The Unjust Misrepresentation of Tara (Episode 3)

Written by Obi Difu @Obiokoroa4

Tale 3: The Thin Between Unanswered Question and a Lie

Tara’s face was cold, she had no expression on her face. Eka was remorseful and had her puppy face up, but she was sure it was not because of her regrets at the way she handled it but because Phil was there before her.

Gbenga tried to sneak a hug from Tara, she was having none of it. She rebuked him faster than

a superstitious Nigerian rebukes a bad news. Gbenga tried to smile about it, while Phil held Eka, pulling her, as soft as possible, to the side; a few meters away from Gbenga and Tara.

“Tara what is going on?”

“What is going on?! What did you tell Phil we did last night?”

“I told him you agreed to be my girlfriend na”

“Really? So why does Eka have the impression that we had sex at the place we met yesterday”

“O my! Come on Tara…”

Gbenga tried to hold her hand, she withdrew further. Her voice was loud and she wanted it that way, she tried to make it loud enough for Phil and Eka to hear her rage. Gbenga on the other hand tried to speak under his breath. She was not going to give him the chance.

“…I would never say something that didn’t happen”

Though she looked straight at Gbenga, she could tell the attention of both Eka and Phil were on them. She could see Phil’s anger at Eka, his rage was pure, this confrontation would not only vindicate her, it would destroy her friend’s relationship. She was wise enough to know that much, but she was too deep in to back out. In a bid to vindicate herself, she would have to destroy her friend.

“You didn’t answer my question Gbenga!”

“I just said…”

“You just said ‘I would never say something that didn’t happen’. That isn’t an answer Gbenga”

“It is…”

“I see now. You are trying to twist your words such that you would tell me what I want to hear and allow Phil believe what he wants.

“There is a thin line between an unanswered question and a lie Gbenga and you crossed it, care to tell me which side you are on?”

“Tara come on. We can talk about this somewhere more private…”

“Why? So you can tell them we had make up sex?”

Gbenga’s eyes were blood red with rage, she almost felt it was directed at her till he shot an evil glance at an equally raging Phil and an over remorseful Eka. Phil forcefully shoved Eka and the two began walking away. Tara had to clarify; she had to do it so Eka would hear. Her time was short, her friend would most likely lose her boyfriend, and she wouldn’t lose her dignity along with it.

“Gbenga I want you to answer this question to the hearing of your friend. DID YOU HAVE SEX WITH ME?!”

“Tar…”

“ANSWER ME!!!”

“NO! WE DIDN’T! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?!”

Victory! The bitter taste of victory; one which came at the detriment of a friend. Tara at that point felt both the uplift of the burdened slander on her image and the heart breaking realization that she just might have lost her best friend. Tara turned to get an apology from Eka, but the bitter sting of realizing your selfishness shot Tara in the head.

Eka stood, hands to her face, clenched her jaw, almost falling to the ground, Phil walked away, simultaneously in the opposite direction to which Gbenga went. Four people were hurt that day, no victories were won.

Tara got to Eka just before her fair almost spotless knees hit the ground. She held her friend and tried to bring her friend back up

“Are you ok Eka”

“You know the difference between an unanswered question and a lie?” Eka said out of sorts “One kept us as friends, the other made me lose everything”

Tara just then realized she hadn’t proved anything to anyone. If anything she had lost her friend. From that day, she realized questioning a guy might not be the best approach. She would never openly confront a guy again.

To be continued…