[dropcap]T[/dropcap]his world and its citizens just have a way of shocking me. Today was one of the days that I went to sleep with my mouth hanging open (from shock o, not the usual spit-drooling-open-mouthed-state of sleep). To say I was flabbergasted by what I saw today, is to say the least. As a matter of fact, my ‘gast’ has never been as ‘flabbered’ as it was today, I was indeed flabbergasted.
I saw my friend today, we have been friends since our university days (which was a hundred years ago) and we have maintained our friendship very well. My friend is actually one of those lucky people on earth who everything falls into place for. Immediately we graduated, she went for her NYSC, got a good job and married one of those well to do fellows in the well coveted oil and gas sector. She has always lived every girl’s dream. I always call her when my day or life in general is depressing because her beautiful life makes me smile, and gives me something to look forward to. Our conversation on a regular day goes like this:
Me: Girl, how far now?
My friend: My sister! I dey oh, How your side now?
Me: I still dey struggle dey go small, small now as them no wan marry me.
My friend: Hahahahaha. You sef!
Me: Watgwan now? Is that your child I hear crying in the background?
My friend: No oh my sister, I’m not even at home.
Me: Where are you now, maybe we could meet up.
My friend: My sister, I’m still at the airport, I just got in from the States, this country is really hot.
Me: Chai, your 3rd trip this year. Meanwhile I have to save for half a year to take a trip to Lagos – I don suffer.
My friend: My sister, it’s not even my 3rd trip o, it’s just the third to the U.S. I have been to Dubai twice this year.
By the time she and I will be done talking, I would spend the rest of the day fantasizing about how my life would end up like hers. In other words, the rest of the day would be full of smiles for me. Sometimes, our conversation would go like this,
My friend: Madam, how now?
Me: Fine o. How your husband now?
My friend: That one, he wants to kill me with love o.
Me: Chai, lucky you.
The last time we chatted was last night via whatsapp. I had tried to call her, but she sent me a whatsapp message instead saying she was in South Africa with her family for the weekend, and would call me when she got back. You can imagine my shock when I stopped by the supermarket on my way home from work today and saw my friend’s husband spending his oil money on a trailer load of groceries and toiletries for the two 20-year-old university looking chicks hanging unto his arms. I ducked behind a shelf and watched all 3 of them walk towards the condom section. I rushed out of the supermarket and quickly dialled my friend’s number, it rang, but she didn’t pick. I sent her a message asking if she had returned to Nigeria because I had gist for her. She replied,
My friend: No o my sister. Hubby and I still dey cruise. We are about to go to the spa for a couple massage treat offered by the hotel we are lodged in.
I was really confused, I did not even reply. I left the premises without buying anything and headed home. Unfortunately, today wasn’t done surprising me. As I crossed the express so I could get a cab, who did I see driving out of the express, and into the parking lot of a pharmaceutical? My friend, at the wheel of her ‘big’ car, with a swollen face, black eye and cut lip. I was so stunned; I couldn’t work up the strength to flag her down. I just walked behind a car, and called her number again. I was so sure my eyes were deceiving me, the woman coming down from the vehicle, and dawning a pair of dark glasses to cover her black eye couldn’t be my friend. My friend was in S.A. I dialled her number again with my eyes on her, she pulled her phone out of her bag, cut the call and sent me a message,
My friend: Girl, you don’t want me to enjoy my massage abi? I will call you when we are done. Hubby don start to vex say I am always on the phone.
My heart fell instantly. I watched her put back her phone and walk into the pharmacy. I am still in shock even as I lie here in bed. I don’t understand why she needed to lie to me. I don’t know which of the other ‘outside the country trips’ was just another lie. Why did she ever feel the need to tell me any of those stories in the first place. I have spent all these years wishing I had her life. I currently ‘unwish’ it. I love my face too much (no matter how ‘unpretty’ it may look), I don’t want it battered.
Women and lies. Life and surprises. I hope I never find myself in that situation where I feel the need to say I am in the U.S from my car held up in Trans-Amadi traffic.
I really need Jesus now more than ever.
A_Ema
