I met Temi at a function. In fact our families met at this same function. It was one of those times I was able to persuade my parents to allow me to go out with them to an event. Temi's parents and mine sat at the same table and got talking.
Temi and I sat beside each other and got talking even though we didn't know each other prior to that meeting. We had a good rapport at the party and left the event on a good note.
Then some weeks later, Temi and her mom passed by our house and sighted me. We greeted each other and our mom's did the same. That was the start of what I would call a friendship between Temi and I.
We exchanged contacts and chatted together once in a while. That was how I knew she was also looking to write her O'level exam. That was the final exam, that when passed we would be done with our secondary school education.
The exam lasted for about two months and in between those times, we visited each other for reading and preparations. Our parents approved of our friendship since they saw we were both serious with our studies.
We finished our exams and awaited our results. During those times my communications with Temi reduced a little because she mostly claimed to be busy.
My parents rarely allow me to go out to visit friends, they'd prefer my friends come visit me at our house. The 2-3 times I had been able to visit Temi at her house was when we were preparing for our exams and that was only because I told my dad Temi had some textbooks I needed so we studied together in order to pass our exams.
One day, I got a call from her.
“Rukkie, please I need your help”, she said immediately I picked up the phone. I could feel the urgency in her voice.
“What's up T?”, I inquired.
She immediately told me she needed to go somewhere and asked me to cover for her in case her parents called to ask me of her whereabouts.
Her request sounded odd but I agreed. Though her parents never called and I assumed everything went well.
Some days later she came to see me in my house and we talked at length, she told me she met a boy when we were writing our exams. He was amongst the external students brought to their school center for the exam and they have been talking a lot ever since.
When she mentioned they were dating, I was a bit shocked and I warned her to be careful since she is still young to be having a boyfriend but she waved it off. She told me to keep it a secret as her parents aren't aware. Then she threw me a shocker, she had been spending time with him and lying to her parents that she had been visiting me.
I wasn't comfortable with that lie at first but she told me how overbearing her parents were. As someone who knows how it feels to also have parents who don't allow their children to socialize outside the home , I clearly understood her and decided to keep covering for her.
Our results came out and we both passed but I noticed she wasn't happy when I called to ask for her results. Then she told me that her “boyfriend” didn't pass all his papers, that was why she wasn't in a good mood.
Then the unthinkable happened when we were to write our Jamb exam. Her parents paid for the exam but she didn't go for the exam because apparently while she was supposed to be looking forward to passing her Jamb and getting admission into the higher institution, she doesn't want to leave her boyfriend behind because he has to rewrite his WAEC exams the following year.
The day we were supposed to go for the Jamb exam, she left home as usual but went out with the guy without my knowledge. Then the results started coming out and I was happy that I passed.
I was home one afternoon when I heard someone knocking on our door. My mom went to find out who it was and it turned out to be Temi's mom.
She exchanged pleasantries with my mom and soon my name was called.
I went to the sitting room and greeted Temi's mom. From my mom's countenance, I could tell that all was not well.
“When was the last time Temi visited you?”, Her mum asked me.
“Henh-henh, S-he came around 4 days ago”, I lied, stammering in the process as the question caught me off guard, so I quickly picked a closer time.
“Hmmm, she told me she visited you yesterday”, her mom said, staring at me intently, showing me she had caught me in my lie.
“Henh, Yes, it seems she stopped by briefly yester…
“You better tell the truth”, my mom said interjecting. I could see from the frown on her face that they knew I was lying.
Sweat beads formed on the back of my neck and I couldn't dare look my mom in the eyes anymore. Most importantly, I couldn't keep up with lying with the way they were both looking at me.
So I burst into confession and told Temi’s mom the truth.
Temi wasn't pleased when she found out I had spilled the beans. She refused to speak to me. When I finally got to see her, she told me my betrayal stung her and I had destroyed one of the best things that had happened to her. I tried apologizing but it all fell on deaf ears.
I did try to keep her secret but It turned out to be costly.
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