I’ve had a roommate for almost 3 years now. After the COVID pandemic, I struggled to recover financially which forced me to make some lifestyle adjustments, including getting a roommate. It was strange at first but I grew to like it and even now that I’m financially stable, I still live with a roommate.
I met my roommate, Ron, during an art exhibition. We’re both artists and we were showing our artwork in the same exhibition. We sparked up a conversation and two months later, we ended up renting a two-bedroom apartment together to save on costs.
I haven’t had any issues with him throughout the 3 years that we’ve lived together. We mostly stay out of each other’s business and barely interact with each other’s guests. We’re both introverted so we hardly have any company over. We have an unspoken rule that when either of us has company, the other stays in their room until the guest leaves or until the host asks them to join them.
I didn’t introduce anyone to Ron during the first year we lived together since I still didn’t know him very well. However, he started to meet my friends in the second year and they all got along.
“Rob is such a good guy.” One of my friends commented.
Slowly, he started integrating into my friends’ group. One of the last people I introduced him to was my best friend.
Anita was very opposed to me getting a roommate and even refused to visit me for a whole year after I got one.
“How can you trust a stranger to live with you? What if he turns out to be a thief or worse?” She asked.
“I don’t have an option. I need to pay my bills.”
“Just make sure you know every detail about him.”
“Who told you it’s a guy?” I joked.
She didn’t laugh.
I definitely did thorough research on Ron before asking him to be my roommate. Since I was a bit known in the art community, I asked all my friends about him. The ones who knew him spoke highly of him.
“He’s hardworking. He always shows up to events and mingles with everyone.”
I trusted my friends’ judgments so I decided to make him my roommate. I didn’t know whether he would agree since he hadn’t suggested it but I knew we could all use some financial help during that period.
“Would you like to be my roommate? I’m thinking of moving to a two-bedroom house and I need a roommate.” I asked him.
“That’s so random. Why me?”
“I don’t know. I think we could get along.”
“Sure. I’d love to.”
“My house is fully furnished so don’t worry about buying anything. In fact, you can sell some stuff or take them to your parents’ home.”
“I don’t have anything. Just a bed and a gas cooker.”
“Okay. So, the rent is Ksh 18,000. We’ll split it in half then take turns buying groceries and tokens.”
“That sounds good.”
I moved out the following month and Ron joined me later that month. I had to sell my TV to be able to pay the deposit but I kept everything else.
We had a good living arrangement and everything was going well until Ron met my best friend, Sally. Sally eventually came to visit me a year after I got a roommate. Both Ron and Sally knew about each other but they had never met. So I thought it was a good idea to introduce them.
“Come and meet Sally.” I texted him and he came immediately.
Sally is an attractive lady so I expected Ron to be smitten by her. However, I didn’t expect them to get along so well. Sally tends to be a bit snobby but she lit up as soon as Ron sat down.
“Finally, we’ve met.” Ron said as he shook her hand.
Sally giggled. She hardly smiled at people she didn’t know.
“I know. It’s about time.” She answered.
They ended up talking and bonding the whole afternoon. It was like I didn’t exist. However, I was happy that they got along. They exchanged numbers before Sally left and promised to keep in touch.
The week didn’t even end before Sally was back at my place. She never visited me during the week unless there was an emergency.
She visited several times and that was when I learnt that they were meeting outside the apartment.
“The nature walk was fun.” She said almost in a whisper.
“It was. What should we do this weekend?”
“Wait, are you guys hanging out without me?”
“Yeah. Ron is more fun than you. He knows all the good places to visit.”
“Where are you getting the money to pay for these hangouts?”
“Don’t worry about it.” He answered.
I tried to stay out of their business but things escalated to a point I couldn’t ignore. They were cuddling and holding hands. It was clear that something deeper was going on. I just needed to get them to admit it. However, that would be as difficult as pulling teeth.
“What’s going on between you and Sally?” I asked Ron.
“Nothing, bro. She’s just a friend.”
“That’s what they all say.”
“We really are.”
I let it go but a few weeks later, I found out the truth. My roommate and my best friend were sneaking around behind my back and were having an affair. It wouldn’t be a problem if it was anyone else but I couldn’t risk losing any of them. I needed my roommate and I needed my best friend.
After finding out the truth, I did everything I could to end things before they got to another level but it didn’t work. The two refused to end the relationship.
Eventually, Ron and I became stable enough to live separately so he moved out and got a place in the same apartment. He’s still together with Sally and I hope that they stay together. However, we’re no longer as close as we used to be since they both spend more time with each other than with me.
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