Chapter Forty-Six – The Ultimatum

Boateng’s mother had called him, frantic. His little sister in her own attempt to deal with her parents’ divorce had sent nude photos to a silly boy that swore that he loved her and in true boy fashion, he’d shared the photos with his friends and now her nudity was property for all the students in her school.

I was getting ready to go watch a movie with Sly for his birthday when Boateng came knocking on my door.

“Araba, I hate to ask this favor but my mum just called me that my sister just got into some trouble. Her nudes leaked and now it’s all over her school. I was thinking since you’re a girl, you’re the best person to talk her through this situation.

“Boateng, I don’t know, I…”

Reader, what was I to do? This was not a simple issue. Boateng needed my help. He’d been my best friend for so many years and just two days before, he’d spent all night picking out a gift for my boyfriend because he was a boy. Now he needed me to help his sister because she was a girl. Was it really worth it blowing him over so I could go and watch a movie and play girlfriend with my boyfriend? Besides, Sly and I had spent the whole day together prior. It was no big deal if we weren’t together tonight.

As Boateng was speeding on the highway to get home, I called Sly to tell him that I would have to rain check because Boateng had an emergency with his sister.

I spent a couple of hours with his sister, talking to her and acting like I had my life together. I mean, I had made it to the university without a single sex scandal so even though I wasn’t the greatest adult, I was still better of.

As soon as we were on campus, I dashed to my room, picked up Sly’s present and went to see him.

“I’m so sorry I missed your birthday” I apologized as soon as I entered. He just grunted.

“I hope you’re not angry” I said. His back was facing me so I went over to look him in the face.

“No, why would I be?” he asked.

Something about the way he asked that question told me that he was indeed angry. I stood there momentarily contemplating what to say next.

“Sly, are you actually upset that I missed the movie? You know I had something urgent to deal with.”

“Nope. Boateng had something urgent to deal with and you decided to help him.”

I was so confused by this answer.

“So you’re telling me you’re upset that I helped my friend in an emergency?”

This didn’t sound like the usual calm and collected Sly that I knew. Usually, I was the irrational one while we tried to reason with me. ‘Oh, how the turntables!’.

Sly chuckled and it scared me. “Araba, I’m upset that you find the need to lie to me about hugging Boateng in his car. I find it upsetting that you guys have this inappropriate relationship where he’s acting like your boyfriend to my face. I am especially upset that when he calls, you go running.”

“Sly it was a serious issue. I don’t go running every time he calls. Besides, you know he’s been through a lot and he and I had issues because he was never asking for help. If he’s asking now, I can’t turn him away.”

“Are you the only female friend in his life? I think not. He knew that you and I had plans today but he had no problems butting in because he knew he could. You never set boundaries with him.”

“Oh, my goodness. Sly you are being so unreasonable. I know his sister better than most of his female friends so obviously he would call me. You and I literally spent the whole day together. I didn’t think this small thing mattered.”

“Small thing? Araba, this was your idea on how to celebrate my birthday. I had no idea that celebrating my birthday was a small thing. Forgive me for thinking my girlfriend would show up to celebrate my birthday with me.”

I had no idea what to say.

“What was the emergency” he asked after a while.

“Huh?”

“What was the emergency? Was she in the hospital? On the verge of death? What was the emergency?”

“Her nudes leaked.”

“Ah Araba! This has to be some sort of hilarious joke. Is this something that couldn’t have waited till the next day?”

“Well, yes but it had just happened. What if she was suicidal? You can never know with these things. Sly, I am sorry I missed your birthday celebration. Really, I am but I promise you, it’s not because of any special sentiments towards Boateng or anything.”

Sly sighed.

“Can you honestly tell me that Boateng doesn’t like you.”

Oh, the silence was loud. Reader, the silence was screaming at me. I wanted to lie so badly but I had already done it once before and here we were. I couldn’t maintain eye contact.

“I hate to sound like that guy but I’m going to be that guy. If you want this relationship to continue, I need you to cut Boateng off.”