The backstabbers

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"Madam, read, read. For once, drop the book and let's go clubbing," precious said. Playfully pulled the book I was so focused on. I immediately reached out and collected the book from her with the fear of her closing the chapter I was reading. I could care less about the ending of the world as long as it doesn't affect my books.

“Leave that one, ooh, first-class guru, future PhD holder; you want her to go there and do night class; in fact, DJ will share exam script to us on her behalf.” Jessica responded while the rest of my friends laughed at her joke.

Though I found it funny because I was often teased about my introverted nature, I wasn't into clubbing like friends, I don't drink, and going out was more of a stress to me than you could imagine. I love hanging out with my friends, but crowded spaces were never my thing.

“You girls should let me be; when exam comes now, you will be asking me for the exam timetable and my notebook to photocopy,” I smartly said, earning myself a valid point in the discussion.

My friend hated going to class, and reading was the last thing on their minds. For some reason, I couldn't find it in myself to accept that kind of lifestyle, but I could tolerate them as they too could tolerate me. We all became friends when we found out we were going to stay in the same room for a full year, so there was no way we could have ignored each other's existence. I was very observant so I could tell each of my roommate characters and how they differ from one another, somebody like precious, she loves clubbing, and if your ideas contradict what she thinks or believes, she looks for every possible means to convince you so you think like her. If she believes ‘men are scum’ then you as her friend should also go along with that mindset with no argument or disagreement.

Jessica, who's the gossip queen of the room, loves clubbing, but not as much as precious; she has a reputation for being the worst badmouth in the room. Every time she opens her mouth, it's either she's insulting the flesh out of your body or she's gossiping and comparing what's not.

And lastly was Stella. She's quiet, and I have had my doubts about her for some time now. It's like she went with anything as long as it was precious, and Jessica approved of it. Well, I wasn't ready to think too far about their lifestyle, knowing myself. I wasn't one to judge until it involved me directly. I was about to go out, and we had this route of telling everyone in the room where we're going too, I was about to leave for the library, arranging my books in my bag to leave, while my roommates were going to the bathroom to shower so they could go out. They said something about an Uber coming to pick them up, but since the conversation wasn't necessarily about me, I didn't care to ask.

On my way out, I found out it was about to rain. I had to rush back into the hostel to pick up the clothes on the line under the sun; none of these clothes were actually mine; all of them were my roommate's clothes. I was able to carry the clothes in and place them on the side of my bed. Since the rain started quite heavily, I had to go under my duvet because of the cold, and guess what? Sleep was calling out to me as well. Immediately, I covered my face under the duvet, and my roommates came in.

"Omo, which kind of rain be dis sef?" I recognize the voice as Jessica’s voice.

"Oh, Esther brought in our clothes.” Stella said it with a hint of appreciation in her voice.

For some reason, my spirit just told me to remain quiet; I shouldn't let them know I'm around just yet.

"Oh please, that girl just likes to overdo, claiming like she's a saint; I don't know when saints start having boyfriends.” Precious said. I wasn't just shocked at what just came out of precious mouth; I was blown out of my mind, but it only got better as I listened. Knowing that my friend or so-called roommates didn't value me the way I value them was really something I never would have expected.

“Everytime book, night class, library, now you all know where she goes to every time she says I'm going to night class. I have seen the guy shaa, and just because he has a car, she thinks she can hide him for life.” Jessica responded, but they still didn't know I was still there listening to them.

In all honesty, I couldn't believe this girl could have said such a thing about me and my cousin. The thing is, he just got a car since he was in his final year and also since he had money to get one, so he likes to come around and showcase it. Though the car was worth the showcasing, to think my friends couldn't come to me directly and ask me what was going on instead they went along with laughing with me while at my back they stabbed me with no remorse or conscience was really alarming.

“Only God knows what that guy sees in her for him to stoop so low to date her; that kind of person that's not even fun to be with in the first place” Stella, as always, did the backup, and I couldn't help but feel the urge to roll my eyes at her response. Sometimes I often think maybe she lacks confidence in herself; that's why she always needed approval from these girls.

“What else will a guy like that need her for? Obviously, he's using her, and later she will want to claim the introverted lifestyle, Omo. I fear girls like her.” They all laughed at what precious said. At this point, I was way past the disappointment level. I felt really betrayed, even if another guy were to be my boyfriend in this scenario. I really didn't have my own privacy. I never really asked or put my nose in their business when it comes to their multiple boyfriends or love life; they just came to the room and just talked about it. Sometimes I try not to say anything, but they always wanted to hear my opinion about such a lifestyle. After hearing everything they had just said, I couldn't look at any of them in the same light. After a few more minutes, they got dressed and left the room, and that's when I came out of my hiding spot.

Well, let's just say I never saw them in the same light after that. I became more enclosed with my interactions with them. I made it known that I didn't want to talk or interact in their conversation, and I think they got the vibes pretty quick. To think that my friends were secretly envious of me over unnecessary things was a wake-up call. I was more than happy to end our so-called friendship just because I didn't want to accept their lifestyle, be like them, or believe in whatever they believe in. I wasn't fit to be their friend and truly I wasn't, because I realized I was far better than them. The only person I pity the most was Stella; she didn't fit into such a group or lifestyle, but I wasn't going to tell her because Karma had done the job already.

Well I on they other have was more delightful that I was caught as a victim of fake friends.

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