Hello! I am Tombri Feire, and you are welcome to today’s show. I know you missed me… or do you want to pretend you didn’t? I know you did!
So today, we’ll be talking about relationships. Yay! I know you’re excited, right? This is going to be fun, so tighten your seatbelts and listen attentively before you start calling in to contribute things that might have absolutely nothing to do with the subject of discussion.
So here’s the aspect of relationships we’ll be talking about today, guys.
Does it make sense for the person you’re in a relationship with to hide you from everyone? Like… hide the relationship from family, mentors — if they have any — and even friends? What do you think about that?
Personally, I think it makes no sense.
I actually know someone who has hidden the lady from every obvious eye. None of his friends even know he’s in a relationship. He only tells the lady to keep it strictly between the two of them.
I’ll start entertaining calls now. The number is 0-8-0-3-8-1-0-0-6-2-9.
I’ll repeat the number again, so this time, be more attentive.
0-8-0-3-8-1-0-0-6-2-9.
Let’s go!
“Hey there, hello. I’m Tombri Feire. Can I know your name?” Ecstasy flushed through her voice as she picked the first call of the day.
“My name is Chioma. I’m calling from Lekki, Lagos,” the caller replied.
“Okay, welcome to today’s edition of A Gist with Feire. So what do you think about what we’re discussing today? Does it make sense to be in a relationship with someone who isn’t ready to make the relationship known to anyone?” she asked again.
“Feire, it doesn’t make sense,” Chioma started immediately.
“Really? I’m interested. Feed me more.”
“Yeah. Who gets into a relationship when he or she isn’t ready? Why would I buy a new car and keep it locked inside the house? That’s not possible. I’m not talking about showing off your boyfriend or girlfriend here, but at least, if someone asks whether you’re in a relationship, you’ll still say no? For what reason?” Her voice became slightly husky as she continued.
Feire chuckled softly. “Okay, calm down. What if there’s a reason behind hiding your relationship?”
“See, Feire, there’s no sensible reason for someone to hide a relationship from at least some of their friends. I feel whoever is hiding the relationship probably has skeletons in their cupboard. Maybe their friends already know another person as the main partner, and they’ve made you the side chick.” She reeled out the words without hesitation.
Feire held her breath for a moment.
She didn’t know what to say to the caller anymore. Chioma had already started taking the issue personally, as though it was happening in her own relationship. But beyond that, Feire herself was distracted from the ongoing programme.
Her mind drifted far away as she replayed Chioma’s words again.
Side chick.
The phrase she hated hearing, yet had said a million times herself.
Confusion settled heavily inside her. So heavily that she ended the call abruptly, her breathing turning uneven.
“Okay, the show is still on. I’m expecting another call from—”
She barely completed the sentence before another call came through.
She finally found her voice again, though it wasn’t stable. Truthfully, she hadn’t wanted to choose this topic for discussion, but she desperately wanted to know what people thought about it. At least, she couldn’t walk up to anyone directly and ask without raising suspicion. Hiding behind the cover of her radio show felt safer.
“Hello, this is Tombri Feire. May I know your name?” she asked.
“Good morning, Feire. This is Desmond.”
Feire lost her voice instantly.
Her right index finger began tracing invisible lines across the table. It felt as though her brain had suddenly stuttered. Her fingers twitched rhythmically, almost in spasm, while silence stretched endlessly between them.
“Hello? Are you there?” Desmond asked again.
She knew that voice.
So Desmond had been listening to her all along?
What exactly did he want to say about the issue now?
This was the man in question, and he had called into the show to contribute?
He had told her earlier that morning that he would be extremely busy with clients and wouldn’t have time to listen to that edition of the programme. That was the only reason she had felt safe enough to bring up the topic and hear people’s honest opinions.
She ended the call immediately.
Picking it had been a terrible mistake. It already destabilised her.
She wasn’t exactly afraid of him, but there’s always that strange feeling when the person you’re talking about suddenly appears.
“Let’s go on a short break,” she said quickly, needing a moment to gather herself.
She picked up her phone and scrolled through reactions from listeners following the programme on Twitter and Facebook. Almost everyone shared the same opinion.
Who hides a relationship if there’s nothing suspicious going on?
She honestly didn’t know whether what she felt was fear or worry.
Deep down, she knew Desmond wasn’t the type of person who would turn heaven upside down over something like this. She had already considered the possibility of him tuning in before the show even started. Still, she pushed the thought aside.
The break would soon be over, and she couldn’t afford to keep losing control the way she already had.
This time, she steadied herself.
Even if Desmond called back, she would speak to him professionally and focus strictly on the issue being discussed.
…to be continued