Sophocles Writes

The NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) is a mandatory one year program for graduates of polytechnics and universities in Nigeria. It’s major aim is to promote unity by exploiting the diversity in the country.

The orientation camp for Corp members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for Ogun State is situated at Sagamu. The camp shares boundary with the state stadium. It is the only permanent camp in the country and regarded as the best camp. But this is not about the camp. This is a story about two corp members. This is a story about unrequited love and the friendship that it gave birth to. This is not your regular orientation camp story. In this story, date and time doesn’t matter.

Like all regular camps, there is allocated times and venues for activities. But it will not be a problem in this story of ours. Although it restricted the time our hero and heroine spent together. He studies in the eastern part of the county and she attended a university in the southern part of the same country. Their meeting was by faith as they happened to be in the same platoon.

“salaamun alaykum” He said to her.
“wa alaykum salaamun warahmatullah” she replied.
“My name is Abdullah, hope you don’t mind if I stand beside you during the parade?” he said.
“My name is Omeira and no problem.” She replied.
They started talking during the course of the parade, although he was a bit shy, he managed to collect her phone number and they linked up on Whatsapp. He writes poems and he promised her a poem before the end of the day. She smiled at him and they went to their respective hostels after the parade.

“Have I ever seen a more beautiful girl? Damn! She is such a cutie. And those cheeks, that has to be the prettiest cheeks I’ve ever seen. And her smile is making my head turninoninown” he mused.
“That Abdullah guy appears cool and funny, although he is shy and tiny. He is going to make a good friend.” She mused.

He was already in love with the lady, while the lady thought he will make a good friend. True to his word he sent her the poem he composed when he got to his hostel. It was a very wonderful piece, a poem praising her beauty and which highlighted the rosiness of her cheeks. He poured his heart and soul into the poem. It was one of his best works. When Omeira got the poem, she was amazed and felt it deep in her soul. It was then that she knew Abdullah doesn’t want to be just friends. She knew he wanted more. He wanted her love.

Over the course of three days, he sent more and more poems to her. All with the same theme; love and wanting to be together with her. The poems changed everything. She was also in love with him but not to that extent. Not to the extent of wanting to spend the rest of her life with him. He finally mustered the courage to ask her one day to her face.

“Omeira, there is something I have always wanted to ask you. It is about the poems I have been sending you and the meaning deep inside it” Abdullah said
“You’re an amazing writer and I understand everything in it. But you have to understand that as much as I am attracted to you, we just can’t work out. Some things are just not meant to be.” Omeira explained.
“But you once told me that you don’t have any guy in your life.” Abdullah retorted.
“Yeah! I said that, but there is someone I am in love with. I am waiting for him to ask me out.” Omeira said. “But you are now my very good friend. You are like a brother to me.” She continued.
“Am I relegated to the friend zone or the brother zone?” Abdullah asked.
“It doesn’t matter dear, you are amazing, cool, friendly, smart and funny. You are a guy any guy will die for, but I have my sights elsewhere. Right now, you are the best male friend I have.” Omeira outlined.
“Friend zone it is” Abdullah said with tears in his eyes. Although he quickly cleaned it up before she could see it.

[A moment silence for a brother in the Friends Zone]

For three days after he was relegated to the zone of no return, Abdullah couldn’t eat nor sleep. He was miserable and annoying. He sulked around and stayed clear of the little friends he made on camp. He had to visit the camp clinic because he also fell ill. And the theme of his poems changed from love to sorrow and heartbreak. But our hero was a strong man. He never for once acted on his impulse to commit suicide. The only man ever stupid enough to commit suicide over a lady was Romeo. And his story should never have been celebrated. I mean, who celebrates cowards?
As much as I’d love to write that Omeira later promoted him from the friend zone and accept his proposal. As much as you’d like to read that they are happily married now with kids. That story just didn’t happen. Her kids will call him “uncle Abdullah” and never “daddy or dad or dada”. Our hero was brave because although he thought of taking his life when he was heartbroken, he never did it. He rose above cowardice.

This is the first part of the story. Comments and criticisms are welcome. Please do like and share. Thanks