The Housemates – Episode 13

THE HOUSEMATES – Episode 13

A story by Kennedy C Katongo

 

A RELATIONSHIP AWAY (MALUBA’S STORY)

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“Don’t make fun of me. Am going to be seeing more of him and we already on each other’s nerves.” Maluba sighed.

“I don’t get where the tension came from. Did you say something to him?” Rose asked as she sat on the bed.

“Its the day I was sweeping, I might have said something when I found clothes scattered on the corridor.”

“So it’s your fault after all… if that’s the case then just apologize.” Rose said to her. She knew apologizing wasn’t something that Maluba easily did.

“Am not going to apologize.” She exclaimed.

“Then you better do something. Are you going to text your man? am sure his waiting.” Rose said as she pointed at Maluba’s phone. She had just received a message from the boyfriend, Maluba smiled as she saw the phone light up.

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MALUBA’S STORY

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Maluba met Bernard when she was working for a small private school in Ndola.

Bernard worked for an Insurance company and he would always cross paths with Maluba in the morning when going for work.

This was the time when she hadn’t yet bought a car and had to walk for about 30 minutes just to get to work. Before Bernard even thought of approaching her, their was a young man at her work place who had already been advancing.

“Morning Maluba.” Mulenga said with a smile.

“Hey! How are you doing?” She smiled.

“I’ve been good just busy.” She responded warmly.

“I heard that you were out of the country… where did you go?” Maluba asked him.

“I went to Botswana. Was attending a leadership seminar.” Mulenga responded.

“I thought it was South Africa…” Maluba said sounding a bit shocked.

“South Africa? I guess when locals travel out of the country it’s usually to SA.” Mulenga laughed.

They walked together to the shop that was across the road to buy lunch.

It was just small talk from there on wards. Maluba was aware of how Mulenga felt about her because he was always texting and calling to check up on how she was doing or whether she had eaten.

For some reason, she just didn’t take him seriously… this meant living him on blue ticks for days, not responding to his calls at times. After all, she had a bunch of men lined up who were hitting on her. She could pick any of them.

Just the previous week one of the guys who was after her took her for a boat ride and then dinner at some exotic restaurant.

The other day, some white guy took her for a ride in his monster truck.

“I was wondering if you free this weekend, would like us to hang out.” Mulenga said, “Thats if you okay with it.” He added.

“Am not sure. I will let you know if I won’t be busy.” She responded as they walked into the shop.

Mulenga just gave a smile but was disappointed. He knew very well she wasn’t going to text him, the thought of why she hadn’t just opened up to tell him she wasn’t interested always kept him wondering.

If only he could pretend not to like her and then move on, but the more he thought about her the more his feelings for her grew stronger. Now Mulenga was a bunch of emotions and always felt like he was trying a lot.

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Maluba was standing at the biscuit section wondering what she was going to get when Bernard walked up and stood next to her.

“This moment never gets old.” He commented.

“Sorry! you talking to me?” She asked him. How ever he didn’t respond and went on to make another comment.

“Have you noticed how you can spend 10 minutes trying to decide which one to get and yet still end up getting the same one you always get.” He smiled as he looked at her.

He was chocolate dark – not the Shaka Zulu kind of dark. His skin was smooth, from the way he looked it was obvious he worked out. Maluba had to raise her heard a bit to look at him, ‘Damn this height!’ She exclaimed in her heart.

Bernard’s scent was intoxicating, his perfume just gave chills to Maluba.

“So what are you getting?” He asked her.

“I don’t think what am getting is any of your business… Sir.” She responded.

“Sir?” He exclaimed. He never liked being called that as it made him feel old.

“I don’t talk to strangers.” She giggled.

He smiled, his teeth sparkling white, he then moved closer to her and spoke, “Instead of calling me Sir, call me Bernard.”

Instead of commenting, she just got a pack of Bakers cookies and walked away. Bernard stood their looking at her from behind as she walked to the counter and met up with Mulenga.

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“Hey man… Do you know that lady?” Bernard asked the man who was at the counter.

“Oh her? She’s a teacher at that school.” He responded.

“What of the guy, is that the boyfriend?” Bernard asked him.

“Am not sure, but he usually escorts her here around this same time. You like her?” He asked.

“I think I do… I’ve been seeing her a lot lately when driving to work you know.” He comment.

“Try talking to her. I mean, you are you.” The man who was selling commented as he handed him his plastic.

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Mulenga had noticed how Bernard was looking at Maluba but avoided bringing the topic up.

“By the way, there is something I would like to tell you.” Mulenga told Maluba as they were about to separate.

“I don’t know about that, this is a work place and all. Is it okay if we talk about that when not at work?” She asked him.

“Sure thing.” Mulenga responded in a flash, he could feel his heart muscle crack immediately she said that. After all, he had been on her for months and never for once had they met outside work. She was always busy.

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MALUBA AND BERNARD

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“Good morning!” Bernard called out as he pulled over. He wasn’t driving a monster truck, but a BMW that looked kind of new. He got out of the car to meet her.

“Its you!” She commented immediately she saw him.

“Yes its me. Let me give you a lift.” Bernard said with his hands raised a bit.

“Like I told you, I don’t talk to strangers.” She responded.

“But I told you my name. Thought that covered the part of me being a stranger.” Bernard responded. He was determined and wasn’t going to get no for an answer.

“You said you name? I don’t recall you doing that.” Maluba responded and she began walking.

Bernard rushed to lock the car and ran after her. Just that small gesture blew Maluba’s mind away. ‘He left his car to follow me, is he crazy.’ She thought to herself.

“Excuse me… Hey… Hold up kaili.” Bernard called out.

“Have told you I can walk. I don’t see how that’s a problem Sir.” She said as she kept walking.

“Am Bernard.” He responded sounding a bit pissed this time around.

He stood and let her walk away, he took a deep breath and walked back to his car.

“So she’s playing hard to get. I will make sure I wait for her tomorrow again.” He said with a smile as he opened the door to his car.

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That day work had been going well, however, she had not received a ‘Good morning’ text from Mulenga nor a Whatsapp message from him. She went to her App and sent him a ‘Hey’. There was about 5 messages that she had read but never replied to. Just as she flipped the phone a text message came through.

MULENGA: “How are you doing?”

MALUBA: “Am okay. You.”

MULENGA: “Good thanks.”

MALUBA: “Ok.”

And that was how the conversation ended. It was always her response with short word answers and that just sent the wrong signal to Mulenga because he felt like he was forcing her to chat.

Later that day, Maluba waited for Mulenga so that he could escort her to buy a drink but he was no where to be seen. When she finally decided to go alone she then found him with some male teachers chatting outside. He just looked at her and said nothing as she walk by them greeting the rest.

“This girl!” One of the guys commented as she passed.

“What about her?” Mulenga asked.

“Girls like this one act all high and mighty because every guy is after them.” He responded.

“What makes you think like that?” Another guy asked.

“Don’t make me respond. Girls like that are into guys who have cars and can easily spend on them. They don’t care about a man with dreams and visions. As long as he has money to give her then it’s settled..” The guy responded.

“Ma Intagram girls. They want to be paid for being in a relationship.” The guy who asked the question commented and they all laughed.

Mulenga was busy listening and trying to make sense out of what the guys where saying.

°°°°°TO BE CONTINUED°°°°°