The noise in the sports complex was deafening. Shelah stood at the base of the bleachers and inspected all the multiple games that were ongoing. People were on the basketball court, some were on the tennis court, the majority were on the football field, and the others were distributed among the volleyball court and the indoor games’ shed.
Shelah had decided to forgo the indoor games that Wednesday. She wanted to see Chike play basketball. She had heard he was the best payer the school had, and she wanted to see what the hype was all about.
“Why are you on the sidelines?” A sneering voice came from behind.
Shelah turned but wasn’t surprised to see Laide and her minions standing there. “I am not good at sports.”
Laide made an exaggerated face of surprise, and her minions followed suit. “How shocking!” She made a dramatic touch to her chest. “The almighty Shelah Akinola has something she’s not good at?”
Shelah was tempted to roll her eyes, but she held back.
“I believe it’s all pretence.” Laide continued her tirade, not caring that Shelah had no response to her initial question. She provided the answer by herself. “You know you could get all sweaty and untidy while out there on the field. Far be it for Miss Know it all, to have a hair out of place on her perfect body.”
“What the…” Shelah was dumbfounded. “How did you even make that conclusion? Of course not. I just can’t participate in sports.”
“Tell that to gullible sheep like Chiks. I, on the other hand, am not fooled by your act of doe-eyed innocence.”
“Senior Laide, it is not an act. I really can’t participate in rigorous sports.”
Laide snorted and pointed at the race tracks. “Get on there.” She snapped.
Shelah blanched, not believing what was happening. Their little exchange was starting to garner attention, and Shelah was not comfortable with it.
“Senior Laide, please.” Shelah tried to move closer to her, but she stepped back; stopping Shelah in her tracks. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to make me run.”
“I don’t care. Get on that track, right now. Or else, I’ll tell the dorm captain to muddle up your report for the week.” There was a conniving glint in her eyes. “You know what I am capable of doing.”
Shelah opened her mouth to say something, closed it, opened it, and finally decided to close it. She sighed, and with reluctance, approached the running tracks. She could hear footfalls behind her, so, she knew Laide was following her.
When she got to the starting point, she turned to look at Liade. “Please.” She pleaded, one last time.
“On your marks…” Laide ignored her, prompting her to go on her knees, alongside the other racers.
“Set.” Laide’s screechy voice called out through the noise on the tracks. “Go!”
Shelah took off, her feet making no distinct sounds, as they blended with the noise of other running feet. She had barely made it past the curve when she felt it begin. She started slowing down, and she could hear the jeers that followed that singular action.
She tried to pick up the pace, but she was running out of breath. She finally came to a halt, and her knees buckled, making her fall on all fours. Tears stung her eyes, as she tried to gulp chunks of air into her lungs. Her throat tightened and she felt the world spinning around her.
The last thing she saw before she collapsed in a heap on the dusty track, was the look of absolute horror on Laide’s face.
When Shelah opened her eyes, she wasn’t expecting her first view to be a peacefully sleeping Laide.
Thanks to the drip set attached to the back of her hand, and the nasal cannula in her nostrils, Shelah knew she was in the well-equipped school clinic. Remembering what led to her new sojourn at the clinic made her groan in mortification.
The sound must have been audible, because Laide jolted awake immediately, and fixed her with a guilty gaze.
“You’re awake.” She said, after a moment of awkward silence where they both stared at each other.
“Yes,” Shelah responded.
They were both silent after this. Shelah looked at the silver clock on the wall and discovered it was just a few minutes after midnight.
“Why didn’t you tell me you had asthma?” Laide asked when the silence was becoming uncomfortable again.
Shelah closed her eyes, wanting to ignore her, but she chose to respond. “Why didn’t you listen to my plead?”
“Things would have been easier if you had just admitted you had asthma,” Laide grumbled while looking everywhere except towards Shelah.
“So, now it’s my fault?” Shelah raised her voice, filled with incredulity. “It’s my fault that you…”
Shelah couldn’t complete the statement when she started wheezing. A frightened Laide rushed to her side, looking like a fish out of water, as she tried to understand how to help. She started patting Shelah’s chest, hoping to calm her down.
“I’m fine.” Shelah wheezed out. “I’m fine!” She snapped with more force.
Laide dropped her hands and moved away from Shelah with reluctance. She stared at the frail girl on the bed, and could barely reconcile her with the vibrant girl she used to know.
“I’m sorry,” Laide muttered quietly, that Shelah almost missed it.
“Why are you even here?” Shelah asked.
Rubbing her arms, Laide sat on the chair beside Shelah’s bed. “The school said I can’t leave here until you get better. It was my fault that you got hurt in the first place.”
Shelah had no response to that, and she decided she would go back to sleep instead. After a few moments of tossing and turning, she realised sleep wasn’t forthcoming, and she finally gave up on trying.
“Senior Laide.” She called.
“Yes?”
“Why do you hate me so much?” Shelah’s eyes were still closed, even as she asked her question.
“I don’t hate you Shelah,” Laide murmured.
“Could have fooled me,” Shelah murmured too.
Laide sighed, prompting Shelah to open her eyes and look at the tired girl. “I don’t hate you, Shelah. I envy you.”
“Envy me?’ Shelah was surprised by the revelation. “Why?”
“You see, I used to have a brother that was just like you. James was his name.” There was a sad smile on her face, as she began her tale. “He could do everything, and he excelled in all activities. As expected, my mother and father doted on him. I was simply like an afterthought for them. To make matters worse, he always rubbed his excellence in my face. Reminded me that I could never measure up to him.”
“That’s just awful,” Shelah whispered.
Laide shrugged. “Yes, it was. I’m sad to say I hated him. I wished he would go away or disappear. One day, my wishes got answered.” She took a huge gulp, as if afraid to continue the story. “He went to swim, one of the things he was effortlessly good at. Unfortunately, he caught a cramp in the middle of swimming. Initially, his teammates thought he was fooling around when he started shouting for help. By the time they realised it wasn’t a prank, he had drowned.”
Shelah covered her mouth with her free hand. “Oh my. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. I could barely mourn him, seeing as I hated him. You must think I’m a devil, yeah?”
Shelah shook her head. “Of course not. You’re only human.”
Laide sniffed, and Shelah realised she was crying. “I thought I would finally have my parents to myself, but they were so wrapped up in their grief, that their neglect of me became worse. When you came along, and everyone seemed to worship you, the new girl, it felt like James all over again. I decided I would break you before you broke me. I never knew I competed with myself, and nobody else.”
“Oh, Laide.” Shelah stretched her free hand towards Laide, and she was glad when Laide took it and gave it a fresh squeeze.
“Look, senior.” Shelah began. “I couldn’t mention my asthma to people because I was ashamed.”
Laide looked at her like she had grown an extra head. “What have you got to be ashamed of? You are the awesome Shelah Akinola.”
“And I wanted to maintain that persona. I didn’t want to be good at things because people pitied me and made me win. I wanted to be able to work for my successes, despite the limitations my health placed on me.”
“That’s a strong will.”
“Yes it is.” Shelah agreed. “And you can have it too. You would never know how good you are at multiple things unless you tried them.”
“You think I can do that?” Laide asked with uncertainty written clearly on her face.
“No” Shelah shook her head.
“Oh,” Laide responded, with a crestfallen face.
“I know so,” Shelah concluded. “You can do anything you want to do.”
Laide smiled, sniffed, and nodded. She mouthed a thank you, and Shelah nodded in response. To lighten up the atmosphere, Shelah knew she had to change the topic.
She glanced around the room, and her gaze settled on the overflowing cupboard beside her bed.
“Whose are those?” She pointed at the wrapped gifts.
“Yours.” Laide smiled. “You have a lot of well-wishers.”
Pointing at the big white teddy bear, Shelah asked. “Is that from Chike?”
“No. Toyin brought that for you. Unfortunately, Chike’s attention is currently diverted.”
“Diverted, how?”
“Well, Miriam, our resident dormitory cheerful giver, has taken it upon herself to keep him company, seeing as you’re on a hospital bed.”
“Wait, how long was I out for?”
“Today is Friday. You were in and out of consciousness yesterday.”
“So, a full day was too much for him?’
“I don’t know what I ever saw in the guy either.” Laide commiserated. “He’s got a hot date on Sunday, with her.”
Shelah shrugged and decided to focus on happier topics. She pointed at a hamper that held long colourful sticks. “What are those?”
“Knock out fireworks. It’s almost Christmas. We are allowed to use them when exams are rounding up.” Laide explained.
“Wow,” Shelah exclaimed. “Aren’t they expensive?”
Laide nodded. “Yes, they are. People love you, Shelah.”
“Are they noisy?”
“Yes. The boys use them to scare us, half of the time.”
“Hmm. I see.” A smile graced Shelah’s lips.
“I know that look. It’s that look you get, whenever you’re plotting something. What is it, this time?”
“What time is Chike’s date with Miriam on Sunday?” She asked Laide with a knowing smile.
Not one to be left out of mischief, Laide caught on immediately. “I like how you think, sister.”
