“Oh, for the love of God, what are you guys doing?? Ah! How is Brighton whipping us at Old Trafford? Howwww!”

Joojo leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair in frustration. As a Manchester United fan, he had gotten used to a certain level of frustration. This was really working his last nerve, however. With his babe around, he was looking forward to having a great Saturday afternoon, with a routine home win, followed by some lovey-dovey time with her.

Unfortunately, it was clear his dear team had failed to get the memo, and were starting the afternoon on a sour note for him with a tepid and pathetic display that was an absolute disgrace to the badge.

“This is unacceptable! We used to dominate teams like Brighton at Old Trafford. Where’s the passion? Where’s the fighting spirit?”

As he ranted angrily at the TV set, he could hear muffled giggles from the kitchen.

Rolling his eyes, he shook his head and fell back into the couch. Of course Abena could hear everything, and she was loving it. You couldn’t expect any less from an Arsenal fan.

As he shook his head at the late consolation goal his team had scored, Abena sauntered into the living room from the kitchen, a mischievous glint in her eyes. With Joojo on the couch looking forlorn, she wasn’t going to resist the opportunity to tease him, especially after how confident he had been of victory when she came in.

“Heyyy, Mr. At-Least-Two-Nil. Tough luck for your precious Manchester United, abi?” she said, her tone dripping with playful sarcasm.

Joojo grumbled, fully expecting her to rub salt into the wound. “Not now, babe. It’s been a rough day as far as football’s concerned.”

Abena moved closer towards him, unable to contain her amusement. “Awww, my Joojo is a mess. Sorry, my booboo. Your team is a serious shadow of its former self, though. What happened to the glory days?”

He rolled his eyes, knowing that she was enjoying every moment of his misery. “I wish I knew. It’s like we’ve lost our identity since Sir Alex retired. We were unstoppable under the man. The team had character, determination, fighters! Fighters like Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney. All these guys, no nonsense winners. Warriors who will give their all on the field. Now you’ve got softies like Jadon Sancho who can’t even take a blasting on the chin and work harder.”

“But you have fighters in this squad! Anaa mebodam? Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire all dey there. Or?”

Joojo eyed his girlfriend evilly. “Babe, I know you’re enjoying this trolling session, but please and please again, you’re overdoing it now. Who and who are fighters? Bruno? This aloo captain that’s always whining and complaining on the field? Apuutor!”

Abena laughed out loud, then leaned forward, her smile widening. “Well, at least I’m here to cheer you up, my love. Bring you some positive vibes.”

Joojo smirked as he quickly sized her up and down. She wasn’t wrong about that. Dressed in a floral blouse and jeans, she was looking as good as always. Those curves of hers in particular were looking pretty fabulous in those jeans. She sure knows how to make a pair of jeans look good!

“Well, you’re right, I guess. With you around, at least I have something nice to cheer my eyes up.”

Abena raised an eyebrow. “Oh, saa? So now I’m just eye candy to you, eh?”

Joojo chuckled, attempting to redeem himself. “No, no, please, I meant your positive energy and your charming company, wai. That’s what I need. Although those curves make my eyes pretty happy too.”

He snickered even more as she narrowed her eyes at him, then shook her head. “Hm! You’re a very bad boy,” she scolded as she joined him on the couch.

“Please, it’s not my fault your booty looks so freaking good in those jeans.”

A few more seconds of snickering and her shaking her head in disapproval, and he let out another one about her looks.

Slightly more heartfelt, though.

“I can’t lie, though, I can’t wait to have all of that to myself once we get married.”

She turned to him, smiled and kissed him. “Of course, honey. You know I want nothing more than for you to have all of me once I’m your wife. The feeling is very much mutual.”

Such comforting words to hear, considering how relentless and fierce that insecurity onslaught had been all week, with his heart heavy with the fear that he might lose the love he cherished. As she snuggled next to him, he internally forced those voices to imbibe her words and accept that they were wrong.

The unwelcome intruders, however, were not ready to get evicted.

***

As the two young lovers lounged on the couch, Abena eagerly showed Joojo some of the silliest attempts at arguments she had encountered in the comment section of her recent YouTube video.

“This guy tried to argue that I should have reviewed Karishika instead of Diabolo because it’s a scarier movie,” Abena said, shaking her head in disbelief. “I just looked at it and I’m like, does this guy know this channel is for Ghanaian oldies only? And that aside, even if it is a GH movie, is that a sensible reason to say I shouldn’t have done Diabolo?”

Joojo chuckled. “People will argue about anything on the internet. It’s just ridiculous. You can’t understand some of them.”

“Seriously. I didn’t even want to bother. See how other people are chewing him on my behalf.”

As he continued scrolling through the comments, he snickered. Other commenters were taking this guy to task, and rightly so. As for people on the internet, plenty no get sense, he mused to himself.

He then went back to the other comments, and suddenly, his mood shifted.

He noticed many more heart-struck comments praising Abena’s beauty. The flicker of insecurity resurfaced, and he couldn’t help but comment on what he saw.

“Wow, babe, your fans really seem to love you.”

Abena, glancing over, nodded. “Yeah, they really enjoyed those memories, didn’t they?”

Joojo shook his head. “No, I mean, they seem to like you. As in, all the comments about your beauty and all.”

“Oh yeahhh. Chale, it’s just part of the hustle, Joojo. Comments like these help engagement and visibility. Nothing to worry about.”

He couldn’t shake off the feeling of concern, however. He hesitated for a moment, before opening his mouth again. “Ummm… Y-y-you’re sure there’s nothing to worry about? I mean, with all these guys openly drooling over you…”

Abena turned to him and raised an eyebrow. “Umm, what do you mean by that?”

The change in tone was a bit unsettling. It was instantly clear to Joojo that she not only found the question strange, but mildly offensive. “Ummm… it’s… I’m sorry, I-“

“Are you suggesting that you think I’ll be swayed by one of these commenters and dump you in the future?”

Hearing it out of her mouth, the idea sounded so ludicrous. Stuttering, he shook his head. “I… I didn’t mean it that way, I…”

“Ah, but… but why would you even think that? Huh?” Abena demanded, sitting up, a look of displeasure on her face. “Why would you let such an insulting idea like that come into your head? Joojo, do I look like one of them girls that are easily swayed or something? You know me better than that! You know I’m not easily moved by such things. As far as this is concerned, it’s just the nature of YouTube. You’ll get all sorts of comments. You just deal with it. I appreciate that they find me beautiful and all, but these… these little comments won’t turn my head anywhere. I love you alone, and you know that.”

Joojo, blown away by her irritation, raised his hands in surrender. A ticked-off Abena was a pretty moody one, and he did not want that. “I’m sorry, babe. That was really stupid of me, and I’m really sorry. I trust you, really. With all my heart. I didn’t mean to suggest otherwise.”

She muttered under her breath, still irritated. “You better be. How can you suggest something like that? Me, Abena Foriwaa Frimpong, fall for some silly commenter because he thinks I’m beautiful? I’m not that stupid…”

Yep, he had set her off, hitting a raw nerve. There was one way to calm her down and put her heart back at ease.

He leaned in and placed a finger on her lips. “It’s okay, baby. I’m sorry.”

He then kissed her for about half a minute.

The soft touch of his lips on hers worked like a charm, and once they separated, the previously irritated Abena couldn’t help but let out a giddy smile. “Don’t say that again, baby,” she warned, lightly punching him on the arm. “You see what those kisses of yours do to me? See the effect you’ve got on me? Why would I trade that for anyone else?”

Joojo grinned and raised his hands again. “I promise, I’ll never do that again. I trust you completely. I know how much you love me. And I know you want me more than I want you.”

With a playful eye roll, Abena returned to her bubbly self. “Good. Now let’s enjoy the rest of the afternoon without any unnecessary drama.”

As they returned to their chatter, Joojo’s soul felt conflicted. As a part of him fully expected, Abena was not looking to go anywhere. He wished to an extent that that question hadn’t slipped out of his mouth, but as it had, she had confirmed that she was in love with him and wouldn’t be looking anywhere else. That was a confirmation he needed to hear.

Yet, those insidious voices of insecurity wouldn’t let up. Of course that’s what she’ll say now. It’s to be expected. But do you think she’ll still be saying that when her channel really blows up and she’s meeting the crème de la crème of this country? Do you think when she meets guys with power in the upper echelons of society, she’ll keep on with you? Be serious, Joojo, be serious! You’re just a passing phase for her. Nothing more…

As they continued to chat and laugh, Joojo internally railed against those voices, still doing all he could to resist their negative lure.

It’s a lie! It’s all a lie! My baby loves me and me alone, and it’s going to stay that way for the rest of our lives…

But… but what if it doesn’t? What if…

Joojo needs to watch it. He’s putting his relationship with Abena at risk if he doesn’t master these voices…