Chapter Seventy-One

Chapter Seventy-One
Life was good again. Nelson and I had gotten back together and he was doing everything he could to please me so as not to step on my toes again.

The other day while he drove me home from work, I saw a huge signpost on the roadside. It stood so tall and had bold and colourful graphics that caught my attention. 

“Nelson! Please slow down, look at that huge signpost, it looks like a sports event! I urged on, tugging at his bare hands which rested on the steering wheel as he drove.

“When did you become such a huge sports fan?” He asked nonchalantly, still driving forward.

“Please, stop the car,” I pleaded this time, my tone sounding really serious, that was my way of getting him to do something for me.

“Honey, you’re wasting our time,” he mumbled grudgingly.

“Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeese” 

“It’s fine.”

“Nelson, am I not allowed to develop new hobbies and interests?” I asked, adjusting in my seat while rolling my eyes like I was searching for something. 

I knew he was not pleased by my request but I acted like I was oblivious to it, forcing the conversation.

He chuckled, hitting his hands on the steering wheel slightly.

“Of course you can. But this is weird.”

“Well, I guess I never told you that I was a huge sports fan while in Highschool,” I added, but he said nothing. 

Quickly but carefully, he moved backwards, till we were at a comfortable distance from the signpost and I could read its inscriptions properly. 

Happy that I’d gotten what I wanted, I stretched from the passenger’s seat towards him and when I’d gotten close enough, I pecked him on the cheek and he smiled faintly.

“Volleyball event at the Smiths’ volleyball court in the country.” 

“Interesting!” Nelson exclaimed as I read out its content.

“Truly interesting baby. I don’t know about you but for me, attendance is a must. I’ll finally get to put my high school volleyball skills into good use again after several donkey years.”

“Well, I hope you have a good time,” he muttered in a manner that showed little to no concern and then he put on the car’s ignition so that he could continue with his driving, but something about that made me flare up. 

“Really? I’ve always known it! You always do things to trigger me, and every time you win, just like you have now. Do you even love me or are you just here for a good time? You know what, you can just put the car to a halt and let me alight. Sitting next to a driver would do much more good right now than sitting next to a man who doesn’t give a damn about me!” I went on and on, ranting, while he just stared at me in disbelief. 

Soon I began to cry, folding both my hands and puckering my mouth like a baby who’d been denied cookies, but still, he ignored me.

“This is what I dislike about you, May. You always find a way to make a mountain out of a molehill. Is the carelessly lying placard the reason why we are fighting? You’re so unbelievable.” 

I was dumbfounded by his words and the more he spoke, the more I wanted to fly out through the window, if I could. I knew I was throwing tantrums but I didn't expect him to be that cruel towards me. All I wanted was an apology or some petting, but I was getting none of that, but scolding. 

“It’s all good. Please stop the car!” I demanded, picking up my black handbag which was almost the size of a purse, ready to step out as soon as he did as I’d requested, but he didn’t flinch.

“You’re going to make me do something crazy if you don’t stop this car,” I said again, shaking my legs uncomfortably. 

“Goodness Gracious! Okay, I admit, I’m wrong and I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry,” he apologized, looking down at his feet. 

Today, we appeared at the volleyball court in the country, fully dressed and ready for the occasion, except that I was the only one with enthusiasm. 

For Nelson, he was just passive and barely paid attention to anything I said about the event. He acted like he was just present to fulfill all righteousness but then I kept my cool. 

I had a pair of black sticky shorts and a pink sticky top with a zip all the way from the neckline to my crotch area. On my head was a matching pink cap that had the inscription, ‘IT girl’. 

My boyfriend, Nelson on the other hand had on a pair of boyfriend jeans and a black polo top that almost got us stopped at the gates, but he didn’t seem like he would mind if he wasn’t allowed entrance into the venue. He just didn’t care.

The court was a breath of fresh air. It lay open beneath a pale sky, its boundaries etched in fading white paint over sunbaked concrete. 

A net stretched across the center, frayed at the edges, sagging slightly in the middle like a tired smile. On either side, the attack lines and service zones formed a grid of anticipation, where players paced and plotted their next move. 

The surface bore the scuffs of countless games, dusty footprints, skid marks, and the occasional splash of sweat. Around it, a narrow strip of worn grass gave way to the chain-link fence that kept the ball, and sometimes tempers contained.

The space wasn’t glamorous, but it was sacred ground for people like me who knew its rhythm.

As the game began, I launched forward ready to work together with my team of six players. I had been so consumed in the selection that I barely looked at Nelson.

When I finally reached for him, lo and behold! He was seated on a plastic chair at one far end of the extended space, his face deeply buried in his phone. 

Worried about what kept him so far from the rest of the team, I scurried towards him in concern. I knew he didn't seem interested in the game, but the distance which he kept was really disturbing. 

“Baby, you’re here all alone, what’s the matter?” I asked, holding his shoulders, but he didn’t bulge.

“I’m talking to you, Nelson, please don’t ignore me,” I pressed further tugging at his shoulders this time, in a gentle manner.

“Girl, you’re beginning to get on my nerves real bad. Can you let me have some alone time? I need my privacy, for crying out loud!” He screamed, making me step backwards.

He’d been passing me subtle signs which I’d taken for granted all this while, but this time I couldn’t even overlook it anymore.

He was breaking my heart with his attitude and it made my heart clench with sadness.

“Oh, you could have just told me,” I finally struggled to say, my words barely above a whisper.

I turned my back on him and made for the ball court, my eyes filled with tears. I was going to let them out but when I thought of how embarrassing crying in public would be and then letting everyone into my personal business while attracting unnecessary sympathy and attention, I stopped in my tracks and dabbed the sleeve of my shirt against my eyes, making sure that every tear was soaked in it.

When I was fully convinced that my face and eyes had no tear traces, I moved on to crush the game that lay ahead of me.

As I walked slowly forward, I was hoping to hear his voice call out to me, maybe for an apology or just a word, but I got none. My sadness deepened. 

All through the game, I forcefully cheered myself up, trying my best not to look in his direction, let alone have direct eye contact with him. 

When I was done, we drove in an uncomfortable silence home. He made no mention of a word and I correspondingly looked out through the window in disinterest even though I was dying on the inside.