The Housemates – Episode 5

THE HOUSEMATES – Episode 5

A story by Kennedy C Katongo

 

I DON’T THINK AM READY!

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Bwalya got the remote and reduced the volume, without saying his name he waved her goodbye and went back to his room to continue with his sweeping. In Maluba’s mind, Max was Bwalya and the first glimpse she had of Max wasn’t all dreamy.

She watched as he made his way to the hallway and just smiled.

‘Why am I smiling?’She asked herself as she blushed.

Maluba was never moved easyly by men, despite being in a never ending long distance relationship that she never spoke about, besides she wasn’t the type to act as though she was dating. Regardless of that relationship, it never stopped her from flirting aeound with guys whom she found herself crushing on and Bwalya for some reason just happened to be the type of guy that would qualify for her wish list.

As she was in the TV room her boyfriend called her. She smiled in a mischievous way as she remembered it was a Saturday and that’s when she quickened her steps to get to her room.

Rose was still out seeing her boyfriend and Max was still in the heat of a debate about marriage and arguments. Peter wasn’t going to walk away freely, Max had been losing the small arguments that they continued to have on a weekly basis and was determined to change the odds.

Just as Maluba sat down on the messy bed that was filled with clothes and blankets that needed to be packed, Rose walked in. She had her higher mode on and was talking to herself.

“Is everything okay?” Maluba asked her. She had not even picked up her own phone call, now all her attention was stolen by her Tiny friend.

“I hate it! I hate it! Why is it that one minute you love someone so much and the next you can’t stand them anymore!” She said out loud.

“Did Mengo do something again?” Maluba asked.

“His such an… I don’t get him at times. He just makes a big deal out of everything. mxxm.” She complained sounding bitter and irritated.

“I thought you already used by now.” Maluba commented as she laughed.

“Dont try and turn this into a joke.” Rose warned her.

“Am just saying the truth. You and your dude argue almost every hour of the day. I wonder where you even get the energy.” She laughed.

Maluba wasn’t helping at all, Rose wanted someone to hear her complaints and not judge. Since she couldn’t get that, she just began packing the clothes that she left laying on the bed as she complained.

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COME AGAIN!

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“Was the Jam missing?” Bwalya asked Max as he entered the room.

“What makes you think it was missing?” Max smiled as he responded.

“Do you know that you have been gone for almost 2 hours right?” Bwalya asked.

“Oh! I got caught up in the middle of a life breaking debate about marriage with Peter.” He smiled.

“Marriage, you mean you told him about what I asked you? Come on man, that was between us. You need to learn to keep your mouth zipped.” Bwalya scolded him.

“There is a reason am a teacher and patron of the debate club Bwalya. Am good at talking and not keeping secrets like you guys.” “Okay, listen to this… Peter said marriage is about a man being financially stable and being able to provide for the lady. He further went on to say on his side, 2 years was a good period to get to know someone and asses if they had been baked with the right ingredients as wife material.” He said sharply.

“So for the whole of 2 hours that’s what he said?” Bwalya asked, he was still freaked out because his own relationship had just clocked 3 years and he still didn’t feel like getting married yet.

“Thats the summary of what we talked about. Unless you want the details. By the way, that Cute small girl who asked me for directions yesterday…” He went silent a bit to make sure he wasn’t shouting, “She’s our neighbor. I met the other one as well, she’s a dictator. Really scary. But I think you can like her. you have a thing for weird girls.” Max said as he made his way to the table to make breakfast.

“What makes you think sides a dictator? I spoke to her, she seems nice.” Bwalya said in a small voice.

“I can’t be surprised you found her interesting.” “She found your clothes scattered on the corridor and immediately she looked me and assumed I was the untidy guy who happened to throw clothes around.” Just as he was talking, Bwalya then remembered; he had totally forgotten about the clothes he had planned on Washing.

“Max I need a favor.” He said anxiously.

“Do I look like the kind of guy who does favors?” He asked.

“I will do the dishes for you, I promise.” He said immediately.

It was never like Bwalya to willingly volunteer for something, not even when it came to buying alcohol. This meant he was up to something and Max could feel it in his toes.

“What happened while I was outside?” Max teased Bwalya.

“Nothing. Just get the clothes for me. Please man.” He insisted.

“Oh! you scared to run into her while you get your clothes. Untidy man.” Max laughed as he went to get them.

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“I was talking to Linda, then from nowhere she was like, when are we getting married.” Bwalya said. “You don’t drop a bomb like that on a guy.” He complained.

“You have dated for 3 years, she has the right to even drop a tanker on you bro.” Max laughed, “I don’t blame her, girls are septical about these things. They race against age and we men just race against money.” Max added as he tried his best to put up a serious face.

“I knew you would be on her side.” Bwalya pointed out.

“Am not even taking sides, am just telling you the nature of life. People are scared of having their time wasted despite all the Big Bites and Pizzas. And for her to reach a point of asking you it means you have been avoiding talking about such stuff.” Max explained to Bwalya.

“Stop pointing fingers apa, every man has certain things he would rather not talk about.” Bwalya laughed.

Bwalya went on to explain to Max that marriage wasn’t something he was scared of, the thing was, it wasn’t just something he took time to think about.

“So why are you dating?” Max asked as he pointed at his friend with a slice of bread that was well spread with Jam.

“Stop asking me funny questions.” Bwalya responded with a laugh.

“So iwe you thought you would date till death do you apart neh? Dating is a gamble of finding the perfect wife or husband.” Max smiled as he spoke.

“Am done. Am not going to waste my time listening to thoughts of wisdom from a single guy. Will be washing plates in the kitchen if you want something.” Bwalya said as he left.

‘I just hope he doesn’t mess his relationship up just because of his fears, busy acting like marriage is the Buggy Man. No wonder I’ve distanced myself from these things, but nope, they think am gay. mammals!. If you found with girls you a player, you not found with any then you a nanikane.’ Max nagged to himself as he continued to have his breakfast.

What Max didn’t realize was that two days from then things where going to change for him. The thing he avoided the most was about to haunt him down.

“Max, That girl I told you about on Thursday wants to visit. So when she calls, I will give you the phone, tell her that am not around and I left… no! I forgot my phone.” Bwalya said. He had just returned from the kitchen with a dish of plates.

“Since when did Mr Steal-Your-Girl begin turning visitors down? Incase you didn’t know, everyone who know you understands pretty well that you can never forget your phone no matter what.” Max said.

“Am not up for one of your debates naiwe, just do that for me, please!”

“No problem. As long as you agree to clean my cup.” Max said coldly as he looked at Bwalya with a smile that just looked weird.

“You… you… you lucky I don’t have what to say.” Bwalya got the cup and matched to the kitchen in frustration.

°°°°°TO BE CONTINUED°°°°°