The Housemates – Episode 36

THE HOUSEMATES – Episode 36

A story by Kennedy C Katongo

 

PAPA THIS, PAPA THAT.

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Back in the other room, the TV room was silent with only the voices coming from the TV.

Max was sipping on coffee, while Bwalya had already made a second cup of tea and the ladies were just chilled.

“What’s the title of this movie again,” Bwalya asked.

“Tagged. you need to pay more attention you know.” Rose whispered back.

Bwalya’s mind wasn’t in one place, waiting till half of the movie to start eating felt like a punishment for him.

Max on the other end was relaxed and calm, his mouth was zipped as he focused on the movie. Maluba seemed excited about something that no one else knew about, it seemed to be the movie at first, but nope, something was going on in her beautiful mind.

For Rose, she was the keeper of remotes on this night. This meant their was nothing like checking the time, all their phones were placed on the table; this meant non of them could take a look at their Facebook or Instagram for two whole hours.

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A few days had gone by since their movie night. Like the movie they watched, the four decided to each come up with two ideas that would make their movie night more interesting. The catch was, more than half have to vote for an idea for it to be adopted.

“What are you doing?” Max asked Bwalya.

“Am tryna Google for ideas, just when I thought it would be easy – here I am all worked up.” Bwalya said, his eyes where fixed on his Infinix phone as he typed.

“Instead of all that, you can come and help me pack. After all, you the reason am moving out for a week.” Max said.

“Don’t be funny. You making a big deal out of nothing. Eunice will be here and it won’t even feel like a week till she’s gone.” He said as he faced Max, a smile in his face had been drawn.

For someone who was bothered and paranoid, Bwalya was acting really chilled this time around.

“Hope you have deleted your messages. I don’t want to come and start explaining stuff.” Max said in a low voice.

He had a fair share of drama for himself, Maluba was on every corner he made, she was determined to prove her worth as a teacher of the debate club – however, she was taking things very personal.

Bwalya was now busy going through his messages deleting all the evidence, it’s not like Eunice ever touched his phone. But like the saying goes, ‘Ubushiku usheme, nechimbala chilocha (The day that you are unlucky, even leftover Nshima can burn)’ It’s for that reason that Bwalya was deleting his messages.

“How many clothes should I carry?” Max asked as he stood with his hand balancing on his waist.

“You can take as much as you need. You never know, she might change her mind and spend two weeks.” Bwalya teased.

“I can’t just throw myself on someone’s food budget for two weeks. This is they 21st – you just don’t appear at people’s houses anymore.” Max said.

“Don’t worry, am sure you not being a bother. after all, Samuel is single as well so there won’t be anything like time out.” Bwalya said as he continued on his phone.

Just then, Max’s phone rang, it was the young pupil from his school that had gone silent on him for days.

MAX: “You have thought of me today?”

DORIS: “Its not like that, I was just busy and also I was told not to talk to you.”

MAX: “Who told you that?”

DORIS: “My Papa – sorry, my Mentor.”

MAX: “Oh! you under mentorship? that’s interesting.”

The minute Bwalya heard his friend mention the word mentorship, he stopped what he was doing and began smiling in a mischievous manner.

MAX: “So what did your papa say?”

DORIS: “He told me I can’t go out with you. That am too young and not ready to be in a relationship.”

At this stage, Max had put the speaker on loud and his friend was able to get what Doris was saying.

“Not ready? If that’s the case then she must stop writing exams she’s not ready for. mxxm.” Bwalya said in a low passive voice.

DORIS: “So that is why I haven’t been calling you lately.”

MAX: “I see, good then. I will cut my connection with you.”

DORIS: “Sir, am kindly asking for Talk Time.”

MAX: “Go and ask your Papa.”

Max’s temper had taken a sh00t to the sun. He just cut the call, blocked and deleted her number. Bwalya was busy looking at him as he did all these things.

“I told you about these school girls.” He commented.

“Don’t even go there, I don’t know what this kid takes me for, after deciding to stop talking to me because her Papa told her so – she’s now asking me for Talk Time! Why didn’t her Papa tell her not to ask for money from other men.” She said sharply.

“I told you school girls have a lot of drama going on. You thought I was against the whole thing. Besides a man of your stature dating a small girl, from your own school again… Awe (no)! that’s just not right.” Bwalya said.

He looked serious as he spoke, but Max she very well it was just a matter of time and he would be laughing about the whole thing.

“Welcome to our world, where mentors and Papa’s have taken over the element of free will in their followers. I also dated a girl who has a Papa.” Bwalya said as he out his phone aside. This was going to be a talk worth hearing.

“Which one is that? Cause I think I know all the school girls you have been kissing.” Max commented as he gave him a strong stare.

“Do you remember that Brown chubby girl, with long hair -” He said.

“Huh! that one who loved calling me Uncle Max?” He exclaimed in surprise.

“That same one, we broke up because of the same papa thing. The papa was everywhere – Facebook, her Whatsapp status. If you talking it was Papa this and Papa that.” Bwalya said excitedly as he shared his story with a cracked up Max who was dead laughing.

“Eh! You laughing now, iwe (you) it was just here and you cut her off, for me I had to fight for this kid. If you make a programme and the Papa calls her, she ditches you and goes to him.” Bwalya said as he shook his head.

“You killing me man, now what happened?” He asked as he tightly held his tummy with the thought of controlling his laughter.

“Its sounds funny now, but it’s sad. Some of these Papas have replaced parents and now want to take over Jesus’ place in peoples lives. When the Papa saw me, all he had to say was he didn’t like me. From then onwards my guy, she began acting up, talking back to me and all those stuff. Its now like us who don’t have Mentors and Papas ain’t human or qualified for the blessing of Jesus.” Bwalya said as he picked up his phone once again to continue what he had been doing.

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Except Chongolo, non of the other ladies knew that Bwalya’s girlfriend was coming home. To make matters worse, Eunice hadn’t even told him the day she would be coming, in his mind, Sunday was the day.

Unfortunately that was the case, while Max was busy packing up and laughing at Bwalya’s confession, Eunice was already on a bus heading to Kitwe. This meant in about 3 hours she would in Chililabombwe.

To make sure that she didn’t bounce on Sunday, as Bwalya was working, he gave her Chongolo’s line since she never went to her boutiques on weekends.

After a good hour, Max was done and Bwalya jumped into the car to give him a ride to Samuels house. Samuel stayed in Mine area, S-section. This meant, their room was abandoned till Bwalya could come back. His plan was to buy a sic pack of Black Label and and just enjoy himself as he waited for Eunice to land on Sunday.

It was now 15hrs when Eunice called Chongolo to ask for directions to the House.

CHONGOLO: “What do you mean you in Chiliz?”

EUNICE: “I have just arrived, right now am standing at the station, outside Budget Stores.”

CHINGOLO: “Wait, you being for real ain’t you?”

EUNICE: “Yes I am. If you still doubting I can send you pics. Please don’t tell Bwalya am already here, I want it to be a surprise.”

CHONGOLO: “Sure, I won’t tell him. Just wait for me am coming to get you.”

Chongolo immediately gave Bwalya a call but his line wasn’t going through, “Bloody Airtel lines. ” She said as he wore her slippers.

°°°°°TO BE CONTINUED°°°°°