From A Producer To A Global Superstar-Chapter 434: Alice...Dayo

The glass doors slid open behind him, the low hum of the building spilling out for a second before it sealed shut again. Evening had settled properly now, the kind that softened the edges of everything without really cooling the air. The parking lot wasn't crowded, just a few cars scattered, engines ticking as they cooled.

Dayo stepped down the short set of stairs, adjusting his sleeve without thinking, his mind already moving ahead to what came next. He had barely taken three steps toward his car when he heard it.

"Dayo."

Not loud but just enough to stop him.

He turned.

Alice was standing a few feet away, just outside the glow of the building lights. Arms folded, one shoulder slightly angled like she hadn't decided if she wanted to stay or leave. She didn't look surprised to see him. If anything, she looked like she had been waiting.

He glanced at her for a second, then walked closer, stopping just within speaking distance. "I was wondering if you'd catch me out here or just pretend you didn't see me inside giving you sign."

She let out a short breath that wasn't quite a laugh. "You say that like you gave me much of a choice."

He tilted his head slightly. "I was inside for a while."

"Yeah," she said, eyes steady on him, "you always are."

There was a pause, not empty, just… loaded. Cars passed somewhere in the distance, the faint sound of traffic bleeding into the space between them.

Dayo leaned back slightly, resting his hand on the roof of his car. "You going to tell me what's on your mind, or are we going to stand here and keep talking around it?"

Alice shook her head lightly, like she expected that answer. "You came back and didn't say anything."

He didn't respond immediately.

She stepped a little closer, not aggressively, just enough to close the gap. "I didn't hear it from you. Not a message, not a call. I hear it from people, from random conversations, from everything except you."

Dayo exhaled quietly, eyes still on her. "It wasn't planned like that."

"That's the thing," she cut in, not raising her voice but tightening her tone. "It's never planned like that with you. It just… happens. You show up, you move, you leave. And everyone else is supposed to just adjust."

He watched her carefully now, not interrupting.

"You decide when people are included," she continued, her arms dropping slightly from where they were folded. "You decide when they matter enough to know what's going on."

"That's not what I'm doing," he said, calm, even.

She gave a small nod, like she expected him to say that. "Maybe not intentionally. But that's how it feels."

The words hung there.

Dayo shifted his weight, glancing away for a brief second before looking back at her. "I've had a lot going on."

"I know," she replied quickly. "I'm not saying you don't. I'm saying you don't let anyone into it."

There was no accusation in her voice now. Just something steadier. More honest.

He let that sit.

"I heard about Nigeria the same way everyone else did," she added. "The music, the noise, everything. Then suddenly you're back here and it's like… nothing."

"It's not nothing," he said.

"Then what is it?"

He ran a hand lightly along the edge of the car, thinking for a second before answering. "It's movement. It's timing. It's things lining up the way they need to."

She studied him, trying to read past the words. "And where do people fit into that?"

"You're not outside of it," he said.

"But I'm not inside it either."

He didn't rush to respond.

Alice let out a small breath, looking off to the side before bringing her eyes back to him. "You don't even realize you do it half the time."

"Do what?"

"Keep everything at a distance," she said. "Not far enough to disappear. Just far enough that nobody can really get in."

Dayo's expression didn't change much, but something behind it shifted, subtle.

"It's not that I didn't think about telling you," he said after a moment.

She held his gaze. "But you didn't."

He nodded once. "I didn't."

Another pause settled between them, heavier this time but not uncomfortable.

Alice stepped back slightly, her posture loosening just a bit. "I'm not asking you to explain everything you do. I know that's not how you move."

He listened.

"I'm just saying… don't make it feel like I'm always catching up to your life from the outside."

Dayo took that in, letting it sit before responding. "That's fair."

She looked at him, searching his face for something more, maybe an explanation, maybe an apology. He didn't give either, not directly.

Instead, he said, "It's been a lot, and I've been moving fast. That doesn't mean I don't see what you're saying."

It wasn't soft. It wasn't defensive either. Just… clear.

Alice nodded slowly. "Okay."

They stood there for a moment, the tension easing just enough to breathe but not disappearing.

"You staying around?" he asked.

"For now," she replied.

"Good."

She gave a small, almost reluctant smile. "Don't disappear again without saying anything."

"I'll try not to."

"That's not the same as saying you won't."

He let out a quiet breath, a faint hint of amusement in it. "I know."

Another pause, lighter this time.

"I should go," she said, stepping back fully now.

"Yeah."

She turned, then stopped for a second, glancing back at him. "You better win that competition."

Dayo's lips curved slightly. "That was always the plan."

"Good," she said, before she walked off Dayo hugged her and gave her a deep kiss she smilwd like a little kitty then walked off without waiting for another response.

He watched her for a second before getting into his car, closing the door softly behind him.

The training facility was already active by the time he got there.

Voices echoed faintly across the space, the sharp rhythm of whistles cutting through the air, water splashing in steady, controlled patterns. The smell of chlorine hit immediately, familiar, grounding.

Dayo walked in without making a scene, dropping his bag near the benches as he scanned the pool.

Coach Matthew stood at the edge, stopwatch in hand, focused on a swimmer finishing a lap. His posture was straight, attention locked in, the kind of presence that didn't need to be loud to control a room.

Dayo stepped closer, leaning slightly against the railing.

Coach Matthew glanced up briefly, then did a double take.

"…You've got to be kidding me."

Dayo smiled. "Miss me?"

Coach shook his head, lowering the stopwatch. "What are you doing here?"

"Competition's coming up," Dayo replied simply. "Figured I should show up."

Coach let out a short laugh, stepping closer. "Last time I checked, you were halfway across the world doing everything except this."

"I multitask why are you talking like we didn't juat talke few weeks ago."

"Yeah, I've seen you but.....," Coach said, giving him a look. "Doesn't mean your body does."

Dayo shrugged slightly. "That's why I'm here."

Coach studied him for a second, eyes sharp, assessing. "You've been training?"

"Of course."

"Not the same," Coach replied immediately. "You know that."

"I do."

Another brief silence, then Coach nodded toward the pool. "You're jumping in?"

"Wouldn't be here if I wasn't."

Coach smirked faintly. "Good. Because your brother's been getting comfortable."

Dayo's eyes shifted slightly. "Jeffrey?"

"Yeah," Coach said, glancing toward another lane. "He's been putting in work. Might actually give you a problem this time."

Dayo followed his gaze, spotting Jeffrey at the far end, mid-set, moving clean through the water.

A small smile tugged at his lips. "We'll see."

Coach tapped the stopwatch lightly against his palm. "Don't come in here thinking your name carries you. That doesn't mean anything in the water."

"I know," Dayo said.

"Good," Coach replied. "Then get changed and show me where you're at."

Dayo grabbed his bag, heading toward the locker room without another word.

By the time he came back out, the session had shifted slightly, some swimmers rotating out while others stepped in.

Jeffrey had just finished a set, pulling himself up from the pool as Dayo approached.

He looked up, blinking once before breaking into a grin. "Look who decided to show up."

Dayo smirked. "Heard you've been getting bold."

Jeffrey laughed, grabbing a towel. "Someone has to keep things interesting."

"Is that what you call it?"

"That's exactly what I call it," Jeffrey shot back. "You've been busy chasing the world. I've been here working."

Dayo stepped closer to the edge of the pool. "Working toward what?"

"Beating you," Jeffrey said without hesitation.

Dayo let out a low chuckle. "In which event?"

"200."

"I perfected one," Jeffrey corrected. "You're out here trying to do everything."

"And still winning," Dayo replied smoothly.

Jeffrey shook his head, smiling. "We'll see about that."

"Yeah," Dayo said, stepping toward his lane. "We will."

Coach Matthew's voice cut through the space. "Enough talking. If you two are done measuring egos, get in the water."

Jeffrey laughed, stepping aside. "After you."

Dayo slipped into the pool, the water closing over him instantly, cool and familiar. For a moment, everything else faded. No noise. No conversations. Just movement.

He pushed off the wall, cutting through the water cleanly, his body settling into rhythm without hesitation.

At the edge, Coach watched, eyes sharp, timing every movement.

Jeffrey leaned against the railing, arms folded, still smiling slightly.

"Still fast," he muttered.

Coach didn't look at him. "Fast isn't enough."

Jeffrey nodded. "I know."

In the water, Dayo turned, pushing off again, sharper this time.

No distractions. No noise.

Just the work.