After our dinner, our captain told me to go and meet our coach.
KO! KO! KO!
I knocked immediately I got to my coach's lounge.
"Akanni! Is that you?"
I heard Coach Labi say from inside. "Yes, Coach."
"Come on in."
"Yes, sir." I opened the door and went in. "Good evening sir, good evening coach," I greeted the two coaches in a prostrating form immediately I entered the room.
"Hey my boy, how are you doing?" Coach Lanson said.
"I am fine, sir."
"Have you guys had your meals?" he asked again.
"Yes, Coach."
"Very good."
"Yeah Akanni, good game today, well done. But you can improve more on that, I trust," Coach Labi said.
"Yes sir. You sent for me, Coach?" I said.
"Yeah, your mom called. She wants to speak with you. Probably she is missing you already," Coach Labi chuckled, picking up his phone and dialing it.
"Take..." he stretched his hand with the phone to me.
"Thank you, sir," I said, receiving it from him.
"You can excuse yourself, but don't go far, it's late already," Coach Labi said.
"Yes sir." I immediately left the room, waiting for my mom to pick the call.
Not long after—
"Hello sir," I heard my mom's crisp voice.
"Hello Mama, it's Akanni," I said.
"Oh, how are you doing? You did not even bother calling home. We missed you already," my mom said.
"Ah Mama, I am sorry. It's just that I am a little shy to ask for my coach's phone," I said sincerely.
"But nonetheless, if you had asked, Coach Labi would let you speak with me."
"Yes Mama," I said.
"Okay, how is the place? Are you guys well fed? Is that place comfortable for you guys?" my mom asked with a series of "are you" questions, seemingly worried about my well-being.
"We are doing okay, Mama. We won all our matches since yesterday too."
"That's good of you guys. You must secure the medal too," my mom said.
"Sure Mama, I heard there would be a cash prize too," I said, equally happy with the situation.
"Busayo and Charles were seriously missing you."
"I missed them too, Mama. Can I talk to them now?" I asked.
"That would be another day, because they are asleep now. It's late. I will call another time, let's not misuse your coach's airtime," my mom said considerately.
"Okay Mama, goodnight ma."
"Goodnight my boy, you are all blessed," my mom prayed for us all.
"Amen Mama, bye bye," I said as the call ended.
After I returned the phone to my coach, I saw her—Mira.
She played for the Super Cubs softball team of the hosting team—Oyo State. One of the girls I can call a friend.
"Hi Akanni," she said.
"Hey Mira," I replied, walking towards her.
"You guys are too ready for this year's championship again," she said.
"Yeah, you should know we always are," I replied with total pride.
This was our fourth time joining the Southwestern Championships, and we had been on an undefeated streak, so why shouldn't I be confident?
"But you might not know until the end. Perhaps there's one team there ready to change the course?" she grinned.
"Uhm, you are right, but they would always be at our back though."
"You are too full of yourself," she commented.
"Yeah, I should be. What are you doing out here late at night by the way?"
"My mom called, that I had to use my coach's phone," I explained as if I was being interrogated.
"Uhm sure, mommy's boy," she teased. "Follow me, I am going to get something outside the hostel," she said.
"Why, can't it wait till tomorrow?" I asked, quietly refusing the offer. I mean, it was past nine o'clock in the night.
"I used it up already, and I seriously need it tonight. Forget it if you are not going to accompany me, you can just say you are scared," Mira said with an unscrupulous face.
Did she just say I am scared? Who wouldn't be, by the way? It's late at night and I am not familiar with the place. Tell me why shouldn't I be cautious?
"Uhm, who said I am scared? I am just worried about you going outside the hostel late at this hour," I said, looking at her in bewilderment. I mean, she is too bold.
"It's just at the kiosk outside the gate. It won't be long before I get it and come back," she said. Even by now, if I wanted to refuse, I couldn't again, as we had already reached the gate.
"What is it you want to buy that couldn't wait till tomorrow morning?" I asked.
"Do not ask questions. It is not what boys should know," she said mischievously.
"Oh, and what is it so discreet that girls want to buy that boys should not know about?" I asked confusingly. Now we had reached the kiosk.
"You talk too much for a boy," she scolded. What! She actually talked to me with that tone?
"Good evening ma, I want to buy pads," she said to the elderly woman, who seemed to be the owner of the shop, while she went in.
"What is the use of the pads that you needed urgently that couldn't wait till tomorrow?" I asked curiously.
"That's not what a small boy like you should know about," the elderly woman said, with a scrutinizing look.
Watching the two females look at me as if I carried dirt on my brows deepened my curiosity. I mean, why would Mira need it and I could not know about it?
After Mira bought the pads, we returned towards the hostel.
"Can I have a look at the pads?" I asked innocently.
"What! You're kidding me that you don't know about this?" She gestured to the nylon in her hand.
"I swear, I don't know anything about it," I said.
"Uhm, anyways. It is normal that you don't know about it. It's actually only meant for girls, not something boys can use," she explained.
"Sure," I nodded in understanding. "See you tomorrow then," I said.
"Okay, bye," she replied.
As I turned towards our hostel, I felt her pull me back. "You should at least offer a proper goodbye," she said as she hugged me, then immediately pulled back.
"Oh!" I said in bewilderment. You could see the tip of her ears turning red in the darkness of the night as she ran off towards their hostel.
Meanwhile, I stood there in a daze. 'What does that mean?' A proper goodbye?
I did not think too much of it as I returned to our hostel.
Today's first boys' game was between the Rainbow Stars baseball team of Ogun State and the Super Cubs of Oyo State.
It was a five-inning game, with the hosting team defeating the Rainbow Stars with seven runs to four.
And the last game today, ending the elimination phase, was going to be between The Source Baseball Team from Osun State and The Lagoon Rangers from Lagos.
The game came to a tie between the two teams with the runs at eight to eight, leading to the sixth inning with a man on second base and two outs.
When it was The Source Baseball Team of Osun State at bat, they could not add to their eight runs, which led to the bottom of the last inning.
Unfortunately for them, their opponent, The Lagoon Rangers from Lagos, scored a run, ending the game at nine runs to eight.
After the third game, the tournament committee, headed by the scorer, announced the list of teams who proceeded to the quarterfinals.
"The first on my list for the Youth League baseball..." he began.
"Liberty from Ekiti State topping the standings with six points currently, with a total accumulation of twenty-nine runs..." he paused, while we all clapped.
"The Lagoon Rangers from Lagos State in second place also with six points, with a total of sixteen runs.
The Source Baseball Team from Osun State taking third place with three points and a total of nineteen runs, and the last team proceeding to the quarterfinals, the hosting team, the Super Cubs of Oyo State, with three points also and a total of ten runs."
"Thank you all players, coaches, parents, and our spectators. These are the list of teams proceeding to the quarterfinals."
"And for the softball teams... these are the list of teams who qualified for the quarterfinals..."
"First on our list, we have the hosting softball team, The Super Tigress of Oyo State, leading the table with a total of twelve runs...
And State Lagoon Softball of Lagos State, taking second place with a total of nine runs.
The Source Softball Team of Osun State, in third standing with eight runs.
The Sunshine Softball Team of Ondo at the bottom of the table with a total of six runs."
The scorer announced the teams proceeding to the quarterfinals, while the leading tournament committee member came up to address us.
"Thank you everyone for your maximum cooperation for the smooth sailing of the tournament's ship. The scorer has just announced unto us the teams—both baseball and softball—proceeding to the quarterfinals. Now, I want all the teams that are not qualified not to dwell on it. You can do better. Come next championship, I want everyone, individually and collectively—our skills should be improved by then.
Let's all go back to our various hostels and relax for the games tomorrow. And please, let us all come out and watch the games, give each team playing your support. Thank you all."
He said, while we all clapped and returned to our hostels.
Back at Ekiti State, in the top room of the largest building in the state—The Convergence Group. This was a large corporation, holding thirty quarters of power in the nation's economy.
With the main business being Real Estate and Agriculture, alongside other supporting sectors like Technology, Hotels, Restaurants, Malls, Resorts, Public & Private Ride Companies, and Sports Equipment Companies, among many others, the business belonged to Segun Derin, a thirty-three-year-old man, the CEO of Convergence Group Worldwide.
With the Board of Directors and shareholders present, Segun Derin stood tall at the edge of the large table, with his people surrounding it. Standing behind him was his most trusted and loyal assistant—Odun, also thirty-seven years old.
They were in the middle of the annual meeting, where everyone in power reviewed and reported their segments to the CEO.
But there was one particular man—Demi, forty-four years old, husband to Segun's direct elder sister—opposing the rule and structure of the system.
"What are we to do if the occupants file a case against us?" he asked with a smirk plastered on his face. They were arguing about the new project the Convergence Group was working on—The B City.
This was a huge project for the company.
"I don't think that calls for alarm, Mr Demi. The issue has been addressed since the initial edition of the project last January, stating that any building within or surrounding the land to be used would receive compensation, and I think the company has already moved them to a new area, sir."
The man who spoke was the head project director for the project—B City.
"I don't think there is more to talk about concerning this," Segun interjected. "Let's wait and work together for the success of this project. We are moving forward, and I know with this, Ekiti State would once again be in the headlines as the most developing province in the country," he said while standing up. Immediately everyone in the building also stood up in respect to the CEO.
Suddenly a shrewd old man asked a question. "My amiable CEO, it's been six years since the young master left the country. How has his health been? I hope he is recovering?" he asked with a very cunning concern lacing his tone. This man—Jones—was one of the shareholders in the company with a total share of 0.7%, one of the company's adversaries and a subordinate of Demi.
"Thank you for your concern, Mr Jones. His health is improving," Segun said in few words, not bothering with the mocking gazes of the old men in the room.
"I hope I can see our young master at the upcoming company's twentieth anniversary," another man said—obviously a follower of Demi.
Before Segun could reply, Demi beat him to it. "Don't worry everyone, the young master would be shown to the world, in whatever state he is..." saying this, he cast a mocking glance at Segun, who stood there with a cold face, showing no emotion.
In turn, everyone in the room faced Segun with expressions demanding assurance.
"Definitely true, I will show my son to the world in good health," he said.
"Did the CEO mean that the young master's treatment is coming to an end?" another man asked with a surprising tone.
"Yes Audu, the young master's doctor said in four months, his treatment should have been rounded up," Odun replied in place of his boss.
While Demi, with a scrutinizing face, doubted the truth in what he said.
Back at one of the elite estates of the Convergence Group—Pluto Estate. This was where the dignitaries of the state resided after the GRAs.
In house number one, this was where the Derin family resided.
Inside Segun's study, he sat behind the desk with a lot of files on it. Beside the files were two laptops, while beside the desk was another desk for his assistant—Odun. They were both immersed in what they were doing when Odun said,
"Boss, what should we do now, as Demi mentioned the issue with the young master? We have already promised to show the world the young master. And it is a matter of time before the reporters air it," he said to his boss, while he in turn raised his head. Now you could see worry and despair in his formerly cold face.
"UHM."
Segun sighed.
"I am confused on what to do about this, Odun. What do you think we should do?"
He asked his assistant. "You know the idea of pretending my wife's pregnancy sixteen years ago, and the supposed child accident. I don't know how to further with this lie. I fear it would soon be exposed to the world," he said with a seriously confused expression.
"I have made sure everything concerning madam is secure. There should not be a bug with her and the supposed child. Every information and needed document is in store," he said with an assuring tone.
"I know Odun. I have considered adopting a son, but you know these people, they can openly request for a DNA test on that child. Uhm, Demi is becoming more dangerous. The company my father gave him and my sister is not satisfying him," he said suddenly with a cold face.
"I have also considered that sir..." he was saying when a call entered.
"Hello boss, I saw one child who bears a striking resemblance to the big boss," the voice on the call said.
"Hello, what did you say?" Odun asked with a commanding tone, while Segun faced him seriously, urging him to continue and inquire more on that.
"He is participating in one of the tournaments the company is hosting—the Southwest Youth Baseball League," the voice at the other end replied.
"Okay, send the information to my email address," Odun said, ending the call.