The Housemates – Episode 21

THE HOUSEMATES – Episode 21

A story by Kennedy C Katongo

 

MAX’S TALE

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“Peter sends his apologizes for not making it.” Chongolo said to her friend who was overwhelmed and kept laughing at a joke that was made.

“Tell him to send his apologies with a pizza on top.” Nyambe responded.

“You need to stop bullying my husband.” Chongolo giggled.

“If it wasn’t for me, you two wouldn’t even be married by now. Remember – Remember!” Nyambe said sharply.

“We are not talking about that.” Chongolo laughed.

“I think you should tell him, he would really be happy to know that his going to be a father.” Nyambe commented.

“Happy! The dude will become a bodyguard. You know how Peter can be at times.” Chongolo laughed.

That day time moved fast, The ladies seemed to be having fun and the guys were still trying to adjust to the new neighbors, Mostly Bwalya who loved throwing clothes in the corridor for the maid to come and wash.

Even though there careers were doing well, their relationships were in the deep mud. It was just like a season for for relationships drama.

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“I still don’t get it.”Samuel said in a whisper as they sat outside.

“What don’t you get?” Max smiled.

“Wipe that smile off your face or I will have to slap it off.” Samuel exclaimed. “Look at you, you handsome, good job, well known and responsible. You the definition of a ladies man…” Samuel went on talking.

“What are you getting at?” Max asked him.

“My question is this, among all the Ladies in Chililabombwe, we have young ladies who are working, doing their thing. Yet, you just had to fall for a school girl. I don’t get it!” Samuel said.

“Love is a confusing thing. No one gets it.” Max responded.

“Don’t try and pull up guns here, this is a knife fight brother. You can have any girl you want.” Samuel said sounding a bit disappointed.

Samuel wasn’t the only one, Bwalya was also astonished when he heard Max talk about Doris more than normal.

“This is the worst come back, after being single for 2 years and then you just go for government property. Are you scared of rejection?” Samuel asked him.

“Everyone is scared of rejection man, that stuff is scary. To make matters worse if you took the girl to expensive places while you were trying to impress her.” Max said calmly. He had now refrained from smiling as it got Samuel worked up; make him think he wasn’t taking the whole topic seriously.

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Max never spoke about his last attempt of a relationship, but he thought it would be best if he shared it with Samuel. Maybe, Just maybe he would stop making it a big deal that he was developing feelings for a grade 12.

“Hi!” Max exclaimed sharply as he saw Lydia.

“Hey, Ma-x right?” She said with a smile. He immediately smiled back.

“Its been bells. Where have you been?” He asked her.

“I’ve been in Kitwe, Copperstone University.” “You going in…?” She asked him as she wanted to continue on her way.

He shook his head, he was just from Choppies and had no business there anymore.

‘Damn, why didn’t I as for her number.’ He nagged to himself as he walked down the stairs heading to the Taxi rank.

‘If I go, I might not see her again. But again if i ask for her number… mmh… won’t that be too early?’ He asked himself as he debated.

That’s when he had a ridiculously genius idea of going back to buy a toothbrush.

“I thought you went?” Lydia said as she bumped into Max.

“I just remembered I don’t have a toothbrush.” He laughed mischievously.

“Oh, okay. Almost thought you following me.” Lydia commented as they walked.

“So when you going back? – Kitwe.” He asked nervously.

“Am still around. I have like two weeks here. Why you ask?” She asked shyly.

“Well, I…” “I can’t remember your number, was thinking you can help me with it.” Max said.

“You can’t remember? Dude be real, you’ve never had my number.” Lydia responded with a big of attitude this time around.

“I think I had your number in another life time. Just to make sure I press the right number, Am kindly asking if I can have it in this life time as well.” Max said calmly with a weak smile.

The lady that stood next to them as the bakery counter heard what he had said, she smiled as she winked at him.

“Where did you steal that line?” Lydia asked as she blushed.

“What makes you think I stole it? Its an original line.” Max commented.

“Okay. Let me have your phone…” She said whilst she was still blushing. Max’s pickup line was on fire, it had swept her off.

Lydia got his phone and saved her line. That same day in the evening the two began chatting, not knowing anything… Max asked her the basic questions except the most vital one, ‘Are you dating.’

After all, she was beautiful in every sense of the word. Bring single was one to a thousand. He knew very well asking her would only lower his chances. So he stack to the primary questions that discharge someone from being a stranger.

LYDIA: “I thought you married the time you moved pa 25.”

MAX: “What would make you think that?”

LYDIA: “The way you behaved, besides all my friends where talking about you and how you totally ignored them. Only married men do that.”

MAX: “Am just not the type to talk to every lady around. It kind of messes up the picture of a man.”

LYDIA: “What do you mean?”

MAX: “No lady wants to associate herself with a man whose open to every single girl.”

LYDIA: “What did you say you teach again?”

MAX: “I don’t think I told you that, but for the sake of this chat, History.”

LYDIA: “That makes sense why you have weird facts.”

Max and Lydia were like snails, After all, Max was the type that believed in knowing a lady before finally letting his intentions known.

Little did he know that all the nights he would be keeping her company with calls and texts, he wasn’t the only man doing that.

“Excuse me!” A young man called out to Max. Max had taken one of his routine walks to the Mine Club to just have a hot pie, after all, the place was known for its legendary hot pies.

He stood as he waited for the guy to catch up with him.

“Hi, am sorry to bother you.” He said before Max could ask who he was.

“Don’t worry. How can I be of help?” Max asked.

“I was thinking I can be of help to you… Mwandi am joking.” He said as he got Max in a state of shock.

“I usually see you around this area. I thought I just say hi… Am Matthew.” He said warmly.

“Oh, in that case… Am Max.” He said confusingly. Such a thing had never happened to him. One thing was certain though, Max really needed a friend. At this time, Bwalya wasn’t in the picture.

From that day, the two would meet at the Sports Club to watch football and just catch up with life. At this stage, Neither one of them knew that they were both connected to Lydia. And not even once did they run into each other until one day in town.

“Max!” Lydia called out with a smile as she hugged him.

“Hey… how are you.” Max responded with a bright smile. After all, he knew just how well he had been handling their relationship, it was jus a matter of time and he was going to ma his intentions known to her.

“What are you doing here?” Mac asked her.

“Nothing really, I’ve come to meet someone.” Lydia responded.

“Oh, that’s good. Let me be on my way then.” Just as he finished saying that Matthew walked out of PEP store.

“Hey!” Matthew exclaimed as he saw Max.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at work?” He asked him.

“Nah, came back early was judging at one of the debates at Muleya Secondary.” Max responded.

Then Mattew saw Lydia and walked up to hug her without a word.

“You… You two know each other?” Max said surprisingly.

“Huh! You know her?” Matthew exclaimed.

“Yes I do.” Max responded. It was then that the pieces added up, both of them were talking about the same girl when they spoke of a girl.

“I didn’t know that you two know each other.” Lydia said. It wasn’t a big deal as she wasn’t dating any of them at the moment.

“We just because friends like a money ago.” Matthew responded.

“I need to be on my way…” Max jumped to break the awkwardness.

“Where are you going?” Matthew asked.

“Am going at Kamenza, am coaching a debate group.” He responded.

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°°°°°TO BE CONTINUED°°°°°