I live with my boyfriend. I moved in with him when I couldn’t cope with my rent. The girl I was sharing with suddenly had to go home to take care of her mother; the mother died and left her a small school to manage; that’s how come my roommate didn’t return to Lagos.
I tried getting a new roomie but most of the girls I spoke to didn’t have the kind of money needed to complete the rent. It was a two bedroom apartment in Omole estate.
So when my rent expired last year, I couldn’t renew; which is why I moved in with my boyfriend. This boyfriend, his name is Henry, I seriously believe must have been very unfaithful to me.
Before I began to live with him, I knew he was cheating on me because he lies a lot. He wasn’t my first choice of boyfriend but when I badly needed a place, he offered to house me until I got a place I could afford.
He too, has a two bedroom flat.
I didn’t like the arrangement but I had no choice, plus we were already dating though we had no plans for marriage.
I knew he had other girls. You will know when a man is cheating on you, so I too, I was on the lookout for other guys, se bi two can play?
So once in a while, I do hookups with some guys, too.
My living with Henry isn’t because of love or marriage, it was a necessity and he enjoys regular sex with me, so what’s the big deal?
Anyway, a few weeks ago, I had this sore throat, then headaches and pains all over my body, then fever.
I thought I had caught covid.
I went to the clinic we used in the office and the doctor, after some tests, covid test inclusive, said I should do some more blood tests.
When it was discovered that I didn’t have Covid, the doctor said we should try malaria test…it wasn’t malaria but by the third or fourth day, I noticed that I had red spots on my face and arms…and my vagina was sore.
So I reported back to the hospital and the doctor said…after another round of tests, that I had syphilis.
What is syphilis?
How come?
Well, I knew how come but I was surprised, still!
So maybe it was one of these jaguda boys that I had hookups with, maybe.
I was given some drugs and injections.
Before the treatment began, however, the doctor asked me if I was married.
I said, “no.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?” I said, “Yes.”
He said I had to tell my boyfriend about it so he too can get treated.
I said I couldn’t tell him; Henry would kick me out of the house if he found out I contacted an infection and gave him a disease.
So I told the doctor that I couldn’t.
The doctor now suggested he got one of his nurses to call my boyfriend and tell him someone gave him their number as he might be at risk of an infection that required he be treated immediately to avoid spreading it.
That was what we agreed.
It was agreed a nurse would call Henry on a Saturday and tell him he needed to come to the clinic first for the test that would determine if he was already infected or would require treatment.
I was there when the call came. I knew because he called the name of the hospital and no Henry doesn’t even know I use the hospital even if it is an office hospital…how many things does Henry know about me?
Anyway, Henry then went out to receive the rest of the call.
Do you know Henry came back into the room, telling me his friend, Master T was the one who called saying he was admitted at the hospital?
Master T in the hospital?
Haba, that guy hates hospitals!
I knew Henry was lying.
A few hours later, I called the hospital. They said they had informed him he needed to come for treatment and he told them he would come on Monday, after work.
The treatment would be for three days.
Every time I asked after Master T, Henry would say, “He is getting better”
He’s a fxxxking liar!
It’s been one week.
Henry has neither told me he had been treated for syphilis nor even asked that I get treated too!
He didn’t tell me about it, at all!
What does this mean?
It means I may not even have been the one who infected him. Though I saw no signs or symptoms but then again, he too didn’t know about my symptoms.
He must also have multiple partners but I’m the one who lives with him, why didn’t he tell me to protect me? You get what I’m saying?
And I also think he must have been the one who infected me.
And though we haven’t had sex in a while, I just think I should leave him. You know, move away and find another accommodation because guys like this can kill you.
(Series written and edited by Peju Akande and based on true stories)