Episode 2: “Second Thoughts”
Setting: Kojo’s apartment, evening. He’s pacing while holding his phone, the text to Kwame still unsent.
—
Kojo Kasa: (reading his draft message aloud) “Kwame, I need to talk to you about something crazy that just happened…” (deletes it) No, that sounds too dramatic.
(He sits on his couch, replaying the coffee shop scene in his head)
Kojo Kasa: (to himself) Maybe I overreacted. Maybe she’s just being practical. Independent women know what they want, right?
(He opens his contacts, scrolls to Bella’s number)
Kojo Kasa: (typing) “Hey Bella, I’ve been thinking about our conversation. I understand you have standards, and I respect that. Can we talk more about this?”
(He deletes the message)
Kojo Kasa: (frustrated) What am I supposed to say? “Sorry you think I’m cheap”?
(His phone buzzes with a text from his sister)
Sister: “How did the coffee date go? 😊”
Kojo Kasa: (typing back) “Complicated. She has… high expectations.”
Sister: “What kind of expectations?”
Kojo Kasa: (hesitating, then typing) “Financial ones. She wants me to pay her bills to prove I love her.”
Sister: (calling immediately)
Kojo Kasa: (answering) “Sis, I knew you’d call.”
Sister: (voice concerned) “Kojo, what do you mean she wants you to pay her bills?”
Kojo Kasa: (sighing) “Utilities, gas cylinder, hair, nails… she said it’s my responsibility if I love her.”
Sister: (pause) “And what did you say?”
Kojo Kasa: “I was shocked. I laughed nervously. Then she got angry and left.”
Sister: (carefully) “Kojo, that doesn’t sound normal. In all my relationships, we built trust first before talking about responsibilities.”
Kojo Kasa: (defensive) “But maybe things are different now. Maybe modern women are more direct about their needs.”
Sister: (firmly) “Kojo, I am a modern woman. I’ve never asked a man to pay my bills on the first date. That’s not being direct – that’s being entitled.”
Kojo Kasa: (conflicted) “But she’s educated, successful, beautiful…”
Sister: “So? That doesn’t give her the right to treat you like a bank account. What did you like about her before this conversation?”
Kojo Kasa: (thinking) “She’s confident, well-dressed, knows what she wants…”
Sister: “And what does she know about you? Your dreams, your struggles, your personality?”
Kojo Kasa: (quietly) “We… we didn’t really talk about that.”
Sister: (gently) “Kojo, you’re a catch. Any woman would be lucky to have you. But you need to find someone who values you for who you are, not what you can provide.”
Kojo Kasa: (looking at his phone) “I keep thinking I should text her. Apologize maybe.”
Sister: “For what? For not being her personal ATM?”
Kojo Kasa: (laughing despite himself) “When you put it like that…”
Sister: “Promise me you’ll think about this carefully. Don’t let anyone make you feel inadequate for being responsible with your money.”
Kojo Kasa: “I promise. Thanks, sis.”
(After hanging up, Kojo looks at his reflection in his phone screen)
Kojo Kasa: (to himself) “But what if she’s right? What if love requires sacrifice?”
—
Cliffhanger: Kojo opens his mobile money app and stares at it for a long moment before his phone buzzes with a text from Bella: “Kojo, I hope you’re not upset about our conversation. I was just being honest about what I need. 💕”