Heartaches And Tears – Episode 4

HEARTACHES AND TEARS – Episode 4

A story by Kennedy C Katongo

IS THIS LOVE ?

“Sugar Daddy? Ouch! That hurts. Am way to young to be that. I don’t even have a belly to qualify for that title.” I said jokingly as a way of adding more wood to the fire.

She covered her face and then began to giggle, “I hope your friend ain’t trying to mess with my girl.” She said out of nowhere.

“Emmanuel! Nah he’s not like that. Besides Mwaka can handle herself.” I said.

“You only saying that because he’s your friend. But am serious, Mwaka isn’t like me. She easily gets attached to someone especially if she likes that person. Your friend seems just like the type of guy Mwaka can fall for.” Amanda spoke. She had this series – fierce tone as she spoke. It was nice seeing her stand up for her friend, seeing her all protected pushed me to the first day I met her.

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She was in her flat shoes, a black Jean and a colorful top as she walked to the station that was at Thornpark. I drove up to her hoping to offer her a ride, after all, it was around 18hrs and the sun had already gone down. Everyone knew this street wasn’t safe to be used around that time especially when alone.

I pulled up on her, “Excuse me. Hi.” I said joyfully. However, she didn’t respond.

“It’s not safe for you to be walking alone. Mind if I give you a ride?” I asked her. Amanda looked at me as she continued walking. I passed another comment and this time around she stood and spoke.

“What makes you sure am not the one who makes these streets unsafe?” She asked me.

“Am not sure about that. After all, I might be the one who makes these streets unsafe as well.” I responded as I laughed a bit. “So where are you going?”

“I have to meet the ladies at Northmead. I was held up with something and couldn’t travel with them.” She said, this was her way of saying she had accepted my offer for a ride.

At this moment in life, Mable and I had justed started having problems. I couldn’t tolerate her mood swings anymore. After having a heating discussion with her that ended up with both of us arguing, I left the house for a drive and that’s how I met Amanda.

Since I had no where to go, I took her to Northmead. When we arrived there, she got her small bag and took out a K20 note.

“What is that for?” I laughed.

“I want you to get it as transport money for driving me here.” She said with a serious look on her face.

“I see. Okay let’s do this. You will pay me with your number. I think that’s fair enough.” I told her.

“My number? Nah. I don’t give my line to people I don’t know. So it’s either you take the money or nothing.” She said.

“That is going to be tricky. Okay, what if I tell you that my name is Nathan. I work for a certain Law Firm.” I smiled as I told her this. My brain was confused, hitting on a lady felt exciting – it made the blood in my veins rush.

“You’re a lawyer? Interesting. I hear that you people are good liars. So why should I believe anything you telling me right now?” Amanda asked me. Instead of leaving, we sat in the car challenging each other on the thesis of me being a stranger as the reason for her to refuse giving me her line.

“Don’t you think your friends are waiting for you?” I asked her after noticing we had been taking for quite a while now.

“Nah. I didn’t even want to come. But if you busy I can leave.” She said with a wink. She could tell I didn’t have anything to do. On my end, I was really enjoying the company – being with her made me forget about the heating argument that took place between my wife and I.

“You haven’t told me your…” I noted to her. Just when I thought she would refuse, she freely told me, “I’m Amanda. I’m doing my second year, i’m an English and Arts major.” A beam of bliss was followed on her face, it was like she had declared being Zambian at an embassy in a foreign country.

“English. Nice. How’s that going for you?” I asked her.

“That sh*t is hard.” “Oops. My bad. Didn’t mean to use that word.” She giggled.

“You seem to be a smart girl.” I commented.

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“Are you listening to me!” Amanda exclaimed as she pushed me, “Am being serious here Nathan.”

“Am sorry. You’ve just reminded me of the first day we met.” I smiled.

“Like seriously…” She responded as she shook her head. I walked up to her – finally – without her moving back I hugged her. There was just something about being with her that calmed me down, she reminded me of the days when Mable and I were dating. Amanda made me feel like a man again, she understood me and always had a way of making me forget the pressures I had been facing with my wife.

@@ @@ MWAKA @@ @@

Emmanuel was being a gentleman, I loved how easy going he was, there was no dull moment between us. I didn’t want to ask him if he was dating, from how he looked, it was obvious he had someone.

“I forgot to ask you… Are you dating?” He asked me. (Dude, like seriously. I didn’t think we going there) “Dating?” My voice jumped nervously.

“No. Am single and not free to mingle.” I responded. My voice was shaky, but I gave it the old cough trick to sound confident.

“Huh! You don’t look like a single person.” He giggled. “If I was to take a guess I would say you have been dating for 3 years at most.” He said thoughtfully. (Three years huh! If only I could keep a relationship for more than 5 months. How dare he mock me!)

“3 years!” I exclaimed. “What makes you say that?” I asked him curiously, it was then that I understood what Emmanuel was doing, he was asking feeding me false thoughts to get me to tell him what was true about myself.

“I don’t know. You just happen to carry yourself in a reserved manner that’s all.” He said while passing me a glass of juice.

“I know you making that up. What about yourself, I mean, a man that looks this good definitely has a woman behind him.” I commented as I gave him a strong gaze, I wanted to make sure I noticed him flinch.

“I don’t have a woman. Am not the dating type. I don’t do well with commitments.” He said.

Emmanuel was chilled as he said that, I couldn’t believe he openly said he can’t commit. Furthermore, that he wasn’t the dating type. (This dude is gay). “Are you gay? You know Zambia is a Christian Nation right?” I asked him as I began to laugh. It had only dawned on me that my question sounded immature.

Well, he didn’t seem to be offended by it because he began to laugh as well. For some reason, I was finding him more and more interesting… His voice was like a rope that kept pulling my soul and feelings out of my innocent body. I knew this wasn’t love – I could tell what I was feeling for him was pure lust. However, I loved it. The thrill and feeling of stepping into the fire just to see if it can truly burn was mind blowing for me.

“Am not gay. I was raised right by my parents.” He said as he tried his best to stop laughing. A giggle still kept escaping his mouth from time to time.

To be continued...