4 weeks had passed since we started dating officially, and itβs been a hectic ride I must say. Whoever is reading this, and has been in a single relationship or marriage for more than 10years, Iβd need past questions (whether hard or soft copy) on how to keep a successful relationship. The fact that Iβd have to be part of her everyday life, have to experience her different shades of emotions firsthand, always have to be on speed dial just in case she needs my attention for whatever reasonsβ¦ I really had to make some big adjustments these past few weeks; but I guess itβs worth it.
Itβs not like I on the other hand have been a perfect soul; Naaaaah!!! There have been times that I actually over-reacted about some certain issues, not like it was intentional, but retrospectively, I think I could have done better on those occasions.
For example, I happen to have come from a home where decent dressing is held in high esteem; Like my mum would practically have an emotional breakdown or call down fire where possible, if you wear revealing outfits as a lady, or wear ripped Jean or other sorts as a guy. So it became part of us (myself and my siblings) to always dress decently and as much as possible, be in the company of those who dress alike. For that reason, when I go out and see someone who doesnβt dress decently, (I mean, according to my mumβs standards π) I tend to raise an eyebrow subconsciously, while consciously trying not to be judgy.
So there was this day we had arranged to go see a movie at the cinema. We planned to meet at a particular junction from where we were meant to take a keke (tricycle) to the cinema together. Upon seeing hanty, I noticed the top she wore exposed a great portion of her cleavageππ. At first, I tried to suppress my disapproval, but after fighting so much with my thoughts, I told her how I wasnβt comfortable with what she was wearing and my reasons. Ofcourse she wasnβt comfortable with the fact that I did disapprove of her style of dressing; it came off more like me trying to totally control her and she wasnβt okay with it at all. I tried to explain to her how I wasnβt being territorial and all, but things ended up south; ofcourse we didnβt go see the movie again.
I felt so bad, not just because we didnβt get to see the movie again, but because I created a bad impression of being authoritative and dictative. Probably I could have done better, maybe I could have handled things differently and still pass my message across, I probably would have allowed the outing to continue as planned and talk about the outfit when we got home. Maybe, just maybe.
I apologized, and promised such wouldnβt repeat itself again. It was a clear case of misconception, but I also learnt from that experience that we are actually different, from different backgrounds, having separate opinions and principles about life. We need to strike a balance, get to compromise where necessary and appreciate the differences and diversities in our lifeβs core values; then and only then can we avoid such occurrences, or so I think.
I happen to have a very cordial relationship with my ex-girlfriends; reason being that, a majority of my previous relationships started from a foundation of solid friendship, before graduating into a relationship. So when the relationship fails, we fall back to being friends, or atleast do not burn the bridge of communication, such that one can still reach the other where and when neccesary. This particular day, Stephanie was having some family issues and needed someone to talk to; she was actually getting depressed. She called me, and we got talking for hours on the phone. I tried counseling her and telling her what to do and all. She eventually calmed down and actually felt better when we finished talking. Meanwhile, hanty had called me on 3 different occasions while we were talking, but because of how sensitive the conversation was, I couldnβt pick. I eventually called her back when the call ended and told her I was on the phone with a friend who needed some sort of counseling and that the issue was quite sensitive, thatβs why I couldnβt pick her call. She grudgingly let it slide and things went on.
A few days later, she came visiting and was playing with my phone when she stumbled upon a text message Steph sent me the morning after our conversation.
Thanks so much for last night. Youβre still as sweet as youβve always been.
I only noticed her demeanor had changed, and then asked her what the problem was.
Who is Stephanie?

On hearing those words, and seeing how straight her face was, I knew there was problem in the neighbourhood. My mind quickly drifted to the text she had sent me a few days ago and how I didnβt delete it because my intents were pure; and Ofcourse I wasnβt expecting that sheβd go through my phone and see it, but here we are. How do I now explain to her that Stephanie was an ex-girlfriend and just a friend? How do I explain to her that the text wasnβt what she thought it meant? I mean just go back and read the message again. I was in deep shit, or like weβd popularly say in Warri, βYawa Don gasβ.
Eeerm! Eeeeh Steph is just my friend. We we we uuuused to emm, ehm.. Sheβs my ex-girlfriend fromβ¦
My explanation and sudden stuttering nature was cut short when she threw the phone at me, picked up her bag and stormed out of the room as though she was going toβ¦
What have I done? Now Iβm faced with the challenge of explaining Stephβs identity, and what the message she sent meant. I mean, she doesnβt even know she was the reason I didnβt take her calls the other night; what will now happen when she learns that?
I tried calling her line afterwards, it was switched off, my messages werenβt delivering on whatsapp, I could no longer see her status update. Could she have blocked me?

Please I need your opinion on these;
- Is it healthy to keep communicating with oneβs ex?
- Is it appropriate for one to go through his/her partnerβs messages?
- Would it be right if I had deleted the message, or lied about Stephβs identity?
16 comments
Hmmmm…….u should av picked her call n call Stephanie back since u kW d call will b a long one……..
At dis point, explaining yourself will b hard…..lol
Lol e done tay u mumu o hehehehe
π π π π
Thanks chief
Thanks for stopping by
Wow Wow Wow… Issues!!!! Hahahahahahahahahaa..
Well, it’s not very healthy to communicate with one’s Ex cos you may be doing so with the purest of intentions but things may just get out of hand with old emotions returning, Maybe not from your end but from the other person especially when topics about ur past relationship keeps re-surfacing, and we are humans, so it would definitely make your current partner feel very uncomfortable.
Then,i think there’s nothing really wrong with going through your partner’s phone,i mean you and your partner should be as transparent as possible,so there should be nothing to hide.
Finally, Huncle, you should have deleted the message even with your pure intentions because One must learn to master their partner, and in this case, hmm, the story said it all. Who pure intentions come help now? Haha. Things like this are very sensitive o, so one must act with wisdom.
Lemme Coman go before my reply will be longer than your post..
Thanks, it was a great piece. Am looking forward to the next episode.
Wo Wo Wo wo
Lemme take a pen and paper and jot things down
Thanks ma’am
Omo youβre own reply is like another article on its ownπ©π©π©
Regular communication with ones ex really isnt healthy & going through a partner’s phone without his/her permission is worst still unacceptable, that’s intruding into his/her privacy.
Hmmmmmm
Noted chief
Thanks for stopping by
Enough said about the ex and need for transparency……I also agree with Mimi…or better still, finding an appropriate time to tell her about the reason for the long talk even before a scene developed …..still about transparency….to avoid stuttering spells in future…..
Great story…..ride on bro
But why is this sounding so nonfictional….isn’t it supposed to be a work of fiction?
……..lemme go and be going π€©
If only I had known
I would have done better.
Well, is it fictional?
communicating wt X is not bad, but unhealthy tho, esp Wen stretched out of proportion as a routine thing.
Going thru a partner’s inbox to me, is borne out of trust issues in most cases, personally I don’t even try it, but if my partner wishes to be going thru, I stil don’t hav problems wt it, just dt she fit see masquerade for there π
Singular guys like us… Are here to learn. Where my jotter and biro?
[…] […]
πͺπππ
If you keep tracing the length of a snake, you won’t find the right place to strike it, what has happened has happened, the way forward is more important now, drop your ego and maje out time to visit her and make her see reasons with you and be plain. Steph is your ex and she should be made to understand that and to kill her fear of likely reunion(warri say old firewood they quick catch fire), make Steph to speak with her.. and if it all falls on deaf ears, then give her some time to think about it and leave the rest for God…clear conscience..
Keep it up
Communicating with ex aint bad especially in the kind of scenerio painted, you could bee saving a life..tho one needd to be careful if emotional upsurge in places where it is not needed…
And for going through a partners fone….hmmmmmmmmπ€π€..i honestly have not decided if its OK or not…but i think it has both good and bad side
Go and explain to hanty make her mind calm down