It was a lazy Sunday afternoon and I was hanging out with my guy Yinka, watching the game and drinking beer, when he suddenly mentioned his friend Hafsat.

“She’s really cool,” he said. “You should meet her sometime.”

I shrugged it off, not really in the mood to think about dating. But Yinka was persistent, and a few days later, he texted me Hafsat’s number.

At first, I was hesitant to reach out. What if she wasn’t interested? What if we had nothing in common? But something about her picture intrigued me, so I took a chance and sent her a text.

To my surprise, Hafsat replied almost immediately. We started chatting, and before I knew it, hours had passed. We had a lot in common and made each other laugh. Yinka had been right – she was really cool.

After a few days of messaging each other, we progressed to phone calls. I still remember the excitement and nervousness that I felt the first time I heard her voice over the phone. We talked for hours about everything from our favourite hobbies to our future aspirations. As our conversations became more frequent and intimate, I realized that I was developing strong feelings for her and I could sense that she felt the same way too.

I still remember our first video call, I had joked the night before that I was going to wake her with a video call the next day and she said she would absolutely love that. I dialed her that morning all nervous and unsure but as soon as her face appeared on the screen, all my nervousness vanished. She literally had the most beautiful “I woke up like this” face I had ever seen. After the call ended, I felt like I had gone through a life-changing experience, and I knew for sure I would want to spend the rest of my life with her.

Our first physical date was really mind blowing. We talked for hours, and it felt like we had known each other for years. We went on more dates, exploring the city and discovering our shared interests. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to have met her.

Hafsat is now my partner in crime, my confidante, my best friend, and the love of my life. We’ve been married three years now, and I still can’t believe how we met.

Love happened to me through a friend, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the people in our lives can lead us to unexpected happiness.

So, if you’re still searching for your happily ever after, don’t be afraid to let your friends set you up. You never know when love might happen to you, with a little help from those around you.

In the meantime, enjoy the journey. Laugh, have fun, and be open to new experiences. You never know when love might happen to you, it might come through a friend’s recommendation or even a random chance encounter. Keep your heart open and be ready to embrace the possibilities that come your way. Trust that love will come into your life when the time is right.