IS THIS LOVE Episode – 6

IS THIS LOVE – Episode 6

A story by Kennedy C Katongo 

 

I MET A GUY

I didn’t get it, Matimba had just gone offline like that. I stayed up complaining – sleeping early – the fact that she was now responding to my messages didn’t matter anymore. It’s the pattern in which she responded that became the problem.

 MATIMBA 

“Am going to bed. Somebody come turn off the TV!” Dad called out, his foot steps could be heard as he went to his room.

I threw my phone on the bed as my cousin and I rushed to the living room to watch TV. We had put movie on rent, we usually watched TV at night when dad had gone to his room.

“You wanted to tell me something before Uncle called out. What was it?” She asked me as we sat.

“Oh! I’ve had something on my mind and I need your advice.” I beamed at her.

“Ooho! Okay. Let me hear it.”

“A few weeks ago I met this man. His handsome, young and charming. Now, from that day his been on my mind. I can’t shake him off. What should I do?” I turned around to face her as I asked. My cousin was good with giving pointers about relationships. I trusted her.

“Let’s see. Did you exchange numbers?” She asked.

“Nope. But I gave him my Facebook name. Actually – I added myself from his phone and for the first time since then I responded to his messages… That was after I accepted the request.” I told her.

“It took you that long… That means you are having second thoughts about allowing him into your life. After all, he is some stranger. I would say you get to know him first.” “Ask him questions and see how he responds. Can we watch the movie now?” She asked me.

I smiled at her. What she had said made a lot of sense. From then onwards, i made up my mind that I would try to get to know Chileshe. My cousin was crazy about Black American movies, we were watching a movie titled ‘Till death do us part’ unlike me, she loved old movies which had a strong story line.

Even though both of us were tipsy, the few minutes of the movies made us ‘wow’ from time to time as we watched the husband treat the lady like a queen.

Before we knew it all the ‘wows’ dried up and my cousin was busy shouting ‘men are just the same!’

“Hey, shut up. You going to wake up dad.” I whispered.

“Nah. What kind of a man can do such to a lady? That’s just wrong.” She added in an attempt to lower her voice.

The movie was done by 22:40. I left her in the living room as I went to sleep.

THE FOLLOWING DAY

“Hey bosses!” Lister said as she walked up to me.

“You look amazing.”

“Thank you very much.” She responded as she took a bow. “You said you had something important to tell me. What’s going on? You got me worried.” Lister said as we took a walk into the book store.

“It’s nothing. I just missed you.” I smiled.

“You made me book a cab for K70 just because you missed me? You joking right?” She asked with a serious face that was followed by another look of disappointment.

“The thing is I met a guy. Well, his just a male friend. And am not sure whether I should entertain him or not.” I told her.

I went on to tell Lister the few things I knew about Chileshe. She was attentive as usual, and like my cousin, she ended up giving me the same advise. ‘Get to know him better.’

“So what does he do for a living?” She asked. We were now standing at the fiction section, she was looking at Harry Potter books.

“His in college. Doing his last year.”

“What! No. If his a student then no. Don’t even dare entertain him.

“What’s the problem? Is there anything wrong with a student?” I asked her. If only she knew I had another male friend who was making a move on me and was also a student.

“These tuma school going guys just want there pencil to be writing in every book.” Lister said.

“Come on. His not like that.” I responded while I defended Chileshe.

“You don’t even know anything about this Chileshe guy and you defending him already. Was it love at first site or you think his a wreck and you can fix him?” She asked me.

I gave Lister the killer eye. She wasn’t supposed to qoute my ex boyfriend.

“You didn’t have to go there.” I spoke up.

“Am just making sure you not repeating the same mistake. Students come with so much drama. To make matters worse when he knows what you do… If you going to take the first step, am not with you.” Lister told me. She was strongly against me dating a student. Infact, it wasn’t like I wanted to date him. I just found him likeable and wanted to know him.

“Have you been taking energy drinks?” Lister asked me.

“I’ve taken four of those Kunfu. My cousin brought whiskey, we did some shots and then watched ‘Till death do us part’ after that I went to sleep. Getting out of bed wasn’t easy, if not for the presentation meeting I had to attend I would have stayed home.” I giggled.

“I love that movie.” She said excitedly.

“What’s there to love about that movie? I felt so bad for the girl. I can’t believe guys can be so obsessive and compulsive. I don’t care of a man showers me with money. If he can’t treat me right – am leaving.” I told Lister.

“I don’t see anything wrong with the guy, he just didn’t want children. That’s all.” Lister commented. She was looking for a certain book by some Zambia author I had never heard of.

“Not wanting children boi! He went too far, even injecting himself hormones just to make sure he doesn’t impregnate his own wife sure. I can imagine the trauma she went through thinking she couldn’t have children all that time.” I explained to her.

After not finding the book, we went to the counter to ask the lady that was there.

“Hi… Am looking for a novel ati Forks and Knives.” She asked.

“Sorry, we ran out on Friday. But if you want, you can leave you contact details and I will contact you when we have it in store.” The lady told Lister.

“What’s that? A cook book?” I asked her.

Lister laughed so hard. She left her details and we left to treat ourselves to some ice cream.

“Has he texted you?” Lister asked me out of the blues.

“Who?”

“The student… Chileshe… That’s his name right?” I shook my head in agreement.

“He doesn’t have my number. We just chatting using Messenger for now. I was advised to keep it that way for the time being.” I told her.

“That sounds okay. Make sure he doesn’t have a child and wife hidden in the village somewhere. These men can be funny at times.” She said passively but yet seriously. That was how Lister always spoke to me… She was like a guru second to my cousin at home.

Once at the ice cream shop, I got my phone to check my messages. There was already two messages pending reply from him.

I wasted no time to respond.

CHILESHE: ‘Thats good. You still at work or you have gone for lunch?’

MATIMBA: ‘I’ve gone for lunch kind off. Am with my bestie… We having some ice cream. How is your day going?’

CHILESHE: ‘Its going fine. Am heading to leave right now. I have an interview at M&B’

MATIMBA: ‘Thats good. Am positive it will go well.’

CHILESHE: ‘I hope it does. Am losing my mind waiting for phone calls that don’t come through.’

MATIMBA: ‘All will work out. Chat later. My friend is back.’

CHILESHE: ‘Okay. Careful not to get a brain freeze. It’s already cold.’

I began to giggle as I read his last message. I spent the rest of the day with Lister. She shared with me about her boyfriend’s decision to finally go and meet her parents.

Lister and I always debated on who would get married first between us… She always kept insisting it would be me cause I adored marriage a lot. But as time had it, Lister was going to own that gown before me.

“Am no longer rushing for marriage, I want to take my time like the way you guys have done. I want a man I can call my friend. And these days all these guys want is hit and run.” I said thoughtfully as I played with my spoon.

 

to be continued…