What should I do?

Dear Yemisi,

I am 16 years old. I do have a crush, he is also 16. Though at first, I never really liked him, but I started liking him the day he spoke to me. I tried hiding my feelings, but I could not hold myself back so I told him I liked him. He told me he already has a girlfriend, asking me to be his friend and I agreed.

I am really hurt and I don’t think I can cope being a friend with someone I like. I don’t know what to do.

Please, help me. More so, I am the shy type and I don’t know how to be friendly. I really don’t know what to do.

Anonymous, 0*0*****5*6.

Dear Anonymous,

Wake up and smell the coffee. I believe at your age, raging hormones are normal, but you have to be realistic. I believe that having a relationship now is not the best for you as you are bound to be heartbroken, one way or another.

What you are experiencing is normal, but caution is the watchword at this stage of life. You should appreciate the fact that the guy told the truth that he already has a girlfriend, what if he had given in to your advances only for you to discover that he has a girlfriend? How would you have felt?

The two of you are minors who should learn to manage your emotions by directing your energies to more meaningful activities. Even if you must express your feelings, you must focus on another guy and not on someone who has told you point blank that he has no place for you in his heart. I doubt if you have what it takes to handle falling in and out of love.

My dear, let him go and focus on yourself.

Get an enviable degree and grow to become the woman that everyone desires and not the other way round.