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You asked for it

I don't want to say anything. Why? Because you'll react in one of two ways: You'll either get mad and stop talking to me, or worse, you'll disregard what I'm saying completely and tell me I still don't understand. Which, let me tell you, really makes me mad. Because I have heard that over and over, and all other times than this one I have understood why it was being said; because they had no choice but to assume that I wouldn't understand, because I had not let them see enough of me to know that in fact I would. But you? I've shown you enough to think that maybe you would see, enough that I had some sort of hope that you would see that I, in fact, was not some emotionless black hole incapable of understanding. But you don't see it. And it makes me mad that it's like wasted effort, like I struggled so hard to paint the most honest picture of myself only to realise you're blind. You think that it's some explanation? " I'm heartbroken,you wouldn't understand." Because I don't mope, is that it? Because I never whine about love and heartbreak and how terrible and epic it all is. Because I don't tell you about times when I've cried or spent hours gaining some satisfaction from recounting the story of my "lost love." But what makes me maddest is how little you seem to esteem the thing you seem so broken by. You somehow believe that loving her equates to being with her; that somehow not being there for her the way you wanted was equal to having lost that love, like that was what matters. Popular thinking maybe, but it's wrong. Because that's selfish. Expecting that someone should be with you because you love them is selfish.  And selfishness, among many others is one of the antonyms of love. You think I don't understand because you think I never loved anyone I couldn't be with. I did. I do. But unlike you I believe that loving that person in itself is enough; that it isn't a means to an end, but an end in itself. Because I see love for what it is: the privilege of being responsible for that person. I'm lucky to love him not because he loves me back, or because of anything he feels or does for me, but simply because it is such an amazing, rare thing to love another human being. A pure, holy thing; the closest to heaven on earth. And so then it could never break me, because it doesn't matter what happens, I have decided to love him. You feel this complex, emotional roller coaster, and just when you begin to not you hurl yourself back in, convinced that your love somehow will get you want you want, that "love conquers all". It does. All including you, and all you want. It is complete in itself. So you tell me I don't know what it's like, but really you don't know what you're saying, because those feelings, while they might be the precursor to love, as it was with me, they are not love. So either suck it up or find another name to call your romantic misadventure because I refuse to let you insult love by comparing what you're feeling to it. It's much too important to me.

Story By: Maame Yaa Acheampong ( @Sarcasm_Hands)

REPUMANIA

It is considered the grandest stage of all on tertiary basis. Actually the climax of everything entertainment even if that sounds a bit offhand but yeah, a case could be argued and won with valid facts. Think of it as a miniature wrestlemania without the accompanying pseudo-violence and a significantly lesser attendance. It is a

mere week like no other, just another seven days but don’t be deceived for there is more than meets the eye during this period. Let your imaginations take a short trip and you may begin to piece together the portrait I’m painting albeit without a brush mind you. (I love my quill). Yup! This is basically about R E P U M A N I A. The first four letters have grabbed your attention already.

Depending on how you view it, this is a time many want to be ‘great’. The repu newbies will be seeking to have a feel of it first time like a virgin maiden’s first time at you-know-what. The veterans would be seeking to

consolidate their victories and redeem losses and hope to sign off on the best possible note. It is redemption time especially if you’ve played a zero throughout your stay in Uni, there is no grander occasion than this to bury haunting demons and finally get some points on board.

A curious scenario usually plays out around this time. Usually it’s a hattrick of parties (what’s likely to be the case this time as well) that grabs the most attention. But usually unseen battles lines are drawn when two parties are set to happen on one night. Consider it like this, two rams about to lock horns with obviously only one winner. Sure in such cases, both could thrive but the purveyors of evil hiding in shadows would rather one ‘papped’ for the other to hopelessly flop in which case it would be a massive field day on 140 Character Street aka Twitter. Re: Acid Trip versus Dusk 3. *Pontius Pilate hand wash*. But it is worthy of note to mention the fact that Repu mostly thrives because of the plethora of parties that rush in like a raging flood around this time. And then again, these parties are not for the faint at heart. 2 or 3 straight nights out partying certainly can’t be a joke. I have no experience I must place on record.

  Spare a thought for the would be ‘perchers’ whiles you are

about having fun. Certainly, it’s an open secret people would troop in and end up sleeping in unspeakable places just because of Repu. Of course, the fun that you would have is worth it they would say. Spare yet another thought for the various girlfriends who would find out they aren’t their boyfriend’s girlfriends because that other girl has arrived. Plainly put, some of you ladies are going to learn your place on your supposed boyfriends’ relationship hierarchy. Who knows? You may be lucky enough to be an assistant girlfriend which is definitely better than getting the rude awakening that your boyfriend doesn’t even consider you his girlfriend at all. How sad! Same goes for the guys too. Then also say a prayer for the

various pockets that would have craters in them after repu. Chill hard at repu and remember to ‘hung’ hard after too... Maybe. And for that boy or girl who bought a stand for almost 300 cedis and is still not making even a quarter of sales, may the Lord be your strength. It is all part of REPUMANIA. Happy Hall Week!

                                                            .

ST. VALENTINE’S DAY BLUES.

That time of the year has reared its head again. The midpoint of the calendar’s youngest month. It’s February and it is the 14^th day. This is St. Valentine’s Day. Usually considered a time to ‘express love and show affection’. That’s the general consensus and that’s also what the vast majority believe in. I wouldn’t know because for one thing, I haven’t had a valentine in my two decades on God’s green earth. Well this is Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghana, (Mahama is doing a ‘good job’ or? *coughs*) and it’s a different ball game. For most, it pits the financial muscle of lovers against the spending ability of their partners. So you could say one’s financial muscle is directly proportional to his partner’s ability and it really doesn’t need a math genius to prove its basis. So for someone whose partner has a pretty ravenous appetite or a seemingly unquenchable thirst for gifts either in cash or in kind, you wouldn’t particularly be smiling when Valentine’s Day comes around especially when things aren’t looking up in your pocket.

But of course you have to ‘pay’ during this period, for some that’s

the key to the unlimited access to the ‘forbidden fruit’. Cliché but truth. Val’s day is a high octane game where someone most definitely becomes the prey and the other the predator. There is absolutely no middle ground. I used to think it was a myth that some guys intentionally picked up fights with their partners when February came around and looked to swiftly make amends when the storm had calmed down. Smartness or cowardice? I can’t tell. But even with that partner that is deemed to be at fault would readily swallow her pride and apologize even sometimes going extreme to show they are sorry. It’s an art of war and foul or fair means aren’t bound by any rules plus any strategy goes. Then some others manage to perfect the art of vanishing to utmost perfection so much such that Potter’s cloak has nothing on them. Then watch some ladies become unavailable to that one guy who takes two ‘trotros’ to work and say to other one with the Mercedes “oh I’m free on the 14^th.” It’s like that and also watch them casually drop subtle hints about what they want days to Val’s day like “This watch is old oo” or “See how this phone is giving me trouble.” A carefully-calculated way to let you know what she wants.

Some decide to brave the storm and be the men they profess to be. You know that guy that takes a salary advance to buy an iPhone 5s complete with all its accessories for his love, the girl returns the favour… He will be back to meet a nicely wrapped parcel at the feet of his bed. Hopes raised higher than Ronaldo’s jump and he’ll open it to see one ‘chase deer’ singlet and a boxer shorts in his favourite team’s colours. A lone tear streaks down his face for reasons known to him alone and mind you, it isn’t tears of joy. Then the other guy who takes a loan with atrocious interest rates to impress that girl he so dearly ‘loves’. He takes her on a candlelit dinner worth four figures in cedis. He too comes back to eagerly open the gift she got him. In the deceptively large parcel lies a pack of handkerchiefs and ‘kiwi’ shoe polish, that’s his four figure dinner reciprocated and it’s the girl’s way of expressing affection so can he complain? I have no gavel in my hands. I can’t judge.

That’s just few of the possible scenarios that play out during Val’s day and surely are bound to happen this time around as well. The single ones like myself would surely seek to pick a few lessons or two from whatever drama ensues. But then again, it’s Valentine’s Day and true love would be seen amidst the fake ones that would be on display that day as well. No matter what happens as well, there will be the group that will try to bash those who seek to express joy on that day. I can’t wrap my head around that but then doesn’t one of Newton’s laws state something about action and its opposite reaction? Do the math. We only stand to observe.

                                   HAPPY VAL’S DAY

@Mr_Labyrinth

FUN-TUH-SEE

My heart screams I love you
Yet hermitically are my lips sewn in silence
That defeaning silence
Which pierces my soul
And chokes my breath
I long to hold your hand
But the chains of doubt keep me aloof
That enchanting smile of yours
That innocent gaze you fix upon me
Your laughter resounds with a royal melody
Your strides strike the chords of an unsung harmony
Yet to me all this be but a pleasurable fantasy
For mine is a heart that has known scorn
Mine is a heart that has danced to sorrowful tunes
Yes mine is a heart that has known pain
Do you tease me with the promise of love still ?
If this be love and you feel it too
Then let us hurry about this business
If not leave me be in my fantasy
For though I dread its end
I cant seem to let go
So I pray my Lord my eyes do open
The truth help me see
Else am lost in that which I cannot name
I think it's love...or is it?..
Merely fun-to-see...
       Poem by Kharie Pee
              (@Quophey)