Ghost Lover

He stood under the scorching sun, that was busy setting the grass ablaze. They were the only ones alone on the field, but he had no idea why she chose this time for them to come out.

“I still don’t understand why you wanted us here by this time,” Austin said, squinting and covering his eyes from the harsh rays of the sun. Nala kept herself busy setting up the cones he needed for his footwork. Austin sat there, smiling and he remembered asking her for help, but never expected her to be this serious with it. He stood up, attempting to clean off his body, and then realised there was nothing on his shorts.

“Hey Nala” he shook her shoulders. She raised her head to look at him but quickly covered her eyes, “The sun right?”

She wiped off the sweat dripping down her cheeks with her handkerchief, “why are you not wearing your boots” she queried Austin with a harsh tone.

Austin smiled, and replied “chill chill, don’t ”

“Don’t what? It’s either you are serious with this or not,” Nala interrupted him. ” I prioritised this for a reason, don’t make me regret it.”

Austin stood with his mouth wide open and his jaws dropped,

“Will you put on your boots or should I leave?”

He didn’t even wait a second, he jogged back to his backpack and brought out his boot. They were a bit dusty, because he knew they didn’t have plans for training. So he didn’t bother to wash them, Nala only informed him about helping him with training that morning.

He was lost in between being impressed or being ashamed that he had been ordered around by Nala. He asked her to aid him in training, but turns out she was actually training him now. After struggling to fit his legs perfectly into his boots.

He stepped leaped up with so much enthusiasm, ready to stomp on the bed and show her what he was made of. But as his legs landed back on the ground, he felt his leg burning like some barbeque being prepared.

“Ouch” he groaned in pain, taking a knee down to the ground. Nala hurriedly came to his side, holding him arms.

“What’s wrong this time?” She asked

“It’s nothing” Austin tried standing with the help of the hand she extended to him

“Don’t do that again,” she pleaded, “talk to me.” He could see that she yearned for some answer and he wasn’t happy always keeping her in the dark about things going on with him. He was more worried about looking like some weak lad, who needed her pity or help.

He sighed, “my legs are literally on fire, the sun and the ground itself burns.”

Nala rolled her eyes in disappointment and flung his hand away, “I thought it was something serious!” she exclaimed, “Just get yourselves to the beginning of that cone and begin some ball work. I realised your footwork sucks ”

Austin was left in shock again and was excited, “How do you know these things Nala?” His face was an absolute replica of some kid who just saw Santa Claus.

Austin was on his way to where the cone was when Nala halted him.

“Where are you going to”

Austin looking confused, “you said I should begin here with my footwork”

Nala’s brow raised immediately “without Jogging first?”

“Nah, I’m not doing that,” Austin said with all Certainty.

“Well, it’s either you listen to me or Train yourself baby boy, it’s all left to you”

Nala made her way to where she dropped her belongings. Austin was still dumbfounded by this version of Nala he was seeing, this bossy attitude and the orders she gave to him made it look like it was another person entirely and it only drove him crazy, at least in a good way.

“Okay okay” Austin said reluctantly, “I’ll do it.” He started jogging slowly with his eyes fixed on her, he could see her mischievous smile of victory that accompanied her statement “Good boy” as he ran off.

After jogging to her heart’s content, he tried several times wiggling and manoeuvring through the cones she set. It was all Trial and failure followed with her Barking orders, “Again!”

Each time he messed it up, she was always there to have him start over. She was more committed to his development than the school coach himself, Austin was getting worn out but seeing her hyped about this kept him going.

He was almost about to get past the last two cones, when he felt the atmosphere change. He thought it was about to rain but the sun was still having a busy day, he felt a chill breeze brush his cheeks, the grass around were suddenly rising and rustling. He was still determined in getting past those cones, he went right with the ball all at his feet and got past the first one. His face lighting up with a smile of victory at last, he was moving left to get past the last cone when he felt a nudge at the back. He went crashing into the ground hard,

“AGAIN!” Nala barked at him.

He stood up quickly, looking around and stood up frustrated. He kicked the last cone away and screamed “Fuckkk”

Nala just stood there, looking at him and he backed her.

“You are going to have to do this again” she said to him

“Can’t you just leave me alone, let me be” Austin shouted, slumping on the grass. Nala had no idea what she had done, she only wanted to help and this was how he replied to her again.

“I just wanted help” Nala mattered slowly, stepping away.

“Hey hey, it’s not you Nala. I swear it’s not you” Austin pleaded. He screamed because he knew falling was Tasha’s doing. That breeze rustling the grass was just her announcing her arrival and she just made him stumble back on a huge progress. He has been contemplating what he has to do to get her to leave him alone but nothing comes to mind.

“What do you mean it’s not me?” Nala grimaced, “you screamed that I should leave you alone. This is not the first time you are doing this.”

Austin quickly held her, trying to reassure her “It wasn’t you Nala, trust me. It was just, it just..” he stuttered, finding it hard to come up with an excuse or even the right word to use.

“I’m tired of all this back and forth Austin,” She released herself from his grip and grabbed her things and left him there.

Austin fell back on the grass and muttered slowly “Are you happy now?”

“Not yet, baby boy” Tasha’s voice echoed in his ear with happiness in it. she formed right out of nothing, he sat there staring at her. He was busy thinking of so many ways to hurt her, but he knew she wouldn’t die and this would only lead to him being in more serious trouble.

“Come on, cheer up” she said smiling at him and sat right next to him, “Atleast, I allowed you to train well. You actually did improve”

Austin wasn’t moved one bit with her comments, he could feel his heart raging with anger and different thoughts of how to hurt her, but he tried everything in his power to suppress them. After a few minutes of ignoring her and calming himself.

“What do you want from me Tasha”

Tasha smirked “you have no Idea how long I’ve been waiting for you to ask me this question”