“You are just like a brother to me” Tiara said as she reached for his hand but he resisted
“Brother ke?” Bode was surprised “You mean all our hanging out and closeness means nothing???”
“I thought you understood. I just got out of a painful breakup. I needed a shoulder to cry on and I found you,” She explained. He shook his head in doubt. How could she brother zone him after all they have been through? Why did things have to get so deep before revelation?
Tiara had run to Bode after her ex-boyfriend, Phillip, dumped her. She had cried her eyes out after the betrayal. Phillip was double dating and ended by marrying his second love. Unknown to her, he was planning his wedding with his other girlfriend while she was still in the picture. It was Tofunmi, her best friend, that brought the shocking news to her notice.
Phillip’s wedding was a high-class society wedding, every blog and newspaper carried the event. Being the ‘Big boy’ that he was from a royal lineage, Phillip had the most lavish wedding ceremony. Tofunmi had sent pictures she got from blogs to Tiara to see. She knew it would hurt Tiara but it was better she knew than for her to keep living in fool’s paradise.
Tiara could not confront Phillip after the whole incident. He had moved with his new bride to another country. She had sent him a Facebook message pouring out her heart and grievances before blocking him off her friend lists. That was the last she heard from him. He was probably enjoying his ‘happy-ever after’. She wondered why he didn’t settle for her.
It was a traumatic experience for her. She lost her self-identity. She lost weight, almost lost her job, but pulled through eventually. That was six months ago. During that trying period, she found solace in Bode. It was almost like she was drowning and Bode was her lifeboat. She had clung tightly to him and refused to let him go. He became her ex-boyfriend substitute. He was there to make up for the enormous void space Bode had created.
All along she was making him believe ‘something’ was existing between them, but that was not the case. Bode was too spiritual. He served as resident pastor of one of the popular churches in Lagos while maintaining his day job as a Real Estate Surveyor. She found him ‘dry’. Their conversations focused mostly on religion. He was not the romantic type. Besides, she was not physically attracted to him. Though tall and dark, Bode was not her ‘ideal’ kind of man.
Phillip had an athletic body that made ladies drool. She liked him because of his wonderful sense of humour, romantic nature and looks. He was a well-rounded person, not a religious fanatic but balanced in his views. That was after she discovered he was also deceitful and a devil in disguise when the unexpected happened.
She wished she had defined her relationship with Bode. Now, he wanted more, but she was not ready and interested.
“Oh, so you were using me all along” Bode was trying to get a grip of the situation. He was deeply hurt now.
The truth can hurt. It was obvious she did. He picked up his suitcase and journal, then left.
“Bode please,” She called him as he made for the door “Let me explain”.
It was pointless. He had sped off in his car. She wondered if she had done the right thing, but only time would tell.