Three years ago…..
Sharon
There was something I wanted to check on the internet but unfortunately, my battery had died.
I borrowed Jide's phone before he went to see someone downstairs.
I should have gone to Google direct but I preferred the normal WhatsApp messenger's AI because it had more explanation and narration with exploration.
I liked that none of the apps in his phone required password before entry. I guess it was because of me anyway. So I could have access into his phone anytime.
When I entered his WhatsApp to search for the Meta AI, my eyes caught a group forum that says: Old friends associations.
I was quizzical for a moment. I asked myself whether to swipe into it and see what it's made for.
But then, I remember that it might be invasive. I don't want him to see me like the curious girlfriend going to every end to sneak on her boyfriend.
But at the same time, I thought about me being his girlfriend with nothing wrong with going over my boyfriend's phone.
I swiped in hesitatedly. And behold, the chat looked like a beautiful house with nobody in it.
Although, there were written chats and voice notes but the date seems like ages.
September 19, 2020. That was the year I graduated from College.
The last chat in the group's forum ends at July 7, 2023…..
People barely conversed in the group chat, making it look so boring to read.
Even my girls group forum with Kiki and Ire is not as bad as this. We always share our daily life there.
I don't know what came over me, but I saw myself wanting to listen to some of the voice notes.
I tapped on one voice note that loads since the year I got into College. March 4, 2016.
"Stephen told me you had a new hot roomie. I would like to meet her soon." _1st guy.
"Hey yo, Tristan. Did you say she's from Nigeria? Damn, I like Nigerian women. Black with Melanie. Feels gooood." _2nd guy.
"Guys, guys, can you please cut it out? I don't like her one bit. She's too arrogant, rude, annoying and bossy. I really hate her with passion. I just can't wait till the end of this semester so I can change room or better still, go off-campus." _Jide.
Okay. I agree he called me names because that was how I used to be until he entered my life and changed things up.
"Stephen said you complained about her almost burning down the apartment the other time. (Laughing) She must be bad with cooking tactics." _3rd guy.
"Trust me, she's useless. She's totally nothing good. She can't even make tea for herself. Sometimes, I wonder if she really grew up with her parents not talking sense into her." _Jide.
Okay. That's enough now.
I was getting irritated by each ounce of seconds. But then, I got intrigued again to listen more.
I swiped to the recent. Three years ago: July 7, 2023.
"Dude, I thought you said you'll have nothing to do with her, especially knowing that she's a Yoruba girl—from the west. But what happened now? You slept with her again at Cherry's wedding. Are you insane? After everything she did to you? Dude, she used you for good four f**king years of college life. Stephen, talk some senses into him. I think this guy has lost it." _2nd guy
"Tristan, remember this girl used you all throughout college. She played with your feelings. She never valued your worth. Damn! I remembered how you wanted to propose to her during graduation and she called you all the vibe killing names in this world. Dude, you have to wake up." _1st guy
"Come on, guys. What do you all take me for? I know what am playing at. No woman would dare turn me down like that and go so free. I have my plans drawn out on a map. I'll take my revenge on her. And it had already started at Cherry's wedding. I'll make her pay for playing away my feelings for four good years." _Jide
"So, how long are you going to play this revenge thing with her and how are you doing to do it?" _3rd guy
"Simple. I'll make her fall in love with me first, then I'll dump her off, three years after just like a trash. How about that?" _Jide
"I think I like how that sounds. Besides, you're cute and flawlessly handsome. You got all the ingredients every woman needs. It would be so easy for her to fall for you again." _1st guy
I grasped to the phone, praying for oxygen as I gasp for breath.
Oh no.
God, tell me everything I just heard was nothing but a lie?
Are my ears deceiving me?
This can't be true.
Has he been lying to me all along? Has he been playing with my feelings all these…..
I just realised that this year made it approximately three years we've been dating.
I slumped on the edge of the bed, my eyes looking into space. I'm doomed. I've been used.
The door opened and I saw Jide strolling towards me with a smile on his face. "Hello darling, did you miss me?" He tried to kiss my lips but I refrained and it fell on my cheek. He noticed something odd. "Are you alright?"
"Have you been lying to me?" I could barely hear my voice.
"Lying to you as how? What are you talking about?"
Why is he making matters worse by lying the more?
I can't take it anymore. I try to hold back the urge of crying in front of him. "Jide, we've been dating for three long years now. Does this mean you're doing to break up with me sooner? Or let me guess, is this going to be the surprise you're hoping to show me at your parents anniversary?"
"No, baby." I hated the fact he sounded so caring all of a sudden. He squatted in front of me. "I would never do such a thing as breaking up with you, my love. Not now, not ever."
Why do I feel like I don't know what to believe anymore? But the voice notes said it all. Real and clear.
"Jide, you could have told me our relationship was going nowhere. You could have told me it was absolutely nothing to you other than a scheme of revenge. I would have understood and begged for your forgiveness. But the fact you made me look like a laughing stock amidst of your friends was really intolerable." I pushed his hands off my lap and got up to leave.
He was quick to grab my hand, stopping me from leaving.
I refused to meet his gaze. The tears was rolling down my cheeks like water fountain.
"Am sorry. But everything I said was in the past." He knelt down, pleading. "I never meant any of them. What we had and shared together is real to me, Sharon. Our love is not one-sided. Our relationship was never a revenge or whatsoever. I loved you from the beginning and I'll always do. What I feel for you is real, please believe me, my love."
Believe you? He must be out of his senses. Not with everything I just heard in that voice note.
I jerked his hand off mine and turned to look at him one last time. My eyes narrowed with the tears pouring out. "Read my lips, Tristan…" I called him by his English name. "It's. Over. Between. Us."
He shook his head, not buying my words. "You're joking, right? Sharon, you're kidding me. You can't just throw away three years of our lives together."
"Well, you said it by yourself!" I snapped. "You said you were doing to tear this relationship in three years and look…" I fling my hands in the air. "It's exactly working as you wanted."
"I was stupid when I said all those things about you. I want this relationship to progress even further."
"Then keep dating your f**king self, Tristan. I'm done. Sharon is done!"
He grabbed my wrist again when I attempt to leave. I jerked his grip off and left.
So… This is how our relationship died?
How do I explain things to my friends….. to my family…..to everyone that'd seen us together a couple of times?
Even to the press and media?
When all along, I've been thinking about taking our relationship to the next level.
And this was more than that. A farewell surprise.
This… Hurts.