The Substitution Theory

Billy sat back, reflecting on his memories, his voice tinged with both sadness and understanding. “I had so many things planned for her, you know? I wanted to show her my love—my unconditional, preserved love that I’d been waiting to give for so long. I took her everywhere she wanted to go, bought her everything she asked for.”

Robert nodded, leaning in. “So, you were giving her your 100%, right?”

Billy nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I gave her everything I had. My full 100%.”

Raj, shaking his head with a bitter smile, added, “But not… her 100%.”

Gugu scratched his head, confused. “Man, all this 100% stuff is confusing. Just carry on, Billy.”

Billy sighed, his frustration bubbling to the surface as he continued. “After a while, she started showing signs of annoyance. She became distant. At first, I was shocked—I kept thinking, ‘What more could I have done? What did I do wrong?’ I tried everything I could to revive the relationship. I did all the things that worked in the beginning, but nothing changed.”

Robert raised an eyebrow. “Reviving the relationship? Come on, Billy. Relationships don’t have expiry dates. You just keep working on them.”

Raj interjected, his voice carrying a weight of experience. “Every relationship has an expiry date. The problem is, you don’t know when it’s coming until it’s right there in front of you, and you’re forced to move on.”

Oluwale, narrowing his eyes, chuckled lightly. “Ayo, why do I feel like you and Billy are on the same team now? You two sound like you’ve lived through the same story.”

Billy smiled faintly and nodded. “You see, relationships follow what I call the substitution theory. We humans have gaps in our lives—needs that have to be filled. And when those needs aren’t met in a relationship, we start looking to fill those gaps elsewhere. We start replacing parts of the relationship without even realising it.”

Gugu, his eyes wide with curiosity, leaned in. “I told you guys! This Billy guy talks some deep stuff, man. Pure mind-boggling. But hey, what kind of needs are we talking about? I know what most guys are after.” He grinned, clearly implying something more playful.

Billy, keeping a straight face, explained, “Human needs are divided into two categories—physical and mental. Physical needs include things like food, clothing, shelter… and yes, even sex. Mental needs are things like love, connection, care, sharing, and spending time with people who make you feel good.”

He paused, letting his theory settle into the room. “When one of those needs isn’t being met, we look to fill it elsewhere. That’s why some people cheat physically—because their physical needs aren’t met—but still claim to love their partner mentally. Others might cheat mentally—by flirting or seeking emotional attention—but never cross the line physically. In my theory, love is always substituted in some form. It just takes the right moment, and the right click for that substitution to happen.”

The room was silent for a moment as Billy’s words sank in. Gugu shook his head in amazement, clearly impressed. “Man, this is some next-level stuff. The theory of love substitution… who would’ve thought?”

Oluwale grinned, looking around the room. “Ayo, Billy’s got a PhD in heartbreak, man.”

The Warning Unheeded

Raj’s voice broke through the room’s thick tension. “Billy, did you know everything about me before this happened?”

Billy looked him straight in the eyes, his tone steady. “Yes. I saw the changes in Sofia long before she said anything. She was talking to someone over the phone, and I could see the smile on her face every time she finished a call. It wasn’t hard to figure out something was going on. And then one day… I saw you.”

Gugu sat up, wide-eyed. “Wait, wait—saw him saw him? You mean you saw Raj?”

Billy nodded; the memory clear in his mind. “Yeah. I saw him standing downstairs, waiting for her. I didn’t have to ask to know what was going on. I could see it in your eyes, Raj—the wait, the longing. And I could see her getting all excited, getting ready to meet you.”

Oluwale, unable to hold back, exclaimed, “And you didn’t stop her?!”

Billy sighed, his tone calm but resigned. “She was happy. Stopping her would have made her hate me even more. So, I let her go. I let her fly free and waited to see if she’d come back. You see, once love is broken, it’s broken. There’s no ‘Japanese mending theory’ that works in real life. We can’t just fix what’s shattered. Human beings are strange animals that way.”

Raj, his voice cutting through Billy’s words, asked, “How could you know I was waiting for her?”

Billy glanced at him. “One of my friends called me the day before and told me he saw Sofia walking with someone in the park. He even sent me a photo. I told him it was just a friend. But deep down, I already knew.”

Robert, still incredulous, leaned in. “I find it so strange. You knew they were getting along, but you still let her go ahead with it?”

Billy nodded slowly. “The moment you start comparing yourself to someone else, the relationship is already doomed. Comparison is a pure killer. If she was comparing me to Raj, it meant she had doubts about what we had. And once I realised she was doing that, I knew it was over. All I wanted was for her to find the right person who fit her better, so she wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.”

Robert, clearly perplexed, asked, “But why did you meet Raj and not talk to Sofia about it?”

Billy shrugged. “I tried talking to Sofia, but in her mind, I was already the villain. So I went to Raj. I told him to take his time, to understand her better before rushing into anything. But Raj…” Billy paused, glancing at Raj. “Raj wasn’t listening to anything I had to say. You know the saying—never trust a drug addict or a lover.”

Oluwale, grinning, jumped in, “Ayo, Breaking Bad, yeah?”

Gugu, looking confused, asked, “What is Breaking Bad?”

Oluwale laughed. “Man, it’s a famous series! That line is famous too—‘Never trust a drug addict.’ But Billy here added lover to it.”

Billy chuckled softly, but his tone turned serious. “That’s because emotions carry us beyond reason, just like drugs do. Lovers and addicts—they’re both driven by something that clouds their judgment. Raj wasn’t listening to a word I said. He was too deep in it, too far gone.”

Robert, piecing things together, looked around the room. “So… Billy was actually trying to save you, Raj. He was trying to warn you. Why did we kidnap him, then?”

Gugu, scratching his head, chimed in, “Yeah, man. Billy doesn’t seem like the reason for your misery.”

Raj’s face darkened, his frustration boiling over. “Yes, he is!”

Oluwale, leaning in closer, demanded, “How, bruv? Explain it.”

© Nil | 2024