If you haven’t read the first part of this story, here’s the link. Kindly read it before starting this one.

For several weeks, she wasn’t coming around. I would hear the sound of heels, get up and look through the window but she wouldn’t be the one. One day I met Boamah in front of my door and jovially asked him, “These days, I don’t see your wife again. Is everything Ok?” He asked, “Which of them?” I described her. I described the dress she was wearing the last time she came around. He said, “Eiii sister, so you’ve been watching earn?” I answered, “That one looks cool so I was thinking she was the one.” He said, “Hmmm, we are having some small issues but don’t worry, she’ll start coming here very soon.”

So when she resumed, he became to knock on my door and said, “She’s here.” I came out and she greeted me. I responded and they went into their room. I didn’t hear from them again until the following morning when I heard her footsteps. So I was in there thinking about what to do. “Should I tell him?” The voice in my head answered, “Don’t say anything. If you do, he may think you are trying to separate them because you have feelings for him.” “So I shouldn’t tell him?” Then my conscience would kick, “He’s your friend. He deserves to know the truth.”

When I shared my story, most of the comments said I should tell him but those who said I shouldn’t tell him also had a point. You know lovers. You can’t advise them. Whatever you tell them can be used against you whenever they get back together. So I relented for a while, thinking he’ll get the clue himself as time goes on. 

One afternoon, she came around. She washed, cooked, and lived around as though she was the main girl. My heart was aching. Not because I had something for Edem but because I felt he was being cheated on. I started employing some of the tactics I read in the comment. That I should invite him over on the days I was so sure that his girl would come around. I did. 

“Edem, what would you be doing this Thursday evening? 

“Nothing. You know I don’t have anything to do after work.”

“Splendid. Can you come around then? I need you to do something for me.” 

“Around what time?”

“In the evening, let’s say around 8pm. I would go to a church program and close at 8pm. After that, I can meet you at the house.”

“Really? So what is it that we can’t discuss it on the phone first?”

At this point, I was getting angry. It looked like he was suspecting me of some foul play so I said, “If you can’t make it too, it’s ok. I’ll get someone else to help me do it.” He responded, “You, don’t worry. I will come around.” 

It was Monday when we had that conversation. To make sure the girl would come around, I asked Boamah, “Today, I didn’t see madam. She didn’t come around right?” He laughed. He remarked, “The way your interest has grown in this one, if she hears anything about my moves around here, I’ll suspect you’re the one who told her.” I also laughed. I said calmly, “You know I won’t do such a thing. I only like her because she’s calm and looks like a good girl, that’s all.” He told me it wasn’t her day yet but I should expect her on Thursday.” 

On Tuesday, I was on the phone with Edem. I didn’t call him. He did. I thought he had something to tell me—something that would be beneficial to our meeting. He started singing the praises of his girlfriend and how the girl had been everything since they met. And then he concluded, “The two of you haven’t met, right? Is it OK if I come to your end with her?” I screamed, “How would you do that? You don’t even know what I’m going to ask of you so why do you want to come with your girlfriend? Anyway, it’s ok. Don’t come. I’ll get someone else to help me.” He insisted that I give him a gist. I told him I couldn’t give him any gist until he comes around. 

On Thursday evening, around 7:30pm he called me. He said, “Sorry I would not be able to come. My woman wants us to visit one of her family members. Can we do it on Friday?” I sighed. I answered,” There’s no need for you to come again. I’m ok. I will ask someone else to do it for me.” He asked, “I hope you’re not angry?” I responded, “Not at all. It would have been good if you came but don’t worry. There’s always someone else who can help.” 

I’m my mind, the girl wasn’t coming on that Thursday night so even if he came, it would have been a fruitless journey. Around 9:30pm I heard the sound of footsteps behind my window. I heard voices too. Boamah and a girl. I didn’t bother because I knew my interest wasn’t coming that night. But I heard a knock on my door. It was Boamah. He said, “Your friend is here. Won’t you come and say hi to her?” For a moment I was confused. “She’s here? Does it mean their trip didn’t happen? Or they came back early enough for her to be here?” I got out, saw her, and said hello to each other. Mostly, she’s shy so she doesn’t look into my face. I told her, “I’ve been asking about you because I wasn’t seeing you these days. Good to see you today.” She said softly, “Really? But I’ve been coming around ooo.” 

The two of them walked majestically to the door. Boamah opened and they entered. I texted Edem, “How is it going? Were you able to make the trip with her?” He answered, “Yeah, we came to visit her aunt. The way things are going, we might end up sleeping here.” I was so confused. “Or they are twins? How could she be here and also be there at the same time? It meant somebody was lying and that somebody was Edem. The confusion I was going through wasn’t only about him and his girlfriend. I was thinking about what would make him lie to me.  “Or he thought I was going to seduce him when comes around?” I regretted ever telling him about my feelings. It could be the only reason why he would decide not to meet me at my place in the evening. 

I gave up. I decided not to say anything to him or even try to make him see the truth. Gradually, I was becoming the bad person in the story. No one wants to be the villain, especially in a love story. So I stayed off their issues. He called and I didn’t pick up. He texted and I read but didn’t respond. One day he called with an unknown number and I picked up. “So it’s intentional,” He remarked. “What have I done to you that you don’t pick up my calls or answer to my text? What’s going on?” I answered his question with a question of my own; “You called to ask me this question or you called because you have something important to say?” “I know it’s about the visit I couldn’t honor. Forgive me. Hers was very urgent. Something I couldn’t put aside.” He said.  

He was lying and I knew it. I should have been angry but I pitied him. I told him not to think about things that don’t exist. I told him to concentrate on his love story and stop bothering me. 

For days I didn’t hear from him. Weeks passed and I still didn’t hear from him. One Sunday evening, I was in town buying food from the roadside when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned and it was Edem. The girl was with him. Immediately our eyes met, she became horrified. Edem was happy doing the introduction but the girl’s eyes were on the floor looking for what was not there. Edem kept ranting. “Finally, you’ve met the girl I’ve been talking to you about. Serwaa, meet my girlfriend.” He looked at the face of the girl and said, “This is Serwaa, the friend I’ve been talking to you about.” She looked into my eyes and winked. I winked back. She took a step back while Edem was trying to ask me questions about why I’d decided not to talk to him again.

I used that moment to settle the scores I had with him. I told him, “I’m acting this way because you lied to me. It’s not the lie that hurts me but the intention behind the lie. You were supposed to come and help me with something and you didn’t come. Why didn’t you come?” By this time, the girl had taken a few steps backward to excuse the two of us. He answered, “I thought I told you what happened.” I said, “Your girlfriend is here. Should I ask her? Should I ask her when she took you to her aunt that both of you ended up sleeping there, should I?” He started fumbling; “You know this is not the time to discuss this issue and it’s not right to ask someone you met only today this sort of question.” I said in my head, “Someone I met only today? You don’t know.”

READ ALSO: A Letter To My Ex Who Only Appears When I’m Happy With Another Man

He kept trying to explain himself to me but I wasn’t interested. I only wanted to clear the air for him. I said, “I know you have a girlfriend and you owe her some commitment. That’s alright. I’m your friend and you owe me some sort of loyalty. If you won’t give me that, you don’t have to lie to me. Or you thought I will do something to you when you come around? Or you thought I was trying to seduce you or what? Or because I told you about my feelings you somehow think I still have something for you? Not at all, Edem. I was only trying to tell you something, but it’s also good that you didn’t come. It’s all good. I only hate the thinking behind your attitude that day and I also know that you were lying because I know you more than you can ever think of.”

I called the girl back and said good night to her. She couldn’t even look at me in the face but when she winked the very first time, I got the message. I saw the fear that preceded the wink. I knew she was telling me not to say anything but I got it differently. What if she truly loves Edem but she has to make do with Boamah to fulfill a need? What if she’s weighing her chances to know which one would stick? Guys do that all the time and it works for them. What stops a woman from thinking like a man? What if Edem loves her so much so that even after the revelation, they still patch things up to prove how strong their love is? It’s possible. In all the scenarios I created in my head, I ended up becoming the villain in someone else’s love story so I decided to allow the game to play on. After all, what Edem did was proof that in all other situations, he’ll choose his girlfriend over friendship. That too is ok. So I also decided to choose neutrality to see who wins in the end. 

The girl stopped coming to the house. For a very long time, I heard shoes walking behind my windows. I heard voices but Boamah never came to the door to tell me my friend was in. So recently, I asked him, “What happened to my friend?” He said, “She’s doing some evening school these days ooo so she can’t come around like she used to but I see her often. We meet in town and I visit her whenever the time is right. I will extend your greetings when I see her tomorrow.”

Maybe she’s also the one Boamah loves. Judging from the way he talks about her, you can easily see that the feeling goes deeper than the eyes can see. So I’ve left them to their fate. All I can say now is that may the best person win and the loser be comforted.    

–Serwaa 

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