IS THIS LOVE Episode – 13

IS THIS LOVE – Episode 13

A story by Kennedy C Katongo 

 

THE QUESTIONING

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 where am going to be then.’

“His near the Sharwama stand. We will pick him up from there.” I told Lister.

.

.

.

“How are you doing?” I asked Chileshe.

“Am good thank you.” He responded in a flash.

“This is my best friend Lister… Lister this is Chileshe my friend.” I quickly introduced him.

“Hello Chileshe… I actually thought she was lying when she told me she was expecting you over.” Lister said.

“Oh!”

“So how was your lecture?” I asked him.

“It was okay. Just got serious at the end… Messed up some emotions at the end.” He said with a smile.

“So what are you studying at Hone?” Lister jumped in.

“Am doing English with Art.” Chileshe responded as he cleared his throat.

“This is the place… Ken’s Pub and Grill.” I said as we entered.

The place had been built to mimic a typical village with modern fittings added to it. It was that place people loved at first site once they stepped there feet there.

“I know of this place. I never realized it was this beautiful inside.”Chileshe said with a smile of awe.

@@ @@ CHILESHE @@ @@

As we drove in, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Deep inside I would have loved to come out and jump around in excitement, that would be the kid in me talking.

Matimba looked lovely as usual, I restrained myself from making eye contact with Lister as she kept looking at me through the mirror which make me feel uneasy. It was like she was scanning me.

“Okay we here!” Lister said sharply as the car stopped.

When Matimba said, ‘Its just a small thing.’ I took it literally like that. However that wasn’t the case at all. Once we reached were everyone was, Matimba took me around introducing me to everyone and describing whom they were.

It was had to keep up with who was who, the best I could do was just node my head from time to time.

“I didn’t know it would be this packed…” Matimba said once we were done with the introductions and had to stand next to Listers boyfriend.

As I tried to make small talk, I couldn’t help but observe the type of people whom were present. Every one of them was working at some big company that I had heard of, that was the weird part.

I had already seen the expensive eating places on her Facebook but this was more than the impression I had at first. I was totally out of place. Matimba could tell that I wasn’t cut out to be there despite my effort to keep up with there kind of conversations.

“Bro… A second please.” Listers boyfriend called out to me.

“Mind if we take a walk?” He asked.

“Not at all. Lead the way.” I responded politely.

“So how are you enjoying the party?”

“To be honest, I feel lost bro. Like all you guys seem like family to each other and am just here like ‘what'” I laughed.

“Aah! Don’t mind that. Trust me, you will get to know most of them with time. So you and Matimba… What’s going on?” I almost spit the drink that was in my mouth when he asked me that.

“Me and her? Well, we just friends.” I cleared my throat.

“Okay. You met from her work place or through a mutual friend?” He asked again.

“Non of the above really. It was just coincidence that we met and became friends. So, you and Lister, you guys are married?” I asked him. I couldn’t take his investigate questions anymore.

“Not really. But we getting married soon. I’ve known the two of them for some years now.” “Like – me and Lister been dating for 5 years now… She’s everything I’ve wanted in a woman.” He added.

“Can I ask you something?” I asked him.

“Sure… Feel free.”

“How did you know that Lister was the one for you? I mean, am sure girls keep coming your way… So what has made you stand firm.” I asked him.

I thought he would jump at the question the way he did with every other question I asked him. On this one, that wasn’t the case – he gave it a thought and then carefully began to explain to me.

“I actually never knew she was the one. I mean, you know us guys, I just tried to date her cause she was cute, the curvy body and all that… But when she said yes, I found it very hard at first to understand her… Simply because I always wanted things to go my way.” He paused. We sat down at the pub and ordered some drinks before he continued.

“I got frustrated and broke up with her. After that, where I was writing my payment delayed, I called everyone I could but no one would come through. I don’t know how she knew I was struggling… I just got a MoMo text with K500 attached to it. I felt bad, I had called her a gold digger and all sorts of names bro. The amount of shame that rained on me. To cut the story short I went to her and apologized. The minute I took interest in what was happening with her that’s when I noticed she was hurting… That girl has told me things my guy, she has cried on my shoulder countless times. I will tell you this, when a lady begins to treat you with a lot of respect and abides with what you tell her no matter what! At that moment she sees a father in you, she sees a brother and friend. If you can see that in the eyes of a lady when she looks at you… Just know she’s the one.” He said calmly and took a sip from his bottle.

The dude had said a lot of things, but for some reason I felt like I understood what he meant. We then walked back to join the others on the braii stand.

“Let me give you some advise… When a girl loves you, she doesn’t care about how much is in your pocket. If she can see your determination to do something big… She will stick by you. Matimba is a good person, and very fragile. If you not sure about what you want… Then don’t lead her on.” He tapped my shoulder and gave me the silent sign.

I wasn’t sure if he was threatening me or giving me a heads up. But one thing was for certain, he could clearly tell there was something going on between the two of us.

“Hello.” A young lady that looked a bit like Matimba greeted me.

“Hi… I don’t think we have met.” I said as I extended my hand to greet her. “Am sorry but you really have a striking resemblance to Matimba.”

“Oh, I know. I usually get that a lot. So you are the student?” She asked in a displeased manner.

“Huh… You can that.”

“So what are you studying? And what year are you doing?” She asked me.

I noticed that she never responded to any of the questions I asked her but she insisted I respond to her questions.

“Are you going to keep interrogating me?” I asked her. I was now pissed cause her attitude really pissed me off. It was as though she was deliberately making me get pissed.

“You really need to manage your temper. You seem short tempered. Am Matimba’s cousin.” And with those words she walked away.

 

To be continued…