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I wanted to slap Linda and the dislike I felt for her at that moment was strong.

We were asked to fill in our details for the compulsory national youth service one had to undergo after graduation from tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

Ben had already travelled back home when the information was announced to those of us that were still in school. I called him and he told me to go to the exams and records department and get his details and then help him fill in his details at the ICT.

I did all he asked me to do and I was shocked when I got to the ICT and found out that Linda had already filled in Ben’s details. I was infuriated.

I looked at her for few seconds and went ahead and filled in mine. I called Ben immediately and told him that I wasn’t going to take any more from her.

‘I am the one that is your girlfriend. Why would she take away my right to care for you?’ I had no idea what I meant by ‘right’ but I still said it anyways.

‘Baby calm down. I will talk to her’

I wasn’t calm. I tried but it wasn’t working. I was fed up with her. I tolerated her closeness with Ben because I loved Ben and didn’t want to be selfish.

I constantly ignored all I heard about her clinging to Ben. But that was it. I had had enough. If we were going to physically fight over Ben, I was ready. I was still angry when Kate and Abigail walked in.

They told me they noticed what happened earlier. Abigail said she was going to talk to Linda.

I was on my way to Abigail’s room when Linda stopped me and said she wanted to speak to me.

‘I am sorry for what happened but Ben was the one that told me to fill in his details and if I had known that you wanted to do it, I wouldn’t have done it’. She looked so innocent but I wasn’t going to let her deceive me.

‘Okay’ I said and walked away.

I walked away because I hate myself when I am angry and I tend to do things I always regret whenever I feel that emotion of anger.

Walking into Abigail’s room, they were already talking about Linda and Ben. Apparently, Abigail met Linda asking her why she doesn’t want to let go of Ben. Linda had said that Ben was the one clinging to her. She said she had told him several times to stay away from her but he always tells her to forget what people were saying. The day I cried, Ben had told her. She said many hurtful things I chose to forget. Things that made me doubt Ben.

What was my crime in loving you?

Ben began calling me the moment he got my text message. I ignored all of his calls.

Please answer my calls. He texted me.

But I didn’t. I couldn’t talk to him.
Is it true you are the one clinging to Linda? Is it true you are the one that won’t let her go? Is it true you asked her to fill in your details before you asked me to do so? Have you been feeding me with lies all this while?

I got a reply from him immediately I hit send.
Answer my call. Let’s talk about it.

I answered his call and he told me that Linda lied. He told me that everything was his fault because if he stayed away from her after she broke his heart then she wouldn’t have said he was clinging to her.

He explained that she had asked to fill in his details and he agreed but when I called and told him about it, he had texted her, telling her not to bother filling for him since I was going to do it. He sounded so convincing and I believed him. I told him I was tired of always having issues with him because of Linda.

He told me he was going to talk to her and I guess he did because I got a text from Linda the next day.

Hey. I am really sorry for all you heard. I hope we can be cool.
I don’t remember replying that message.

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