FRIENEMY
Image Credit: Pinterest
By Christopher Peculiar
When I met Adeola, I thought I had found a friend and a sister. We played together, laughed together, shared things together. Oh! I believed she was “God's best gift” to me, little did I know I was playing with a snake. A cunny, wicked one in disguise.
Well, here's how it all started.
It was my first day at the University, we were all instructed to be present for the departmental registration, and were strictly warned that there will be no extension for the registration.
I was new to the environment, everywhere looked strange. I almost got lost at some point, thankfully a cab passed, I waved frantically and it stopped and I hopped in quickly, relieved. Inside the car was a pretty young lady, she looked a bit older than I am. She smiled politely and I mumbled a 'hello' to her tiredly.
Just then my phone rang, it was my mum. I picked up and began pouring out my frustration. I complained about the stress, the crowd, the confusion, everything! I was exhausted and almost in tears. The girl beside me chuckled softly as she listened. When I ended the call, she smiled and said, “Get used to it, you'll be fine”, there and then, we exchanged pleasantries.
Funnily enough, when we finally resumed, we were roommates! It was as if fate brought us together. Adeola was cheerful, fun to be around but one thing was off about Adeola, she parties a lot and I was not really comfortable with those she relates with.
Well, you might think she's an unserious person, but no, she studied hard when it mattered, and somehow always managed to balance her grades and her fun. She was far better than me when it came to academics. I had no problem with her lifestyle. I mean, who was I to judge? Partying just wasn’t my thing.
Little by Little, Adeola became a part of my life, everyone knew us as “besties”.
At first, everything seemed fine between us, until little things started to change. Adeola had this habit of borrowing my things without asking. She would borrow my wigs, makeup kit to parties. I tried to ignore it. After all, what are friends for? I told myself. But deep down, it bothered me. I’d search for something and later find it in her corner, used and sometimes carelessly tossed aside.
One afternoon, I decided to talk to her calmly. I didn’t want to sound rude, so I said, “Adeola, please, I don’t mind you using my things, but could you ask me first next time?” Her reaction shocked me. Instead of understanding, she flared up.
“So now I have to take permission to use my friend’s things? You’re acting like I stole from you!”
I was shocked. I tried to explain, but she wouldn’t listen. She packed her things and left angrily to God knows where. The room felt tense for days after that.
It hurt because I never meant to offend her. I just wanted a little respect and besides it's my personal stuff. But that day, something in our friendship shifted. She started distancing herself from me, she stopped waiting for me after lectures and sometimes would not talk to me.
Not long after, she started keeping new friends, the type that gossips and envy. They would sit together and gossip, and whenever I passed, I could feel their eyes on me, but I pretended not to care.
Then came the rumors.
Someone told me Adeola had said I was proud because I came from a wealthy home. I ignored at first, and then it got to a point where she started posting messages on her status like “Fake friends everywhere,” or “Some people think money can buy loyalty.”
Each post felt like a dagger to my chest because I knew they were about me.Still, I said nothing.
Then it happened one Friday evening. I had just returned from class when my friend Esther ran into my room, panting.
“Have you seen what’s on the group chat?” she asked, handing me her phone.
There it was, screenshots of my old messages. Messages I had sent Adeola months ago when I was depressed, telling her how hard life felt and how I sometimes felt unworthy despite coming from a rich home. I had trusted her with that part of me because she once claimed she understood what it felt like to hide pain behind smiles.
I was shocked, my heart started racing. My dignity, my privacy, everything was gone just like that.
There and then I hated Adeola. I confronted her that night, tears streaming down my face. But she silently acted like nothing happened, not even feeling remorseful.
Since that day, I stopped sharing too much, stopped giving too easily, stopped calling everyone my friend.
Adeola taught me that not every enemy comes with a frown, some come with hugs and fake smiles.
Adeola who was once my friend turned enemy!
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