Mark thought deeply about what he was about to do. Risky, no doubt. But it’s in trying you increase your chances of success. But this trial was no ordinary trial. Failing will be unbearable.

He thought deeply, slowly. He and Tiffany had been friends long enough. At first, whenever he asked a girl out, the response was, “I don’t really know you.” It hurt, but upon reflecting about it all, the girls were right. They couldn’t be in a relationship with someone they barely knew.

So, Mark upgraded his technique. Take time in getting to know the girl. Be a good friend to her before asking her out. But that too didn’t help him hit the mark. Many girls claim they’ve had too many heartbreaks and were just focusing on themselves, no relationship for now. Applications were closed.

Others said they didn’t trust men again, based on what some trustworthy men have done to them in the past. Mark tried to explain he was different but the more he tried, the more he gave the impression of being desperate. He gave up.

Perhaps, he should focus on those that were into him as much as he was in them. But this life is funny, sometimes even complicated. Those that liked him were the kind he didn’t like. This life!

In Tiffany’s case, he’s gone over all his dating lessons to give it his best shot.

First, he’s noticed that getting a “NO” from a lady he really liked was like getting a “Hi!” from a passerby on the streets. Very normal. Something that shouldn’t destabilize a gentleman’s mood. The next step after getting a No, was to persist and continue to be a friend. Some of those “NOs” were weak, but without discernment , one walks away from a closed but unlocked door that only required slight pushing.

But Mark thought of something else that made him unsure if that was the right moment to strike: Independence.

He was not yet working, and as it stands, will be unable to sustain a relationship financially. This also limited his ability to get fine clothes and dress decently and responsibly, a way that made a lady feel proud to showcase him as a boyfriend. But Tiffany had many male friends who were knocking, some were striking hard and others were determined to pull down the door to her heart and enter. He was closest to her and stood a better chance of winning.

However, a wrong move on his part can spoil many years of planning, scheming and brewing. What to do?

Some girls claim if they love a man, it doesn’t matter whether he has money or not, whether he was handsome or not, they are willing to pick him up and help him become their ideal man. Will Tiffany be willing to do that for him?

She should have shown signs that she would be that kind of girlfriend to him.

Perhaps, because they were not yet dating. Perhaps, he needed to pay attention to her signs. She seemed very much into him, they have warm conversations that can go on and on… And she’s a genuinely caring and sincere person. But it’s not the first time he’s mistaken those qualities in a lady for love. Many times he took that to mean a lady loved him only to make a move and be told, “Oh no! I only see you as a brother” or “We are great friends and I don’t want our friendship to become something else when we convert it into a love relationship… Not all friendships make great romantic relationships.”

Ladies were hard to predict for Mark. He believed if women were put under microscope in a lab for examination on their true nature, the results would be different every single time the experiment was conducted again.

Sometimes he wonders if their Creator Himself knows what he was doing when He created them and whether He Himself understood them.

But a man must try. The true mark of a man, Mr. Mark believes, is the ability to rise again and again after a fall. He must keep trying.

But if Tiffany doesn’t accept, the embarrassment will be unbearable.

That was his closest friend. Or perhaps, a lady shouldn’t have been his closest friend. He should have men rather as close friends. That way, if he got rejected by a lady, he would always have his men to provide some comfort and cheer him up to live to fight another day. Life was indeed a battle.

Mark looked himself up in his mirror and saw the true definition of the Mark he had always wanted to portray, although many limitations made this dream impossible for the time being. His combination was on point; hat, shirt, trousers.

He stepped out of his room, and flagged a taxi.

“MV Square!” He indicated to the driver who peered at him through the car’s mirror.

Off the taxi went, meandering through streets and lanes. It was a miracle there was no traffic on Friday evening. Happens sometimes when students are on vacation, he remembered while checking his time.

In no time, he was face to face with Tiffany.

“I’m nervous. What was it you wanted to tell me and couldn’t say it over the phone? “ Tiffany asked.

Mark tried to buy time.

” Relax. I will tell you. ” He assured.

The atmosphere was a bit tensed. He tried to joke about the weather, the restaurant and other stuff to deflate the tension but it wasn’t very successful.

“Let’s enjoy our meal and try to talk about other stuff. I will eventually tell you. It’s nothing to be worried about.” Mark added when the meal was served.

Tiffany seemed annoyed. Seemed she didn’t like suspense and Mark could see she was trying her best to hide her displeasure that was slowly fermenting into rage. Perhaps she felt they were so close and honest with each other that Mark should be able to tell her anything without thinking of how she would take it.

“I… I…” Mark cleared his throat.

“I like you, Tiffany.” Mark started.

“I know…” Tiffany cut in.

Mark swallowed hard.

“We’ve been friends for two years now and…” Mark continued.

“I hope you’re not going to say we should date…” Tiffany cut in again.

But that was what Mark was going to say. Now what does he do?

“Tiffany,…” Mark tried to calm her and explain things.

“Mark, if I wanted us to date, we would have dated a long time. I thought you were a genuine friend. So all the times you’ve been nice to me, it was all just to convince me to date you?” Tiffany spat the icy words.

“NO! Tiffany… Listen…” Mark tried to explain, looking over his shoulder and lowering his voice.

It seemed all ears in the restaurant were now looking in their direction.

Before he could turn again to calm Tiffany down, she had stood up, about to leave.

“Harrison and I are back together again. Thank you for everything.” She dropped the bomb as she stormed out of the restaurant.

Mark felt humiliated. All eyes were on him. A bunch of girls were in a corner staring at him and giggling.

Shame.

“Wow!” Mark thought.

After all Harrison did, Tiffany forgave him and has gone back to him. So he, Mark, was just a pillar she was leaning on while things were bad.

Mark paid the bill for the uneaten meal and left in humiliation.

“It’s all good.” he tried to cheer himself up.

What do you see # 286- 28th April, 2025