My Boyfriend Gave Me an Ultimatum: Him or the Phone. I Chose the Phone

My phone had been in a very bad condition for almost two years. The last time I sent it to a repairer, the same repairer who had been working on it all this while, he told me, “This is the last repair you can do on this phone. You need to buy a new one.”

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I didn’t have the money. I started saving but told myself I wouldn’t use a phone if it broke down. Sammy, my boyfriend, knew about this issue since day one. I wouldn’t blame him for not getting me one. Maybe he didn’t have the money. Maybe he didn’t see it as a priority. Maybe his money doesn’t buy a phone for a girlfriend. Whatever the reason was, I didn’t mind.

An old client wanted my number and I told him I didn’t have a phone. He thought I was lying. I showed him my phone and he laughed. He said, “Don’t worry, I will buy one for you.”

I didn’t see him around again until a month or so later. When he came, he came with an iPhone. It wasn’t new. He said he was the one using it until he bought the latest one. iPhone 11 Pro Max, I later learned, because I didn’t even know the iPhone series.

I was over the moon. When I placed my SIM in the phone, my boyfriend was the first person I called; “Guess what? I have a new phone. iPhone eleveeeen!!!”

I waited for his response but it didn’t come until the smile on my face faded. He asked where I got it from and I told him. He said, in a very cold voice; “Return it if you want this relationship to survive.”

I responded, “This is a stranger who gave me a phone from the goodness of his heart. Why should I return it? For what?” He responded, “Return it. He’s not the one to buy my girlfriend a phone,” and then he hung up.

This fight continued for over one week. It got to a point where I got frustrated and decided I would return the phone. The man took my number but hadn’t called or texted. He hadn’t also come around, but I waited to give the phone back to him. While I waited, my boyfriend pulled away, saying until I return the phone he wouldn’t talk to me again.

I removed my SIM from the phone, put it back into my old phone, but my phone wouldn’t turn on no matter how I massaged it. I took it back and placed it in the iPhone and told myself, “Things die. If he wouldn’t talk to me again because of a phone, then let the relationship die.”

Weeks later, my boyfriend called. “Have you returned the phone?” I answered, “No, I’m not returning it.” He said, “I knew it. You’re sleeping with him; that’s why he could get you a phone. It’s over.” I responded, “That’s fine. I wish you well.”

“Oh, I see your true colours. I didn’t know you’re this cheap. You’re letting a two-year relationship die because of a phone? Only God knows how many men you’ve done that with and they didn’t give you a phone. It’s not even brand new. You’re so cheap he bought you with a second-hand phone.”

He said all that and hung up. I cried a little but I was fine. The man who gave me the phone called later. He asked how I was enjoying the phone. I blessed him for helping me out. He said I’d served him well in the past so I should keep up the good work and more good things would come my way. I thanked him and the conversation ended.

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One month later, my boyfriend is back. He wants the cheap thing that was bought with a second-hand phone back in his life. I could only smile. Me? Adwoa? Go back to where I’d been insulted and called names because of a sin I didn’t commit? My parents were not rich but they didn’t raise a fool.

—Brenda

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