Alex was lying on his couch, scrolling lazily through his phone. He had been relaxing after qualifying for the Olympic trials, feeling proud, feeling calm.

He tapped a notification.

Then his eyes widened.

"Breaking News: Major Drug Scandal in U.S. Sports — USADA Under Fire — Investigation Begins Immediately."

He sat up fast.

"What the hell…?"

He scrolled more.

Names of sports.

Rumors of coaches.

Reports of performance enhancement.

His heart dropped.

"No… no, no, no…"

He dialed his coach instantly.

Ring… ring… ring…

Voicemail.

He called again.

Ring… ring…

Voicemail.

A third time.

Please leave a message after the tone…

Alex's hands started shaking.

"What's going on…? Why aren't you picking up…?"

His chest tightened.

He stood up pacing the room, running a hand through his hair, heart pounding.

"Don't tell me… don't tell me this is real. Coach, please… please don't let this be what I'm thinking…"

More alerts were buzzing.

More news.

More reports.

More panic.

Alex swallowed hard, staring at the phone like it was about to explode in his hand…

and realizing slowly that this scandal might be bigger than anything he ever imagined.

And his coach might be right in the center of it.

****

Richard had just woken up from an afternoon nap, feeling refreshed.

He stretched a bit, walked out of the room, and saw his wife in the kitchen making lunch, her hips swaying gently left and right to the rhythm of the music playing faintly on the speaker.

The sight made him smile instantly.

He walked up quietly behind her and slipped his hands around her waist.

She flinched.

"Oh my God, honey! Stop! You almost made my heart fly out."

Richard smirked.

"That's why I'm here… to catch it."

His wife turned red instantly.

"Oh stop it, Richard."

Richard, feeling playful, leaned into her and was just about to kiss her neck when—

"Guys, please! Aren't you a bit old for this? Get a room!"

Their 16-year-old daughter yelled from the doorway.

Both parents froze… then looked at her…

and both scolded her at the same time.

"Out!"

She laughed and ran away as Richard chased her for interrupting his moment.

He eventually returned to the room still smiling.

On his way back, he heard something faint on the TV.

He ignored it at first…

…until a certain headline caught his ear.

He stepped back into the living room.

His eyes narrowed.

The headline read:

"PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUG DISTRIBUTION WITHIN MULTIPLE NATIONAL SPORTS PROGRAMS."

Richard blinked.

Then blinked again.

He had to lean closer and read it twice.

His mouth slowly opened.

His wife turned from the kitchen.

"What happened, honey?"

Richard didn't answer.

He simply sank into the chair, eyes glued to the TV.

He didn't even realize he was holding his breath until his chest burned.

Thomas appeared on-screen, speaking firmly about an emergency press conference to come.

Evidence was already being released.

Richard felt his stomach twist.

Because at that moment…

everything Dayo once told him flashed back like a movie.

*****

FLASHBACK —

Richard remembered the whole conversation perfectly.

Dayo sat across from him, calm, relaxed… too relaxed.

Dayo:

"What if the person who finished first fails the drug test?"

Richard:

"Then the second place takes the spot."

Dayo:

"What if the second person fails too?"

Richard chuckled.

"Then the third person will go."

Dayo didn't smile.

"What if the third person fails?"

Richard frowned.

"That's… unusual. But if it happens, then the fourth person will qualify."

Dayo leaned forward slightly.

"And what if the fourth person—can't meet Olympic standards? What happens then?"

Richard paused.

He remembered the exact silence.

He remembered the exact thought he had:

Why is he asking me these questions?

After a long pause, he answered truthfully:

"Well… then the federation does a special selection. They will bring someone who has Olympic level time, regardless of placement."

And Dayo said one thing he would never forget:

"Exactly."

It was only now, sitting in his living room with the biggest scandal in U.S. sports on the TV, that Richard finally understood.

Dayo wasn't asking hypothetical questions.

He was laying out the plan.

Step by step.

Angle by angle.

Consequence by consequence.

Richard whispered:

"Dayo… you actually did this."

Richard grabbed his phone immediately and dialed Dayo.

It rang once.

"Yo," Dayo answered casually.

Richard's voice shook.

"Dayo… did you really… do this?"

Dayo sighed.

"Richard… I don't want to talk about it."

"Oh come on," Richard pressed. "I know when something has your fingerprints all over it."

Dayo chuckled lightly.

"Didn't I tell you? I'm going to fix everything… and I'm going to compete in more events."

"This—this is huge, Dayo! This is the scandal of the century!"

"Not my fault," Dayo said calmly. "They chose to use drugs."

Richard rubbed his face, still overwhelmed.

"My God. People's careers… reputations… everything is falling apart."

"That's on them," Dayo said. "Not on me."

Richard exhaled deeply.

Then Dayo added quietly:

"Oh, and before I forget — I submitted the evidence that Coach Matthew framed you. They'll be calling you soon. Prepare yourself."

Richard froze.

"Are you serious?!"

"Yes."

"Dayo… I don't even know what to say."

"Don't say anything. You helped me. You believed me when everybody doubted me. You deserve this."

Richard swallowed hard.

His chest tightened with emotion.

"Thank you… son."

"Anytime," Dayo replied.

****

Within minutes, the news had spread across every social platform.

Sports channels, YouTube, podcasts, Instagram, TikTok — everyone was posting clips, headlines, theories.

Rumors.

Panic.

Shock.

Articles poured in:

"Massive Drug Ring Uncovered — Multiple Sports Under Investigation"

"Anonymous Source Drops Explosive Evidence"

"Olympic Standings Could Be Reshuffled Completely"

"Which Athletes Are Involved? Public Demands Answers."

Dayo's name started appearing in some speculative comments:

"Isn't this because of JD?"

"JD is suspicious."

"He didn't qualify last time, maybe he's involved."

"He's been quiet for years then boom — all this?"

"Don't tell me he's using drugs too."

Though there was zero evidence, the internet was doing what the internet does best…

Jumping to conclusions.

****

Richard sat there quietly, taking it all in.

He was shocked… but at the same time, he understood everything perfectly now.

Dayo's calmness.

His confidence.

His strange questions.

His refusal to panic about last trials.

His belief that something big would shift.

Richard whispered to himself:

"This boy… actually flipped the entire system."

And now the world was about to feel the impact.

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