Heartaches and Tears – Episode 11

HEARTACHES AND TEARS – Episode 11

A story by Kennedy C Katongo

AFFIXED – P-1

I couldn’t wait to go. I wanted to meet Amanda and tell her how my day had turned out, after all, she was the one that forced me to check out Link Pharmacy as I had no intentions of dropping my application there.

However, Nathan insisted that I hang out just a bit as he wanted to ask for a favor.

“You two can go and get some drinks.” Nathan told the kids as they began walking around excitedly. “They are lucky I have a job.” He shook his head as he watched them walk away. I couldn’t help it but giggle. The thought of why a successful man would imagine how life would have been for his kids if at all he was broke was just weird. I mean, who imagines anything less of themselves.

“I want you to talk to Amanda for me. I’ve been trying to get in touch but I couldn’t. She has totally cut me off.” He said as we began walking around the shop. He had a piece of paper which had a list of things he was supposed to buy. From the handwriting on the paper, it was obvious that the wife wrote it.

“I think this gap between you is a good thing. You seem to be doing well without her.” I told him. I knew it was harsh (the truth pains after all) but I just had to be honest with him.

“What do you mean?”

“Am sure there is no way Amanda will be more than a special friend to you. But the rules you gave her while you have someone already, that just ain’t fair.” I explained to him. He had this look on his face, he couldn’t believe such was coming from me – I knew Amanda loved this man and someone had to state the facts and that someone happened to be me.

“Are you saying am using her?” He questioned me with a strong roar in his voice.

“That’s not what am saying. Look at you Nathan, you a great guy, I can vouch on that. But Amanda is my friend, she’s my ride or die and I don’t want to see her get hurt. All am saying is, don’t lead her on anymore.” I sighed. I didn’t know how to get through to him. Even I couldn’t understand myself as I spoke to him.

“I can never hurt her.” He muttered.

For some reason I believed him, I couldn’t manage to conceive a thought that would make me think otherwise of Mr Saturday. Maybe he wasn’t the bad guy that night he met us with Emmanuel.

But again, him being a bunny wasn’t enough to justify his role in Amanda’s life.

“I can see it in your eyes.” He said out of the blues. We were now looking for a certain type of peanut butter.

“What’s there to see.” I asked him with a smile.

“You afraid that your friend is wasting her time being with me. Because am not going to marry her – further more, am already married and I gat kids.” He spoke with such thoughtfulness, the way he delivered his words was charming and mesmerising. No wonder Amanda fail for him.

“Exactly!” I exclaimed.

“Us dating wasn’t part of the plan. It was strictly friendship. But that wasn’t the case on a certain day. I had argued with Mable, I was so much pissed. On that day, I almost hit her for the first time. To avoid that, I called your friend and asked if we could link up – after all, she already knew what I was going through in my marriage.” He said. (Wait, his really telling me how things took a turn in their friendship).

“She found I had already started drinking when she arrived at the bar. She got the bottle and poured it’s contents on the floor, ‘that bottle cost me K120 and she just poured it like it was nothing’ from there we began talking and I don’t know – I just kissed her.” He said as we stood in the middle of nowhere, “Is there anything you would like?” He asked me.

He was this person who thought about a lot of things at once. There was a lot of things we needed back home, life hadn’t been friendly since we left his good graces.

“It’s okay. You can get what you need. I will pay.” He smiled.

“Nah. It’s okay.” I responded as I turned down his offer. We already owed him more than much, I didn’t want to be the one to add to the bunch.

“It’s not okay. Just get what you need for the house. You guys ain’t working, am sure you have run low on supplies.” He blushed.

Just as I was about to turn his offer down for the second time, the Kenny and Jay popped up out of nowhere.

“Boys, can you please escort aunty here for her shopping.” He asked them happily.

He knew very well I was trapped once they agreed. Besides that, it wasn’t like they would even refuse.

@@ @@ MABLE @@ @@

“finally! I thought you wouldn’t make it. Come in…” I said excitedly as I let Candle in.

“Am so sorry baby. I couldn’t leave him alone. You know how paranoid he gets when he sees me going our.” She said. “Where is my food?” I had promised Candle food just to convince her to come over. Candle was betrothed, it had been 5 months now since she got the shiny stone on her finger. Her man, Mwape worked from Livingstone. Every after two weeks he would come through to see her. And this happened to be one of those.

“Where is your husband?” she asked as she looked around.

“He’s not around. The boys have been coughing. He’s taken them to his Indian friend in town.” I said quickly. I couldn’t wait to tell her what I had in store.

I rushed to the kitchen so that I could finish up on my cooking. My weird friend wanted nshima of all things, “Can I come and help you!” She called out from the living room.

“You didn’t even have to ask. Just come help.” I laughed.

“Who makes a visitor serve for herself. You’re such a pain Mabel. You look fired up, what’s going on…?” she asked me as she giggled in a devilish manner.

“I hate to admit it, but you were right. I thought about what you told me… That thing, with Nathan, I tried it and I don’t know… I just seem positive about our marriage again. I haven’t felt like this in a while.” I told her as my cheeks turned pink.

“Wow! Tell me more… What has been his reaction?” she jumped around in excitement.

“He was shocked that’s for sure.” “I sensed a bit of resistance though, come to think of it… He’s never been the type to turn down a good meal – you know what I mean.” I laughed as I spoke.

“How long was it, a month, 3 weeks? The man can lose interest.” Candle commented.

“He is my husband, he’s not supposed to lose interest aah! Do you think… Maybe… You know.” I didn’t know how to lay it down, the thought of him being with another woman just wrecked me. After all, I always convinced myself Nathan wasn’t the type to hit on another woman.

“You think he’s cheating…” She asked as she rolled her eye’s.

“I don’t know. Something just seemed off. Maybe am over thinking.” I gave a fake smile.

“Cheer up, such things can happen especially when you haven’t been paying much attention to someone.” She rubbed my shoulder to make me feel at ease. Candle was always positive, she wasn’t the type of lady you would find beaten down by circumstances of life. That was something I always admired about her because I was the exact opposite of who she was.

To be continued...