False accusation I had to live with it.

Growing up as a teenager was a rough one for me and I had to start supporting my mum immediately after secondary education, I was just 14 years of age. I had no choice since she was raising me and my siblings alone, I couldn’t help sitting while she does multiple jobs to put food on the table.

My first job was teaching a kindergarten class where I lied about my age, the pay was terrible but it was the only job available.

I did it for three years before meeting this group of pasters that took me into their team. We work as contractors in printing print, the pay was fair because you get paid based on the job you have done.

After a few months, I have mastered the job and was capable to work with or without my team. I stretched my arms, met other teams with a better job, and started working everywhere, every day, including weekends. Going back to school was my motivation, there are days I get really tired but wouldn’t have a choice. Soon I became everyone's favorite because my job was good, there are always no errors or very little that can be overlooked.

A team I once worked with got a contract in Agege, somewhere in Lagos. It was a job that would take lots of time so the person recruited different teams, I was the youngest but no one could predict that because I was taller than everyone and that made me blend in very well.

The man in charge took so much interest in me and bought me lunch on a few occasions. We became so close that he tips me extra at the end of the week and that made me happy because I had extra to save, he was in his early thirties while I was 18 already. He wanted me permanently with his small team, the offer was exciting so I left the group for him which turned out to be the biggest mistake in the job.

Our relationship was smooth until his girlfriend’s birthday, I got to work as usual and he told me that it was his girlfriend's birthday. I sent my wishes but he insisted that I spoke to her and wish her myself. I was reluctant because I was a very shy type with ladies but I got her number since he insisted.

I called her and we had a brief conversation, that same day she called me at night to say thank you. We talked at length again and somehow, we became friends. I was foolish to have allowed her to get too close, it wasn’t my fault. I don’t have a female sibling and the struggles my mom was going through made me very kind to females whether old or young, I have lost count of how many times I have bought a sitting ticket for buses and ended up standing through the trip because I couldn’t stand the sight of a pregnant woman, nursing mother or aged woman standing.

The thought of what if it was my mom troubles me until I give my seat out.

We got so close, that we chat at work. I didn’t see it as anything but it turned out to be something else. My boss had issues with her but I wasn’t aware of it, he thought she was seeing someone else but had no proof. The issue was settled and things got back to normal between them, he checked her phone one day and saw that she communicates with me a lot. We didn’t have any job at hand then and my former teams were still pissed with me for quitting so they turned me down I begged to join them just for that week, I can’t be blamed for that, or can I?

He was quiet about it until we had a job to do; I got the text, packed my bag, and set out because there are times I don’t return for a week or two. On getting to the factory, I went to greet him since we haven’t seen him for about a week. He said I wouldn’t be working with them anymore but he wanted me to come so he can tell the team what I did wrong.

I was surprised and waited patiently to hear what my offense was, he announced to everyone when we gathered that I was having an affair with his girlfriend. I didn’t believe my ears, I tried to defend myself but that was late.

I cried and everyone was surprised, I had a lot running in my head. I still had to work more for my school dreams to come to reality, I hate being accused wrongly and it is one of the reasons why I don’t cross my limit with people.

I called the girlfriend and told her, she said she noticed he has been acting up but she didn’t know why. She promised to talk to him about it but shockingly, he ended the relationship as well.

I went back to my former group, they heard what happened even before I told them and that even made them accept me back because they knew I wouldn’t do such. They were mostly female and I was very friendly to all that you would think I was having an affair with a few of them.

The fact that I couldn’t clear my name hurts me till today, someone tried settling it but this man said nothing can change his mind because he knew what he saw. I guess he just used me to end the relationship because his ex-girlfriend said she saw him with a lady a few days after they broke up, he could have just done it nicely without dragging my name in the mud. A guy I called my friend told me he can't introduce his girlfriend to me after the incident but it meant nothing to me.

I wish he gave me a chance to explain myself then, he could have known I was just too young to do such but some things are meant to happen permanently without correction whether good or bad and we just have to live with it.

I got admission to polytechnic a few months later and had to put everything behind me.

It made me knew people who were my friends and pretenders, a lot of people in that field who heard the story showed their true nature but that is bygone now because I doubt if anyone remembered again.

Life goes on.

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