NOT MET FOR EACH OTHER (CHAPTER 1)

"What? Are you insane? Have you forgotten you have a girlfriend?", Alexa exclaimed.

"I know, okay? I only got into a relationship with her cause I wanted to fill the void of loneliness in me", Jacob explained.

"Void of loneliness? You started a relationship with someone you don't love? That means you've been lying to her all this while?", Alexa yelled.

"Alexa, please listen to me", Jacob pleaded.

"You have five minutes to express yourself and get out of my house"

"When Victoria broke up with me, my heart was filled with so much pain. I almost attempted suicide but then, Jessica came. She helped me relieve that pain and I didn't have a choice but to date her. I thought I could find a way to love her and honestly, I tried. I tried every possible thing I could do but I realized that you're the one I want. I'm sorry I ignored you all these years. Just please, help me"

A tear rolled down Alexa's cheek as she sank on her couch.

"Two years... I've been praying you notice me for two years. I watched your relationship with Victoria and all I could pray for was a chance that you will notice me. You just sidelined me; you saw me as nothing but a friend. I called you day and night when Victoria broke up with you. When you were sad, I felt your pain. I did everything I could to see you smile again, I gave you every greenlight I could think of but no, a random girl shows up from nowhere and in less than a month, you both got into a relationship. No Jacob, I've accepted my fate and I will not let another woman's pain be my happiness. Leave my house, Jacob!", Alexa cried.

"Alexa, please", Jacob pleaded with tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Leave my house now!", Alexa yelled.

Disturbed by the sound of their conversation, Alexa's parent came out of their rooms. She wiped her tears with her hands and stormed into her room. In an attempt to console her, Alexa's father followed suite.

"Alexa.. Alexa!", Jacob cried.

"Jacob, you need to go. My daughter needs space", Alexa's mom insisted.

"Goodnight, ma", Jacob sadly walked out of the house.

*****

The story of Alexa and Jacob went as far when Jacob moved to Lagos. As a young graduate hoping to find his feet in a big city, Jacob met Alexa in a restaurant. They both worked as waiters and would escort each other home after a long day.

As a handsome young man, Jacob had many admirers including his ex, Victoria. Unfortunately, Victoria had to let go of their three year relationship as she found someone more financially buoyant than Jacob. All that time they were together, Alexa prayed that Jacob would notice her but still, she didn't want Jacob to cause Victoria pain.

When Victoria broke up with Jacob, Alexa saw a chance to win the heart of the man of her dreams. Alexa gave all the emotional support she could offer to Jacob. She went as far as cooking meals and buying him things; something that was rare with women in her time. Sadly, her dream was eroded when "opulent" Jessica came in.

Jessica was the daughter of one the wealthiest businessmen in town. She rode a 2022 Mercedes Benz GLE 63S AMG model and she did everything she could to win the heart of the man of her dreams. She would appear at the restaurant where Jacob worked everyday and would go far as waiting for Jacob to close. Slowly, Jacob stopped walking Alexa home and communication between them reduced.

Thinking he had found the one that would fill the void he had in his heart, Jacob decided to pop the question and Jessica willingly obliged to become his girlfriend. Just one month into the relationship, Jacob started filling the void again; seems, she wasn't the one for him.

****

Jacob hailed a taxi and hopped in. As he commuted, tears rolled down his cheeks. He realized he had enmeshed himself in a triangle that he didn't know how to get out of. He recalled all those beautiful moments he had with Alexa before Jessica. He asked himself why he got into a relationship with Jessica but couldn't find a reasonable explanation to his question. All these years, an angel had been right under his noise but he just didn't notice her. Now, that he has noticed her, the angel had flown far from his reach. More tears rolled down his cheeks. "What have I done?", he mused.

The taxi driver noticed he was shedding tears and said, "is there anything wrong, sir?"

"Just keep moving. I'll stop soon", Jacob said.

"I don't mean to pry into your business but something tells me you're not happy. The only advice, I've got for you is that, you should do what makes you happy", the taxi driver advised.

Jacob sniffed and expressed his gratitude.

Jacob got to his stop, paid the driver, greeted his neighbors and walked inside his one room apartment. Just when he fell on his bed, his phone rang. He noticed it was a call from his girlfriend, Jessica. He switched off his phone and flung it to the other side of the bed. On his lying position, Jacob contemplated what he should do. He remembered the advice he got from the taxi driver and sighed. "Osas was right, I should have listened to him", he muffled. With thoughts swerving round his mind, Jacob fell into a deep slumber.

****

Osas was Jacob's best friend. They both attended the same college and moved to Lagos together. While Jacob studied Genetics, Osas was a Biochemist. Before Osas could get his own apartment, he squatted with Jacob for a while. He moved out the moment he got a job on the Mainland.

Osas was brutally honest; he would tell you the truth without caring about your feelings. He knew Victoria was going to eventually break with Jacob and he also knew, Alexa was madly in love with Jacob.

He explained that Jacob's relationship with Victoria was only a fallacy but Jacob ignored. He advised Jacob to stop going for things way past his reach but that caused the both of them to separate. Osas didn't care, he only cared about the fact that he said the truth.

****

Jacob aroused from his sleep by 6:30am and noticed that Jessica was on his couch.

"How did you get in?", Jacob sat upright on his bed.

"You didn't lock your door", Jessica explained.

"Oh... Was so tired yesterday night"

"Why haven't you been picking my calls?", Jessica asked in a gloomy tone.

"Are we seriously doing this right now? Its 6:30am"

"I'll do it anytime!", Jessica interjected. "Jacob, I've been calling you for a week now. You don't reply my texts, don't return my calls or even come to my house", Jessica added.

"I've just been busy", Jacob defended.

"Busy doing what? I've been to your house five times and I didn't find you at home once! Jacob, what is happening?", Jessica yelled and a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Everything is alright, Jessica and stop crying, okay?", Jacob pleaded.

"Easy for you to say, you're not the one trying. What happened to you, Jacob? One month ago you were buzzing my phone with calls and love messages. We were going out on dates every weekend but now, you don't even check in on me. This relationship has become one-sided all of a sudden", Jessica cried.

Jacob sighed.

"I get it, you don't love me anymore", Jessica cried the more.

"Did I tell you that?", Jacob questioned.

"Then why are you keeping me a mile away?", Jessica yelled.

"Cause I don't feel anything anymore", Jacob exclaimed.

Jessica sniffed and used her handkerchief to wipe away her tears

"I knew it. But we can fix it, Jacob. Married couples don't feel love forever but they still find a way to live together and rekindle that love. Please, Jacob. Don't do this to me", Jessica kneeled and held Jacob's kneel cap.

"Honestly, I've tried. I've tried every possible way I could but its not working, okay? Its not!", Jacob sobbed.

"We can do it together, Jacob. We can do it as a team", Jessica cried.

"I'm not trying anymore. Jessica, you just have to go. We can't work", Jacob explained.

Jessica laid on the rug, crying profusely. The whole room was silent for a while before Jessica uttered, "its because of her, right? Its that girl called 'Alexa', isn't it?"

"Wait, what? What are you saying?", Jacob questioned.

"I see the way you look at her, Jacob. You've always been in love with her. You just used me to pass time. God knows whether you've been sleeping with her", Jessica said.

"Sleeping with her? Are you insane? I have never cheated on you!", Jacob shouted.

"Then why are you doing this to us? Why?", Jessica cried.

Jacob kept silent. Jessica stood up, carried her purse, walked to the door and said, "if I can't have you, then no one will". In pain and anger, she shut the door.