Days ago, Vivian joined her girlfriends to chant the song ” No boyfriend, no problem. If I fall, I rather fall in a pit”. That was on the International boyfriends’ day. and they chanted their anthem. By all standards, they were supposed to have guys worth celebrating but they were single. For more emphasis, they were ‘single, satisfied and happy’.
It was a momentary pleasure at their hangout at the eatery. Probably the much-needed break after a long week of stress. Something triggered by the workload from the workplace, the growing bills, the increase in fuel pump price, and ever-growing the prices of commodities. That was her escape route from the present reality. Truth be told, Vivian was single and lonely. In her mind, she knew she was keeping up with appearances. How she wished that the merriment would go and on. But they had to bid each other farewell. So it was back to her lonely self.
Her room, scattered and disorganised, particularly her bed welcomed her. It was already arranged and the pillow stacked in by the corner stared at her in disillusionment. Without any restraint, she jumped on the bed and started crying. Was this not the same person that was rejoicing over her single status?
‘God please I need a man…” She muttered a short prayer and continued crying. As she was returning home, she got an invitation from another girlfriend, one not in her present click, of her upcoming wedding. Jealousy and envy filled her heart. This was Caro. The same Caro that was nicknamed “Slacko” because of how she behaved. Caro did not know how to dress. She was the kind of person that would wear an oversized shirt and pair it with a ‘Mary amaka’ skirt. For crying out loud, Caro was blessed with a lovely figure but she chose to hid it.
During university days, while they were clubbing and partying hard, Caro would withdraw and go for school fellowship. She rarely used hair extensions. Rather she would rock her natural hair in cornrows. That was not the issue. Caro did not fit the perfect description of the ‘slay queen’, the type that most men lust after. So she thought. And here was Caro getting married in a couple of weeks.
Vivian who has been a ‘bad girl’ was still in the spinster market. It was not like she had not been in relationship. They all came and left her with a bitter taste in her mouth. The motive was clear, the men didn’t want to settle down. They had one agenda- to ‘hit and run’.
But how long was she going to lie to herself that she was a happy single girl? Scrolling through social media, further depressed her to see happy couples everywhere. Even Jide, her last ex-boyfriend, who was now married, added to her misery. This was the same guy who promised heaven and earth. Here he was in the arms of another woman. His wedding pictures on Instagram caused a sharp pain in her heart. Vivian had to log out of social media. Her head was aching terribly. So much for one day. One moment, she was singing about her happy single status, the next moment, she was on her bed crying ‘God when?’