A bad friend is someone who hates you for one reason. And who knows?

I met Brenda online. Actually, she messaged me. We were from the same department and college. I was the Course Rep at that time. I also found out that she was my best friend, Joy's classmate from secondary school. We officially met in front of the faculty, where we showed her around (we had arrived two weeks before her). During our first year, she tried showing how smart she was, would sometimes challenge lecturers and manipulate people. This made me uncomfortable and eventually, I didn't like her around me.

I told Joy about it but she didn't take heed. She was a kind person and thought nothing of it. I still didn't like Brenda but I treated her like a sister. We would read together, go places together,  invited her to our church and even shared secrets. I thought that with time, there would be changes. But I was so wrong.

During our second year in university, Brenda tried looking for an apartment because of the distance from school and had asked me for anyone looking for a roommate. Joy had moved to a new place closer to school and wanted to stay alone. When we went to Joy's house, Brenda was taking videos of the house and told Joy that I had not told her about the place. I told Joy about the videos but still nothing. Brenda moved in three weeks later. During her stay there, she managed to cause a rift between me and Joy by spewing nonsense from her mouth. And just when I thought that was as far as she could go, she goes behind our backs and spread fake news to her elder sister (why would anyone drag their family into their lies?) and everyone. That we were hookups, scammers and even lied about some of our church members and course mates. This went on and at that time, Joy and I were lucky that we had reconciled. From there, we realized the problem. We gave Brenda too much trust and freedom in our lives. The last straw was when she accused me and Joy of stealing her boyfriend. The 'boyfriend' in question didn't even know that he was dating her. To him, she was another sister. When that was revealed, it broke her heart (I laughed in different languages). She changed church after.

That was the last time we ever saw her.

To think that we brought a snake that almost ruined our friendship and reputation just because we (Mostly Joy) thought we could change her with kindness. People like her don't want kindness. They want to see you fall and fall lower. She never liked other people succeeding if it was not her. Not like she ever tried to succeed, always blaming her failure on others. In a quest to ruin other people's lives, she ruined her own. She remained alone because who would ever trust her? 

I and my best friend are in our final year. We didn't let anyone come between us. Like I said, we never saw her again. She made sure to avoid us. Hiding in the darkness, just like her black mind.

To the people who think that they can change a person's bad natural behavior with love, I advise you to notice the red flags and throw them out of your life before they ruin you.

To all the bad friends out there, change before you end up like Brenda. Alone, bitter and friendless.

Now, I don't even like the name 'Brenda'.