknowyou'renotwanted?"

"Idon'tunderstand."Hereplied.

"Whatshe'stryingtosayisthatIwantyoutoleavemealone."Topetoldhim.

"Why?"Heasked

"Isn'titclearenough?"

"Shedoesn'tlikeyou!"

Theguylaughed."Stopplayingna."

TopelookedatMercyandthebothofthemstartedlaughing.

"Whoisjoking?Isitbecausewe'relaughing?"Mercysaid.

TopelookedattheentranceandsawJustinlookingaroundforher.

"Abegshift,thepersonthatI'mexpectingishere."TopewavedandJustinsightedher.

Hecameovertothem.

"HeyJustin."Topecrooned.Shehuggedhim.Justinfelthisstomachflutterwhenshe

huggedhim.

"Hey."Hereplied.

MercylookedatJustin.Wow,thisguy'shot.

"Justin,I'lllikeyoutomeetmybestie,Mercy."

"Hey.MynameisJustin.Nicetomeetyou."

Ajayislippedaway.

"Nicetomeetyoutoo.MynameisMercylikeTopesaid."

"Whowasthatguy?"JustinreferredtoAjayi.

"Ohhe'snotreallyimportant.Justaregularcoursemate."

"Okay.Youready?"

"Yeah."

"Mercy,youcomingwithus?"Justinasked.

"Ohno.ButI'mgoingtowardsthatdirection.SoI'llprobablytagalong."Sheanswered.

Justin'sphonestartedringing.HebroughtitoutofhispocketandMercy'seyeswidened.

ShepulledTopecloser.

"Youdidn'tsayhe'susinganiPhonex."Shewhispered.

"Ididn'tthinkitwasnecessary."

"Woah."

Justinfinishedhiscall.Hewasfewfeetaheadofthegirls.Heglancedback.Thegirls

walkedfastertomeetupwithhim.

"ThatwasfromSportscenter."Hesaid.

"Ithoughtthematchwon'tstartuntil5."

"Yeah.ButlikeIsaid,todayisthelastdayofthecompetition.Therearealotofthingsto

dobeforethemainmatch."Justinexplained.

"Oh."Topeexclaimed.

"Awwn,IwishIcouldcomewithyouguys."Mercychippedin.

"Whydon'tyoucomewithus?Trustme,it'sfun."Justintoldher.

"WellasmuchasIwantto,Ican't.Maybesomeothertime."Mercyreplied.Shewanted

totakeacab.Shegottothebusstop.Topehuggedher.

"What'sallthesefor?It'snotlikeI'mtraveling."Mercyjoked.

"Seeyoulaterjare."Topeanswered.

"ByeMercy.Nicemeetingyou.Again."

"Bye."

JustinandTopecontinuedtowardsSportscenter.Theysoongotthereandtheywalked

in.Thewholeplacewasfilledwithdifferentactivities.JustingrabbedTope'shandand

theywalkedtowherehisfacultywas.Topeimmediatelyrecognizedthefacesshesaw

thepreviousdayandshealsosawnewfaces.Mostofwhichweregirls.Justinledher

towhereagroupofpeoplewereseated.

"Heyguys,wassup?"Hegreeted.

"YoJustin!Whereyoubeenbrother?"Samuelsaid.

"IhadtogogetTope."Herepliedandheldherlikehewasshowingheroff."Guysthisis

Tope.Tope,law21"

"Hi"Topesaidtothefacesthatwerestaring.

"Heyhaveaseat."ItwasChris.Hestoodupforhertosit.

"Thanks."Topemanagedtosay.Itwasobviousthatshewasshy.Shesatdown.She

lookedatJustin.Hesmiledather.

"Yougood?"Hemouthed.Shenodded.Henoddedback.

Somehow,Topefeltuneasy.Shedecidedtolookaround.Sheregrettedthatshedidso

almostimmediately.Asshelookedsideways,shesawthisgirlstaringintenselyather.

Infact,shewasglaring.Topeshuddered.

Whyisshestaringlikethat?Topethought.Thereandthen,shedecidedthatthegirlwas

goingtobethefewpeopleshe'lltrytoavoidinJustin'sclass.Justincameovertoher.

Hebentdowninfrontofher.

"Hey,um,thematchwillstartsoonsoIwanttogetsomesnacksforustoeatwhileit's

on."

"OhI'llfollowyou."Shesaid.

"Nah.Juststayhere.It'llonlybeaminute."Topenodded.Shewatchedhimasheleft

withChrisandSamuel.Shewatchedtheracesandotherattractions.Sheheardlaughter

comefrombehindher.Shestrainedherearstohearwhatthegirlsweresaying.

"Where'sshefrom?"Oneasked.

"Yabatech.Shelookslikeoneofthem."anotherreplied.Theylaughed.

"Idon'tthinkso.Ithinkshe'sfromUnilagtoo."

"Ugh!"

"IssheJustin'sgirlfriend?"Anotheroneasked.

"Ofcoursenot!"Thisvoicewaslouder.

"WeallknowthatJustinbelongstoSilvia."

Tope'sheartskippedabeat.Shepretendedtoconcentrateontheeventsgoingonthe

field.

"Sadeisright."Anothersaid.Everyoneagreed.TheirgossipdieddownwhenJustinand

hisfriendsreturned.Topedecidedtogetbackatthelousygirls.

"Heyyou."Topesaid."Iwasfamished."Shesawthathebroughtcoke."Oooh,coke."

Hepassedittoher."Youcouldhavesaidyouwerehungryyouknow."

"Girlsdon'tactuallysaywhattheywant.Theyexpecttheguystoknowitalready."She

smiled.

Hesmiledback.Hesatdownbesideher.

"Poopcorn?"Heasked.

"Sure."Topesaidandpaused."Wait,Ididn'thearright.Yousaidpoopcorn?"

Justinlaughed."Ididn'tthinkyou'dnotice."

"Ididand,ew.Idonotwantpoopcorn.Butifyou'vegotpopcorn,I'llgladlyaccept"Tope

said,laughing.

"Hereyougo."Hepassedthepackofpopcornintoheropenhands.

Theplayersstormedthefield.

"GoLaw21!"Justinyelled.

"Woooo!"Topeyelledback.

Thetwoofthemlaughed.Topemadeherselfcomfortable.Sheputherheadonhis

shoulderandimmediatelynoticedthatshecouldn'tseethematchwell.

"Canyouseethefieldlikethat?"Justinasked.

"Yeahsure."Shelied.Topewasprettysurethelousygirlswereburningwithannoyance.

Shesmiled.

Justin'sheartwasthumpingslightly.Hethoughtaboutputtinghisarmaroundherback

sohecouldbemorecomfortable.Hesummonedcourageandwrappedherwithhis

rightarm.Silviahadhadenough.Outraged,shestoodupandwalkeduptothem.

"HeyJustin,canIspeaktoyou?"

"Yeahsure.Spill."Hemunchedpopcorn.

"Um."SheglaredatTope."Privately."

Topereturnedtheglare.

"Idon'tthinkthisisthebesttimeSilvia."Justinexplained."Clearly,I'mwithsomeone."

"OhI'msureshewouldn'tmind."Shegaveafakesmile."Wouldyou?"SheaskedTope.

"It'llbeaminute."

"Nonotatall.Sinceit'ssoimportantIreallydon'tmind."Topesaid,returningthefake

smile.Justinwasoblivioustowhatwasgoingonbetweenthetwogirls.Hestoodup.

Heledherfewfeetaway.

"Sowhat'ssourgentthatyoucouldn'twait?"

"Howcanyousayyou'renotdatingthatgirl?"Silviablurted.

"What?"Justinwasshocked."That'swhyyoucalledme?"Hestartedlaughing.

"Justin!Whyareyouactinglikethis?"

"Whyareyoujealous?Thebothofusaren'tevendating."

"Yet.Wearen'tdatingyet."Silviapointedout.

"WhathascomeoveryouSilvia?"Justinasked."You'vebecomesoobsessed.It'snot

healthy."

"WhosaidI'mobsessed?"

"Comeongirl.Everyoneknowsyou'reobsessedwithme."

"Whywon'tyoudateme?"

"You'renotgivingmeanyreasonto."

"Whatdoyoumean?"Sheasked.

"Seewhatyou'redoingnow.Iamnotyourboyfriendandstillyouactlikethisjealous

wife.You'realwaystextingme,callingme,youdon'tevengivemespacetobreathe."

Herfacehadchangedtremendously.Hewenton."LookSilvia,you'reaverybeautifulgirl.

You'resupposedtobechased.Nottheotherwayaround.Lookatyou,you'restressed.

Tired.Maybeifyougiveitachill,youmightgetwhatyouwant."

"Ididn'trealize."

"Iknow."

"Youlikeherright?"SheaskedandhalfpointedtoTope.

"Youknowwhat,I'mnotgonnalietoyou,Idonotknow.LikeIsaidshewasmyfriendin

secondaryschool.Butitwasmorethanthat.Ilikedheralot.ButthenIchangedschool.

Andnowheresheisagain,Iguesstheoldfeelingsareresurfacing."

Silviasighed."I'msorryforreactingthatway.IguessI'mobsessed."

Justintouchedhershoulder."Howaboutyouactuallygivemetimetofallforyou?And

seeifitactuallyhappens."

Shenodded."That'llbenice."Shesmiled.

"We'regood?"

"Yeah."

"Comeon,we'remissingthematch."

Silviahuggedhim.IttookJustinbysurprise.Shereleasedhimandwenttoherfriends.

JustinwalkedbacktoTope.

"Hey."Hesaidashesatdownbesideher.

"Hey,youweregonelong.Wasthereanyproblem?"Sheasked.

"Uhnotreally."

Topewantedtoask,butsomehow,sheknewwhattheytalkedabout.Noonehadtotell

herthattheSilviagirllikedJustin.

"Thematchisreallytoughright?"Heasked.

"Yes.Itreallyisthough."

TherewasanawkwardmomentofsilenceuntilLaw21foundthenet.Everyone

stormedthefield.Theyearonestudentsweretough.

Afteralongbattle,theLaw21clinchedthevictorywith2goalsto1.Itwasahard

earnedvictory.Theplayerscrowdedthecupastheytookpictures.Somehow,Justin

andTopegotintooneofthepictures.Later,JustinwalkedTopetoherhostel.

"Woah.Whataday."Justinexclaimed.

"Iknowright"

"Ican'tstillbelievethatyoulovefootball."

"Well,mybrothersmademelikethesport."

"Ohyeah."Hesmiled."Nowonder."

"Sincetheywereolder,Igrewuplikingthesport."

"Nice.Wherearetheynow?"

"ToyosiisinOAU,finalyearmechanicalengineering.WhileTadeisservinginEkiti."

Justinnodded.Theygottoherhostel.Itwasdarkalready.Justinlookedathiswatch.It

wasalready7:30.

"Thanks."Topesmiled."Ihadaswelltime."

Justingrinned."Youdon'thavetothankme.It'swhatIdo."

"Bye.We'lltalk."

"Sure."

Topewavedandwalkedtotheentranceofherhostel.Sheturnedaround.Hewasstill

waiting.Shewavedagain.Hewavedback.Sheenteredherhostel.Justinturnedandleft.