CHAPTER 52
"I WON'T STOP!"
As Ronke gradually regained consciousness, the soft hum of the air conditioner and the dimly lit hospital room disoriented her momentarily. A clear IV drip tube connected to her hand caught her attention, its transparent liquid flowing steadily into her vein. She lay still for a moment, taking in her surroundings, her chest rising and falling with each labored breath
"Where am I?" she managed to whisper, her voice barely audible
Her question immediately drew the attention of the three individuals who had been sitting beside her – her family, the Adetolas
"Hello, sweetie, how are you feeling?" Mrs. Bisola Adetola, Ronke's mother, asked with concern etched on her face
"I'm okay, Mum. Can we go home now?" Ronke inquired
"No, the doctor said you need to stay here for a few more days," Mr. John Adetola, Ronke's father, explained gently
"A few days?" Ronke exclaimed, disappointment evident in her voice
"Don't worry, my dear. You'll be fine," Mrs. Bisola Adetola tried to reassure her daughter
Ronke's frustration was palpable as she considered the implicatons of spending days confined to a hospital bed instead of practicing her beloved sport
"I'll be stuck here instead of training?" she said
"Oh, right. I watched your game against the Queens, Sister Ronke. You were amazing," Bayo Adetola, Ronke's younger brother, chimed in, attempting to lift her spirits
"Bayo, shut up!" Mr. John Adetola scolded his son before turning his attention back to Ronke. "From today, I don't want to see you playing basketball."
"But Dad-" Ronke attempted to interject, only to be interrupted by her father
"No buts! You played for barely three minutes, and it landed you in a hospital bed. I've thrown away your basketballs – even the one I got for you for your fifteenth birthday." Mr. John Adetola's voice was firm
"Dad-" Ronke tried again, desperation creeping into her voice
"I said no buts, Ronke. This is for your own good. I know you love Basketball and are incredibly talented. But if just three minutes of play put you in this condition, what's the point?" Mr. John Adetola questioned
"Yes, my heart condition is critical, but I love basketball. I've made friends through the sport. Even today, I've made new friends from my opponents. One of them, Tosin is just as skilled as I am. Please Dad," Ronke pleaded
"I didn't ask for your opinion, nor do you have a say in this matter. I don't want to see or hear about you playing basketball again. That's an order. Am I clear?" Mr. John Adetola commanded
"Dad!" Ronke called out
"Don't 'Dad' me, Ronke! Am I clear?!" he insisted
"Y-yes, sir," Ronke relented
While she acquiesced to avoid further argument and aggrevating her father, the passion she harbored for basketball continued to blaze within her, an unquenchable flame refusing to be extinguished
Meanwhile, across the bustling city of Lagos that same afternoon, Mercy made her way towards the gym at Charlie Queens Academy, eager to begin her customary extra training
"With everyone gone, I can practice undisturbed until dusk," She thought, a hint of satisfaction in her thoughts
As she vetured further into the school grounds, she stumbled upon one of her teammates, Oluchi, who appeared to be attempting a stealthy escape
"What are you doing in school, Oluchi?" Mercy called out, her sudden question causing Oluchi to jump in surprise
Oluchi quickly regained her composure, turning to face her teammate, "Mercy? I'm just here to borrow a book from the libray, hehe."
A skeptical look crossed Mercy's face as she eyed her teammate. "Right. Who will believe such a terrible lie?" she thought, her glare silently challenging Oluchi's story
"And what are you doing here?" Oluchi asked, trying to shift the focus off herself. "Don't tell me you're here to train too"
"Oh, that's what you came here for, huh? To train?" Mercy redirected the Question as the pair began making their way towards the gym
"I never said I was here to train," Oluchi insisted. "I told you I came to get a book from the library"
"Nah, that's why you're here," Mercy retorted confidently
"How did you know that?" Oluchi asked, curiosity piqued
"You told me yourself," Mercy declared with a knowing smirk
"When did I ever-" Oluchi began to protest, only to be cut-off by her teammate
"First of all, you said you came to borrow a book from the library. But would you need to sneak around like a thief trying to steal a fortune to do that?" Mercy pointed out, her voice tinged with amusement
"That doesn't prove-" Oluchi tried to counter, but Mercy was already one step ahead
"Also, this isn't even the way to the library in the first place. It's the way to the gym!" Mercy revealed triumphantly
"Alright, alright, you caught me, hehe," Oluchi admitted sheepishly. "But what about you? Are you here to train as well?"
"Well, since we are both here, now, there's no point in denying it, is there? Yes, I'm here to train too," Mercy confirmed, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth
As the two girls continued their trek towards the gym, the distinct sound of a basketball hitting the wooden floor became increasingly audible with every step they took
"Hey, is it just me, or is that the sound of basketball coming from the gym?" Oluchi inquired, a note of curiosity in her voice
"There's someone else still in school," Mercy surmised, her own curiosity piqued
"Who?" Oluchi pressed, eager to unravel the mystery
"Only one way to find out. Come on!" Mercy exclaimed, her pace quickening as she made a beeline for the gym
"Hey, don't just pick up the pace like that!" Oluchi called out, hurrying to catch up with her friend
As Mercy and Oluchi reached the gym, their eyes widened in shock at the sight of the individual practicing within
"Yo!" a fsamiliar voice called out
"Tosin?!" the two girls chorused, their surprise evident as they stared at their unexpected companion
"Hey there, guys," Tosin greeted, her voice echoing through the empty gymnasium
"What are you doing here?" Mercy inquired, her curiosity piqued by Tosin's presence
Tosin, bouncing the ball she held, replied with a hint of amusement, "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm training. Isn't it obvious?"
"But why?" Mercy pressed on. "Shouldn't you be resting after our grueling game?"
"Hah!" Tosin chuckled and bounced the ball hard. "Are you seriously asking me that? Are you serious right now?"
"What do you mean? It's a simple question, Tosin," Oluchi interjected. "What's wrong with it?"
"No, there is nothing wrong with it. Infact, it's a perfect question. Let me rather ask you a perfect question of my own. What are you girls doing here? Shouldn't you be at home resting after such an extremely tough game?" Tosin redirected the same question to Mercy and Oluchi in response
Mercy and Oluchi fell silent, guilt washing over them as they had come to train as well
"I thought as much," Tosin said triumphantly. "Because no Queen would sense danger on the horizon and not take action to defend her territory!"
"What do you mean?" Oluchi asked
Tosin's expression grew serious. "You both played in today's game, didn't you? This might sound harsh but as we are now, we can't defeat teams with members of the Victorious Varsity."
Mercy and Oluchi exchanged a look, a mix of fear and shock in their eyes
"Yes, we've improved since last year," Tosin continued, "but we couldn't do a thing against Ronke today. In just three minutes, she scored 17 points and made 8 steals. That's a halftime record in the NBA! And she did it in just three minutes against us. We were lucky she was handicapped by her heart condition. At the Christmas Champions Cup, there won't be anything to hold the Victorious Varsity back. Cynthia doesn't have a heart disease like Ronke, neither does Victoria whom we will certainly face next week if we reach the Playoffs final. Imagine if that three minutes onslaught from Ronke was a full-game onslaught from Cynthia at the Christmas Champions Cup. What would have happen?"
Mercy and Oluchi listened quietly as Tosin went on
"We probably won't score a single point against Cynthia at the Christmas Champions Cup if we face her like this. In fact, we didn't score at all against the Iron Walls when their Captain stepped onto the court. Oluchi, you had zero turnovers until the final three minutes of the game. How can you explain giving the ball away seven times in just three minutes after Ronke showed up?!" Tosin criticized
Oluchi stood stunned, unable to answer
"Mercy, you want to be the starting shooting guard, but believe me; there is no point in our Coach substituting you for Teni. You were practically invisible in today's game. You might as well have not been there at all," Tosin criticized
Mercy remained silent, taking in Tosin's words
"And there's me. The Captain." Tosin sighed, "I couldn't score a single point in the final three minutes. It was a disgrace. For me, Eno and Tolu were our standout players. Eno did well containing their center. Tolu, on the other hand, was in my opinion the best in our team in today's game. I'm sorry if I'm harsh, but I'm not satisfied with the way we are right now! We need to get stronger!"
"Right, Captain!" Mercy and Oluchi chorused in agreement
The trio began training with renewed determination to improve.
Meanwhile, outside the gym, Mrs. Lawal stood hidden, watching the girls with a satisfied smile
"That's the spirit, girls!" she whispered, "Aspire to be better. Be determined to win! Remember, there is no point if we don't win! As for me, I need to prepare for the semifinals. I wonder who our next opponents will be. Let's get to work, shall we?"
With that, Mrs. Lawal made her way to the school gate, heading to the basketball arena to watch a quarterfinal game, hoping to discover the Queens' next opponents
As the sun descended beyond the horizon, the trio, fueled by their unyielding determination, trained relentlessly in the gymnasium. Unbeknownst to them, as they poured their hearts into each drill and exercise, their semifinal opponents had been decided
"Tosin, let us retire for the day, Mercy suggested, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "The hour grows late"
"Very well, let us return to our homes and recharge our spirits," Tosin agreed, her commanding tone softening as she assessed her teammates' weariness
"Guys, it seems we have received new messages on our team's group chat," Oluchi announced, her eyes fixed on her phone's illuminated screen
"What news does it bring?" Mercy asked eagerly, joining Oluchi to examine the message
"Coach has revealed our next opponent to be Barachel High School," Oluchi divulged. "It appears we are the last to receive the message"
Tosin, regal in her composure, declared, "No matter the opponent, we shall emerge victorious. One more win will secure our place in this year's Christmas Champions Cup! Let us dismantle our rivals and forge our path to face Rose Newton High School and Victoria in the playoffs final once more! Together, we shall conquer all!"
"Yeah!" Mercy and Oluchi chorused, their voices brimming with renewed vigor
"Before we leave, let's tidy up this gymnasium," Tosin ordered
"As you command," Mercy and Oluchi responded, diligently following suit
With the gym returned to its orderly state, the trio parted ways, each heading home to seek rest before Sunday Service. The next day, Tosin, accompanied by her mother, Sade, attended Church. After the service, Tosin offered her assistance at home before venturing out once more
Clad in a striking red tracksuit jacket and trousers, complemented by a pristine white top and matching sneakers, Tosin began her journey to Peters Clinic, the hospital where Ronke was admitted. Upon her arrival, she inquired about Ronke's room, and the nurse kindly directed her
Tosin approached the door and gently knocked. "Who calls upon me?" A familiar voice questioned from within
"Ronke, it's me, Tosin. May I come in?" Tosin requested, her voice tinged with anticipation
"Hey! Tosin! Sure, come in! You are most welcome," Ronke replied cheerfully
Tosin walked into the room, closing the door softly behind her, "Hello Ronke, how are you faring?"
"I am well, thank you. Congratulations on advancing to the semifinals," Ronke said with a warm smile
Tosin dimissed the sentiment with a wave of her hand. "Do not speak of it. We shouldn't have progressed under more righteous circumstances"
"What do you mean?" Ronke questioned, adjusting herself to sit-up in her bed. "Please, take a seat."
Tosin obliged, taking a chair by Ronke's bedside. "You were present on the court for a mere three minutes, and yet we found ourselves helpless against you. It is a source of great frustration"
"I see," Ronke mused, understanding downing on her face. "Then, there is but one course of action – you just have to grow stronger"
Tosin's eyes widened at Ronke's assertive declaration
"There is no time to lament what has transpired," Ronke continued. "Focus on what lies ahead. If you seek to avoid succumbing to weakness, then strive to become an unstoppable force! I believe in your potential, Tosin. You shall overcome these obstacles"
Tears welled in Tosin's eyes as Ronke's uplifting words resonated within her. "I thank you, Ronke for your encouragement"
"Think nothing of it," Ronke replied graciously, "It's the truth"
Tosin wiped her away her tears and composed herself. "When shall you be released from this hospital?"
"In a few days' time," Ronke answered
That's quite a while," Tosin said, "and it will impede your training regimen,"
"Alas, it is an unfortunate consequence of my circumstances," Ronke acknowledged, "but it is beyond my control,"
The silence in the hospital room hung heavily, punctuated only by the rhythmic beeping of the monitor and the sound of the ceiling fan. Suddenly, Ronke's voice broke through the quiet
"Tosin," Ronke called out, her tone weighted with emotion
"Yes?" Tosin responded, her concern evident as she shifted in her seat
"Yesterday's game… it was my last," Ronke confessed, her voice barely a whisper
Tosin's eyes widened in shock, her voice rising with disbelief. "Please tell me you're joking"
"I wish I could," Ronke lamented, her gaze fixed on her trembling hands. "But it's true. My basketball career is over."
"Stop saying that!" Tosin exclaimed, her voice echoing off the stark white walls. "Why would you make such a decision?"
Ronke closed her eyes, her voice quavering as she spoke. "It's my father… He fears for my well-being. If a mere three minutes on the court could land me in the hospital, he believes there is no point in continuing"
The pain in Ronke's voice was palpable, her love for the game at odds with her father's concern for her health. Tosin, sensing her friend's inner turmoil, rose from her seat and enveloped Ronke in a comforting embrace
"It's okay, Ronke," Tosin whispered, her words a soothing balm to Ronke's frayed emotions. "Whatever you decide, I will support you"
As the minutes ticked by, the two friends found solace in each other's company, laughter intermingling with hushed conversations and the soft glow of the television. But as the clock struck seven, Tosin knew it was time to depart
"I should be going, now," Tosin announced, her tone tinged with regret
"I wish we had more time together," Ronke lamented, a wistful smile gracing her lips
"We can make that happen," Tosin suggested, her eyes brightening, "Let's exchange addresses so we can visit each other whenever we'd like"
"That's a wonderful idea," Ronke agreed, her spirit lifted
As Tosin stood up to leave, Ronke's voice halted her in her tracks
"Tosin, wait," Ronke called out
Turning to face her friend, Tosin regarded Ronke with a questioning gaze
"I won't stop," Ronke said
"What?" Tosin asked, her curiosity piqued
"Okay. I've thought about it and now, my mind is made up. I won't stop playing basketball" Ronke declared, tears streaming down her face. "I won't give up on basketball. I'll keep fighting, and I won't let this heart condition of mine defeat me. No matter what!"
A smile spread across Tosin's face as she recognized the fire in Ronke's eyes. "That's the spirit, girl!" she said
With a final wave, Tosin exited the room, leaving Ronke alone with her newfound determination. As the echoes of Tosin's footsteps faded down the hallway, Ronke felt a sense of peace wash over her. Her resolve, once shaken, had been reignited by the unwavering support of her friend