![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-12-696x394.png\" "\\"Couple\\"\/")
<\/div>\nDarlene and I had been friends since high school. She was like a sister to me since we had gone through so much. We were both clowns when it came to relationships. However, we never let anything come between us. Men had come into our lives and left, but we were still close.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Darlene started dating Ian, things started to change. Whenever I would invite her out for girls\u2019 night, she would either cancel last minute or invite Ian. I didn\u2019t mind until I started being the third wheel every time we went out.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ian didn\u2019t seem like a bad person to me, but he was too good to be true. Nevertheless, I was happy that my best friend had a man she loved in her life. As time went by, we started hanging out less. Darlene was always at Ian\u2019s place or on vacation. I didn\u2019t raise it as an issue, although I was still slightly disappointed.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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On a random Friday afternoon, she called me.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHey Faith,\u201d she said when I picked up the call.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, Darlene,\u201d I replied.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIan and I are going out. Would you like to come?\u201d She asked.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
I wasn\u2019t in the mood to be a third wheel, but I knew I would feel bad if I said no.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, sure,\u201d I replied.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, I\u2019ll text you the details,\u201d She said as she hung up.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
She texted me the details, and I noticed that the joint we were going to was near Ian\u2019s place. That meant I had to leave the house at 7 pm since the place was far.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I finished up my work for the week and started getting ready. By 7 pm, I was all set to go, and I called an Uber. When I got to the club, I could see Ian but Darlene was nowhere in sight.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s Darlene?\u201d I asked him as I approached the table.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s running a little late, but she should be here soon,\u201d He said as he pulled a chair for me to sit.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had never been alone with Ian, and I didn\u2019t know him well enough to start any small talk.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, Faith, is there someone you\u2019re seeing?\u201d He asked.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I haven\u2019t met anyone yet,\u201d I replied.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s good to know,\u201d He replied.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy do you ask?\u201d I asked.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDarlene!\u201d He said in excitement.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned and saw Darlene coming toward us while smiling. She hugged Ian first, then me, before taking a seat.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFaith, how have you been?\u201d She asked while signalling the waiter to come.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been okay, you?\u201d I asked.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve also been okay; It seems like forever since we hung out,\u201d She replied.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI wonder whose fault that is,\u201d I murmured.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you say something?\u201d Ian asked.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I replied with a smile.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The waiter came over to our table and took our orders. Darlene, Ian, and I spent most of the night talking. Well, they did most of the talking while I listened. Darlene and I never got to catch up on what we had been up to, but I didn\u2019t want to be petty.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFaith, let\u2019s go dance,\u201d Darlene suggested as the waiter brought our drinks.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about the drinks?\u201d I asked her.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll watch them,\u201d Ian said to me.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t feel right leaving my drink with Ian since I didn\u2019t know him well. However, I decided to trust him since he was my friend\u2019s boyfriend. As we danced with Darlene, I noticed Ian staring at me the whole time. I didn\u2019t think much into it and assumed I saw my own things.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
We spent the rest of the night dancing and drinking. Ian didn\u2019t dance at any point since Darlene didn\u2019t want to make me feel awkward. When the drinks kicked in, we decided to leave.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Darlene and Ian took an Uber to Ian\u2019s place, and I took one to mine. When I got home, I was so tired, so I took a glass of water and blacked out on the couch.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The following day, I woke up and realized I didn\u2019t have my phone. I thought it was stolen at the club, but I decided to check with Darlene first. Since I couldn\u2019t call an Uber, I took a regular cab.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I got to Ian\u2019s place, he told me she was running a few errands but would be back soon. I felt uncomfortable waiting for her at Ian\u2019s place, but I couldn\u2019t go home without my phone.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ian served me breakfast and went back into his room. I decided to watch TV as I waited. A while later, he came back wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. At this point, I was uneasy, but I ignored him.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
He came and sat next to me and tried to touch my thighs. I moved away quickly and confronted him.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you think you\u2019re doing?\u201d I asked in disgust.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJust give me a chance; I can make you happy,\u201d He replied as he moved closer.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDarlene is my best friend, and this isn\u2019t appropriate,\u201d I replied, moving away.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe doesn\u2019t have to know; I love her, but I want you,\u201d He said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stood up, left the house, and made my way to the gate where the watchman was. I didn\u2019t explain what had happened; instead, I told him I was waiting for my friend. Luckily Ian didn\u2019t follow me since he was in a towel.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
An hour later, Darlene came back. I was so glad to see her that I jumped to hug\u00a0her before she stepped inside the compound.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t touch me!\u201d She screamed as she pushed me away.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d I asked.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were just waiting for the right opportunity to go after my boyfriend?\u201d She asked.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t go after Ian,\u201d I said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why did you follow him into the bathroom?\u201d She asked.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m the victim here; your boyfriend is the one who wanted me,\u201d I said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would Ian want you?\u201d She asked.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not going to take that offensively cause you\u2019re my friend,\u201d I said softly.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cConsider our friendship done!\u201d She said while walking away.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen give me back my phone before you go back to that liar of a boyfriend,\u201d I said in anger.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
She went to the house and came back in a few minutes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHere,\u201d she said while throwing the phone at me.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The watchman was in shock, and so was I. Ian had managed to convince her that he was the victim, and she believed him. I had known her for so many years, and she took a man\u2019s word over mine?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
I deleted her contact and her photos from my phone after that day. It was petty, but I knew it was necessary. A few months later, I got a call from a random number.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHello?\u201d I said as I picked up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s Darlene,\u201d She said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHow can I help you?\u201d I asked her bluntly.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIan cheated on me, and I just need someone to talk to.\u201d She responded.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
I could tell she was fighting back her tears, and even though I wasn\u2019t her friend anymore, I felt terrible for her.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, talk to me,\u201d I told her.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
She explained how she had decided to sleep over at Ian\u2019s place, and his phone buzzed when he was in the bathroom. When she checked, she saw some messages from a lady, asking him when he would be free for her to come over.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry for blaming you that day,\u201d She said after finishing her story.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s okay,\u201d I told her.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you think we can be friends again?\u201d She asked.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I don\u2019t. Our friendship already has a huge stain,\u201d I replied.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCould you at least think about it?\u201d She asked.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, I will,\u201d I said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d She said as she hung up.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was honestly nothing left to think about. She made a mistake, but if she had done it once, she would end up doing it again. I couldn\u2019t risk letting her back into my life and going through that again. Some friendships have to end for you to live a peaceful life.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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