I had this school boyfriend who was not giving me shishi, instead I found myself giving him. I will go to his house weekends or on market days with food items and cook.
Since I live on campus, we had a strict no cooking rule and as per wife material that I am now, let my broke boyfriend not starve.
I'd find myself spending my money on food items just to make sure his house is always fully stocked.
We do not live together, but every weekend and lecture free day, I'm always in his house, so it's for my own good too, that the house has food.
Problem started coming in when he would not have money to bring so that we can cook but whenever he is having his friends over, there's always money for food and drinks to entertain them.
Sometimes, after the little get-together with his friends, he would leave the dirty dishes for me to wash of which he would always come back and meet it exactly the way he left them. Occasionally, if I'm to do my own dirty dishes, I'd just wash everything altogether.
I was still managing him small small until he started encroaching into his strikes.
In every of my relationships, knowing fully well that we are humans, and we are not perfect, I give three strikes and once it's exhausted, I am gone with the wind.
So with my school boyfriend, although he was pretty annoying and irritating, I tolerated him until the following strikes happened.
STRIKE ONE
Religion was a major issue for us, not like he even practices Christianity as should, but he identifies as a Christian while I am not one. So one day, we had a religious Seminar and I informed him I will be traveling for it. Next he told me was that I should keep fooling myself, once we get married, it will be the end of my religious nonsense. I knew immediately the relationship is doomed to fail, but I tolerated him.
STRIKE TWO
I caught him cheating by going through his phone. Ok, this one is not a silly reason to end a relationship, but it's part of what makes up the story because really there is no going back from cheating.
Still on strike two, for Health economics, my department was to go on an excursion in another State. It would be a long ride and as students, we decided to be cost-effective. Instead of us to go there and buy over pricey food that might not be satisfying, we decided to contribute money, and I was nominated to prepare white rice and stew for six of us.
Few days to the excursion and the money for me to cook was provided, I added my contribution and got the meal prepared at my boyfriend's place. Unfortunately, the excursion was cancelled, so the food I had dished was eaten in class afterwards by the six of us.
I didn't really get a good fill but had hoped I would satisfy my hunger pangs with the remaining rice I left in the pot. I was also overjoyed because then I'd save money for the weekend, as the stew was supposed to carry us.
I got to my boyfriend's and met a full house, even his ex-girlfriend was there. I walked straight to the kitchen to get something to eat and just play invisible but men! I met empty pots, with heap of dirty dishes and I wanted to mad. Not only that, but I could not even hide my anger.
The anger was so visible that his friends including the ex all left one after the other, and he followed them. He came back that evening and was giving me charge (bullying) that why did I leave the dirty dishes him and his friends used and not clean them? He started ranting about how I'm rude and made his friends uncomfortable.
I got super mad, and we had a quarrel, then he said because of how much food? Cost it and I will pay… He never did pay.
STRIKE THREE
It was corn season, and I was at my boyfriend's. Next, he started whining in my ears how he's craving for boiled Corn and Ube(native pear). The moment he talked about it, I started salivating for it too.
I gave him (N2,000) so he could buy more than enough for us to use as dinner. But then he left for the corn and never came back until night fall. By now, anger plus hunger wanted to finish me. The moment he walked into the house, I asked him to give me back my money as I was no longer interested in the corn.
Guess what Oga said? He went, babe it's crazy you won't believe what happened, as I was about to buy the Corn, a friend of mine came and asked me for money for food. He said he has not had anything to eat, and he's on drugs. You know I can't stand someone starving, so I gave him the (N2,000).
I was so angry that I lost it! What do you mean you gave your friend my (N2,000)? Why would you use my money for your Charity cases? Why didn't you use your money? All these questions he had no answer to.
I was really fed up and wasn't ready to let the money go, so I asked him to give me my money as I want to transport from there. But he started squeezing face and said he would walk me to the roadside, then collect the money from a woman who sells opposite his lodge.
We got to the woman's shop and after explaining his family history to the woman he came and was giving me (N1,100) saying I should transport with the (N100) and hold the (N1000) first he would balance up when he has it.
I refused and kept dragging him aggressively for the balance (N1,000). The next thing I knew, was a dirty slap on my face. Men! I wasn't going to be a Sisi about being slapped.
Before he could utter a word to me, I aimed at his eye and made sure I used all my God given strength to sound it! As the slap landed on his eyes, he staggered a bit holding the affected area.
I on the other hand, hopped on the nearest available bike and fled.
Later on he was coming back to apologize but I was done and far gone with the wind.
All images are mine
Above is my response to the HIVE NAIJA prompt One
*Thank you for reading*