Guess who I met at the buka yesterday?
Yes, I like food.
I had just picked my tray of sizzling hot amala with ewedu and was trying to find a nice corner close to the fan when a set of white blocks intercepted my vision. My subconscious told me the smile was directed at me so I refocused and right there before me was Kilian!
My hostility must have been apparent because the smile vanished and was quickly replaced with a somber look. Then he moved closer to me and said, “I don’t know what you’ve heard, but please, I would appreciate if you at least listened to my side of the story.”
Something about the look in his eyes told me I may want to hear this, and being the gist minister that I am, well …
“So I’m sure your friend has told you that we broke up.”
Ehen?
“Do you know it was on my birthday?”, he added with a twisted smile.
That I did not know. Eyebrows raised, I nod him on.
Apparently, Selena had gone out of her way to set up an elaborate surprise, getting him a gift set of musical instruments. They were to meet at a fancy restaurant downtown and she planned to present these gifts to him. However, Kilian had thought little of this particular birthday and did not show up all ‘dressed up’ for the event.
This upset Selena, because she had ordered a standby photographer, and intended to use the opportunity for some social media flaunting. She therefore ‘ordered’ him to go home and get changed, to which he wouldn’t budge, and there started the hot exchange of words.
She called him an ingrate, told him he embarrassed her, and slapped him. Thankfully, he had pulled her to a corner earlier on, so there were not many witnesses to the shameful scene. I listened on, doubting the entire story, because I was sure I knew Selena to be so much better than that.
Then, he said, “I guess my response was borne out of a lot of anger I have been nursing. You have no idea how much hurt and how many insults I have had to put up with in this relationship. When we were just out of school, there was a day I got home and my wardrobe had disappeared. Because my clothes were not befitting for their daughter’s fiance. Even a watch my mother got for me out of her sweat and toil had been thrown away because ‘there was no way that thing could tell the time correctly anyway’. But it was my watch; my mother gave it to me and I cherished it so much. If anyone felt they needed to improve my wardrobe, I should have been consulted. Her parents told her I was ungrateful and she’d better leave me for the more eligible children of their friends. There are too many of these episodes to recall. I bore it all in silence because of the love I had for her. I thought after going through all that together, we would be strong, but I didn’t know she shared some of their sentiments too. I’m not a materialistic person … see what I’m wearing even now.”
I look down at his loafers – no news there.
I look back up at this guy’s face and try to fish out a hint of falsehood. The plain eyes staring back at me seem sincere enough. Actually, they look worn and laced with grief, and I can argue my last piece of ‘pomo’ that the corners are glistening.
“I still love her you know.”
MORAL OF THE STORY
Hear both sides before concluding. Always assume bias from either side
Each person in any given circumstance sees things from a different plane of logic. Don’t assume concurrence unless stated or implied
People present different sides during different interactions. The lion you know may be a dove to someone else
Matters of the heart are difficult to judge and best left with minimal third-party interference
Perhaps more to learn? Share your thoughts please!
The Chics Domain 