Ether's Chronicle

The Match And The Girl

SSS3 started and everything was faster now.

Lessons. Exams. WAEC forms.

And inside all that, there was Blessing and Ether.

Blessing and Ether: Sweet but Fire

Their relationship was sweet.

Too sweet sometimes.

But they fought. A lot.

And the reason?

Football.

"Ether, you’re always on the field," Blessing would complain.

"You don’t have time for me again."

"I do," he would say.

"No, you don’t. That ball is your girlfriend."

Football was Ether’s peace.

Since the beginning of SSS3, he had gathered the boys.

"We’re forming a team. We’ll train."

He trained hard alone. Morning and evening.

But he couldn’t win a match alone.

The boys were good, but strong-headed.

No strategy. No style. Just "kick and run."

And that was why they kept losing.

Blessing didn’t understand.

"Why can’t you just sit with me during break?"

"Why can’t you skip training one day?"

Ether would go quiet.

He couldn’t sacrifice it. It was the only place his head was free.

So they would fight.

Shout.

Go silent for 2 days.

Then make up.

And when they made up, things felt lighter.

Ever since Ether started spending time with Blessing,

people noticed.

He was laughing more.

Playing more with Mechy.

Even smiling to himself during class.

His heart felt lighter.

And it was confusing him.

Because Blessing was a drama queen.

She gave him wahala.

But somehow, with all the wahala at home,

with the plates and the "where is money",

he was still happy.

Even at home they noticed.

"Ether, you’re smiling these days."

So they doubled his work.

But the happiness stayed.

Friendly match.

AVHS vs Nawarudeen.

Blessing didn’t come to the field.

But she sent him a text that morning:

"Good luck, Sthandwa Sami. Score one for me."

Ether replied: "I will."

Master Ajibodu, the games master, didn’t really know Ether’s ability.

So he didn’t start him.

He used the boys he was familiar with.

The game started well.

But Yinka was spoiling it.

Running everywhere. No passing.

After 20 minutes, Master Ajibodu subbed him.

Brought in "Small Messi" - everyone’s favorite.

Then it happened.

Anu- who had been forced to play center back -

ran up for a corner and scored a fantastic header.

1-0.

Not long after, the opponents equalized.

1-1.

First half ended.

When the players gathered to rest at the sideline, Master Ajibodu was talking.

Ether stood up.

"Sir, bring me in."

Some players shouted from the back,

"He’s not good enough for this match!"

"He only knows how to play for himself!"

Ether didn’t reply.

Second half started.

The match was turning to war. Rough tackles. No coordination.

On the sideline, Master Brown was watching.

He knew Ether. From that day with the thugs.

He walked to Master Ajibodu.

"Sir, try this boy. He can change this game."

75th minute.

Master Ajibodu sighed and pointed at Ether.

"Warm up."

He removed Small Messi. Who hadn’t done anything the whole game.

Ether entered.

The school boys in the stand started booing.

"Who is this one?"

"Art boy, go and sit down!"

5 minutes later.

Corner kick.

Ether timed it.

Jumped.

Header. But the keeper saved it.

Silence.

Then the whole stand erupted.

Even the people booing him were clapping.

Later, AVHS got a free kick far from goal.

Sodiq was to take it.

Ether did something strange.

He walked inside the opponent’s 6-yard box and stood there.

The defenders laughed. "Offside merchant."

But the moment Sodiq crossed it,

Ether stepped back onside and sprinted.

Another header.

It was a goal this time

2-1.

The boys ran to him.

Even those who hated him.

Kayode, his best buddy, lifted him up.

"You see? I told you!"

But football is wicked.

2 minutes to the end, our keeper pushed a cross into his own net.

2-2.

Draw.

Some teammates were still proud.

"Guy, you saved us."

Kayode patted his back. "You’re different, bro."

The Next Day

Blessing came to school.

Walked straight to him during break.

Greeted him softly.

"I heard what you did yesterday."

Ether smiled.

"I told you I’d score for you."

She rolled her eyes.

"I don’t even like football. But... I’m proud of you."

That was their problem.

She didn’t like football.

And football was his peace.

How do you choose between the thing that heals you

and the person that makes you happy?

WAEC was near.

65 students still in one class.

Teachers still confused about Ether.

Juniors still scared of him.

Memunat still watching from far.

Victoria still calling, "Bro, don’t fight."

And at home?

Still work.

Still noise.

But now, he had something to hold onto at night.

Blessing.

Ingelosi Yami.

Sthandwa Sami.

He didn’t know where it was going.

But for now, it made the burden lighter.