My Ex-boyfriends Friend – Episode 20

MY EX-BOYFRIENDS FRIEND – Episode 20
A story by Kennedy C Katongo

The shock of my life, just when I thought my day was flowlessly going well bad news had to push it’s way through.
KUTEMWA: “I don’t get it, what happened?”
MIRRIAM: “Am not suppose to tell you this, but you my friend. Chanda died because he lost a lot of blood by the time the Nurses found him. The report I read stated that he began to prick the veins on his wrist.”
KUTEMWA: “Why ?? Was he hallucinating or something?”
“Am sorry Katemwa, will have to talk later.” Mirriam said as she hung up the phone.
“What’s wrong mama? Why are you crying.” Angel asked as she noticed how traumatized I looked as I sat hopelessly with tears rolling down my cheeks.
“It’s Chanda.”
“What has Chanda done this time?” She asked. The tone on Angels voice gave off how upset she was becoming as I continued to moan silently.
“Mirriam has just called that Chanda has passed away.” I said as I began to cry.
Hey may have planned bad for me, but my wish wasn’t to see him dead.
He was a designer with great influence on the Zambian Market. My tears were not just for me, but I sobbed about the future of fashion in Zambian.
“Hows that possible? He was just okay the other day, the Doctor confirmed he was doing well.” She said with shock and hurt.
“Mirriam said the report stated that he died due to hypotension. One of his wrist viens was cut and he bleed to death. I don’t get it, why would he do that? Why would he give up on life?” I moaned.
°=°==°===°====°=°
How was it like dating a white girl? That was the only question I was looking forward to be answered.
“Are you seriously going to make me wait? You can tell me about your achievements later. All I want to know write now is how you managed to date a white lady?”
“Seriously Kalaba? Mwati have you heard anything I have been saying?” He asked me, one of his eyebrows slightly raised.
“Other than your Cousin being here, I don’t think I can clearly remember everything.” I laughed.
I liked getting on Mwangozl’s nerves, it was always fun. It brought out the relationship councilor in him.
“You can’t build a Love with lust. That’s one thing you need to understand before you even get into a relationship.” He said with a wicked smile.
“I know that. But you don’t expect me to date an ugly girl in the name of love, Don’t tell me you didn’t check the white girl out before you asked her out.” I laughed.
Major looked at me and smiled, He had a valid point and mine was valid as well. Major’s mother was kind enough to drag me along as she introduced Mwango to most of the people who had attended the party.
It was more of, “This is my son, the one who was overseas” kind of thing.
“Hey Major, where is that cousin of yours?”
“She’s not coming, there was an emergency at her work place and she was really needed.” He said in the most calm manner.
“What! I really wanted to see her. How can an emergency come at a time like this?” I answered.
“Don’t worry, am sure you will meet her at my unveiling video party.” He said confidently.
From the look in his eyes he was very sure she would be attending.
“You can come with the Doctor, am sure she would find it amusing.”
“Why can I do that? No way. I wouldn’t want you to start shining and acting all charming.” I exclaimed as I shook my head to disagree with what Major had just told me.
“Learn to be open minded. You don’t impress a girl by taking her out to expensive places. That just shows how well you mismanage your finances.” He said as though he was talking to himself.
“That only applies to women in Canada. This is Zambia bro, the real Africa. Ladies don’t care about love or romance, all they want to see is how fat your pocket is. Trust me.” I said as I took a sip of my cold beer.
“That happens because you vibe a lady with such a mentality. Ladies are just looking for a man who knows what he wants in life other than sex.” He laughed.
Major always knew how to let the dog out of the cage.
°=°==°===°====°=°
THE WEEK THAT FOLLOWED.
°=°==°===°====°=°
I was anxious and nervous at the same time, I couldn’t imagine I was finally going to meet Mwango after 2years of just being Facebook friends.
He was done with his Cinematography program in Canada and was finally planning to settle. We arranged how we would meet, and he choose South Gate Mall because it’s the one place he was certain he wouldn’t get lost.
I arrived with great anticipation, I had my black and white canvas, a high west skinny that fitted perfectly and brought out my future, I didn’t want to over do it, so I just wore a jean top. Thank God I wasn’t limping any more.
It had been months since I hooked up with a guy, That’s all because of a player called Kalaba, nevertheless, that was all behind me. Mwango was a good friend, but deep down I knew that there could be more between the two of us.
MWANGO: “I’ve reached South Gate Mall, you will find me at KFC.”
KUTEMWA: “Okay, am almost there… Where will I find you?”
MWANGO: “Don’t worry, when you enter KFC… The guy who will just stand that’s me.”
KUTEMWA: “What if two guys happen to stand at the same time?”
MWANGO: “That can’t happen. But if that was to happen, just look for the handsome one then that’s me.”
With his charm I was left laughing as I hang up.
Like always Kulima Tower was busy, people walking in every direction, busses packed on every little piece of space available. I picked up my speed, I didn’t want to have a bad impression on our first day of meeting.
Finally I was at the Mall, I walked swiftly past people who stood waiting for other people, this was like the ‘Meet Up Point’ for Facebook lovers.
I stood for a second to take a breath, then slowly I walked into KFC, the lady at the counter gave me a smile as I walked my way to the tables. I hated the idea of looking lost, however, before I could even think; from the corner table stood a tall, fair in complexion guy.
This wasn’t love at first site, in my own words, it was confusion at first site.
Angel would usually ask me how I would act on the first day, she knew I fancied Mwango, and finally setting my eyes on him just got be petrified.
I watched as he gave me another wave.
I smiled and walked towards him. He pulled up a chair, after that he gave me a warm hug, it must have lasted for a minute or so.
“Kutemwa…” He exclaimed as he held my hand tightly, “You look exactly like your photos.” He added.
I gave out another smile, “Thanks, and you look like you…” I said nervously.
“Please, take a seat.” He said warmly with a smile. Before I could think, his hand was escorting my back.
‘If he places his hand on your back or somewhere near you butt, it means his claiming you.’ Those where the words Angel told a few days ago.
”What would you like to take?” He quickly asked.
It had been a while since I was showered with such attention.
“I think I will take what you will be taking.” I smiled. I knew he was going to order chips and Chicken, he told me it was his favourite once.
Afternoon went into evening as Mwango and I sat at KFC laughing and flirting with each other. The feeling was mutual and his jokes were on point.
“I forgot to say sorry, I heard about the passing on of Chanda, I had no idea he was a big deal.” Mwango said with now a bow of ice cream.
“What you mean?”
“I was watching TV and I kept seeing condolences messages and all.” He said surprisingly.
“Oh! He was a great man in the Zambian fashion business. To bad he had to take his own life.” I said.
“Yeah, but I guess everything happens for a reason at the end of the day. I personally can’t judge him. Maybe he had his own reasons.”
We spent the rest of the evening talking about business and how I had almost completely recovered from the accident that I was involved in with Chanda.
As we spoke, all I did was look for clues that Angel has laid down for me on how to know if a guy was a player.
“If his too perfect on the first date then his a player!” She said with a spoonful of peanut butter.
“What’s that? Not all guys are dumn dumns you know?” I objected.
“Am telling you the truth. A real man doesn’t aim to impress you, he may pass a few flirty words here and there just to lighten up things and also to make his intentions known. But if he doesn’t make a mistake even once, then his probably done such a lot of times.” She said.
“What have you been doing on that tablet of yours? Reading the black book?”
“Not that am boasting, I’ve read that book before. You a secretary, am sure you can tell when a guy uses a pick up line on you.” She said with a smile.
“Of course I know. I wasn’t born in the 80s you know.” I answered trying to sound sassy and bitchy at the same time.
“You see, if you think am bluffing. Just notice how he acts or talks.”
Angel was a virus that has corrupted my memory, without even realising… I was already observing Mwango and he happened to be just the opposite of what Angel had said.
In him I saw a Friend, A boyfriend and a husband. I don’t really know how and why my mind moved that fast but yes, I had already thought of how a future with him would be.
He gave a smile as he stopped laughing, “You more beautiful in person.”
“You just saying that to make me feel good.” I laughed.
“It might be true that I just want you to feel good, and it’s also true that what am saying still remains true.”
“What do you mean? Are you trying to confuse me? Because if that’s your aim Mr then you just failed.” I laughed. For some strange reason I kept laughing, the joy and kind of happiness I felt was something I hadn’t experienced in a long time.
“En I have just remembered, Am having a small party at home next week. Will watch a movie, by yours truly…me! And then just get to interact.” He said calmly. The way he said it, as though it wasn’t a big deal.
“I can’t, meeting your friends and all…” Before I could say much he cut me short.
“It’s a small gathering nothing fancy, you don’t have to worry about anything. Am going to be there for you.” He said with a wink.
“I don’t think I can be bullied.”
“Every Superwoman needs a superman, am just completing the equation.”

TO BE CONTINUED…