It all started with a bet. My elder brother had been on my case for the longest time. Since junior high school, it was always, “Get a girl, get a girl.” It wasn’t that I was shy. I just didn’t like any of them back then. So my brother took matters into his own hands. Honestly, he went too far. He hacked my WhatsApp and started talking to girls for me.

He said either I was dating, or else he’d start questioning if I was a man down there. And I couldn’t allow that.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP CHANNEL TO RECEIVE ALL STORIES IN YOUR INBOX

It stopped, then started again. This time, I just wanted to get him off my back. So I picked a girl. She was a colleague at my former workplace, before I went to university.

Everyone knew Vee had a boyfriend. Back when I still worked at the office, her boyfriend used to come around with gifts. I knew she was going to reject me. Then I’d tell my brother I tried, and pretend to be heartbroken.

We started talking. Things got interesting. A few months in, I realized what a sweet talker I am. And it got me a girlfriend. Every time, to prove I was holding up my end of the bet, I sent my brother screenshots of our messages. And every time, he showered me with praise. Said I was a true son of our father. His brother, truly.

It made my head big. I walked around with my shoulders high, like the world belonged to me. I had a girl. She nagged if I didn’t call. She called on me when she needed help with the smallest things. She was my baby. My sweet girl. I had a swell time.

I enjoyed it while it lasted. Then I went radio silent. I ghosted her. I’d seen all there was to see. Nothing left to prove to my brother. But I was wrong.

All I can say is, my brother has forced me to the river, and this water I’m supposed to drink is bitter. Even though water has no color, this one is dirty.

Here’s the thing. My supposed girlfriend is not what she says she is. She lied to me. She is a grown woman. Way older than me. I am just a 200-level boy in university. I call my mother for money and to ask how to cook kontomire stew. I know little about life. I’m still in school, unemployed, and marriage is the last thing on my mind.

She’s acting crazy. That’s what’s on her mind now. She says she wants me oo, and she’s not backing down anytime soon. I don’t know how to make her understand that what we had was just a bet. A fling. We should move on. As I speak, she’s already planning our lives. Says we’ll have five children, a big house, three cars, a van, and vacation homes. She’s written our children’s names down. “I’m praying on it every day and praying for you, so that you make it early in life and we can start a family as quick as possible.” Hmm.

I think—though I’m not so sure from what I’ve gathered—she’s behaving this way because she recently broke up with her boyfriend. I’m just the next available thing. Hence this charade. Probably she hasn’t been able to move on, so I’m supposed to be her comfort. But I’m small oo. She’s 26. Grown enough to handle heartbreak. I don’t know what’s up with this.

It’s Not God’s Law For A Man To Apologize To A Woman

But I’m worried too. Worried that if I cut her off completely, my conscience won’t be free if I find out an irresponsible guy got the better of her just because she couldn’t move on. But I also know it will be very bad for me to let her cling to false hopes.

So… what do I do now?

— Fanta

This story you just read was sent to us by someone just like you. We know you have a story too. Email it to us at [email protected]. You can also drop your number and we will call you so you tell us your story.

#SB<>