The yellow-painted, worn leather ball flew through the air, a blur against the rapidly darkening sky. Daniel sprinted, breathing slightly erratic.
Street football.
No proper pitch, just the width of the road between two gutters, with large stones serving as goalposts. Raw, chaotic, but every bit as heart pumping for the players involved.
"Daniel, pass!" one of his teammates yelled.
He controlled the unpredictable bounce off the uneven tarmac with his right foot, instantly feeling the pressure of a defender closing in. Francis, a lanky guy from the other street, known for his clumsy but effective tackling.
Daniel's heart pounded, not just from exertion, but from the thrill of the game, and the adrenaline pumping through his veins. He feinted left, then quickly dragged the ball right, executing a sloppy but effective elastico that left Francis stumbling. He was through, one-on-one with the makeshift goalkeeper – a younger boy named Samuel who stood nervously between the two stones.
Instinct took over. He shaped to pass to his teammate running alongside him, drawing Samuel slightly off his line. Then, with a swift flick of his ankle, he slotted the ball low and hard towards the near 'post'. It rolled cleanly between the stones.
"GOAL!"
He erupted, arms raised, his three teammates mobbing him in celebration, their shouts echoing down the street.
"Ah ah! No be goal!" Francis protested immediately, catching his breath. "It bounced!"
A short, loud argument ensued, the kind typical of street games, voices rising in mock indignation. Eventually, after much gesturing and appealing to imaginary lines, the goal stood.
The game continued for a few more minutes, but the sun was dropping fast, dimming and turning the sky purple and orange. Streetlights flickered on here and there.
Daniel, feeling the satisfying ache in his muscles, decided to call it a day. He waved goodbye to his friends, promising a rematch soon, and jogged the short distance back to his compound, a cool feeling on his skin from the evaporating sweat.
He entered the flat to find his mother setting the table for dinner. Rice and stew, the familiar aroma filling the small space.
"Well done," Sarah greeted him with a smile, noticing his sweaty state. "Hope you aren't injured anywhere?"
"No ma," he replied, catching his breath.
"Okay, straight to the bathroom before you sit."
"I was already going there," he said, a touch of exasperation in his voice, though he wasn't really annoyed.
He grabbed his towel and soap and headed to the bathroom. SPLASH. The lukewarm water felt heavenly as it cascaded over his head and shoulders, washing away the sweat and dust. As the water trickled down his temples, his mind inevitably returned to the Money Hack app.
He'd shown his mother the 3,000 Naira OPay alert the previous evening. Her reaction was a mixture of disbelief and concern. "Where did this money come from?" she'd asked, peering at his phone screen. He'd stuck to his vague "crypto trading" explanation, adding that he got lucky with a small online investment. He promised to explain more later but emphasized it was legitimate.
She'd reluctantly accepted it, the "Just be careful" warning repeated.
He hadn't dared tell her the full story, not yet. He needed to understand the app better himself, to test its limits, and ensure its safety.
Telling her about borrowing money from a magic app that could predict markets sounded completely unbelievable. She'd probably think he'd joined Internet Fraud or gotten involved in something dangerous.
Last night, after dinner, tucked away in the bedroom while Elizabeth studied, he had opened MH again. The N250 balance felt lonely. He'd gone back to the 'Borrow Capital' feature, borrowed another N5,000, bringing his app balance to N5,250. Then, feeling bolder, he'd set up another automatic crypto trade. This time, he set the duration for 24 hours. Low risk. He wanted to see what it could generate over a longer, more stable period.
The 24-hour mark would be around 7:00 PM tonight. Just about now.
His heart gave a little jump. If the profit was substantial… really substantial… maybe they could afford something nice tonight.
He finished bathing quickly, dried himself, and put on comfortable shorts and a clean t-shirt. Back in the bedroom, phone in hand, he sat on the edge of his bed. Elizabeth wasn't there; she must be helping their mum serve dinner. He checked the time on his phone.
7:01 PM.
Deep breath. He opened the Money Hack app. His eyes immediately darted to the balance display.
Balance: NGN 54,380.50
Fifty-four thousand Naira? From five thousand? In just 24 hours?
A huge grin split his face. "Yes! Go! Mummy!" he yelled, jumping up from the bed and rushing out of the room, phone held high.
"Mummy, I made another profit! A big one!"
Sarah looked up from dishing out rice, startled by his sudden outburst. Elizabeth paused, spoon hovering over a plate.
"Really?" Sarah asked, curiosity replacing her surprise. "How much this time?"
Daniel practically shoved the phone screen in front of her face. "See! Over fifty thousand Naira!"
His mother stared at the number, her eyes wide. N54,380.50. She looked from the phone screen to her son's beaming face and back again, putting down the serving spoon.
"Daniel… how?" she asked, a bit out of it.
"I told you before, Mummy! It's crypto trading online! Don't worry, I'm getting good at it. I found a good strategy," Daniel said confidently, puffing his chest out slightly. He conveniently omitted the app's role entirely. It was his strategy now, his skill. "It's real money. I can withdraw it."
Sarah remained silent for a moment. He seemed so sure. Maybe it was real? Lord knows they needed the help.
"Okay son. Glory be to God!" She nodded, feeling a bit grateful.
He beamed. "So… since I made money… let's forget this rice tonight! Let's go out! My treat!"
Elizabeth gasped, her eyes lighting up. "Really? Like Mr. Biggs?"
Daniel laughed. "Yes! Like Mr. Biggs!"
A smile spread across Sarah's face. "Alright then. Let me wear something else."
Eating out was a rare treat, and the prospect, combined with the sudden influx of money, filled the small flat with a buzz of excitement.
Daniel quickly initiated a withdrawal of N50,000 to his OPay account, leaving over N4,000 in the app. The alert came through almost instantly.
Real money. His money. The feeling was intoxicating.