My sweet, corny, and soft-spoken Nigerian was now full of suggestions on the things I should go do to myself. It was as if overnight Luke* had managed to add another language to his repertoire- since English, French and others were not enough. He was very disappointed with me not sending him the money he needed. And this new language, or maybe it was a dialect- chocked full with “F words”, was the only way he could expressed his disappointment.

While Luke grew more bitter and more impolite, I grew more satisfied with my decision not to be moved by his “poor student- needs money or will be kicked out of University” line. After he became such a badly-behaved young man, I ended all contact with him and deleted him from my messenger list.  He didn’t attempt to contact me- by phone, IM or email and I was quite happy with that.

Then suddenly, one day- out of the blue, he sent me an email with the subject “Peace”.  Ever curious and gluttonous, I had to read it.   Luke was penitent.  He wanted to know if I was well. Such a long time had passed without us talking- after that “little row”. He was quite mature for his age and had decided that since one of the two of us had to make the first step toward peace, it should be him. He had something urgent to discuss and I should call him.  He’d forgotten his mobile at a friend’s- so could I call him on this number?  He’ll be expecting my call.  P.S: It’s really urgent.

I responded (I don’t know why), telling him his urgent matter would have to wait. He followed that up with “proof” that he was no liar and was who he’d claimed to be from the very beginning. I forgot about Luke for a long while. Every now and then, some invite would pop up in my inbox from him- inviting me to join this or that site.  I’d just ignore or delete. It was a very busy time for me. I was busy with work and busy exploring new online suitors.

The last conversation I had with Luke came some two years after our “little row”.  Instead of blocking and deleting him from my messenger list, I, in my haste, two years prior, had only deleted him.  One day, after signing in, I received an IM from him. He wanted me to stop considering him the devil.  Why was I ignoring him and behaving this way towards him?  He knew that his reaction two years back was by no means gallant, but why was I so annoyed?

He then took to explaining his rage and asked for my forgiveness. I should understand that he really needed the money at that time for his tuition. He had to wait a year before he could access his account because of some restrictions on it. That was the truth.  If he really wanted to scam me, he would have been more patient. Don’t tell him, I’ve been scammed by some guy impersonating a widow. He wasn’t like that. Not at all like that.

He wanted me to know that he still considered me a friend and haven’t forgotten our conversations.  He still remembered the emotions I evoked in him. He cherished my friendship and always will.

That was the last I heard directly from Luke. From time to time, I still get automated invites to various sites to see his pictures or be his friend.

*Name has been changed.

COMING NEXT SATURDAY: A Truly Bizarre Encounter