Coffee and Love

Friendship, Fandom, and Fickle Romance

Chapter 2

Adam shared a two-story building with five other tenants, including Ebuka and Franklin. They were close friends and often spent time together in Adam's apartment. On this particular day, they were all watching the game between Nigeria and Argentina. Ebuka and Franklin were avid soccer fans, and they were shouting and cheering loudly for their respective teams. Adam was more of a casual fan, but he still enjoyed watching the matches. He just didn't get as worked up as his friends did.

The ref blew the final whistle, Ebuka and Franklin let out a groan of frustration. They were sitting on the couch in Adam's living room, watching the outcome of the game with bated breath. But the ref had missed a clear penalty, and now their team had lost.

"That was a clear penalty!" Ebuka cried out, throwing his hands in the air. "We've been robbed! The refs were blind!"

Franklin nodded vigorously, his face red with anger. "It's a conspiracy!"

" Abi? e come be like say dis officials know, de do dis kind thing." Ebuka exclaimed, punctuating his statement with a few choice expletives in Pidgin English. "Infact dis people don rob us!"

Franklin nodded, grumbling under his breath, "Wahala dey o. Nothing for sweet me pass if to say we win, omo nobody for shout pass me ajeh!"

Just then, Adam walked in from the kitchen, carrying a tray of hot tea and snacks. He looked at his friends, who were both still visibly fuming, and said, "Una dey take am too personal o, una dey over react. Wetin una be dey expect?" He set the tray down on the coffee table and continued, "Abeg no stress una self. Na just game."

Ebuka shook his head. "You no know wetin this game mean to us. dis no be just small matter o."

"We for qualify for dis group of death nah!" Franklin retorded.

"Ajeh! A game that Nigeria should have won!" Ebuka said, his voice tinged with frustration.

"The game was unfair!" Franklin exclaimed, shaking his head in disgust. "Nigeria was robbed! The refs were clearly biased in favor of the other team."

"I know, it's a shame", Adam said with a sigh. "But it's not just this game - FIFA has always favored the big teams. It's just the way it is."

"I wish they would just play fair", Franklin continued, "and let the best team win, like they say. Instead, they're always trying to rig the games in favor of the more popular teams. It's a disgrace to the sport."

"You're right, it's not fair to the teams who are trying to play honestly", Adam agreed. "It's not just about winning - it's about competing fairly and respecting the rules of the game."

"The players and fans deserve better", Franklin said, his voice rising in anger.

"Well I think Fifa are trying to favour Messi, they always do. That's why I think Ronaldo is better." Adam said.

The statement from Adam sparked a passionate debate between Ebuka and Franklin, as the both argued their respective cases with vigor.

"Messi is the GOAT!" Ebuka insisted, his eyes shining with conviction. "He's the greatest of all time!"

"Not a chance" Franklin retorded, shaking his head....

"Ronaldo is the best. He's more consistent, more powerful, more...everything!

"The two friends went back and forth, each making their case for their player of choice. Franklin accused FIFA of always favoring Messi, while Ebuka accused him of being blinded by bias.

"Fine, let's settle this once and for all," Adam said. "Who would win in a one-on-one match, Ronaldo or Messi?"

Franklin narrowed his eyes, a competitive glint in his eye. "That's easy. Ronaldo would win hands down. He's faster, stronger, and has more stamina. He'd outrun and outlast Messi any day of the week."

Ebuka scoffed. "You're dreaming! Messi is the more technically skilled player. He has better ball control, better passing, and more creativity. He'd outsmart Ronaldo any day of the week."

"But Ronaldo has the mental edge", Franklin argued. "He's more focused, more determined, and he never gives up. Messi might have the technical skills, but Ronaldo has the heart and the grit. He's a warrior on the pitch, and he would never let Messi out-hustle him. Ronaldo would win, no doubt about it."

Ebuka shook his head. "You're missing one important factor - Messi's unbreakable will to win. He's a fighter, and he always finds a way to win, no matter what. He's the real champion."

Franklin rolled his eyes. "You're biased! You're not looking at this objectively. If we're going to settle this once and for all, we need to look at the numbers. Let's compare their stats. Ronaldo has more goals, most successful dribbles in a match, and more champions league trophies. Messi may be talented, but he doesn't have the same results on the pitch. Ronaldo is the clear winner."

Ebuka huffed. "Stats don't tell the whole story. You have to look at the bigger picture. Messi's style of play is different - he's as much of a goal-scorer like Ronaldo, and he sets up his teammates for success. He's a playmaker. And besides, you can't deny his record-breaking achievements. He's won more Ballon d'Ors than any other player, he's also the second highest goal scores, actively. Infact he's the greatest, and that's that."

Adam let out a deep breath. "We're not going to agree on this, are we?"

"Nope, I don't think so", Ebuka said, a smile on his face. "It's fun debating with frankie though."

"And it just goes to show that there's no objective answer - it's all a matter of opinion." Adam said smiling.

"I can't argue with that."

"Bro," Franklin called out to Adam, "this is not an argument, but a statement of fact: Look at how FIFA always favour messi, the football system is corrupt, infact the entire system is corrupted. Africans are corrupt, just as the Caucasians are. There's no system that cannot be corrupted by politics."

"Speaking of politics, it's election period in Nigeria, so who are you guys supporting in the upcoming presidential election?" Ebuka asked, in a way of changing topic.

"That's a good question," Adam said, leaning forward. "I'm still not sure who to vote for. There are so many candidates, and it's hard to know who's telling the truth and who's just making empty promises."

Franklin eyes lit up. "Well I'm supporting Peter Obi!"

He's the only candidate who can truly bring change to Nigeria. He's not a corrupt politician like the others. He's the only one who will truly work for the people."

Ebuka nodded in agreement. "You're right. Peter Obi is a breath of fresh air in Nigerian politics. He's not just another recycled politician, and he has a genuine desire to improve the lives of Nigerians. He's not also interested in lining his own pockets like so many others are. I think he's the only one who can truly make a difference."

Franklin nodded. "I couldn't agree more. But what about the other candidates? What do you think of them?"

Ebuka frowned. "I think most of them are just the same old thing. They're just interested in power and money, not in actually helping the people. I don't think any of them can bring real change to Nigeria."

"So what do you think, Adam?" Franklin asked, turning towards him.

Adam shrugged. "I don't know. I'm not really interested in politics. I think it's all just a big game, and I don't want to get caught up in it. I'd rather focus on other things."

Ebuka frowned. "But you can't just ignore what's going on in your country. Politics affects everyone, whether you're interested in it or not."

"I know that," Adam said. "But I just don't want."

"When I was in college, I studied abroad in France for three years. While I was there, I saw how people were so involved in politics. They were passionate about their country and the direction it was going in. I was inspired by that. But when I came back to Nigeria, I saw that things were very different here. People didn't seem to care as much about politics, and corruption was rampant. I became disillusioned with the whole thing."

Ebuka looked thoughtful. "I see what you're saying. But I still think that you should care about your country and the direction it is going in. Even if you don't want to be actively involved in politics, you should still be informed and aware of what's going on. Things may not be perfect, but we can't just give up on our country."

Adam sighed. "I know you're right. But it's just hard to get motivated when you see how bad things are. It's easy to feel hopeless."

"I understand your frustration," Franklin said. "But we can't just give up. Even if we can't change everything, we can still make a difference in our own."

"You know, Adam, it's not just politics that you shy away from," Ebuka said with a grin. "You don't seem to have much interest in women either. I think you're afraid of romance!"

Adam smiled and looked uncomfortable a bit.

"That's not true! I just prefer to focus on other things."

Franklin laughed. "Come on, man! You can't avoid romance forever. It's part of life! You can't be a hermit forever."

Adam frowned. "I'm not a hermit!

Adam wasn't a hermit - he just wasn't interested in the superficiality of the dating scene. He knew that love was something to be taken seriously, and he wasn't going to waste his time on something that wasn't real. He had seen too many people get hurt by false starts and broken promises. He knew that the best relationships were built on a foundation of trust and respect, not just physical attraction. So even though his friends teased him about it, he knew he was right to be cautious.

"But what about that girl you met at the library last week?" Ebuka asked slyly. "

Adam laughed, "what girl?"

Franklin looked at Adam and said, "Oga, I no go lie - that girl eye be dey follow you up and down like say you be baba meta. I no fit lie - I be dey jealous you small sha."

"Him na spec ni'!" Ebuka chipped in grinning.

Adam burst out laughing. "Abeg o! You're killing me! I think you've been watching too many Nollywood movies."

Franklin grinned. "I no dey lie, my guy. dat girl been dey admire you seriously, and you no even notice am. You need to wake up, my brother! That's a fine girl wey dey give you green light, and you dey look the other way. Na wetin I dey call waste of resources!"

Adam couldn't stop laughing. "Omo! Don't start with the pidgin now! You guys are definitely crazy" he continued laughing, shaking his head.

"But seriously, that girl was definitely interested. I could see it in her eyes. You're a catch, man!"

"Are you sure you're not just imagining things?" Adam asked, still a bit skeptical. "Maybe she was just being friendly."

Franklin scoffed. "Oga, I'm telling you - that girl was into you! You should have asked her for her number. You never know what might have happened!"

Adam rolled his eyes smiling. "Fine, fine. I hear what you're saying. But even if I did get her number, I don't think I would have called her. I wasn't really feeling her, you get?"

Ebuka leaned in, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Oya, let's talk about some other potential love interests, shall we? There's the girl from your Uncle's company, the one with the beautiful smile and the infectious laugh. Or what about the waitress at your favorite coffee shop, who always has a kind word and a warm smile? Or maybe the girl who works at the library, who always seems to have the perfect book recommendation?"

Adam shook his head, laughing. "I see what you're trying to do, and it's not going to work. I'm not interested in any of those girls. I appreciate your attempts to play matchmaker, but it's not going to happen. I'm not looking for love right now, and I don't think any of those girls are the right match for me anyway."

Ebuka sighed, but he didn't give up. "Fine, but what about when you are ready for love? What kind of girl are you looking for? What qualities are important to you?"

Adam paused, thinking deeply. "Well, I think it's important that we have similar values. I want to be with someone who is honest, kind, and caring. Someone who is supportive and understanding. Someone who is also ambitious and driven, someone who has goals and is working hard to achieve them. And of course, physical attraction is important too. I think it's important to be attracted to the person you're with."

"That's a great answer," Ebuka said. "It sounds like you've really thought about this. But what about looks? Are you more attracted to a certain type of girl?"

Adam thought for a moment, and then answered honestly

"No, I don't have a specific type. I think attraction is more than just physical looks. It's about a person's whole being - their personality, their values, their passions. So no, I don't have a type when it comes to looks. I'm attracted to a person's overall being, not just their physical appearance."

Ebuka was impressed by Adam's thoughtful answer. "That's really mature of you. So many people get caught up in superficial things like looks, but you're focused on what really matters. I admire that."

Adam blushed a little at the compliment, but he quickly recovered. "It's just the way I am. I think people can get too caught up in appearances, and it can lead to a lot of problems. I'd rather focus on who a person is on the inside, not just how they look on the outside."

Ebuka nodded. "I couldn't agree more."

Just then Adam's phone vibrated, and he glanced down at it and saw that it was a text message from Charlotte, the girl he had talked to at the tea shop earlier that day. The text message read, "Hey Adam! I'm sorry I couldn't talk earlier, but I'm free to meet up at the tea shop tomorrow if you're interested."

Adam's face lit up. "I'm so glad you texted! I'd love to meet up again."

"Great!" Charlotte replied. "

"Abeg, I don go sleep," Ebuka said with a yawn.

"Looks like you've got a new catch online," Franklin joked.

Adam laughed. "But you guys were calling me a hermit, huh?"

"No, no!" Franklin protested. "That's not what we meant! You know you're a spec. You fit de do your thing online, we no go know."

They all burst into laughter.

"You guys are crazy," Adam said, shaking his head. "Goodnight, then."

"Sleep tight, man!" Franklin said, and Ebuka chimed in, "write de girl well ooh"

Adam rolled his eyes and said, "You guys are handful. See you tomorrow."

"We'll be here!" Ebuka said, closing the door behind him.