“The Proposal” | A Modern Naija Relationship Drama 

He was proposing to one woman, still entertaining another. What he didn’t know was that both of them were already comparing notes. This is not a village story. No rituals, no witches, just ego, ambition, and a man who thought he was smarter than the room. This is a modern Naija story. Dammy, I’ve never been this sure.

You changed my life. Please, marry me. Stand up first. Are you still talking to Lara? No. Why would you even ask that? Look at me and say it. Last Tuesday, you told her you missed talking to her at night. That you wished things had worked out between you two. That she was the only one who ever really got you.

How did you I mean, that’s not Dammy, you have to believe me. Save it. You also told Tunde at his birthday party that you’d marry whoever secures your future, saying love is a luxury you can’t afford right now. And let’s not forget the parts where you looked me in the eye and told me you’d never dated anyone in my circle.

That I was different. Special. Please, Femi, I didn’t need to. Women talk. And Lara, she’s not just my friend, she’s my cousin. Lara? Mhm. Did you go through my phone? Is that what this is? Did you really think I wouldn’t find out? Did you think I was just going to say yes and let you walk all over me for the rest of my life? That I’d be so desperate for a ring and a last name that I’d ignore the fact that you’re still out there shopping for upgrades? Dammy, I swear it’s not what you

think. I was stupid. I made mistakes. But I love you. You’re the one I want. You don’t get to decide what I think, Femi. And you don’t get to rewrite our story to make yourself the hero. Not tonight. Not ever. When your account was frozen last December and you called me at 2:00 a.m. crying about how your whole life was who sent you 3 million naira before the banks opened the next morning? When your mom needed that hospital deposit in Abuja and you swore you’d pay me back as soon as things turned

around? Who wired the money same day? Who had to liquidate her own savings to make sure your mother didn’t get turned away? Why are you bringing up all this now? That was ages ago. I paid you back. Oh, you paid me back. Wow. A whole 5% interest on money you knew I couldn’t afford to lose.

 How generous of you, Femi? Did you calculate that into your investment, too? Dammy, please don’t do this. You’re twisting everything. No, I twisted myself into knots for you. I rearranged my entire life, my finances all so you could keep up appearances. And now I find out that to you I was just a solid investment with the good returns.

Baby, you know Tunde likes to talk nonsense. He doesn’t understand what we have. He doesn’t have to. You said enough. I never said that. I would never You did, Femi. At your boys’ night 3 weeks ago, after four bottles of Hennessy, when you thought no one was listening, you said, and I quote, “Dammy’s the kind of woman you marry when you’re building.

She’s got the money, the connections, the stability. Love comes later.” So, tell me, when exactly were you planning to love me? After the wedding? After the house in Banana Island? After I’d signed over half my life to you? I do love you. I just I didn’t know how to say it. That’s the problem, Femi.

You do know how to say it. You just don’t mean it. So, you’re still talking to him.  Yeah. Why, Lara? After everything? Because I needed to know. Know what? If he’d pick you over me. If I was just a placeholder until you figured things out. No. I needed to know if you’d choose properly.

 If he’d finally grow up and decide what he actually wants, or if he’d just keep chasing the idea of a perfect life instead of actually living one. And did he? No. So, he’s still the same boy who can’t decide if he wants a wife or a safety net. I’m sorry, Dammy. I thought if I pushed him, he’d see what he was risking. But some people they just don’t want to see.

 If I walk away, Lara, don’t go back. I won’t. Promise me. I I promise. Men like Femi they don’t change because you want them to. They change because they have to. So, you planned this? You set me up? After all we’ve been through, you do this? No. I didn’t plan anything. I confirmed it. But you know I love you, baby.

All this is just noise. We’re stronger than this. Don’t baby me, Femi. You don’t love me. You love the idea of me, the woman who fixes your messes, who funds your dreams, who makes your life easy. You love being rescued. You love the security. But you don’t love me. You weren’t in love. You were stabilizing.

  And I almost let you. I almost traded my self-respect for the illusion of a future with you. Wait, you’re still talking to Lara? After all this dummy wedding planning? Man, Lara is easy, you know? Familiar. No stress, no expectations, just vibes. And Dummy? The one you’re supposed to be locking down? Dummy is stable.

 She’s got the money, the connections, the family. With her, life is sorted. So, which one are you actually marrying, Oga Future? The one that keeps your bed warm or the one that keeps your account warmer? The one that secures the future, bro. Love is good, but stability, that’s forever. You’re playing with fire, my guy.

 Dummy isn’t some random baby you can string along. She’s sharp, and her people, connected. You mess this up, and it’s not just your relationship that burns, it’s your whole life. Relax. I’ve got this. Dummy’s invested. She’s not going anywhere. Women like her, they’d rather fix a broken man than risk starting over with someone new.

And what happens when she finds out? When Lara slips up or Dummy finally wises up? By then, the ring’s on her finger, the papers are signed, and the house is in my name. What’s she going to do? Leave and go where? Back to our father’s house with her tail between her legs? Please. You’re digging your own grave, bro.

And when it collapses, don’t come crying to me. Trust me, I’ve got this. Dummy is too smart to walk away from a good thing. And Lara, she’ll always be there for the fun stuff. So, that’s it? After everything, you’re just walking away just like that? It ended the moment I realized you don’t move based on love.

 You move based on benefits, on what or who can do something for you. I was just another transaction to you, another box to tick. Dummy, baby, please. We can fix this. I’ll change. I’ll do better. Just give me another chance. You don’t fix character, Femi. And you don’t change patterns with panic. You’ve had years to to choose us, but you’ve always had one foot out the door, haven’t you? Always looking for the next best thing, the next upgrade.

Then what now? What am I supposed to do? Please, just tell me what you need from me. I’m choosing peace over potential. I’m choosing respect over regret. I’m choosing myself over the man who couldn’t even see me when I was right in front of him. Dummy, wait. We can talk about this. We can figure it out. I love you.

No, Femi. You don’t love me. You love the idea of me. The version of me that fits into your plans. Did she say yes? No. I warned you. You don’t treat someone like that and expect it to end well. You thought she wouldn’t leave. That was your mistake. The board is ready. Right this way.

Everything okay? Yes. Everything is fine. So, are we good? I don’t know, Femi. You still care. I can tell. I don’t care about you, Femi. Not like that. Not anymore. What I care about are patterns. The way we keep circling each other. The way you always come back when things fall apart.

 The way I always let you. I haven’t decided yet if I’m done breaking that pattern or just addicted to repeating it. Lara, I’m different now. I’ve changed. I’m not dummy, Femi. I won’t fund your life or fix your mistakes. If you’re here, it’s because you choose to be. Not because it’s convenient. I’m here because I choose to be.

We’ll see. Love shouldn’t feel like a negotiation. Thanks for watching. This was a modern Nija story.