Flora was surprised when Kumi proposed to her. They had known each other for eight years, and Kumi had never hinted at having feelings for her. They had been close, however, and she admired his humility and willingness to serve. Kumi always had a fresh perspective on issues, and he apologized quickly and profusely for any mishap, taking the blame for everything. Flora thought that was cute. Who wouldn’t like a man who owned up to his mistakes in a world where men wanted to be seen as flawless?
Therefore, even though his proposal on Wednesday afternoon came out of the blue, she readily accepted to start a relationship with him.
Everything accelerated after that. They started talking more intensely, texting late into the night. Sometimes, their conversation turned intimate, and as lovers in a distant relationship, they exchanged photos that Flora wasn’t entirely comfortable sending. But it was new love; what could go wrong? She was available and compliant when Kumi requested explicit video calls to satisfy his lust, and Kumi made sure to thank her after every session. Yet, something in Flora longed for a slower pace for their relationship to grow naturally.
In the second week of their relationship, while they talked over the phone, Flora told Kumi, “I’d like for us to take things slowly. It looks like we’re rushing.”
“How?” Kumi asked, barely audible. That voice floored Flora every time.
“I want us to take our time to know each other…”
“What do you want to know? Ask me anything, my love. I’ll tell you.”
Flora shook her head. That wasn’t what she meant at all. “Kumi, we’ve had sex ten times already since we started dating…”
“But it was over the phone! That doesn’t count. It’s just my way of showing you how I feel about you. You drive me crazy, my dear. As we speak, your voice alone turns me on. I wish you could see the effect your voice has on me. I really love you, Flora. Whatever you want to know, just ask me. I’ll tell you.”
Flora sighed. She couldn’t argue with him when he professed love that way. He made her feel good.
The next morning, she received a MoMo alert of GHC500 “for lunch” from Kumi. When she asked him why, he said it was to appease her. And for the next week, he didn’t ask for explicit photos and videos.
It was short-lived.
That Saturday evening, while preparing for church, she noticed Kumi had sent five WhatsApp messages – or one message five times. “Hello.”
She replied, “Hey… What’s up?”
“I miss you. I want to see you.”
“Are you in town?”
“No, silly. Can I call you now, please? Video?”
“In a few minutes, dear. I’m going to the bathroom.”
The moment she saw the Typing indication from Kumi, she knew she had made a mistake.
“I’m calling now.”
Five seconds later, they were on a video call. Flora was still in her t-shirt and shorts.
“I thought you said you were going to the bathroom?”
“Yeah, but it can wait. I’ll go when the call is over.”
“But I want to see you!” His gentle voice spilled like honey over the phone.
“But you’re seeing me, aren’t you?”
“Take off your clothes.”
Flora laughed. “Why?”
“I want to see you and touch you.”
“But you’re not here.”
Kumi rolled his eyes. “Let me see you. Please.”
Flora took a deep breath and released it with a “No!”
Kumi winced on the other side of the phone. “Why not? Don’t you love me anymore?”
“I do. I love you. But I’m not undressing for you tonight. In fact, I won’t undress again until we marry.”
“Flora, please…”
“No, I don’t like it.”
“Please understand me. See,” he flipped the camera to show his erection and flipped back to his face, “help me. Please.”
“Kumi, if you’re that desperate, let’s plan to get married. After our marriage, you can have me any way you want me. But this has ended. I will no longer send pictures or videos because I don’t like doing that. I did them because I love you and I was afraid you’ll leave me if I don’t.”
Kumi sighed and dropped his voice to the decibel that usually turned Flora’s knees to water and melted her resolve. “Please. Just this once. I won’t ask again. Understand me, my love.”
“Understand me too, my dear. I won’t.”
“Okay. Good night.”
Before she could respond, he hung up.
Flora didn’t call back. She enabled Do Not Disturb and entered the bathroom, praying as she took her bath. The relationship had become toxic and she needed to escape. When she returned from the bathroom and disabled Do Not Disturb, she saw that Kumi had called six times and left thirteen messages, begging her to forgive him.
But one message stuck out to her: “I’m doing all these because I love you. Sorry if that looks weak to you; it’s because I really love you. If not for the love I have for you, why would I spend so much time with you? My love for you makes me weak and I can’t control myself. Forgive me and let’s get married.”
Right there, she saw Kumi in a whole new manipulative light. All the dots of his profuse apologies and repeated misbehaviours began to connect. He has never been truly sorry! She broke up with him there and then – at least in her mind. If she told him out loud that their relationship was over, he would twist the conversation, play the victim, and drag her into another spiral of guilt. She didn’t want any role in that drama anymore.
