Ugly Side of Friendship

By Oladotun Olumuyiwa F.

In the journey of life, you are bound to come across all manners of people with diverse intentions towards you as a person. Some would like you at first sight by virtue of your looks, some would despise you because they feel you are not up to their class. While some would get close to you not because they really like you per say but because they want to know that little secret to your success, they want to steal that idea of yours, apply it to their business and blow while you just sit around lagging behind. Believe it or not, many people take interest in having relationship with you because of something you got to offer!
These days, hardly will you ever see someone wholeheartedly care for you without ulterior motives. Don’t get me wrong, I did not say there are no good people or friends around, good friends still exist but those with ulterior motives are definitely much more than the good ones take it or leave it!
Now the horrific part is despite the fact that you knew they formed that friendship with ulterior motives and you did all your best for these set of friends they would still find one way or the other to mess you up, betray you and even try to take your life if you permit them. Different strokes for different folks like they say, but I still believe if you have been dealt with by a friend you so much trusted, it will take divine intervention for you to get over it and trust anyone.
There is this popular saying that old friends are always better than new ones, believe me they are the most dangerous ones. They are the ones who knew your little begining when you were nothing, when you followed them about begging them to lend you their shoes to parties. All of sudden, like a dream, things turnaround for your good, you are well to do now. These old friends would be the first set of rumour mongers around your success. They would become green with envy and if you care less, they would penetrate you and bring you down to zero level.
I am naturally not a bad person, and even as a friend. But most times people teach you what you don’t know. Recently, couple of weeks back to be precise, an old friend, since my childhood days had always wanted to come to Abuja since the day I told him I based in Abuja. This is someone I have not seen for close to two decades. We had only reconnected on facebook through one of our classmates. The truth is, this guy was not a bad guy back in the days when were young but to be candid, I wouldn’t know what he has become because the most constant thing in this funny world is change. People change everyday! So couple of weeks back he stormed Abuja without informing me of his visitation and he started calling me to come pick him up! I was shocked at first, but I had been dealt with in the past by two old timers which took me sometimes to recover. So this time I had to be bold and wicked! I turned him down. I simply switched-off my phone. By this, my friend was pained and blocked me amongst his friends on facebook. Well I don’t blame him, I would do thesame if I were in his shoes. And don’t blame me either for my action, once you have been dealt with by an old timer, to get over it, is like a bitter pill to swallow. Never be a fool a second time! I really felt bad for my action that I had to come with this blog. He should forgive me it is not my fault!