by Charity Okorie

“I think I’ll send him a friend request just for laughs.” I took my phone and immediately sent it, knowing he will probably won’t even accept, then I headed back to my bed.

*The next day*

“Ekene! He accepted my request and sent me a message! What am I supposed to say? I did NOT plan for this!” I said immediately I got to her corner. I honestly wasn’t expecting a response to the request much less a message even if it was an impersonal “Hello”

Hian!

Whatever you want but before you do I want to let you know something”, she said bringing me closer.”

What is it?” I asked with thoughts like, he was already married, he was engaged, he was crazy, he was rude bla bla bla flashing through my mind. “He used to be xxxx boyfriend.” ”

“WHAT?” I knew her, well not like closely but we were in the same hall and I didn’t want to have issues with her. What if she still had feelings for him and felt I was trying to snatch him even when I could careless?”

“Calm down. They are no more dating”, she said trying to sort of pacify me.”Ha! In that case I’m not interested; I do not want any problem”, I said losing all interest.”I didn’t say anything was wrong just telling you”, she said rolling her eyes at me.  “Okay, I have heard. I’ll see you”, and with that I left.

I then replied him. Honestly, I had no idea what I was doing chatting with a random stranger on Facebook even if he was my roommate’s cousin and ex-boyfriend but what was stranger and what I guess made me continue was the fact that he actually accepted the request and sent a message even if it was a hello…

On November 20th 2014 he sent me that single message “hello” which I would like to say opened the doors  to our  friendship. We started  off chatting, asking questions about  ourselves and through  that  got to know  he was 26 years  old, worked and schooled in Canada, about 6″7 which was tall for a 5″3 like me.

We hit it off good, then one day he asked me: “So be honest with me, how did you get to know me?”  Okay, so let’s be real, it wasn’t surprising or anything; I just didn’t know how to put the words together plus  I didn’t want  him feeling  like it  was  a   hook up masterminded by Ekene and I. Or even worse masterminded by xxx to get back at him (which he actually thought at one point).

So I simply told him: “I just searched for you on Facebook and decided to add you. But if you don’t feel comfortable with it you can delete me no problem”

He paused for a minute then said, “No need, would love to be your friend. Get to know you better.” “Cool”, I replied.”So do you know any Ekene, she is my cousin and she also goes to your school that was why I added you because I thought you knew her””Umm not really, do you know her department, I might know her though”, I said as if I didn’t already “No, I don’t but we share the same surname””Oh okay, I know her she stays in my hall but we don’t talk that much”, once again I did not want him thinking his cousin set us up.

“So do you know xxx?” he was on a roll tonight.”Yes, she’s my hall mate is she your cousin too?” I asked with a tone of sarcasm as if I didn’t know the answer already.”No, she used to be my friend before I traveled.””Okay.  So   what   happened?  Why   did   you   guys   break   up?”   I   asked   genuinely interested because Ekene did not gist me that part.”She broke things off, couldn’t deal with the distance I guess”

“I’m sorry”, I said wondering if he still had feelings for her.”I have to go out now with my girlfriend”, Go figure! How on earth was I thinking that such a cutie would be single!

November 22nd 2014.

“I think I have the ideal person for you, if you’re interested.” It’s been two days now since we started chatting.Of course I was interested, I barely had a boyfriend not that I made any attempts finding   one…and   not   that  I’d   let   him   know   so  I   said   “sure”,   feigning   lack of interest.”How   do   you   feel   about   long   distance   relationship   because   he’s   not   in   the country?””No problem”, I spent most time at school and could do without that. “Okay then I’ll hook you guys up”Yay! I thought wondering if he was as cute as him.

November 23rd 2014

I couldn’t just let the matter die and give him a chance to forget with him being  busy and all.”What’s up? How far the guy?””I know, I haven’t forgotten””Still waiting, what’s his Facebook username?””Are you desperate to know him?””No, just curious””Well…I’m the guy”Big shocker indeed, I thought rolling my eyes.

“I thought you had a girlfriend? you guys had to go out together remember?”, Iwasn’t falling for that. All these guys in Diaspora were fond of having girlfriendshome and abroad.”No girlfriend, just friends. Between school and work I’m usually too busy forsomething like that””Hmmm so you want to tell me that the women there are not seeing you?” I askedsarcastically. He laughed (did I mention that he had a very nice laughter?) “I’m usually very busy, I don’t have time”, he said again trying to convince me.

From then we talked all night, talking to him was so easy, not stressful and theconversation was free flowing plus the fact that he had a good sense of humorhelped out a lot. November 24th 2014″I’m sorry for stealing your sleep”. It was about 5am my time and probably lateevening   for   him,   our   time   difference   was   crazy   but   I   had   a   wonderful   timechatting.”No problem, steal away””Next I will steal your heart and maybe you will steal my last name”, slow downSherlock Holmes I thought laughing.

From then on with the urgent need to hear my voice we tried Skype with failedattempts but we discovered Viber and spent hours on the phone.Most times I did stop to think what I was getting into, I mean I was chatting with aguy who was 6,628 miles away who happened to be 6″7, the second born out ofseven children, whose favorite colour was strangely orange, favorite Nigerian foodyam and egg sauce, hated Egusi soup which I love by the way and likes Fried riceand turkey USA style. Did I mention he calls me:”My crazy beautiful and amazing girlfriend” And when he sings oh my, it’s so funny I can’t help but laugh at his up and downvoice, not that he cares any way.He may not admit it but he is a good guy with a good heart and I’m so happy I wasable to act on a whim and meet someone as wonderful as him who has taught memore than I can imagine and shows off his Maths and IT skills whenever he canwhile I use my calculator…no time. Fast forward to today November would make it two years since my friend requestand his hello.Did we disagree on things? Yes.Did we break up? A  LOT!Did I try to forget him? Much more than I could recall.

Did we video chat? Yes, it was amazing seeing the person I had been chatting with and talking on phone orderly much surreal.

Did I fall in love? I did. He did too (smiles).Did it seem hard to explain to people how I had a boyfriend who I was in love with but had never physically seen? Yes, this was a very difficult one to explain.Most times I just didn’t tell people because it didn’t seem to matter. We’ve grown to be quite close and I can’t wait to see how the story unfolds.