My Boyfriend Chose My Best Friend / Chapter 3: Halima, the Shadow Between Us
My Boyfriend Chose My Best Friend

My Boyfriend Chose My Best Friend

Author: Cody Rivas


Chapter 3: Halima, the Shadow Between Us

Chijioke get one childhood friend wey grow up with am—her name na Halima.

Halima na that kind girl wey sabi mix with everybody. From small, people for street dey call her 'daughter of the house'.

Halima papa na Chijioke papa driver before. One day, for river accident, he risk him life save Chijioke papa, but no survive, drown die.

The story full area—how the man dive enter river, how dem carry am come out after. Na community even do wake keep for Halima papa.

Chijioke papa na better person. As the man die, he carry Halima and her mama come house, say he go treat Halima like him own pikin, care for dem forever.

Dem give them one room for boys' quarters, make sure say dem no lack. Even for Christmas, na same food everybody dey chop.

Halima and Chijioke grow together. Even after we start dey, she no gree give us space, dey follow us go and come from school every day.

Na every morning she go knock gate, shout, "Chijioke, I dey wait o!" Me I go dey vex, but e go say, "Halima be like my small sister."

Because of this, me and Chijioke fight more than once. When Halima finally stop to follow us, e no even reach two days, she don show again, dey lean on Chijioke.

The thing dey tire me, but I no fit talk too much, make e no be like say I dey jealous for nothing.

"Sorry, Naza, I know say you no want make I follow una, but I twist my leg and Chijioke insist say he go carry me house."

She dey form small pikin, but her eye sharp. She go dey look me from corner, dey test my patience.

Chijioke eyes just dey her side, dey frown, dey scold:

He go dey ask, "How you take twist am? Where e pain you?" I go just hiss for back.

"You injure leg, you no tell me? If I no come find you, you go hop go house?"

I dey wonder if na me he go ever care for like that. Sometimes, my mind dey do me one kind.

I still remember that day: Chijioke carry Halima for back, dey waka for front.

E carry am like say na feather, dey gist as dem dey go. I dey drag leg for back, dey look two of them shadow for ground.

Halima just dey talk about their childhood, I no fit even talk.

She dey remind am of all the play wey dem play for compound, how dem use climb mango tree together.

She dey do like small pikin: "Chijioke, my leg dey pain me well."

Her voice dey soft, e dey enter ear like sobo drink for hot day.

I never hear Chijioke voice so soft before: "Your leg dey pain you? Wetin I go do now?"

E dey pamper am, I dey look from back dey bite lip.

"I want cake from that shop for junction—the most expensive one."

She dey laugh, dey wink. Chijioke just shake head, say she too get wahala.

"No wahala, I go first carry you go house, then go buy am."

He dey do as if na duty. If I talk, e go say, "She be my sister."

"Chijioke, I fit dey follow you go school again? If I dey waka alone, those street boys dey disturb me. I dey fear."

She dey use innocent face, but me I dey see another thing.

Chijioke frown: "Why you no talk before?"

He dey ready to fight anybody for Halima sake. Na loyalty dey do am, but I dey see am as wahala.

"Tomorrow I go come carry you. If I no fit follow you, you no go waka alone."

Na so he take promise am. Even if he no mean am bad, e still pain me.

Halima just smile, look back at me.

She fit talk 'okay', but her eye dey talk another thing.

"Okay."

E dey hard to know wetin dey her mind, but I sabi say she dey happy say she win for that day.

The evening sun just make their shadow long, two of them like say dem join together.

If you see am for road, you go think say na small family. Me I dey waka for back, dey count my step.

Me, I just dey fall back, dey waka alone, but Chijioke no even look my side.

The pain dey bite me, but I no want make dem see say I care.

Na when he finish carry Halima reach house, he come turn talk to me:

The way he talk, e no look my eye. Na that time I know say the matter pass my power.

"I wan go buy cake for Halima, so today I no fit carry you go house."

As he talk am, e just dey look ground. Na so my hope just fade.

"Naza, abeg, go house by yourself."

My chest just freeze. For that street, e be like say na only me waka alone for world.

I look am for long, then waka go.

No word come out. I just turn, dey pray make nobody see my face. For my mind, I dey talk, "God, abeg, give me heart wey go strong."

This chapter is VIP-only. Activate membership to continue.

You may also like

My Husband Chose My Best Friend
My Husband Chose My Best Friend
5.0
Morayo fights to escape betrayal as her husband plots with her closest friend to ruin her future and steal her father's legacy. Torn between family duty and her own dreams, Morayo must choose: remain trapped in heartbreak or risk everything for her freedom. If she fails, she could lose her education, her inheritance, and herself.
He Chose Her Over Me at My Bestie’s Wedding
He Chose Her Over Me at My Bestie’s Wedding
4.8
Eight years of love, and Kunle still called me 'childhood friend' in front of everyone, just to shine for a new babe. Humiliation burn me as he blocked me, shamed me, and carried Aisha out of the wedding like I never existed. But when I caught them together in my hotel suite, I knew my own chapter with Kunle was over—will I ever find love that values me?
Set Up by My Fiancé and His Best Friend
Set Up by My Fiancé and His Best Friend
4.6
My fiancé runs my name through mud with his friends, but he still clings to me because of our family debt. When his best friend tries to set me up with a fake DM and a public ‘accident,’ I realize they want to disgrace me and end our engagement for good. But this Lagos girl no dey carry last—if they want to play dirty, I’ll show them who truly owns the game.
He Chose My Sister, Not Me
He Chose My Sister, Not Me
4.8
In my last life, I was the prince’s cherished consort, but this time, he picked my younger sister and left me behind. Three years of waiting, only to watch my dreams handed to someone else—my own blood. Now, forced to marry a stranger and kneel at the palace gate, I must swallow my heartbreak while the man who once promised me forever pretends not to remember our love.
My Babe Chose Her Bros Over Me
My Babe Chose Her Bros Over Me
4.7
Obinna gave up everything to build a life with Yan Yan, but her loyalty to her 'bros' always comes first—even if it means spending the night with another man. Now, after she gifts her best friend a game with Obinna's own money, he's ready to teach her a bitter lesson about jealousy and respect. When Obinna brings his own female 'bro' into the mix, Yan Yan finally tastes the heartbreak she dished out—but will pride destroy their love forever?
My Bestie’s Brother Spoiled My Market
My Bestie’s Brother Spoiled My Market
4.9
After a wild New Year's Eve, I waka comot, my face hot like pepper, shame no gree me stand straight—especially since my best friend's brother, Musa, won't let the secret die. Now I'm pretending to be his babe, dodging my bestie's sharp eyes, while my own heart dey beat like talking drum. If Tomiwa finds out the truth, I fit lose both friendship and my small sanity—na real wahala dey ground.
He Chose His Boys Over Me
He Chose His Boys Over Me
4.8
After years of silent wars and public humiliation, Simi finally breaks the cycle—choosing her pride over begging Tobi again. But as her breakup post goes viral, Tobi’s boys line up to claim her, and even his sworn enemy Sani throws his hat in the ring. In Lagos, love is war, but this time, Simi is fighting for herself.
My Bestie Snatched My Fiancé
My Bestie Snatched My Fiancé
5.0
Amara thought her eight-year relationship with Tobi was unbreakable—until betrayal struck from her closest friend, Halima. As heartbreak, office politics, and shocking secrets threaten to destroy her, Amara must fight to reclaim her dignity and future. Will she rise or let them bury her dreams forever?
He Chose My Rival Over Me
He Chose My Rival Over Me
4.8
Morayo’s heart shatters when Tunde, her childhood love, betrays her on the polo field and sacrifices her happiness for his mentor’s orphaned daughter. Forced into a rushed marriage for family honour, Morayo must watch as Tunde plans to make her rival his second wife—expecting her to wait in silence. But with every humiliation, Morayo finds the courage to claim her own destiny, even as Tunde’s eyes follow her, filled with regret too late.
I Kissed My Boyfriend’s Roommate by Mistake
I Kissed My Boyfriend’s Roommate by Mistake
4.8
On the night I planned the perfect surprise for Tobi, I ended up kissing his silent roommate, Kunle, in the dark. Now, Tobi is cheating with another girl, and Kunle knows all my secrets—but when I try to use Kunle for revenge, he demands his own reward. With betrayal burning in my chest and forbidden desire rising, I must choose: expose Tobi or surrender to the man I never saw coming.
My Girlfriend’s Male Bestie Wahala
My Girlfriend’s Male Bestie Wahala
4.9
Seyi’s relationship is put to the ultimate test when a pack of condoms falls from Chika’s clothes, sparking street-level gossip and exposing her too-close friendship with Goke, her male bestie from Ajegunle. As jealousies boil and public drama explodes—from supermarket aisles to packed cinemas—Seyi must decide if he’ll fight for his love or let Lagos wahala tear them apart.
My Best Friend Broke My Heart
My Best Friend Broke My Heart
4.9
Kamsiyochukwu thinks she's found love with her childhood friend Tobi, but when their families arrange a blind date for him—with another woman—she's forced to confront the painful truth about their relationship. As secrets unravel and her heart breaks in the middle of a Lagos family showdown, Kamsi must decide if she can walk away from the only love she's ever known. Everything is at stake: her pride, her family ties, and the dream of being more than just 'best padi.'