He slept with my wife so my best friend had to die!' (1)
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As I write this, I'm behind bars in a prison somewhere in the country. I had to beg one of the wardens for some paper and biro to enable write my tale. What is my purpose? To let the world know why I did what I did to Jake. Those who knew us and our relationship, our friendship that dated back to our campus days, had been shocked when they heard what had happened between us. 
That with my own hand, I had killed my best friend, my confidante and the only person apart from my mother that I trusted most in the world. Well, my wife used to be on that list. But not anymore. You will know the reason as my story unfolds.

They say opposites attract. This was quite true in my relationship with Jake. Both physically and personality wise, we were very different. Jake was tall, slim built with good looks that could pass for those of a movie star or model. He also had a vibrant, outgoing personality. I, on the other hand, was the quiet type who did not mix much and preferred studying to going out to parties. Despite these differences, Jake and I hit it off as soon as we met. 

This was how it happened. It was my second year in school and I was having problems securing accommodation. Then, a friend told me about a student who was looking for flat mates to share the apartment his family had rented for him off campus.
I contacted him a few days later and luckily he agreed to give me one of the rooms at a reasonable amount. It was a three bedroom flat a short distance from campus. Shortly after I moved in, another student George joined us. That was how Jake and I became friends. We lived together for the rest of our stay in school in that flat and with time, we became very close.  

Though quite intelligent, Jake was not the studious type. Infact, he hardly bothered with classes, assignments and tests like I did. He often used to tease me about my serious attitude.
"Guy, you are a real effico; too serious with your books. You should take it easy, sometimes. Learn to relax," he told me one evening as I sat in my room reading for a test I had the next day.
I looked up at him. He was dressed to go out in a nice T shirt and a pair of designer jeans. He looked great and I complimented him.

"Thanks. I have a new 'catch' I'm taking out tonight," he stated with a smirk, adjusting the collar of his top in  the small mirror on the wall in my room.
"What about Trish?" I asked. She was his girlfriend of about six months and I thought he loved her.
Jake shrugged.
"She's out of town. Besides, she's becoming too possessive. I need a break," he noted. Knowing him so well, it was Jake's way of saying he was tired of a relationship. That was another point of difference between us. His attitude to girls. "Love them and leave them," he often said, with that mischievous grin of his. 

  I didn't share his views and I made that clear. 
  "I don't think its fair on the girls. I have sisters too and I won't want any guy to mess up with them," I told him. Yet, despite the way he treated them, girls still flocked around him like moths to a flame. I did not understand it.
"Well, is it my fault if the girls can't resist me? I be fine boy now!" he would say, grinning broadly.
"Why don't you leave those books and come with us tonight? Catch some fun, you know," he now said, as he made for the door.

I shook my head.
"I need to study for the test tomorrow. You know how tough that lecturer's questions can be," I stated, turning to resume reading.
"Alright. See you later then," he stated as he left. 
'You are lucky. You have rich parents so you can afford to fool around. As for me, I know where I'm coming from,' I thought as I turned a page in my notebook. Both my parents were teachers and as the first son, they looked up to me to do well so I could help the family later. Thus I had no time for frivolities. I had to succeed in life for my family's sake.

  * * *  
Finally, school was over and we left for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. Jake and I were posted to different states in the country. It was the first time in years that we were separated. By this time, we were so close, more like brothers rather than mere friends. Jake, who didn't like the idea of my going so far away tried to influence my posting.
"I will talk to my dad. He knows people at the NYSC headquarters in Abuja and they will have you reposted to Lagos so we can be together again," he told me one day when I called from my base in Niger State where I was serving.

  "Don't bother, Jake. I like it here. The people are friendly and nice. Besides, it's just for a year. It will be over soon and I will be back home before long," I pointed.
He reluctantly agreed and there was no more talk of my being reposted down South.
  Jake's father, who was a business man had a lot of contacts in the business and political circles in the country. With his influence, he was able to get a job for his son even before the service year ended.
I was happy and a bit envious as well when he called to give me the good news.

  "It's a big company. They are into all kinds of stuff- manufacturing, food processing, construction," he disclosed.
"Lucky you. At least, you won't be among the thousands of jobless graduates roaming the streets," I said. He laughed then said: "You know what, Ray? I will like us to work in the same place. I will speak to my dad if he can fix you up in the company. Once he returns from his trip abroad, I'll talk to him."
I liked the idea of our working together, but I didn't have much faith in my getting a job in such a big firm. 'Afterall, jobs don't grow on trees these days,' I thought to myself as the call ended.
So, you can imagine my surprise and excitement when he called to tell me two months later that I had been invited for an interview in the company.
I was speechless for a while before I exclaimed: "But I didn't apply! How come they are..."
Jake laughed at my confusion. "Is this not Nigeria? With the right connection, you can get anything you want." The job, he explained was for the post of a sales representative. "It comes with a car as you will be moving around a lot," he stated. "A car? That's great! But Jake, you talk as if I already have the job. I've not even done the interview yet," I noted.

He laughed again. "That, my friend is just a formality. The job is already yours!"
We had just a month to go before we passed out as corpers. The thought of starting work as soon as we finished the youth service filled me with great joy. No endless job applications and rejections, no roaming the streets searching endlessly for jobs that did not exist with its attendant frustrations and sufferings...

  I silently thanked God for giving me a great friend like Jake. And I promised myself that I would work really hard at the job so that I would not disappoint him and his dad that had so much faith in me.
Two months after our passing out, I resumed work at the company. Everyone, including my parents were surprised that I got a job so quickly after graduation.
I told them about Jake's role in it and they were very impressed.
"He's a good friend. Such friendship is rare these days so don't take it lightly," my father said. He promised to call Jake and his father and thank them for all their support.

  * * * 
My job involved marketing some of the company's products. I had to move around a lot and the  official car I was given helped in that regard. With time, I began to travel outside Lagos to other states where we had distributors of our products. I loved the job as it enabled me travel and see new places, meet new people. I preferred it to an office job where I would be sitting at a desk all day.

  It was during this period that I met Grace. She was the younger sister of one of our biggest distributors in the city. She was a final year student at the university and had come to spend the long vacation with her sister.
I liked the girl as soon as I set eyes on her. It wasn't just her obvious beauty alone. There was just something about her that I found so alluring.

But despite the way I felt about her, I had not been able to speak to her about my feelings. It wasn't that I was shy with girls or something. I just felt the time was not right.
I always looked forward to going to the sister's shop on business as I knew I would see Grace. 
Just seeing and looking at her made me happy.
I was on my way there late one afternoon when I ran into Jake at the car park in the office. We were in different departments so we didn't see that much at work. But we made up for it at weekends when we hung out together.

He had closed for the day and was heading home. 
"My car suddenly developed problems. Battery problem likely. Guess I will have to take a cab home," he said after we greeted.
"No need for that," I said. I intended closing as well once I had finished meeting Madam Betty, Grace's sister. 
"Come with me and I will take you home later," I offered.
Grace was alone in the store when we arrived.
  "Sister just stepped out. She will be back shortly," she explained.

  She served us drinks while we waited. I noticed Jake looking at her in a speculative way and my heart fell. I knew that look quite well. It was the sort of look he had whenever he saw a girl he fancied and wanted to sleep with.
'Please, not this one,' I thought as I looked at Grace. She had a new braided hairstyle which made her look even more pretty.

  When the woman returned, we got down to business. I could not concentrate though. My eyes kept drifting to the front of the store. Jake was there, standing and chatting with Grace. I saw her laughing at a point and I became worried. What if she fell for Jake's charms? Very few ladies could resist him. He was my friend but I didn't want her to get involved with him as she would only get hurt in the end. 

We left shortly after. On the way, Jake kept talking about Grace.
  "Such a pretty girl. I'm thinking of inviting her out next weekend," he announced.
"What?" I exclaimed, turning from the road to glare at him.
"Why do you look so surprised. You should know me by now. Once I see something I like, I go for it," he said.

  I could not bear it any longer and I decided to be blunt with him
"Jake, leave her alone," I blurted out.
He turned to me, surprised.
"Why? Don't tell me you like her too!" he said.
"Jake, that's not the issue now. Just don't mess with her, that's all I'm saying," I implored.
"Well, it's too late for that. I want her. And I'm going to have her no matter what you or anyone  else says," he stated firmly.
I grew angry at his words. For the first time since we became friends, I wanted to punch him in the face...


To Be Continued...

Will Grace become a source of conflict between the two friends? For the concluding part of the story! pls go to. truelifestoriesng..com


Names have been changed to protect the identity of the narrator and other individuals in the story.

. Y?

nice story

OK I folo

Hmmmm.......following

Summary pls

Am with you op, which prison you dey sef?

Summary please.

Interesting. Hmmmm

faith551:
Am with you op, which prison you dey sef?

faith551:
Am with you op, which prison you dey sef?

No be me dey prison o! Na the narrator of the story. He is in Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Lagos. U wan visit am?

if paper no dey the prison again abeg tell me make I send u paper because u must finish this story

@ cruzita

Go to truelifestoriesng.. com for the rest of the story and other hot stories too.

Op where is d story naa it is not in dat site u paste jare

@happyjuliet- On the blog, check archives (November), the story is there- it's in 4 parts. Happy reading!

Super Story

@/tonyebarcanista

U like d story?

@happyjuliet- On the blog, check archives (November), the story is there- it's in 4 parts. Happy reading!

bros I nor see am ooo abeg give me d link.

NP: loyal - chris brown ft lil tunechi

Interesting blog. Pls the continuation oo

let me chill here small

Meaning?[quote author=joyhope336 post=40894127][/quote]

Part 2 Try as I could, I was unable to dissuade Jake from going after Grace. I was so mad at him that  by the time I dropped him at his house, I could barely speak to him. But he ignored my dark mood and was his usual ebullient self.
"My mum's birthday is in two weeks. My father is organising a party for her. I will be expecting you," he said.
  Normally, I would have been more than happy to attend a party at his family home. But I was still too upset with him then to think of going.
"I'm not sure I can make it. I will be in Ibadan, then on business," I stated curtly. 

"Well, try to return early so you can attend as my mum has been asking after you. Besides, " he added as he got down from the car, "There's somebody I want you to meet you. A lovely flower I bet you will like to pluck," he said, laughing as he walked away towards the house.
Thing is, I was not interested in any flower. It was Grace I wanted, that I longed for. But from all indications, Jake had beaten me to her. What could I do? No matter how mad I was with him, I just could not bring myself to start a fight with him over her. So, I decided to put her out of my mind. 
But it was easier said than done. No matter how hard I tried, I could not get her out of my thoughts. Some days later, I found myself heading for her sister's shop. It wasn't for any serious business with Madam Betty. I just wanted to see Grace and maybe talk to her. 
Grace was no where in sight when I got there. Her sister was absent as well.
 "She didn't come to the shop today. Madam sent her to see one of our customers at Ikeja," a sales girl told me. I felt disappointed as I so much wanted to see her. 
"Tell her to call me on this number when she returns," I stated, dropping my office number with her. 

This was in the early days of the introduction of GSM in the country when not many people had mobile phones. I waited a few days and when she did not call, I felt deflated.
Meanwhile, I did not see Jake for sometime after our argument over Grace. Then a few days before his mum's party, I ran into him at the office canteen.
He had finished his lunch and was on his way out. With him was a young lady I had not seen before. 

  "Conny, this is my best friend Ray," he introduced us. He did not explain who she was but from the manner he was holding her by the waist, I suspected she was one of his numerous girlfriends.
 We stood chatting for a while then parted. He reminded me again about the party, stating that everyone in the family was expecting me.
 Though my anger and resentment against him had cooled down, I had still not made up my mind about going to the party. The trip to Ibadan that had been planned for that weekend had been postponed by my boss. So, I did not have any serious commitments that could keep me away.

  Besides, I thought about all the love and affection as well as the help Jake's parents had given me over the years. 
 'I will look like an ungrateful person if I don't go,' I thought.
  So, I attended the party.
 Looking back now, if I had known what would follow as a result of going to that party, I would have stayed away. But I'm getting ahead of my story so I will stay on track.

  Pleasant surprise
 I bought a gift for the celebrant and after I had given it to her and congratulated her on attaining the ripe age of 60, I went to seek out Jake. He was in the midst of a group of ladies, chatting and holding court like a Prince.
 I stood watching for a while, smiling wryly to myself.
 'Playa. He will never change,' I thought.
 He saw me then and hurried over.
  "Ray! Where were you? I've been looking everywhere for you," he exclaimed, clapping me on the shoulder.
 "It didn't look that way a while ago," I retorted, my eyes going in the direction of the girls who seemed to be waiting impatiently for his return.
"Oh, that!" he stated with a grin. "You know the ladies won't just let me rest."
 Then taking my hand, he said:
  "Come. Someone wants to see you."

  I followed him to one of the tables where a couple of ladies sat.
 I recognized Nelly, a cousin of Jake. I was wondering if she was the mystery person when the other lady turned towards us.
 My heart raced at the sight.
  It was Grace!
  "What are you doing here?" I exclaimed when I got over my surprise.
 She glanced up at Jake, her eyes shining.
  "I invited her," Jake said. A look passed between them then he said:
 "There are some very impatient ladies waiting for me over there. So, I will leave you two for a while. Nelly, come with me," and he grabbed his cousin's hand and dragged her away.
 I sat down, feeling confused and a bit foolish.
 "What's going on?" I finally asked Grace. If Jake invited her, he should be with her. Why was he throwing us together like this...
 The mystery was solved a short while later.
 Grace who had been silently watching me, a little smile playing around her lips, finally spoke.
  "This place is a bit noisy. Why don't we go somewhere quieter?"
  The party was being held in the large courtyard of the house. We went outside the compound and sat in my car.
 It was there she told me the whole story. Jake, she stated had told her about my interest in her. 

  "It was few days after you came to the shop with him. He came to see me and said you liked me a lot. But because of your reticent nature, you might not open up about your feelings for me. He wanted to know if I liked you too. When I told him how I felt about you, he now worked out a plan."
 The party, he said would be the ideal setting to meet. "So, he insisted I must come and he would make sure you came as well," she added, smiling at me.

  I could not believe what I was hearing. Here was I nearly going crazy with the thought that Jake had snatched her from me. Yet, he was going to all that trouble for my sake!
 'That rascal! I will deal with him today!' I thought.
 But there was no anger in me. Instead, I felt relief and gratitude towards the good friend who had brought my love to me. 
  I took Grace's hand and drew her to me, holding her in my arms for the first time.
  From that moment on, I began to enjoy the party more. I danced with Grace several times and a couple of other female guests but she was the one I wanted to be with all the time.
 "I see you two love birds have sorted out your differences," Jake said sometime later. I had been sitting down, enjoying a cool drink when he suddenly appeared at my side. This time, there were no girls hanging onto him. Grace had gone to chat with a guest she knew from school.

  I turned to him. He must have seen the look of gratitude in my eyes for he quickly said:
 "Don't bother thanking me. What are friends for?"
 "But you never even gave a hint of what you were planning. And I was so angry with you, thinking..." I said.
"I know. You thought I was interested in her. Actually I was initially. But when I saw the way you were looking at her that day at the shop with love-sick eyes, I had to back out. Besides, I have too many women in my life already. Why complicate my life more?" he stated with a grin.

  "But you insisted that day that you were going to get her. Why?"
 He shrugged.
 "I did that to fire you up, so you can make a move for her. But knowing you and how you can be about these things, I decided to take matters into my hands before someone else gets her. I'm glad things worked out for you," he stated.
 "Thanks all the same," I said, meaning every word.
 "Yeah. We are best friends and brothers for life, aren't we? Friends should look out for each other, my old man often says. I like Grace but our friendship means more to me. I can't allow it to be destroyed because of a woman!"

 Happy times
That was how my relationship with Grace began. She went back to school after the holidays. Due to a strike by the lecturers, she had to spend an extra semester in school before graduating. But we kept in touch through phone. Once in a while, I would also visit her in school. With time, I got to meet her parents and I introduced her to mine as well. Seeing the love we had for each other, most people who knew us expected we would end up at the altar. They were not wrong for I was already thinking about marrying her when she graduated.

  Such plans were however put on hold when Grace decided to go back to school for a Masters degree after the youth service programme.
 I was not too keen on it as I was so anxious to make her my wife. 
 "It's only for a short while sweetheart. Soon we will be together again and nothing can separate us then," she pointed out when I raised objections about her going back to school.
 I backed down then. 

   A few years later, we got married at the completion of the programme. It was a happy time for us. To add to our joy, Grace gave birth to a baby boy about a year after our wedding.
 I named him Runor, which was Jake's middle name. He felt touched at my gesture. 
 "You could have named him after your dad or even one of your ancestors. Why me?" he queried.
 It was a few days after the naming ceremony and I had gone to thank his parents for the wonderful gift they had sent the baby. We were sitting in the living room upstairs while his parents were downstairs with some visitors.
 "You deserve the honour. Without you, all this would not have been possible. Grace and I might not be together today," I pointed out.
 "Yeah, you are right. You are a real Baba go-slow when it comes to women matters. You find it so difficult 'toasting' them. Were you a monk or something in your previous life?" he stated teasingly.

  "You dey crase! Na you be monk!" I fired back.
 "Ha ha! Me, monk? You know I will make a terrible priest. I will cause so much havoc among the female folk that I would be derobed in a short time!"
 We both laughed at that.
Grace and I had just marked our fourth wedding anniversary when my boss called me into his office one day. We had just returned from a trip to the East to assess the sales of our company's products in the region. Thinking he needed the report he had instructed me to work on, I took the file along.

  "Congratulations, Ray! You are now a full sales Manager!" he announced as soon as I stepped into his office.
 I stood, simply gaping at him, too stunned to speak.
  "Surprised? You shouldn't be. You've worked hard for it," the man said, smiling genially at me.
 "Here's the letter of promotion. There's something else, though as you will see from the letter," he said, offering it to me.
 I opened the letter eagerly, a feeling of euphoria washing over me. Then as I continued to read, my joy at my promotion was replaced by utter disbelief, then shock...



What was in the letter that so shocked Ray? Get the rest of the story at http://truelifestoriesng..com.ng