Is this how addictive betting is?

Greetings!

I don't know know if it's only me...
There are days that I'll be left empty without even a ₦5 naira in my pocket. I'll have money in my bank account, but I'll be so hardened to go and withdraw from the account. On days like that, I pray not to be visited by any friend who would want refreshment, or worse, not to be visited by armed robbers, especially the ones that demand "your money or your life." They would just send me to heaven without hesitation.

Is it only me that this kinda of thing happens to?

I found myself explaining this to a neighbor yesterday and he found it hard to believe... This is how it happened;

Early Saturday morning, around 6:30 am, while still in bed, I saw a message pop up in my inbox. It was an SMS from my neighbor with just a bet code: 'Wagf47.' I knew what he was up to, so I immediately put my phone on airplane mode to avoid his call, as I anticipated he would call right after sending the message. My phone was on airplane mode for about 30 minutes, as I intended to leave it that way to dodge his call. However, I couldn't let him control me like that because he isn't my 'village people'.

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I turned my network back on, and immediately his call came in. It was evident he had been trying to reach me for ages as if I'm with his kidney.

"Hello, I sent you a message; please play that bet for me with 150 naira," he said quickly as I answered his call.

I took a sigh and kept silent for some seconds before thinking of how to dodge his errand again. He had been making such requests for a while, and I didn't appreciate it because I don't play bets, and besides, I have work to attend to in my workshop. Even when not doing any work, my HIVE office is always buzzing with notifications.

"Guy, I saw it, but I can't help you. I don't have a penny with me here, not even 5 naira," I replied, hoping he would change his mind and find someone else to assist him, but no, he's as adamant as second Adam.

"Haaaa! You don't have 150 naira? Okay, please find someone to collect from. The match is by 1:00 pm; please help me go play it before then," he pleaded in a somewhat authoritative manner.

'"Wait, you mean I should go and borrow money from people I haven't borrowed from, for betting? This is a joke. I've heard you, but I'm not guaranteeing you anything. I will only go and play the bet if money enters my hand before the said time." That was my reply, and I ended the call.

Although the money he was requesting was small, the fact that he insisted I should go and borrow to help him play the bet was totally off. A bet that's involving Chelsea and Manchester United, that we already know the outcome? No way!

Ever since I've known him, he hasn't won any game, yet he continues to bet with full force. Is this how addictive betting is?

As for me, I didn't go and play the bet; yes, I later had money, but I refused to go play the bet because I had seen the future already. I saw the fixtures of the week, and I laughed. All the fixtures were looking good, but as soon as I saw Manchester United vs Bournemouth, I had the feeling that Manchester United was going to lose because they've been addicted to losing lately.

Around 6:00 pm when my neighbor returned from work, the first thing he did was come to my house with his bag slung over his shoulder.

"'How far, did you play the bet?

"No ooo! I didn't have any cash until this evening, and you know I told you that I can't borrow because of betting." My reply made him hiss. I could see how disappointed he was, but I didn't care because I knew I was trying to save him.

"It's okay," he replied and sluggishly left, his face dimmed as if he wanted to cry. Eyaaaa! 'I just made him lose millions of naira.' I knew that was on his mind, and again, I didn't show concern at all. He should stop betting for good!

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He left and didn't talk to me all through the night. In fact, he went to bed around 7:00 pm, mourning his missed winning. The following day, the same thing happened; he usually comes and knocks on my door before I go to church, but he didn't today, and I wasn't concerned at all.

Just when I returned from church around 11:45 am, he approached me and started thanking me for not playing the bet because he would have lost. He said he played Manchester United to win their game against the 'small' Bournemouth, but hey, Manchester United decided to pull up a Christmas surprise to the whole world by losing by 3 goals. I wonder if they went there just to have photos on the pitch. The people I pity more are the Manchester United fans; they're just having unnecessary heartbreak every weekend.

Thanks for reading.