Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Photo by Stefan Stefancik

"How much do you even have in your bank account? I am trying to give you hope and you are being proud," Musa mocked me to my face in the presence of Evelyn and Gideon.

I don't know if that was a joke or another form of expressing excitement but it pierced through my heart like an arrow. I tried to put myself together but when Evelyn started laughing over it, I felt so embarrassed, like the earth should open up its mouth and swallow me.

I put my head down and said nothing but I couldn't put it together anymore, so, I stood up and said, "Em, sorry guys, I have to go now, I have something to do at home. It's nice seeing you." And I walked out of the room.

"You shouldn't have spoken to Emreal like that, I perceive he is angry," I heard Gideon telling Musa while I was some distance away from the room.

Well, I didn't wait to hear everything because I was so pissed off. Musa has been my friend right from high school. He was supposed to be one of the people who understood me better but I wasn't always comfortable around him because he didn't know how to choose his words wisely when talking to people.

They say "The tongue is like fire," of course, we know that fire can be both good and bad, depending on how we use it. If we are not careful with it, it can devour even the things we cherish the most in life.

Meanwhile, Evelyn was my classmate in high school but I was not really close to her because of my quiet nature back then in high school until when I joined the small prayer group in church, we became cool and I also met Gideon there.

When I got home from Musa's house I was so angry. I locked myself in the room throughout that evening wondering why he would say a thing like that to me in front of others. "Is it because I told him about my financial condition that he is using it against me or what?" I thought quietly on my bed, till sleep came and took me away.

I am a word-sensitive person, I am not even scared of actions like I dread words, they eat me up like cancer. "I will never tell Musa anything about myself again, and I don't think I'll be visiting him ever," I console myself early the next day, so I could have some peace.

After a few days, I moved on. One afternoon while I was at my mom's local restaurant Washing the dishes as is my custom, my mom called out to me, "Emreal."

"Yes Mom," I replied. "come out here. Your friends are here to see you," she shouted.

"Oh! Okay, Mom, it's just a few plates left, let me finish up, I'll be there in a few minutes," I responded.

"Ehen, don't forget to drop that pot of stew from the fire before coming out, I am not entering the kitchen anytime soon," she added.

"Okay ma, I heard you," I replied.

Some minutes later, I came out and I saw Musa, Evelyn, David, and Gideon seated under the mango tree, interacting and laughing. I was overwhelmed with joy, it's been a while, and I can't deny the fact that I missed them.

"Hey guys, what a surprise!" I whispered after shaking each of them, then joined them on the wooden bench my mom kept under the mango tree.

"You totally forgot us, so we decided to come and know what's hiding you," Musa replied.

"Am sorry guys, I have just been so busy at the restaurant with my mother, my kid's sister traveled out some days back, and mom needs some hands," I explained.

"It's quite obvious Emreal, you are doing a good job here, mom is lucky to have you, Gideon replied.

"Thank you so much, guys. I am done with my work here, maybe we should go over to my house," I suggested.

Musa turned and looked at the others and it seemed it pleased them. "Okay let's go," he said, then we all stood up and left, teasing each other on the way.

My house is just some miles away from the restaurant, in no time we were there. "Welcome to my humble abode, please make yourself comfortable, sit anywhere you can, sorry the room is small," I welcomed them.

"We are okay, I love your place," David replied, moving his eyes from one place to the other observing the room. That was his first time at my house but for Musa, Evelyn, and Gideon, they have been coming.

"Thanks, Dav," I replied beaming. We spent a long time talking about different topics and then finally landed on relationships.

"Ahann, Emreal, how about the other lady I saw at your place that morning? She must have passed the night here right? I just hope you didn't do anything. Broke people, too, are chasing women, Musa uttered, laughing.

My mood instantly changed, "what kind of human is this guy? Does it mean that he can't keep secrets or he finds joy in getting others sad? I asked myself quietly inside.

I wanted to overlook what he said but I thought if I did, it might continue to repeat itself. Sometimes people need to be taught a lesson.

"Well, she didn't, she only came to see me and oh, she's my girlfriend. That's by the way, I hope you have finally restored that money you stole from your mother's shop that almost got her arrested?" I replied.

Gosh, it hit the guy at the right spot. I.. I.. I, he stuttered,

"You what bro? Why are you doing this to that poor woman?" I added.

Everyone in the room started laughing because they knew I was doing it on purpose.

Musa stood up and said, "I want to go home."

"Not so fast bro, you haven't answered me," I teased him again.

"Emreal, I hope you know I am just trying to hold myself back, what rubbish is this?" He replied angrily.

"Ahan, you finally have a taste of your own medicine. Now you feel what I feel each time you just spill things about me anywhere right? You are my friend, I expected you to be my shield but it is just like you are looking for every opportunity to devour me. The other day, it was about my financial life, and today about women. If you see anything wrong with my life, as a friend you should correct me privately and not publicly like this, it's embarrassing," I responded.

"Guys, guys, please stop this, it might lead to something else," Musa, please sit down," David intervened.

"Emreal, calm down Okay," Evelyn told me quietly.

"We are friends, I believe that we should be our brother's keepers. Personally, I wouldn't like anyone to say things that I relate to them in secret openly, it hurts. People tell us secrets because they believe in us. There are many things to joke about but not someone's privacy.

Both of you are wrong here, Emreal, if he was saying things you don't like openly, you should have talked to him about it privately, you don't have to pay him back in the same coin." David counseled us.

"Thank God you are here David, If I was the only one, I wouldn't have known what to do in this situation," Gideon praised David for calming the situation.

I and Musa became cool subsequently and we are even closer than before currently. I am amazed at how the friendship grew. One thing I love about us now is that we respect each other. Although I am mindful of the kind of things I tell him about myself, they say "prevention is better than cure."

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