I was very good friends with Abeiku when we were in school. We were doing the same course and were in the same hall. We didn’t talk a lot when we were in the first year. It was when we got to the second year that something brought us together. We worked on a technical report together. He was on my team and I was the team leader. There was a girl he wanted, Sabina. He told me, “That girl is giving me a tough time. She belongs to your tribe. She speaks your language fluently so why don’t you engage her in your language and tell her how I feel about her? I’ve told her everything but she’s still shaking her head. Maybe if she hears it in her own language, she would believe me.”

We went to Sabina’s hostel one night and I started speaking our language with her, “Sabina, you’re the one giving my brother here the sleepless nights?” She burst out laughing. She responded, “He doesn’t want to sleep. If he really wants to sleep, he wouldn’t allow the thought of a woman to give him a sleepless night.” I laughed too. I said, “Let’s be serious here. He’s really into you and I believe he’ll do right with you when you give him the chance.” She said, “I’m scared.” I asked about her fears and she plunged into what sounded like a soliloquy at the end of a stage play.

The bottom line of her fears was that she didn’t know Abeiku too well. I was able to do my job. By the time we were leaving, Sabina had softened her stand. She said, “Just give me a few days to think things through.” In the end, they fell in love. They were together until we completed school. After school, I didn’t hear much about their relationship until one day I spoke to Abeiku and he told me they were over. “The distance didn’t help us. We ought to let go at some point so both of us could be free.”

Life took us in different directions after school. We were both in Accra but we didn’t look for each other. The few times we spoke to each other were in our school’s Whatsapp group. He’ll come and insult me there and I would also respond. Eight years after school should have made us mature but whenever we were in that group talking, nothing showed we were mature beings. We lived life as though we were still in school. Schoolmates don’t know maturity, I guess. Every day is a school day.

In 2020 at the peak of the Covid, Abeiku posted a photo of his sister wishing her a happy birthday. I sent him a message, “Give me her number. I would like to wish her a happy birthday too.” I wasn’t actually going to do it. I was only joking with him. He responded, “I should give you my sister’s number? Why would I leave my sheep to a wolf? Don’t I have sense?” It turned into an exchange of insults and then it branched into our lives while we were in school. He reminded me of all the ladies I broke their hearts. He exaggerated the reasons for the breakup just to justify his reasons for not giving me his sister’s number.  After arguing for several minutes I said, “Masa, stop fooling and give me the number.” 

He sent the number and said, “Just wish her a happy birthday and nothing else. If you try anything funny, I myself will destroy your moves so don’t try.” I answered, “Thank you for bringing your sister to the senior wolf. In two weeks’ time, you’ll see her bones on a plate, trust me.”

I didn’t intend to call her and I  didn’t have any intention of wishing her a birthday. I didn’t know her so what was the point? Around 9pm the same day, Abeiku posted a new photo of her. The photo was different, something to catch my attention. I wrote, “But your sister is fine paaa ooo. Nooo, I should call and tell her things.” He sent me laughing emojis. He said, “I gave you her number so what are you waiting for? Your too known all, you don’t even have vim.”  

So I picked her sister’s number and called. It rang until it ended, she didn’t pick. A few minutes later, I saw her calling back. When Picked up, I said, “I guess I’m the last person to wish you a happy birthday, looking at the time I’m doing it.” She wasn’t sure who was speaking but was also not ready to ask who. She laughed before responding, “Yeah, it’s almost 10pm. The birthday is over so you’re late.” We talked for over a minute before I asked her, “Do you even know who is speaking? She responded, “No I don’t but you know me so that’s ok. If you tell me your name, I will be happy but if we keep talking, I would be able to figure out who I’m speaking to.”

I cut the chase and introduced myself; “You don’t know me so it would be impossible to figure me out. This is my first time talking to you. I got your number from your brother. We were in school together. He posted your photos and I asked him to give me your number so I can also wish you a happy birthday.” She said, “That’s weird. Abeiku gave you my number? Are you sure you’re telling the truth? What’s your name?” “I’m Hubert,” I responded. A few seconds later, I overheard her speaking to someone on another phone. She screamed, “Abeiku, did you give my number to any of your friends today?” I didn’t hear Abeiku’s answer but Agyeiwaa said, “I just wanted to be sure if you did.” 

She came back to me on the phone and we spoke for about five minutes. Before we said our goodbyes, I asked, “If I have to send you a present, where can I find you?” She answered, “If you’re giving it to delivery then you only have to give the delivery guy my number but if you’re the one bringing it, then the office would be convenient.” The following day, I was at her office giving her my present. We spent less than five minutes together but it was enough for me to know how beautiful she is. I called Abeiku right there and told him, “Guess who I’m with right now?” He screamed, “Herh, don’t be silly. Don’t even try it.” I said, “Yes I tried it.” 

He asked me to give the phone to his sister and he started ranting all the bad things about me to her. It was on a loudspeaker so we were all laughing together. He screamed, “Hubert, I swear I will kill you. Like play…like play, see how far you’ve gone in a day. Stop right there.” It was Agyeiwaa who responded, “He’s just being a gentleman. I never knew you will have such a gentleman as a friend.” He retorted, “Be there and be speaking silly, I will get you.”

Agyeiwaa called to say thank you the following day. We talked every once in a while and whenever we did, we didn’t want to hang up. We had nothing to say but we preferred to stay on the phone and say nothing than hang up. We arranged to meet again and we did. She paid a surprise visit to my office and I did the same too. One afternoon, she called and asked me, “Are you in my office? They said someone is looking for me.” I wasn’t the one but I joked, “Yeah, I’m here waiting for you. Where are you?” She was out of the office on an errand. She told me, “Please go back, I will come and see you after work.” 

That was our first date at night. It was a Friday night. I thought I’d outsmarted her so while she was sitting across from me and drinking, I said, “I wasn’t the one who came to your office this afternoon. I lied.” She said almost immediately, “I know. I threw you a trap and you fell into it. Nobody was looking for me. It was just a reminder that you haven’t come to look for me in my office for so long. You made the job easier so here we are, a liar and another liar. Let’s eat in peace.” 

At that very moment, I knew our friendship was over. I knew I was going to propose and we’ll leave the place as lovers. I did propose. She asked me, “Was that the goal right from the beginning?” I answered, “No, it was a joke that ended well. When I asked for your contact, it was a joke. I thought he wasn’t going to give it to me but he did. I didn’t think I was going to call but I did. Here we are.”

We walked out of the place hand in hand as if we were not ready to let go. A few weeks before that night, I didn’t know about her existence but there we were, holding hands as if we were made for each other right from the start. Life is some way. If we knew what it had in store for us, we would always prepare for it. I wasn’t prepared for a moment like that. I could swear she also didn’t make allowance in her heart to fall in love the way she did but when the time was right, we let ourselves go. We didn’t know each other that much. We didn’t know the road ahead of us but we were ready to brave the unknown while trusting our hearts to lead us all the way to our destination.

We were three months old together as lovers when Abeiku called me. He said, “Are you guys serious? What sort of game is that? If it’s a joke, then it’s not funny. You two should stop it.” I responded, “We need to talk. When should I come over?” He asked, “Where do you live?” I responded, “Ask your sister, she even knows how my bed is placed in my room” He screamed, “Aboa!”

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The following weekend we met. He asked me, “What am I hearing?”  I responded, “We are starting counseling next week. It’s not a joke. She asked me not to tell you. It’s the reason I’ve been quiet but whatever you heard is true. Yes, we did the knocking. We have only two months to get married. We are ready. Are you not ready to be my brother-in-law?” He was quiet for a while. He had the face Thomas had when he saw Jesus the first time. He was thinking. Maybe he thought it was a dream. I broke the silence, “You still can’t believe it, right?” He said, “I will believe it when I meet you two in church but until then, I have my eyes on you. You’re a good guy but things are happening too quickly. Is the reason I’m caught in this whirlwind of unbelief.”

Two months later, he took the front seat as he watched us exchanging our vows. We looked beautiful. He looked lost even when he smiled and urged us on. After the wedding, I was speaking to Abeiku’s wife on the side when she said, “He still can’t believe it. He has been talking about it all night as if he’s shocked about the whole thing.” I said, “I would have felt the same way if I was in his shoes. He’ll get used to it and we’ll be fine.”

We are entering our second anniversary as a couple. We came out of our honeymoon with pregnancy and currently have a son. Life has been good so far. Abeiku was a good friend when we were in school and he had been a very good brother-in-law since we got married. It’s the reason we named our son after him. He calls often to ask if we are treating him well. He comes home with a lot of toys for him and whenever he’s around, it’s a good day. We no longer talk about our days in school. We talk about our families and what we can do to raise a good family. He has two kids so he has more experience. I learn from him and confide in him. He was a friend first and friends we’ll always be.

—Hubert   

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