At Brightwood University, Simi is a football player who knows that every game might be her last. Her illness is the unwelcome guest at her every kick and sprint, casting shadows over her dreams.
Then Alex shows up-a new football student with a smil...
The clink of forks against plates was the loudest sound in the room. The dining table, though not as large as Alex's, was beautifully set. It also felt small under the weight of what everyone wasn't saying. Alex sat awkwardly, his eyes fixed on the food in front of him, trying to swallow, but his throat was too tight. Across from him, Simi's father, Festus, finally broke the silence.
"So, Alex..." Festus began, his voice deep but not unkind, as he wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin. He leaned back in his chair, studying Alex with a calm, practiced gaze. "I know you're Simi's close friend, but I don't think we've ever really gotten to know each other. Tell me, where are you from?"
Alex shifted in his seat, feeling the heat of everyone's eyes on him. "I'm from Kano, sir. But born and raised in Ghana."
Festus nodded slowly, as if weighing the words. "Kano? Hmm, busy place, eh? So, what brought you and Simi together?"
"We met at university, sir. We... we've been close ever since."
Niniola, who sat beside Festus, smiled slightly, though her eyes were tired. "You play football together, don't you?"
Alex nodded quickly, relieved by the shift in conversation. "Yes, ma. Simi's always been there during our matches. She's a big fan... even when I'm terrible."
Everyone chuckled lightly, and the tension eased just a bit. Festus leaned forward, eyes narrowing with a playful gleam. "Ah, so you're a footballer? Maybe that's why you've been spending so much time with her, eh? Hoping to join Arsenal or Chelsea, abi?"
Alex smiled, appreciating the joke. "Well, sir, if they call me up, I'll definitely let you know."
Simi's little brother, Tunde, piped up, "You should go to Manchester United, jare! That's the best team!"
The room warmed slightly with laughter, but as the moments passed, the weight of reality crept back in. Alex's eyes wandered to Lade, Simi's mother, watching as she barely touched her food. His heart clenched, but he forced himself to stay composed.
***
At around 10 pm, as the house began to wind down, Niniola walked up to Alex in the living room. "You can sleep on the couch if you want, Alex. It's late, and I don't want you riding all the way back to the Island this night."
Alex smiled, grateful for the offer but feeling conflicted. "Thank you, ma, but I've already called an Uber. I'll be fine."
Niniola looked at him for a long moment, the softness in her eyes betraying the exhaustion behind them. She nodded slowly. "Alright, but please be safe, okay?"
"I will, ma," Alex said, bowing his head slightly in respect.
As the Uber arrived, he stepped outside into the night, the cold breeze cutting through the lingering warmth of the day. He glanced back at the house once more, his heart heavy with the knowledge he now carried. The weight of Simi's condition, the inevitability of it all, gnawed at him.
***
When Alex got back home, the darkness greeted him. No one was waiting, no questions were asked. His family were either asleep or didn't care enough to wonder where he'd been. He moved silently to his room, letting the familiarity of his space wash over him.
After a quick shower, he pulled on some clean clothes and lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His phone buzzed.
Rianna.
He hesitated, heart thumping as he opened the message.
Rianna: How's Simi doing? I heard she collapsed on the field. Is she okay?
Alex stared at the message, unsure of how to respond. His thumbs hovered over the keyboard. He didn't want to tell Rianna the truth, not now, not like this.
Alex: She's fine now. It was just a little scare earlier, but she's okay.
He bit his lip after hitting send. It felt wrong to downplay the situation, but he wasn't ready to explain everything. Not when he barely understood it himself.
Rianna responded almost immediately.
Rianna: That's a relief. I was worried when I heard... I know you two are close.
He could feel the unspoken question in her words, the tension that had been building between them for days now. There had been too many unspoken things between them, but this—Simi's condition—was not something Alex wanted to share right now.
Alex: Yeah, she'll be alright. Thanks for asking.
A few seconds passed, and another message popped up.
Rianna: What are you doing right now?
Alex blinked at the message, frowning at the screen. Why was she asking that? They weren't even together anymore. Not really. They had broken up a week ago, the emotional distance growing too wide to bridge. He wondered if it was the loneliness creeping in for her too.
Alex: Nothing much.
There was a pause, and Alex stared at the text, unsure of what to say next. His phone buzzed again.
Rianna: Look out your window.
Confusion tugged at him, but curiosity pushed him up from the bed. As he walked to the window, he half-expected her message to be some late-night joke. But when he saw her—there, across the street, standing beneath the dim streetlight, wrapped in her black leather jacket over a gown—his heart skipped. Her smile was hesitant, like she didn't know why she was there either, but the way she waved made him realize she needed something, maybe the same thing he did.
For a moment, Alex just stood there, staring at her. Why was she here? After everything they'd gone through, everything they hadn't said... why now?
She motioned for him to come downstairs, and before he could think it through, he grabbed his keys and slipped out the door. The cool night air hit him as he crossed the street toward her, his mind spinning with questions he wasn't sure he was ready to ask.
When he reached her, they stood there, a few feet apart, the silence stretching between them. He could see the uncertainty in her eyes, the same uncertainty he felt.
After a long moment, Rianna smiled softly. "Hi," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Alex didn't respond. Instead, before she could say another word, he reached out, taking her face gently in his hands and kissed her—deeply, desperately. It was a kiss full of all the words they'd never said, the pain they'd both avoided. When he felt the warm tear slip down her cheek, he pulled her closer, her trembling hands clutching at his chest like she was holding on for dear life.
In that moment, all the confusion, the heartache, the words left unsaid, melted away. For now, there was only this—this kiss, this brief moment where everything else faded into the background, and all that mattered was the two of them standing under the streetlight, holding on to something they weren't ready to let go of just yet.
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