The Queens' spirits were heavy with the weight of defeat as they made their disheartening return to Lagos. Their crushing loss at the hands of Wyse International High School had left a bitter taste in their mouths, and the disappointment of their proprietor was palpable. As a consequence of their performance, they found themselves without the luxury of a flight. Left with no choice, they undertook a grueling journey by road
The arduous trip took its toll on the exhausted Queens, their tired body and weary hearts a testament to their heartbreak. The seemingly unending traffic only served to prolong their misery, transforming what should have been a manageable trip into a drawn-out ordeal. Despite setting off at the break of dawn, they found themselves arriving in Lagos as dusk began to settle, the day's events etched into their faces
The exhausted Tosin came down from a taxi and rang the gate bell of her home. Sade opened the gate to welcome her daughter, "Sweetie, welcome home," she said, pulling Tosin into a warm embrace
"Thank you, Mum," Tosin replied wearily, her bag feeling impossibly heavy as she trudged into the house
"How was your journey?" Sade asked, searching her daughter's face
"Stressful," Tosin admitted, her exhaustion evident in her voice. "I'm super tired"
"Why don't you go freshen up, dear," Sade suggested, her tone gentle and understanding. I'll get your food ready for when you're done"
Tosin, grateful for the opportunity to rest, made her way to her room. The sight of her neatly made bed called to her, and she found herself unable to resist its inviting allure. Collapsing into it soft embrace, the day's events caught up with her, and she quickly drifted into a deep exhausted sleep
"Tosin, your food is ready," Sade called, but her words fell upon deaf ears. Finding Tosin fast asleep, she couldn't help but smile at the sight of her daughter at peace. Carefully removing Tosin's shoes and ensuring she was comfortably tucked beneath a blanket, Sade switched off the light and left the room, leaving Tosin to her much-needed rest
While some may have the good fortune of unwavering parental support, not all are so blessed. At the Fasholas', however, the bond of the family ran deep
"Segun!" Mrs. Fashola voice echoed through the house
"Yes, Mummy! I'm coming!" Segun replied, making haste to sitting room to attend to his mother
Few seconds later, Segun rushed into the sitting room, "Mummy, you called?" he asked, his presence filling the room
"Yes, dear," Mrs. Fashola replied. "Could you check who is at the door?"
"Okay, Mummy," Segun said, making his way to the door. Upon recognizing the familiar figure on the other side, he opened the door with a warm greeting. "Welcome home, Tolu"
"Thank you, Brother Segun," Tolu replied, a hint of weariness in her voice. "Are Mummy and Daddy home?"
"Yes, they're watching television," Segun informed her, stepping aside to allow Tolu to enter the house
As Tolu made her way inside, Segun closed the door behind her, the sound echoing through the tension-filled room. "Good evening, Mummy. Good evening, Daddy." Tolu said, attempting a polite greeting.
Mr. Fashola, his voice calm yet laced with underlying anger, questioned, "Madam Tolu, where are you coming from?"
"From the excursion," Tolu explained, her tone defensive. "I told you people that I would be going for an excursion, didn't I?"
In a swift motion, Mrs. Fashola rose from her seat and forcefully slapped Tolu across the face. "Liar!" she accused; her voice filled with fury
Tolu, her cheek stinging from the impact, stared at her mother in disbelief. "Mummy, why did you slap me?" she asked, her voice wavering with hurt and confusion
Unfazed by Tolu's pain, Mr. Fashola pressed on, his tone cold and unrelenting. "Tolu, I'll ask you again. Where are you coming from?"
Tolu's resolve hardened as she met her father's gaze. "From the excursion," She insisted
A sinister smile crept across Mr. Fashola's face as he brandished Mrs. Fashola's phone, a video playing upon its screen. "Then, what is this?" he challenged, his voice dripping with condescension. "Is that not you in the video? Perhaps, that's your lookalike?"
Tolu's eyes widened as she recognized the footage of the Queens' fateful game against Wyse International High School. A brief moment of shock gave way for a sly smile as she replied, "Yes, it is me,"
Mr. Fashola's face twisted with rage as he spat, "Good. Now, not only did you disobey me by continuing to play that stupid basketball of yours, but you lied to me. I regret giving birth to you. You are a big failure. I give up on you. You can do whatever it is you want to do with your life. As for your school fees, let that stupid basketball of yours pay it for you. I'm done with you." With those final words, he turned his back on Tolu and stormed away
Mrs. Fashola, her eyes burning with disdain, shot Tolu with one last disapproving glare before following after her husband. Alone in the aftermath of their wrath, Tolu's smile never wavered as she made her way to the sanctuary if her room. Though disowned and dismissed, Tolu found solace in the knowledge that her basketball is something worth fighting for, no matter the cost
As Tolu entered her room, she sought comfort in the familiarity of her surroundings. Lying on her bed, she mindlessly scrolled through her phone in an attempt to distract herself from the day's events. A knock on her door interrupted the silence, drawing her attention away from the screen
"Who is it?" Tolu called out, her voice tinged with curiosity
"Tolu, it's me, Segun," came the muffled reply from the other side of the door
"Oh, Brother Segun, please come in," Tolu said, sitting up and creating space on her bed for him to sit
As Segun entered the room, he wasted no time in addressing the topic weighing heavily on his mind. "I saw your game. You guys lost but you were amazing," he said, his tone a mixture of pride and concern
Tolu gave a weak smile, appreciative of her brother's support. Well, thanks, but my performance means nothing if we don't win," she sighed. Attempting to change the subject, she asked, "By the way, how are you? How has the house been?"
Segun rolled his house, eager to share his frustrations. "Boring." He sighed, "All Mummy and Daddy ever say is, 'read your book.' It makes me sick that all I have to do all day is read, read, read. So annoying,"
Tolu chuckled softly, knowing all too well the pressure their parents could exert. "Well, just leave them alone," she advised
A moment of silence filled the room as the siblings pondered their respective predictive predicaments. Breaking the quiet, Segun spoke up, his voice laced with worry, "Tolu, I'm worried about you."
"Why?" Tolu asked, her brow furrowed in confusion
"Didn't you hear what Daddy said?" Segun questioned, his concern mounting
"Oh, that?" Tolu smiled, her secret burning within her
Segun stared at his sister, disbeliefs clouding his features. "If he's serious about what he said, how would you pay your school fees, JAMB, WAEC, and even the fees in the University?"
Tolu leaned in closer, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Can you keep a secret?" she whispered
Segun's curiosity piqued. "Yes, I won't tell anyone." He promised
With a deep breath, Tolu revealed the truth behind her newfound confidence. "I was offered a scholarship to study any course of my choice at Universitat de Barcelona in the city of Barcelona, Spain."
Segun's eyes widened in shock as the weight of Tolu's words sank in. "Wow! Wait a second, you mean Barcelona? Spain? Europe?"
Tolu nodded, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Yes"
Segun's disbelief was evident in his voice. "Wow… but Tolu, it doesn't make sense. Why would a European school offer you a scholarship? What did you do?"
"I was just as shocked as you are," Tolu admitted. "The reason they offered me the scholarship is because of my performance against Wyse International High School. They said they want me to join their female basketball team, offering me a scholarship to study any course of my choice at their school"
Segun's face lit up with excitement, the realization of Tolu's good fortune sinking in. "Wow! So, it was the same basketball that Mummy and Daddy didn't want you to play that has brought you this big opportunity?"
Tolu nodded, her smile growing wider. "Yes. Now, my only problem is paying my school fees for the next academic session, as that could be my last academic session in that school. Also, I need more money to pay for the second and third terms of the session."
Segun reached out and placed a reassuring hand on Tolu's shoulder. "Don't worry, Tolu. I'm happy for you, and I'll assist you in any way I can"
Tolu's heart swelled with gratitude for her brother's unwavering support. "Thank you, Brother Segun."
"You're welcome, Tolu," Segun replied, his smile mirroring his sister's
As Segun rose to leave, Tolu called out to him, a note of caution in her voice. "Remember, this is between us, Brother Segun."
Segun nodded, his smile growing wider as he turned to exit the room. "Sure"