I am Adetola, but everyone calls me Ade. I live in Lagos, Nigeria, where the sun is always shining, and the streets are always busy. I met Kola at a friend’s birthday party. He was charming, funny, and very handsome. He told me he was a medical doctor, working at one of the big hospitals in Lagos. I was impressed. We started dating, and before I knew it, I was in love.
Kola was always busy with work, but he made time for me whenever he could. He would tell me stories about his patients, and I would listen, feeling proud of the work he was doing. One day, he told me he had been offered a job in South Korea. He said it was a great opportunity for him to learn new things and advance his career. I was happy for him, but I was also sad because I knew I would miss him.
“Come with me, Ade,” he said, holding my hands. “It will be an adventure. You can explore a new country, learn a new language, and we can be together.”
I thought about it. I had a good job in Lagos, but the thought of being with Kola and exploring a new country was exciting. I agreed to go with him.
The journey to South Korea was long, but Kola made it fun. He kept making jokes and telling stories. When we finally arrived, I was tired but excited. South Korea was beautiful. The buildings were tall, the streets were clean, and the people were friendly. Kola had rented a small apartment for us in Seoul, the capital city. It was cozy and had a great view of the city.
The first few weeks were like a holiday. Kola would go to work, and I would explore the city. I tried new food, visited museums, and even started learning the language. Kola would come home with stories about his day at the hospital, and I would listen, feeling proud of him.
One day, I decided to surprise Kola at his workplace. I wanted to see him in action, doing what he loved. I took a taxi to the address he had given me. The hospital was big and modern. I went to the reception and asked for Dr. Kola. The receptionist looked at me, confused.
“Dr. Kola?” she asked.
“Yes,” I replied. “He is a doctor here.”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry, but there is no Dr. Kola working here.”
I was surprised. Maybe I had gotten the name wrong. I described Kola to her, but she still looked confused. She told me to wait and called someone on the phone. A few minutes later, a man in a white coat came to the reception. He introduced himself as Dr. Lee, the head of the hospital.
“I’m sorry, but there is no Dr. Kola working here,” he said. “Maybe you have the wrong hospital.”
I was even more confused. I thanked him and left, feeling uneasy. I decided to call Kola. He picked up on the first ring.
“Kola, I went to the hospital to surprise you, but they said you don’t work there,” I said.
There was a pause. “Ade, I can explain,” he said finally.
“Explain what?” I asked, feeling a knot in my stomach.
“I’ll be home soon. We’ll talk then,” he said and hung up.
I went back to the apartment, feeling worried. What was going on? Why would Kola lie about working at the hospital? I paced around the apartment, waiting for him to come home. When he finally did, he looked tired and worried.
“Kola, what’s going on?” I asked as soon as he walked in.
He sighed and sat down on the couch. “Ade, I’m not a doctor,” he said.
I stared at him, shocked. “What do you mean you’re not a doctor?”
He looked at me, his eyes filled with guilt. “I’m a nurse, Ade. I’ve been pretending to be a doctor to impress you.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Kola, the man I loved, the man I had followed to a new country, had been lying to me all this time. I felt a mix of anger, disappointment, and sadness. I didn’t know what to say or do. I just stood there, staring at him.
“Ade, say something,” he pleaded.
“I… I don’t know what to say, Kola,” I replied, my voice shaking. “You lied to me. You made me believe you were something you’re not.”
He looked down, ashamed. “I’m sorry, Ade. I never meant to hurt you. I just wanted you to be proud of me.”
I shook my head. “I would have been proud of you no matter what, Kola. You didn’t have to lie.”
He looked up at me, his eyes filled with tears. “I know. I’m so sorry, Ade. Please forgive me.”
I didn’t know what to say. I was hurt and confused. I needed time to think. I told Kola I needed some space and went to the bedroom, leaving him alone in the living room. I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of everything.
How could Kola have lied to me for so long? How could I have been so naive? I felt like a fool. I had given up my life in Lagos, my job, my friends, everything, to follow a man who had been lying to me. I didn’t know what to do or who to talk to. I felt alone and lost in a foreign country.
I spent the night tossing and turning, trying to decide what to do. Should I forgive Kola and stay with him, or should I pack my bags and go back to Lagos? I had so many questions and no answers. I finally fell asleep, exhausted from the emotional turmoil.
The next morning, I woke up feeling groggy and disoriented. The events of the previous day came rushing back to me, and I felt a heavy weight in my chest. Kola was already up, sitting at the small dining table with a cup of coffee in his hands. He looked tired, like he hadn’t slept much either.
“Morning, Ade,” he said softly as I walked into the living room.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. I made myself a cup of tea and sat down across from him. The silence between us was thick and uncomfortable. I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts.
“Kola, I need to understand why you did this,” I finally said, looking at him. “Why did you lie to me for so long?”
He sighed and put down his coffee. “Ade, I never meant for it to go this far. It started as a small lie, something to impress you. I thought if you knew I was just a nurse, you wouldn’t be interested in me.”
I shook my head. “That’s not true, Kola. I would have been proud of you no matter what your job was. It’s the person you are that matters to me, not your title.”
He looked down, ashamed. “I know that now. But at the time, I was afraid of losing you. I thought if I could just keep up the charade a little longer, maybe I could become a doctor someday and make it true.”
I took a sip of my tea, trying to process his words. “But Kola, you can’t build a relationship on lies. It’s not fair to either of us.”
He nodded. “I know. I’m so sorry, Ade. I never wanted to hurt you. I love you.”
I looked at him, feeling a mix of emotions. I loved him too, but I was hurt and confused. I didn’t know if I could trust him again.
“I need some time, Kola,” I said finally. “I need to think about all of this and figure out what I want to do.”
He looked at me, his eyes filled with sadness. “I understand. Take all the time you need. I’ll be here waiting for you.”
I spent the next few days exploring Seoul on my own, trying to clear my head. I visited the palaces, walked along the Han River, and even tried some street food. South Korea was beautiful, but I couldn’t enjoy it fully with the weight of Kola’s lie hanging over me.
I called my best friend, Bisi, back in Lagos. I needed someone to talk to, someone who knew me and could give me advice. I told her everything, from Kola’s lie to my feelings of hurt and confusion.
“Ade, I’m so sorry,” Bisi said, her voice filled with concern. “I can’t believe Kola did this to you.”
“I know,” I replied, sighing. “I just don’t know what to do, Bisi. I love him, but I’m not sure I can trust him again.”
Bisi was quiet for a moment before speaking. “Ade, you need to do what’s best for you. If you think you can forgive him and move forward, then do that. But if you’re not sure, it’s okay to take a step back and reevaluate things.”
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “You’re right. I just need to figure out what I want.”
Over the next few days, I thought a lot about my relationship with Kola. I remembered the good times we had together, the laughter, the love. But I also remembered the hurt and betrayal I felt when I found out about his lie. I knew I had a decision to make, and it wasn’t going to be easy.
One evening, as I was walking along the Han River, watching the sunset, I made my decision. I loved Kola, and I wanted to give our relationship another chance. But I also knew that things couldn’t go back to the way they were. We needed to rebuild our trust and start fresh.
I went back to the apartment, feeling a mix of nervousness and determination. Kola was in the living room, watching TV. He looked up as I walked in, his eyes filled with hope.
“Ade, you’re back,” he said, standing up.
I nodded. “Kola, I’ve made a decision. I want to give us another chance, but things need to change.”
He looked at me, his eyes filled with relief. “Of course, Ade. Whatever you need, I’ll do it.”
I took a deep breath. “First, no more lies. We need to be honest with each other, no matter what.”
He nodded. “I promise, Ade. No more lies.”
“Second, I want to know the real you,” I continued. “Not the version you think I want to see, but the real Kola. I want to know about your dreams, your fears, your hopes. Everything.”
He smiled. “I want that too, Ade. I want you to know the real me.”
I felt a sense of relief wash over me. I had made my decision, and I felt good about it. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I was willing to put in the work to make our relationship stronger.
Over the next few weeks, Kola and I started to rebuild our relationship. We talked openly about everything, from our pasts to our dreams for the future. Kola told me about his journey to becoming a nurse, his love for helping people, and his hopes of one day becoming a doctor. I listened, feeling proud of him for his dedication and passion.
I also started to explore South Korea more, taking language classes and even volunteering at a local community center. I made new friends, learned new things, and started to feel more at home in this foreign country. Kola supported me every step of the way, encouraging me to pursue my interests and passions.
One day, as we were walking hand in hand through a bustling market, I looked at Kola and felt a sense of gratitude. Despite the challenges we had faced, we were stronger than ever. Our love had been tested, but it had emerged stronger and more resilient.
“Kola, I’m glad I came to South Korea with you,” I said, smiling at him.
He looked at me, his eyes filled with love. “I’m glad too, Ade. I love you.”
I squeezed his hand. “I love you too, Kola. Always.”
As we continued to walk through the market, surrounded by the sights, sounds, and smells of South Korea, I knew that we had made the right decision. Our journey hadn’t been easy, but it had been worth it. We had learned to trust each other again, to be honest and open, and to love each other unconditionally.
And as I looked at Kola, I knew that no matter what challenges we faced in the future, we would face them together. Because that’s what love is all about.