How I fell in love with my best friend's ex-girlfriend

Gabriel Olatunji Legend



Hehehehe! Yes of course, I know you’ll find this very funny and you might want to predict things considering the fact that I wrote a tribute to my best friend yesterday on this blog. You can read that HERE if you missed it.



Don’t get it twisted, there are often some elements of fiction in every story – so the story doesn’t necessarily have to be real to you (for private reasons *winks*), but do enjoy reading anyways!

I was having a good time at home on this fateful day, thinking and strategizing for the next level when my phone started ringing. It was my best friend calling. “How you dey?” I inquired. And we went on ‘insulting’ each other over the phone, trying to prove some age superiority between ourselves. If you have a best friend you will understand that kind of conversation. At the end of the phone talk he asked me to come over to his place and I enquired, for what? He wasn’t going to let the cat out of the bag but that he insisted he was expecting me.



I stormed out of my room believing there was a big business idea this guy wanted to share with me again, as this has become our custom. We always find ourselves share several explosive ideas even though we mostly ended up implemented few of them, but they were well worth it as it gave us impetus to dream and dare more. If you don’t have a friend like that with whom you can share your dreams and be free, then you need to reconsider your friend circle. Your friends should inspire you and help you to dream. This was how our friendship had grown over time and, this time, I was also thinking this was another unplanned brainstorming session; like always I was ready.



On getting to his place, I wasn’t sure whether or not I knocked, the only thing I remember was that I saw an entirely different thing from my expectations; I saw my friend’s girlfriend. I couldn’t believe this! When did this happen? How did it happen? How come I never knew this young man had a girlfriend all the while? These were the questions that scanned through my mind as I was being introduced to the pretty lady. She looked innocent, young, pretty and friendly; it was obvious she was in love with my friend as she jealously defended him every step of the way, most especially every time I sought her permission to deal with the guy. That was understandable, they just started dating, they were in love; she had met one of the best men any woman could have. He wasn’t only eligible; he was handsome, intelligent, honest, ambitious and spiritual. I should mention that, at that time, he was also working with a leading media outfit and was earning good money.



On the other hand, she was young, full of dreams, and had just gained admission into the higher institution at the time but you wouldn’t see it on her mature looks. She models and does ushering jobs for agencies on the Island and across Lagos.



On that day, I was the weird and unserious guy I’m always known to be when around my core friends. When I’m seen outside, people usually think I’m the very serious type who wouldn’t say or do some certain things, but on the flip side, I play like anything, I say the kind of jokes you wouldn’t believe and I support the movement whenever someone is being put on the spot! But I only do all these things when I’m with my core personal persons.



I was in same playful mode when I was introduced to Ruth on that day. I didn’t even form anything at all, I was all jovial and this gave her a certain impression of me, which I didn’t care about either! She was a fine girl but I was never interested in her, I just wasn’t interested but I never made that obvious. I was always her friend whenever she was around my friend, and as soon as she’s off the friendship was suspended till we see again. I am not the type of friend that likes to be too ‘munchy munchy’ with my friends’ babes for obvious reasons (I leave that up to you lol), but when I see the babe and her boyfriend is there you won’t even know she’s not my girlfriend, as I would personalize her in every way I can and this was my relationship with her.



Months went by and I really can’t ascertain exactly how long the relationship lasted, but I think its either less than a year or a little over a year. My friend and this lady called it quit amicably (according to them lol). Anyway, I thought this was the end of my relationship with Ruth as the primary reason she was my friend in the first place was as a result of her relationship my friend, and who am I not to respect his wishes. After the painful breakup, we did not talk for months and I still didn’t care! I can’t remember how she got on my BB exactly but she was there and we still never had a BB conversation; what a brat I am (For everyone I have been rude to in this same manner, kindly forgive me).



To shorten the long story, I ran into her in my church one Sunday morning and she was looking extravagantly-dapper; her looks literarily swept me off my feet. If I had any doubt as to how pretty she was before, that day laid the doubt to rest. Chai! She was looking sweet that morning but as you may know, I am not moved by fine girls, only fine brains move me. I love a woman who can communicate intelligently and engage you in conversations intellectually. I love an audacious and ambitious woman who can leave you spellbound with her frame of thought, and ultimately a woman with an insatiable desire for God.



Ruth greeted me in a very special way as it’s been ages since we last saw. We left and I thought that was it until a conversation ensued between us on BBM later that day or the following week. She told me how far she has come, what she’s been upto, the defining moments in her life and how she decided to attach a solution to her name when it is being mentioned. She gave me examples of people who inspire her new purposeful living, and I was privileged to be one of the names she mentioned. It was as if she was sitting right in my front, the dreams she shared were unbelievable not because they were too big but because I never expected it from her (I had a totally different mindset about her). Would you blame her? Blame me! I never even gave her a chance either.



I knew right there and then that I wanted to know this woman, I had known her by name and face but I did not have a clue about what she had in her heart. Suddenly, I doubted my beliefs of her and for the first time since she broke up with my friend I asked, “Why the heck did he break up with her?”



I can’t go on again, it is getting too long. Watchout for Part 2! If you enjoy it PLEASE help me share with as many people as you can (Broadcast it, share it on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIN, Google+, and others)



Lessons: You don’t really know people until you spend time with them.
You are not the only one who has a dream, the fact that people haven't
shared theirs with you doesn't mean you are better. Always give people
a chance, tomorrow may be too late. Because your friend broke up with
him or her don’t mean you should break up your friendship too – life
is too short. Make the most impact you can make in people’s lives
because you never know which one will count.

(Don’t forget to comment, what are the morals in the story? Also share with your friends)



Gabriel Olatunji Legend is an entrepreneur and a solution strategist. I am open to further discussions on my twitter handle @OLATUNJISPEAKS |