Awakening

The first half was a disaster for the year three students. Idibia's hat trick left them reeling in embarrassment, their faces burning with shame.

The student who had gifted Nneka the necklace looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.

As the teams prepared for the second half, Idibia worked his charm on the coach, convincing him to give Agaba more playing time.

But when the whistle blew, signaling the start of the second half, Agaba's hopes were dashed once more. The coach seemed to have forgotten him - again. It wasn't until the 64th minute, when the coach substituted a central defender, that Agaba finally got a chance.

But there was a catch - he was stuck playing defense, and the rest of the defenders were all part of Idibia's gang.

As the game resumed, Agaba found himself shouldering the burden of the defense alone.

The year three students sensed their chances and pounced, scoring the equalizers/ the fans erupted into a frenzy of anger, chanting Agaba's name with a derisive "flop" tacked on the end.

Agaba's expression remained stoic, but when his eyes met Nneka's, he felt his heart shatter. Her gaze was laced with disdain, and Agaba knew he'd hit rock bottom, but as he watched the game unfold, he noticed something that sparked fire within him -Idibia was holding back, not putting in the effort to score again.

Agaba's eyes narrowed, his determination ignited. It was time to take the game seriously.

In the dying embers of the match, fate dealt Agaba's team a lifeline - a corner kick in the 89th minute.

The crosser launched the ball toward Idibia, but the year three goalkeeper parried it away.

The ball hurtled toward Agaba, who unleashed a ferocious shot, channeling all his emotions into the strike.

The goalkeeper flailed, and the ball sailed into the net, securing the win for Agaba's team.

As Agaba celebrated with reckless abandon, he was stunned by the crowd's venomous boos.

Crushed, he slumped to the ground, feeling the weight of their disdain. His eyes met Nneka's, and he was gutted to see her gazing adoringly at Idibia.

The final whistle blew, and Agaba's team was declared the winner. But as the fans stampeded the field to congratulate Idibia, Agaba was left to pick up the pieces of his shattered ego.

Idibia, basking in the adoration of the crowd, nudged Agaba. "hey, now's your chance! Run and tell Nneka how you feel, I'm sure she saw your winning goal".

Agaba, still blinded by luck, took off after Nneka like a man possessed.

In the alley, Agaba dropped to one knee, his heart racing with anticipation. But before he could utter a word, Nneka's face twisted in disgust."this is an insult! Don't even speak - you'll only spew more pain. Why did God allow this to happen? I hate you! Out of all the boys in school, you filthy, dirty, short boy have the audacity to approach me?"

The alley erupted into a cacophony of laughter, and Agaba felt his face burn with shame. Nneka's words cut deep, and he struggled to hold back tears.

Just as he thought things couldn't get worse, Idibia emerged from the crowd, a sly grin spreading across his face."what's going on here?", Idibia's voice dripped with sarcasm, "oh, I see - Agaba, you never cease to embarrass yourself. Why approach this beauty with your filthy self? Can't you see how ugly you are? The entire student body hates you. You should be dead by now. The only girls you can date are all dead by now".

The crowd's laughter intensified, and Agaba felt his heart shatter into a million pieces. He couldn't believe Idibia's betrayal - had he been played all along? The realization hit him like a ton of bricks, leaving him reeling in shock and humiliation.As Agaba's thoughts swirled in a maelstrom of despair, a lone tear escaped his eyes.

Suddenly, a hand grasped his shoulder, pulling him away from the jeering crowd. Agaba's gaze fell upon the nauseating scene unfolding before him: Idibia, down on one knee, proposing to Nneka, who accepted with a radiant smile.

The truth hit Agaba like a ton of bricks - he'd been played, used as a pawn in Idibia's game of deception. The hand that had pulled him away belonged to Ahmed, who had witnessed the entire debacle.

Despite Agaba's neglect over the past four days, Ahmed's friendship had remained unwavering. He led Agaba to the laboratory, where he held his friend's gaze, eye to eye.

Agaba's dam of emotions burst, and he wept uncontrollably, releasing the pent-up grief and pain. He apologized profusely to Ahmed for abandoning him and ignoring his advice.

Ahmed's expression softened as he cradled Agaba's head."my friend, don't cry. We all face trials like this. Today's your day, but tomorrow will bring new hope. I wasn't angry with you, I just wanted you to see the truth. Not everyone can be trusted. Be of good cheer, stand up, and let's face the future together."

Ahmed's words soothed Agaba's wounded soul, and with his friend's support, he slowly regained his composure.As the sun dipped below the horizon, Ahmed accompanied Agaba home, staying by his side until nightfall.

Agaba's family, sensing his distress, gave him space. His mom tried to coax him out of his room, but Agaba refused to emerge until his dad returned home from work.

The door creaked open, and Agaba's dad entered his expression empathetic.

For the first time, he spoke to Agaba as a man, sharing stories of his own youthful struggles with love and rejection.

They both strolled through the evening streets after the soft room conversation, Agaba's dad revealed a hint of a secret, promising to share more when the time was right.

Upon their return home, Agaba's sister, Ene, teased him mercilessly about his failed attempt to woo Nneka. Agaba playfully retaliated, using his cushion pillow to fend off Ene's jests.

As the evening drew to a close, Agaba's mom smiled knowingly, whispering to her husband, "our son is becoming a man".

The weekend passed in a blur of activity, with Ahmed joining Agaba for a sleepover.

They spent their days playing video games, watching movies, and studying together.

As Sunday evening drew to a close, Ahmed bid Agaba farewell, leaving him to reflect on the lessons he'd learned.

Though his heart still ached, Agaba felt a glimmer of hope - with friends like Ahmed and the wisdom of his dad, he knew he'd emerge stronger, wiser, and more resilient than ever.

Monday morning unfolded with Agaba's defiant refusal to attend school. His dad, though concerned, remained calm, while his mom struggled to contain her frustration.

Agaba's demand to uncover the secret his father had hinted at earlier became increasingly insistent.

The secret, he sensed, was linked to the recurring nightmare that had haunted him for years - a demon looming over him, its presence ominous and foreboding.

His father sighed, then called his office requesting for a sudden leave of absence. With permission granted, he ushered Agaba into their Innoson van. As they drove westward, the cityscape gave way to a desolate, forested landscape.

The van pulled over a forest pathway, and they continued on foot, the silence between them punctuated only by the rustling of leaves.

Agaba's confusion deepened. "dad, why are we walking into the forest?", he asked, his voice laced with trepidation.

His father response was a tale of the Achadu bloodline's ancient history, a narrative that spanned generations and revealed the mystical forces that had shaped their lineage.

Agaba listened, entranced, as the pieces of his nightmare began to fall into place.

The journey took a surreal turn when his father conjured the earth to form a bridge across a stream, leaving Agaba awestruck. "is this magic?", he wondered, his mind reeling from the impossibility of it all.

As they passed onward, Agaba's father halted, his eyes glinted with a knowing light, "son, this will fascinate you the most", he said, his voice low and mysterious.

With a series of intricate symbols, a cottage materialized before their eye, its presence both mesmerizing and unsettling.

Agaba's father led him inside, where an other worldly artifact hovered in mid air - the Echur, source of all natural elements.

As Agaba gazed upon it, memories of ode's ancient ritual flooded back, and the demon's malevolent smile seared itself into his mind once more.

His father's voice brought him back to the present: "this is the Echur, the source that blessed and restored the Idoma people".

As Agaba dad's words faded, Agaba's pupils constricted, and he began to hover toward the ancient stone.

Ochekawo's eyes widened in horror as he watched his son levitate, his voice trembling as he cried out, "Agaba, Agaba!"

Agaba's bewildered response hung in the air. "Dad, what's going on?" Ochekawo's reply was laced with desperation: "I… I don't know!"The air was electric with anticipation as the rock cracked, unleashing a fiery blaze of red light. Agaba's body went limp, and he hovered above the Echur, now shattered and broken. The sound of snapping bones and the sight of tearing flesh sent a chill down Ochekawo's spine, and he was consumed by regret for bringing Agaba to this place.

As he gazed upon his son's broken form, a vision seized Ochekawo, transporting him to a realm beyond mortal world.

The hut's roof vanished, and the sky descended, bringing with it the gods themselves. The supreme deity's voice boomed, "Ochekawo, you and your forefathers have done well. We are reshaping your son, preparing him for the impending battle. The time of reckoning draws near, and the mortal seal will soon be broken, unleashing evil upon humanity - an evil unlike any the world has ever known."

As the god's words faded, Ochekawo witnessed a horrific scene: Agaba's body was shattered, his limbs torn asunder, and the rock lay broken, its power coursing through Agaba's fragmented form.

The vision ended abruptly, and Agaba's body crashed to the ground as the hut began to shudder. Ochekawo sprinted toward his son, grasping his unconscious form and fleeing the collapsing structure.

Ochekawo's feet pounded the earth as he sprinted down the deserted road, his son's limp body clutched in his arms. The van screeched to life, and he sped toward the central hospital, his heart racing with every passing second.

Three agonizing days passed, with Agaba trapped in a deep coma.

The night of the third day brought a miracle. Agaba's eyes flickered open, and he gazed upon his mom, who slept beside him, and his sister, who prayed the rosary.

Summoning his last ounce of strength, he whispered, "mom…" The word shattered the silence, and his mom's eyes snapped open.

She and his sister enveloped him in a tearful hug, their joy infectious.

As they basked in the warmth of their reunion, Ochekawo returned with the doctor, his face etched with shock and delight.

Agaba's gaze met his father's and tears streamed down his face. "dad, what am I doing here?", he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Ochekawo's emotions overwhelmed him, and he wept, his words tumbling out in a joyous torrent: "son, it's a long story…".

The family savored their reunion, but the doctor's words brought them back to reality - Agaba needed rest.

A week passed, and Agaba was discharged, though his mobility was limited to a wheelchair.

News of his return home spread quickly, and Ahmed visited on Monday, bearing gifts of snack and companionship.

As they immersed themselves in video games, Agaba's smile hinted at a recovery that went beyond the physical.