The Undisputed – Episode 19

The Undisputed Episode 19

© Tisa Phiri

 

An hour later, the girls had arranged the house (Belonging to Mattie’s mother) in readiness to host a funeral. The mother’s friends came in to help to doing the necessary arrangements and informing the people around about the death of Mattie’s mother.

By the time it was evening, some community members had gathered at the funeral house some men sat outside and women inside.

Mattie however did not want to prolong the moarning period. She decided her mother was to be burried the following day.

” There’s no reason to have this funeral for three whole days. Since there are no relatives here, am the only one around and honestly i can’t afford this ” she told her mother’s friends who somehow agreed with her.

Sali and Thandi stayed by her side all the time. With Thandi helping out by contributing to the money for purchasing a coffin.

Kelly who came to know of the funeral through Sali, as they met at the hospital when Sali was arriving. He rushed to her seeing her facial expression.

” please Sali i know you dont like me at all but tell me what’s going on, is Mattie ‘s mother okey?” He asked with a pleading look.

” you are right Kelly, you are not my favourite person, but i guess i have no say in your affairs. I don’t know why you are here and what you talked about with Mattie ” she shook her head.

” her mother just died” she finally told him.

” oh God, how is she doing? ” he asked concerned. Recalling how sad she was when she had left him. Kelly had not left for Lusaka for the 2 days Mattie was at the hospital. He lodged at the nearest lodge wanting to stay closer to Mattie even when she had no idea what he was doing.

Kelly wife who had been calling asking her husband’s whereabouts, only got a staright response. ” am trying to find Mattie. Listen Joy, i need to apologise for what i did to her. when i come back i will fill you in on the details” he had casually informed her not knowing how hurt Joy became. She started her plan to fight for her marriage.” Whether, i love him or not, he’s still married to me and i will make sure he stays with me happy or not” Joy had told herself.

” as expected Kelly, she’s not doing fine ” Sali answered bringing Kelly back to the moment as his thoughts had lingered away.

” what can i do to help?” He held Sali’s hand when she almost walked away.

Sali sighed stopping after looking at Joe who was waiting for her by the car. “What do you want Kelly? Have you talked to her?” She asked instead.

” yeah i have” he responded

” and?” Sali raised her eyes.

” i love her Sali, i trully do and i won’t leave until i talk to her again. Even if she wants me gone, i want her. I will stay here until i talk to her in a normal way” he shrugged seriously.

Sali was quite for a while. She had a dream a day before where she had predicted the death of Mattie’s mother. She however, never got to tell that to Mattie not wanting to hurt her.

Part of the dream was about Kelly. She had seen him carrying Mattie, she looked happy as the two played around.

Sali didn’t know how to explain her dream. She only told Joe who clearly ignored it saying it was just a dream. But Sali knew it wasn’t, she was not the type to just dream. Though her powers were gone she knew that somehow the dreams were connected to her initial powers.

She sighed rubbing off the thoughts looking at Kelly’s tired face. She felt the urge to help him.

” okey fine, hang around i will talk to her. Lets see if i can persuade her to see you again. But am not making any promises. You know how Mattie is.” She told him.

” thank you so much Sali and am sorry for what i did before. Using your tragedy to blackmail Mattie” Kelly frowned.

” yeah will see you then. We are going to the house now. ” she raised her shoulders.

” mind if i tag along?” He asked

” yeah sure, why not.” Sali looked back at him as she walked on.

Without Mattie knowing, Sali told Thandi about Kelly who was outside with the other men. Kelly offered to buy the coffin and the girls predicting Mattie’s reaction, told him she wouldn’t accept.

” well, make it like you girls are helping her. Its my way of easing up on my debt to her” he begged them.

It so happened that Mattie didn’t know the money for the coffin was provided by Kelly. Her assumption was that Thandi and Sali had put their money together to help her of which they could have done but Kelly’s offer to help prevented them.

” am so glad you girls stood by me and helped me out” she Thanked them the following day after the burial.

” it’s okey sweety, we are family, no need to thank us, besides if you knew how we acquired the money you would surely hug us more” Sali teased her with a laugh.

” what? Tell me you guys are not doing something i wouldn’t approve of” Mattie looked at Sali, then Thandi and they both smiled giving her no clue about Kelly.

” have you seen Kelly?” Sali started as the girls sat down in the house awaiting for everyone to disperse.

” no, but i saw him yersterday” she shrugged

” and?” Thandi asked

” and the jerk told me he loves me, that he’s here to help easy my pain bla bla bla!, i don’t want to see him ever. ” Mattie responded

” are you sure?, remember you ran away from his house cause you fall in love with him” Thandi reminded her.

” yeah and i was a fool, you guys were right. I should forget about him. After all his married and he hurt me so much” she shook her head.

” mmmmhm you love him still right? ” Sali burged in.

” what’s your point Sali? I don’t love him anymore” she tried to make a serious face but the friends could see her eyes giving her away.

” you love him and the only reason you shoved him away is because you can’t resist the man. You know being close to him will make you fall for him all over again” Sali pointed out.

” Guys please stop it. Lets not talk about Kelly now. He’s probably with his wife right now so what’s the point. Whether i lov him or not is not the issue here. He should just leave me alone. ”

” well, you wrong again my friend, that man has not left this place. This is his third day here and he won’t leave unless you talk to him” Sali quickly explained.

” you are joking right? ” Mattie sat up tieing the Chitenge wrapper she had around her waist.

” nope” Sali smiled .

” what the hell is he doing here i told him…..”

“I know, he told us but he’s as stubborn as you are Mattie he won’t leave this place until you talk to him.” Thandi spoke this time cuting Mattie’s sentence short.

” just see him Mattie. What will you loose anyway? Tell him what you feel and am sure he will understand.” Thandi added as Sali nodded her head in agreement.

” and you, where is your man you busy sending me to that jerk? ” Mattie chuckled looking at Sali.

” he left, he’s working today so he left early in this morning.”

” well, tell him i appreciate what he’s done for me. Staying here all night. I barely know him. Hes so kind” Mattie said honestly.

” yeah i will” Sali smiled.

” so what now, you are trying to dodge the topic here. Are you seeing Kelly or what?” Sali asked with a laugh.

” fine i will see him. Where is he?” She asked.

” at the lodge he’s been staying for days.” Sali responded.

” oh no, am not seeing him from there” Mattie giggled.

” now what?, you want him coming here and talk outside with people around? Or maybe stand in the road and talk like kids? Come on girl be realistic. Just man up and see him” Sali shook her head.

” well, he could have said some place else where, outside some eating place or something like that” Mattie defended herself.

” you are crazy. Okey say you sit outside then what?” Sali laughed slighlty.

” hey Mattie! am sorry i forced myself on you, i blackmailed you with the issue of your friend Sali killing a man!” Sali mimicked.

” in public?” She asked frowning her eyes on Mattie.

” okey i get it. You girls are crazy. I don’t understand how you are suddenly bargaining for him. Remember you two almost killed me for falling in love with him” she shrugged and the girl’s smilled at her.

” just go”Thandi pushed her shoulders slightly.

“Fine, will go after everyone has left.”

Hours later….

It was passed 7 pm when the funeral house was quiet. All the neighbours gone leaving Thandi, Sali and Mattie alone.

The girls reminded Mattie to see Kelly.

” yeah right let him come pick me. I can’t walk all the way” Mattie told Sali.

” he’s already outside ” she smiled knowing what she had done.

She had called him earlier telling him Mattie had agreed to see him and Kelly parked a few yards from the house waiting. When it got a bit dark outside he drove closer and waited.

” see you soon girl, be careful ” the girls saw Mattie to the car.

” we will be here sweety. Just call if need be” Sali added patting her back.

” she will be fine and i promise i won’t hurt her” Kelly who heard them talk responded.

” sure you won’t ” Thandi gave a warning look as Mattie sat down the front sit.

They moved in silence to Kelly’s room.

” well, am here now Kelly. You wanted to see me please get to it already. I just burried my mother and i don’t think being in a lodge with a man, married for that matter is the right thing to do” she scoffed.

” am sorry, we have to meet under such conditions Matilda. Am sorry for your loss too. ” Kelly started looking at mattie who sat on the bed as he stood his back to the wall. Taking in Mattie’s beautiful face. Even in a Chitenge he thought she looked great. The black blouse she had on fiiting her perfectly he felt proud. She was a woman now. He took time studying her features realising she had grown so much from the last time he saw her that close, she even looked more beutiful and he swallowed hard pushing down the urge to tell her the truth about how he was seeing her.

He decided he had to stick to his main business there of which he realised his mouth become dry and he had no words to tell her. How was he going to explain himself.

Initially he had thought seeing and talking to her again would give him the opportunity to express himself. But now he was tongue tied.

“What now? You have nothing to tell me after all. Well am leaving” she stood to leave.

“Wait!” Kelly stepped in front of her. “Please sit” He sighed holding her hands and leading her back to sit down.

 

To be continued

 

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