IS THIS LOVE Episode – 7

IS THIS LOVE – Episode 7

A story by Kennedy C Katongo 

 

EXPECTATIONS

“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.

Lister laughed, it was more of a giggle though. “You can have anything you want in a relationship as long as you willing to sacrifice one thing to attain another. I mean, people look at me and my man wishing to have a relationship like ours – but if i told people what have through with that man, how many times I told him we done. Or the times I found messages from different girls in his phone… I tell you everything would abort. But through all that I fought for what I believed was mine.” She said in a calm manner. She had a glow on her face that showed how bold and confident she was in her man.

“It’s easy said than done though…” I commented.

“That’s true Matimba. On the other hand it’s more dangerous to be with a man who is already doing well and you just jump into his life.” Lister pointed out. I had never been in a relationship were a man did better than me – in most cases, I was the one providing.

“I don’t see anything wrong with hitting the jackpot. After all, it’s every girls dream to date a man who’s stable in life.” I added my thought to her statement which I didn’t understand fully.

“Let me say this. No matter how men try to dispute this fact ‘Behind every successful man, there is a woman who endured’ and as long as that woman keeps complaining the man never finds peace.” Lister smiled. The cool breeze blew through as the scent of rain rose and kissed our nose.

Lister was always good at observing things. Even though I hadn’t told her I was planning on going ahead with knowing Chileshe. From ice cream we had some Italian food, which happened to be my friends favourite meal. I hated it – but she was paying; so I ate up.

I had to return to the office, Listers boyfriend had come to check on her and I saw it as an opportunity to snick out.

Once at the office, I did a bit of work, walked around the office… Took off my heels and yet none of that calmed me down. The pulse of blood that flowed through my veins was driving me crazy… At last I got my phone and went to check my Messenger application.

There was no message from Chileshe. Another thing – he was online. In that moment of personal conflict on whether to inbox him or wait for him to do it first… A notification came through.

CHILESHE: ‘She’s back online. How was lunch?’

MATIMBA: ‘It was good I guess. Though I didn’t like the food.’

CHILESHE: ‘You didn’t like the food? Was it nshima with Lumanda lol’

MATIMBA: ‘Of all things you just had to name those kikiki. Well – for the record, I love Lumanda. It’s bitterly-nice.’

CHILESHE: ‘Then what did you eat that was bad?’

MATIMBA: ‘Italian food. My friend took me to an Italian restaurant. Lol. It’s not my thing.’

CHILESHE: ‘That sounds interesting. So… Tell me about yourself’

MATIMBA: ‘What would you like to know?’

CHILESHE: ‘Anything that can make me know you better. Like what’s your favourite food? What do you do when you ain’t working? That kind of stuff.’

MATIMBA: ‘I think that’s too much information to give a stranger.’

CHILESHE: ‘Well. Didn’t this so called stranger save you and your hair from going bad on that rain-full day?’

MATIMBA: ‘OK. Ask questions and I will be answering… If I don’t feel like answering I will pass.’

@@ @@ CHILESHE @@ @@

I had just returned from M&B and I was asked to start after a week. The terms of the job, I was to present my class time table to the manager for weekly checks so that I would be put on shifts that weren’t putting much stress on me.

I never got to meet him personally but his assistant couldn’t stop talking about what a great man he was.

Now I was at the room cooking rice while I responded to messages from Matimba. Unlike the times when she randomly cut me from a chat… She really seemed to be in the mood for a conversation.

CHILESHE: ‘I already know Lumanda is one of your favourite foods… What else do you like?’

MATIMBA: ‘I didn’t see that one coming. Let’s see. I love pizza, Sharwama, Chinese food is awesome.’

CHILESHE: ‘Keep it coming. What else.’

MATIMBA: ‘You are strange. Most people ask me what I do for a living and here you are asking me about food.’ ‘En you – what foods don’t you like?’

CHILESHE: ‘I don’t eat Kapenta.’

MATIMBA: ‘In every family… There is always that one person in a family that says they don’t eat Kapenta lol.’

CHILESHE: ‘I remember that meme. I was guilty when I read it. For the foods I like, anything to do with chicken I eat. I love pork. Yeah.’

MATIMBA: ‘For some reason I thought you are SDA. You look like one.’

CHILESHE: ‘That’s interesting lol. I don’t do churches at the moment. I believe in God and what Jesus came to do for us. However, I don’t do church.’

MATIMBA: ‘Oooh, you not a satanist right? Lol just joking.’

My rice was ready, I got four eggs from the try and boild them up. Matimba and I continued texting, but they want it – our chat was now centered on why I didn’t have a chance I belonged to as she found the whole thing weird and uncalled for.

Mwenda hadn’t shown up the whole afternoon, it was hard to know what he was up too… But mostly, he was around campus somewhere with his girlfriend. The two were inseparable. After the eggs were ready, I cut them up and made soup… Mixing them up and poured it into the pot of rice for a mix. It wasn’t Italian food, but it was just what I needed to stay alive.

MATIMBA: ‘You still cooking?’

CHILESHE: ‘Am almost done. Just making some juice now. You welcome to join me if you don’t mind.’

MATIMBA: ‘Thanks for the invite. Maybe next time. Am full right now.

Even as I ate, my phone was in my hand. I didn’t want our chat to end. For that reason I kept asking her anything that came into my mind.

@@ @@ MATIMBA @@ @@

I sat on the chair rocking back and fourth as I waited for dad to give me a lift home. Meanwhile, I was glued to my phone and kept blushing as I read the questions that Chileshe asked me. Even though his hate for religious gatherings bothered me a bit, I respected his pick and didn’t want to sound judgemental about it.

He later on told me that he had gotten the job offer to work as a waiter at M&B. I felt happy for him , he really seemed like he needed the job. Lister had promised to drop me a text of which she hadn’t done yet.

MATIMBA: ‘Are you going to manage school and work?’

CHILESHE: ‘I don’t know. But for the sake of my final exams I really need this job. So I will just have to do my best ‘

MATIMBA: Am impressed. Few people can do that. Most of us want to wait for someone to give us money.

CHILESHE: ‘En you haven’t told me what you do for a living yet…’

MATIMBA: ‘Am an accounting officer.’

CHILESHE: ‘So you work for a bank?’

I didn’t want to lie to Chileshe, knowing that one lie today might breed more. However, remembering what Lister had told me about what happened to all my previous relationships once they got to know what I really did. So instead of lying, I told him part of the truth. I mean, when part of the truth still counts as the truth.

Chileshe rarely said anything about himself without me asking him, what bothered be was how relaxed he was – it was as though this wasn’t his first time doing such a thing. He was good.

 

To be continued…