Gigi and Helga

Gigi and Helga (not real names) have been friends from childhood; Gigi had always been the kind hearted one, out-going and quite jovial. Helga is the book worm; all she does is study and does not care much about having other friends. Gigi is her only friend and that is enough for her, some people see her as a sadist and regrettably, that is who she seems to be.

They attended the same Secondary School and are now in the same University, it was a conscious effort by both especially Helga for she knew that it would be hard for her to make even one new friend.

While Gigi explored the school, Helga remained an introvert and found everyone annoying, people often wondered how Gigi coped with her strange behaviour, she only smiled when she was with Gigi and only spoke when she asked her lecturer’s questions during lectures. She was unapologetically snobbish.

The reason why Gigi and Helga have remained good friends is that Gigi tolerates a lot of Helga’s high handedness, she ignores her attitudes and carries on with the friendship; at least Helga keeps her on her toes towards studying hard for her exams.

Gigi is from a well to do family and sometimes it is her pocket money that carries both of them through the semesters, she is extremely nice to Helga but she knows that she cannot say the same of her friend.

They share a self catering apartment off the campus of the prestigious University that they both attend in the South West and there had been a number of events which made Gigi question their friendship.

On one occasion, Gigi had late lectures and when she got back, she discovered that her laundry was left out in the rain; all the clothes that she washed were soaked in the rain even though Helga was in the room. Helga gave a flimsy excuse that she had to take her own clothes in first and by the time she got to Gigi’s it was already too late.

The last time that Gigi was ill, Helga left her in the room all by herself and attended all her lectures without checking on her throughout the day; their neighbour who noticed that someone was still in the room, went to check and found Gigi in a very bad state. She quickly got a cab and took Gigi to the hospital where she was admitted and Helga did not visit her till after her lectures in the evening of the following day.

Sometimes, she makes quick food just enough for herself without considering that every food stuff and ingredient was taken off Gigi’s very rich pantry, yet she always made Gigi cook for both of them whenever she cooked.

When Gigi’s friends visited, Helga was often cold to them and kept them very uncomfortable, somehow she acted in ways that showed Gigi that she did not want her to keep other friends; she had even voiced it out indirectly on many occasions.

Gigi also realised that her friend always sounded excited whenever she complained of not doing well in a test or an examination but hardly congratulated her when she did well. Regardless, Gigi showed her that she was proud of her academic achievements and even referred to her as “Prof”

Every penny she loaned Gigi, Helga always collected back no matter how little even when she paid for her food yet Gigi had lost count of how many times she had to pay for Helgar's food.

Helga also always blackmailed her into sweeping and cleaning their apartment most of the time claiming that it was Gigi’s friends that usually messed it up.

Lately, Gigi started to feel very uncomfortable with their friendship, Helga seems to be angry most of the time, and keeps Gigi walking on egg shells around her,  and also constantly under pressure to please her; Helga ignores her for weeks sometimes and she may not even know the reason why.

Gigi’s friends have also started to make fun of her that it is either she is Helga’s lesbian partner or she’s under her spell, because without being aware of it, she often gets nervous when she’s with friends and sights Helga.  She knows that her friendship with Helga has become very toxic and needs to stop.

The last time Helga visited her at home, her mother noticed that she spoke to Gigi in a rather harsh tone and when she asked her daughter, Gigi defended her friend and told her mother that it had become the tone of her voice ever since they got into the University.

Gigi does not know how to tell Helga that she would not be renewing her rent in the apartment that they share; she knows that her friend would be hurt and really angry although she would not show it because she is a very proud girl.

Notwithstanding, Gigi has made up her mind to end the friendship but is genuinely worried about the hostility that her friend will express towards her afterwards,

I know about this sort of friendship and it is a pity that a lot of young people especially the girls find themselves in such toxic relationships and from a very young age.

They become like slaves to their supposedly best friends and if they do not realise it sooner, it affects them very negatively. It is a form of bullying.

I am very happy that Gigi has come to this realisation which only the victim can come to all by herself.  She will soon take the first step by moving away from Helga, she will live alone in another private hostel away from Helga; she needs a breath of fresh air and about Helga being hostile to her, she will learn to live with it. However, it could go the other way and be a wake-up call for Helga to be a better person.

Whatever happens, Gigi needs to start a new life without Helga in it.