Rachel POV
"Leukaemia is an uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal white blood cells which leads to cellular destruction due to infiltration of the leukemia cells into the body tissue" Mr. Adu explained from the front of the class.
"But sir, I thought leukemia is a cancer of the WBC" Johnson said from the back.
"It's cancer but I'm giving you a definition and I expect you to keep quiet until I'm done with my explanations" Mr. Adu responded angrily
He always expects students to ask questions after he's done with his class and everybody knew that but I believe Johnson just wanted to cause trouble. I looked up at the wall clock in the lecture room. It was past his usual class time, he was using extra time, which was usual for him. My normal self would have said something but I wasn't in the mood for an argument.
Everyone in class began to murmur until our so-called over-timed medical-surgical nursing lecturer hit the table with his palm.
"Will you all keep quiet?" He said angrily.
"Since you have great delight in interrupting my peaceful class, I will assume you all know the topic, so you should be prepared for my exam. Good day" he hissed and left the class in annoyance.
"Johnson, why did you do that?" Sarah the nerd asked from my right-hand side.
"You all know that he hates noise and interruption while lecturing" Wonu interjected.
"That man is always angry. Johnson didn't do anything wrong" Fred said.
"Exactly" Caleb scoffed.
"It's past 4 already. He always finds pleasure in lecturing overtime. We guys need to watch today's match" Johnson murmured.
"Are you crazy? You mean you did that because of football?" Sarah the nerd questioned. Johnson eyed her, picked up his backpack, and left the class. Everyone began to disperse, leaving the fuming Sarah.
"Are you not going to watch the match?" Mary asked from behind me.
After Aderemi left for Russia days ago, I packed a few clothes and moved back to the school hostel. Since I saw that text a few days ago, I've been feeling like I was being monitored. I tried to guess who could have sent the text but I came up with nothing and it was so hard to ask anyone. Joy was so supportive that day, after getting me a cup of water, she gave me a shoulder to cry on. She even suggested we go to the police station but I was too scared to report to the police. Speaking out means being found out and I wasn't ready to explain to everyone that I married a well-known football player. I've tried several times to reassure myself, to believe it was just spam but a part of me feels the text is a threat.
"What's wrong, Rach? You have been feeling grumpy since you came back to school and I've been asking you the same question for days but you keep telling me you are fine; do you have another friend you share things with now?" She gave me an accusing look. I don't hide things from her but I felt it wasn't necessary to involve her in this since I wanted to believe the text message was a mistake.
"I got a text a few days ago" I told her.
"How does a text fit into this discussion? She asked expectantly, arms in akimbo, daring me to hide every detail from her. I brought out my phone from my bag and showed her the text.
"This is what I'm talking about" I handed over the phone to her.
"Are you kidding?" She asked rhetorically.
"Who sent this?" The look she gave me showed she was worried about me.
"I don't know but I think it's just a spam message. Maybe the person didn't mean it that way or maybe the text wasn't for me" I said.
"This is what has been bothering you and you kept it to yourself? Are we even friends at all?" she asked angrily.
"I'm sorry, I thought there was no need of dragging you into this. I'm truly sorry, Mary" I muttered.
"Should we tell someone?" She questioned.
"I don't think there's any need for that. The text was sent 7days ago and I've not received any other text like this since then. I think we shouldn't act rashly" I explained.
"We should wait till the person sends another? Are you sure?" She asked.
"I think we should wait. I feel better after talking to you" I smiled.
"Don't give me that shit girl, you weren't planning to tell me".
"Yes, I wasn't planning to but I'm glad I did now".
We walked together to the viewing center to watch the game. At first, it was an interesting game to watch but It later became disheartening and heartbreaking to watch our players, they tried their best to some extent but their effort wasn't pulling the trick. The Croatians played so well, even more than we ever imagined. They were one of the underrated teams in the tournament. It seemed they came to the world cup to show that they deserve some respect and shouldn't be underestimated.
Aderemi showed his skills like he always does. He looked like a demi-god in his jersey; does anything not fit him well? I was sure his nakedness would be glorious. His curly hair looked slippery because of sweat that you'd mistaken it for Mercury in a physics lab or a jelly. I yawned to touch him, he looked so devastated after the game. A 2-1 loss wasn't what they expected especially when it was their first game in the tournament.
Aderemi's multiple shots were stopped by the goalkeeper. I didn't blame him for the loss, I blamed his teammates for being selfish and wasted chances. Others didn't even see things from my perspective, they kept on blabbing about the loss as if he was the cause of everything that happened and I felt angry on his behalf.
"That guy is a total flop" Johnson said dejectedly.
"He's just a white guy with the brain of a starfish" Caleb muttered.
"You should stop blaming him, guys, he tried his best" I said defensively.
"Come on, shut up Rachel, that guy should have placed the ball in a way that the keeper would be unable to pick it up. Even a 2-year-old knows his way with football" Johnson said gruffly.
"You don't have the right to insult him in such a manner, Johnson, the innocent guy decided to play for his father's land and you did was complain and make it seems like playing for the Super eagle was the worst decision ever. He did nothing wrong" I was fuming and almost burst into tears.
"I thought you were over this crush thing since he was said to be married. I didn't expect your crush on him to cloud your judgment" He scoffed.
"Why should we start our games with a loss?" Raymond said looking directly at me. "We have 2 more games to up our chances to move to the round of 16 and if we lose another game after this, that is an automatic ticket back home. We spent a lot on them and you think thousands of Nigerians deserve this annoying game?" Raymond continued.
"All I'm saying is that he did nothing wrong" I snapped.
"Look, if because he looks almost white and has curly hair with a white brain he thinks he can come here and play rubbish, then I think it's time he returned to his white folks and the country he came from" Gbenga said.
"You guys are just a bunch of racists and very stupid to have not seen his potential" I walked out of the room with Mary on my trail. I had forgotten we went to watch the game together. Why didn't she say anything? She didn't even try to defend him like I did...