For the longest of time that I can recall, I've always believed that nothing is ever free in this world.
As a lady, it gets even worse. We live in a world where it has become common knowledge that no man would ever do a woman a favor without wanting something in return. No matter how it is sugarcoated, it always boils them to "give and take". I've been at the receiving end of this ill behavior so many times that I find it difficult to ask a male friend for help, even when it is obvious that they genuinely want to help. At first, they sound like all they want is to render help, even when the help wouldn't cost anything. But in the long run, you'd realize that it was never about kindness in the first place, and when you can't reciprocate as they intend for you to, you become the ungrateful person.
This is how I've always lived my life, without wanting or accepting help from the opposite gender, because of the mentality I had built around it. But something happened, and it made me realize that every man is not the same. Though an old adage says that once one finger touches oil, the other fingers becomes affected. Still, I came to see that not every man that offers to help, wants something in return.
This happened when I wanted to relocate to another apartment because the one I lived in had developed serious issues. At the time, there was lodge scarcity as students had already occupied every space. The few lodges that remained, despite not being in a very good condition, the rents were overly increased. I had saved up #150,000, which was supposed to be enough to move into another apartment, but because of the high demand for rooms, the caretaker insisted that I paid #200,000. I was beyond devastated; I begged and begged, but he refused, saying he'd give the room to the next buyer that is ready to pay.
When I got back to my initial lodge gate, I was so pissed that I couldn't even go in. I stood there mumbling to myself when one guy tapped my shoulder. Wearing a deep frown, I turned to look at him, ready to lash out if he came to spout nonsense, but instead of talking trash, he asked if I was okay. I didn't respond, and he kept asking. At first, I hesitated to tell him, but I eventually did, and after advising that I stay calm, he asked for my account number. This made me laugh, because at the time, a lot of thoughts as to why he'd offer to help, and what he could possibly want in return had filled my head. I looked him dead in the eye, and told him to piss off. He probably figured out why I had reacted that way. He apologized and left my side. I on the other hand, I went into the building, fuming with anger that maybe a man wanted to take advantage of the situation. Some minutes later, a neighbor knocked on my door, and handed an envelope to me. She said a man had described me and asked her to deliver the envelope to me. I opened it, and saw #60,000 inside with a note that said "frowning doesn't suit you."
I quickly ran downstairs but he was nowhere to be found, and my neighbors had no idea who he was. I held that money for days, thinking he'd one day pop up, but he never did, and then I paid for the new apartment with the money, and moved in.
Up until today, though a year has passed already, our paths have not crossed again. Sometimes when I think about it, I tell myself that there was no way he could've been human. Maybe he was an angel sent by God to help, probably because my prayers had reached the heavens.
This image was generated using meta AI
