IS THIS LOVE Episode – 12

IS THIS LOVE – Episode 12

A story by Kennedy C Katongo 

 

WHEN IN LOVE

That moment was where she needed to ask me if I drunk alcohol or not but nope! She didn’t. I got dressed up, had a piece of sausage from the pot and was off to class. It seemed like the big mans advise had worked after all.

What was going to come was something I didn’t know, but I was ready to see how things would unfold.

@@ @@ MATIMBA @@ @@

I had just finished texting Chileshe. Even though though I knew it was a long shot, I still went on and invited him for the small outing that Lister and her man and put up. It wasn’t going to be anything big, just friends catching up, a braii and some beer on the side to soothe the mood.

“I have the perfect guy for you. His tall, handsome and single.” Lister said as she walked into my office all smiley.

“Pardon me!”

“You’ve heard me. Hubby’s friend is in town and he will be going us at the pub.” She added with a smile.

“Oh! I see. You trying to set me? Nope. Don’t even think about it, I told you I can’t date any of your man’s friends.” I stood up and walked towards her for a huge hug.

“I missed you…” Lister said.

“But we were on phone the whole morning…” I objected.

“Don’t suck the joy out of my mood. Today am positive. Enough of me… If you don’t want to chill with hubby’s friend then who are you going to be with?” She asked as we both sat down.

I didn’t know how to break the news to her. After all, I did invite someone without even asking for her permission.

“I invited Chileshe over.” I covered my mouth after I spoke.

“You invited who?” She asked me again.

“Chileshe. You know – the guy I met at Hungry Lion a month ago.”

“Wait… You telling me you still talk with that College guy? I thought you moved on?” Lister asked, her face was fixed and an expression of astonishment could be seen on her face.

“I thought I moved on also. Just found myself responding to his messages today.” I giggled.

“Stop laughing… This is serious Matimba. Don’t waste your time on some guy you know nothing about. ” Lister commented. She was very protective and had no zipper on her mouth. Anything she thought of, she spoke.

The evening went by slowly, Lister had already spoken to her man and made him aware that I would be with a friend. That way, his friend would have to look for someone to escort him.

My dad came through, the minute he saw Lister they wasted no time into diving into one of their cooperate talks about how the economy of the country was going. The two of them would talk you to death.

I switched on my data so that I could check on Chileshe, it was almost passed the time he told me he would be out of his last lecture.

MATIMBA: ‘Hey you out?’

CHILESHE: ‘Almost. I think this man is about to give us a Pop-test.’

MATIMBA: ‘Hope you were paying attention when he was teaching. lol.’

CHILESHE: ‘I wasn’t. I’ve been nervous since you invited me to your friends party.’

MATIMBA: ‘That’s not a good sign. I wish I could take back my words in order to make you concentrate but I can’t. You will just have to do your best.’

CHILESHE: ‘I hope so. But I think his just threatening us about the Pop-test. Have you already gone?’

MATIMBA: ‘Not yet. Lister and I are waiting for some food stuffs and then we head out. I hope you make it.’

CHILESHE: ‘Don’t worry I will be there. I just hope I don’t freak out. I mean, it’s been long since we first met and we haven’t texted much… So am not pretty sure how everything will turn out to be.’

MATIMBA: ‘It will be okay. Don’t think much about it.’

I thought I was the only one who felt a little bit weird about meeting Chileshe, knowing that he equally felt the same kind of put a smile on my face. Which everyone turned to notice.

“What’s with the happy face?” Dad asked.

“Yeah! What’s with the face?” Lister added on.

“It’s nothing. Nothing. I’ve just remembered something crazy and it has made me happy.” I responded. Lister knew that wasn’t the truth, she thinned her eyes and gave me the ‘am watching you’ kind of look.

@@ @@ CHILESHE @@ @@

The lecture was done but the lecturer was still around making a big deal about the results for the previous Pop-test that we had.

For some reason, most of the results were below the belt and that really pissed him off.

“You need to be able to think… Think. Some of you were just busy guessing answers. Is that how you are going to be teaching other people’s children out there? Chimuntu uli mu third year and you can’t even explain simple simple things.”

“You!” He pointed at one of the ladies in the lecture room.

“How can you fail to explain what a Report is?” He asked her.

In frustration he got his books and walked out. I wanted to rush out immediately but the old man had just dropped a heavy one on all of us… For that reason everyone was just looking at each other waiting for the awkward moment of silence to fade out and then leave each one of us to our respective hostels. Me on the other hand, I gave a friend my books and asked him to drop them at my room as I stormed out to get on a bus at ZESCO.

Since I wasn’t serving yet, that meant no tip money for me. Lydia was kind enough to give me something once in a while.

CHILESHE: ‘Am now heading to the station. The lecture kinda took longer than I expected.’

MATIMBA: ‘That’s good. We have already arrived. I think the party has started hehehe.’

CHILESHE: ‘I hate being late. Everyone will be looking at me… Let me catch a bus, that’s if am lucky to find one at Levy. You know, it would be much easier if you could just give me your number.’

MATIMBA: ‘Don’t worry. Am not going offline. About my number, am still thinking about it.’

CHILESHE: ‘I see. I hope it doesn’t take a year.’

@@ @@ MATIMBA @@ @@

“Where is he?” Lister asked as she joined me.

“His on his way. Heading to get on a bus right now.” I responded nervously.

“You acting all funny. What’s going on?”

“It’s nothing. Okay here is the thing, am the one that invited him… I don’t want it to send the wrong message.” I said.

Lister gave me a strong gaze, “And what wrong message is that?” She questioned me.

“Well, the obvious one. That am hitting on him.” I said in a dramatic voice as we both began to laugh.

“Don’t be stupid. Am sure that hasn’t even crossed his mind. Am actually worried for him… So make sure you keep him busy when his here… We wouldn’t want our guest to feel lonely nor left out.” She gave me a kiss on the head and went to join the others. They were busy trying to make a fire.

MATIMBA: ‘How far?’

CHILESHE: ‘I managed to get on a bus at Levy. So I need to drop off at the market and you will come pick me up?’

MATIMBA: ‘Yes. I will come and get you. There is a bit of a distance… You should stand where they sell the famous Northmead Sharwama.’

CHILESHE: ‘I will do just that.’

I went to get Lister so that she could drive me to the station.

“Why don’t you want to drive?” Lister asked me. We had gotten her boyfriends car.

“It’s a phobia thing.” I responded.

“You need to be serious. I don’t even know what you so afraid off.”

“Am not driving no matter what you say. Hehehe. Just drive.” I told her.

CHILESHE: ‘I’ve dropped. Am heading to the joint right now.’

MATIMBA: ‘We also on our way. We in a white BMW.’

CHILESHE: ‘That’s good. You know we am going to be then.

 

To be continued…