[pixabay](https://pixabay.com/photos/desperate-think-stressed-out-5011953/
Adeola and Rebecca had been friends since their 100 level. They were so close that people thought they were dating, but the two had never fallen in love with each other. They remained focused on their studies. Adeola is a young man in his early twenties; he is studying Mass Communication at the Federal Polytechnic.
He is an erudite scholar and loves reporting, which is why he chose the course. He wants to become a journalist. He met Rebecca in the department during the second semester; she was there to submit some documents for clearance, as was Adeola.
"Excuse me, sis, please where is the HOD's (Head of Department) office?" he had asked politely. "You are at the right place, colleague; just queue up behind me before it gets crowded," Rebecca responded respectfully.
Adeola thought of her as a very kind young lady, and from that day on, they became not just coursemates but close friends with their relationship boundaries strongly defined.
They read together, play games, do assignments, take tests, and study hard for exams together.
The two are like twins; one would always see them together every day. One fateful day, Adeola went to visit his girlfriend so they could study for an examination as they always did.
To his utmost surprise, he met Rebecca talking and laughing out loud with another man, acting all lovely just like the way the two of them used to be. He didn't alert them but went back home disappointed. He couldn't say a word; neither did he read his books.
Adeola began to avoid Rebecca from that day. If he saw her from afar, he would take another route. In the exam hall, he ignored all her glances and concentrated on his papers; with no communication, no checkups, and no contact, he just wanted to sign out and forget her forever.
On the day of their last paper, Rebecca—who had been worried about him for staying quiet for three weeks—challenged him while he was standing in front of the exam hall waiting for the invigilator.
"I'm sure something is eating you up, Ade. It's fine if you don't want to talk about it, but you know it's affecting us," Rebecca said after she tiptoed up to him in order to get his attention; she spoke from behind him.
Adeola started moving away but she wouldn't back down; she kept following him around , talking. "Why are you doing this to us, Ade!" she finally yelled at him. "Us? You mean there is actually an 'US'? You're just my friend; there is no 'US'," Adeola snapped. "Wait a minute, what do you mean by those words?" Rebecca asked calmly and curiously.
"Oh, now you're pretending, right? Oh please!" Adeola said. "What? I still don't get you, Ade. I'm pretending? About what?" she asked. Ade scoffed and remained silent.
Ade, we've been through this journey together as close friends.
No one has ever made me happy in this world like you used to do. You treated me like a queen every day, you protected me like a father, and you met my needs sometimes. I'm very grateful for all this. Have I shown any symptoms of being an ingrate to you before? I may not know, but if I have obliviously done that, I am very sorry. I miss you so much, Ade. Rebecca apologizes.
Adeola was quiet for a few seconds, sighed, paused again before finally saying a word. "I've heard you, but the day I came to your place, I saw that... you already have a partner, and that you're laughing and playing together.
So, I don't want to disturb your relationship; that is why I left that day and decided to start minding my own business," Adeola explained.
Are you serious? Oh my... Rebecca giggled. The guy in my room that day was my elder brother, my immediate family.
He came for an interview around this vicinity, so he called me for accommodation. He left very early the following day for the interview and then went back home. If you had come that day, I would have told you about him, Rebecca said.
"Oh really? I'm so sorry, I didn't know he was your brother," Adeola said apologetically.
"Ade, do you have feelings for me?" Rebecca asked all of a sudden.
Adeola's heart began to beat faster when he heard those words, but he managed to respond, "Not just a feeling; I truly love to spend the rest of my life with you, 'Becca' (the short form of Rebecca)."
"I love you too, Ade," Rebecca smiled and hugged him softly.
