IS THIS LOVE Episode – 19

IS THIS LOVE – Episode 19

A story by Kennedy C Katongo 

 

CATCHING FEELINGS – 2

“Listen man, all men what a bitchy lady. Someone whose wild and all that kinda sh*t. But no man in his normal five would marry such a lady and expect her to raise children right.” He said sharply. For someone who always looked high on weed, he really did have some brains.

“I know your type, you the type that leaves a decent girl at home and goes out clubbing and messing up other ladies lives.” Chef added as he was busy grinding some black pepper onto a plate.

“Let me tell you the truth man. Most of these girls we see in clubs are stuck between being serious with love and the ‘You only love once’ slogan. We all know the language found in these clubs, ‘Any girl found in a club is no one’s girls, she’s open to any nigga.’ Do you expect me to allow my future wife, the woman of my babies to be in such a place? Hell no!” The short dude protested.

It was funny how he wanted a wild lady but at the end, needed a decent one to be his wife. I told the guys that women could change as long as they truly wanted to change – what would turn me off would be having a girlfriend who behaves sideways. After all, a human will lie just to make sure they continue to do that which they deem valuable to themselves.

@@ LUNCH HOUR @@

Chef had gone out to smoke outside, he left me seated with a plate of food that looked so delicious my mouth was watering. To make it fun, I couldn’t even pronounce the name of the dish.

“Looks like someone is eating well. That plate costs K100.” Lydia said as she walked in.

“What! This costs K100? sh*t.”

“You need to stop using such words when you around me. I don’t like em.” She said as she took a stool and sat next to me.

I instantly closed my mouth and covered it with my hand.

“Am guessing Chef already told you what was happening at the club?” She asked me.

“You don’t have to worry. It’s your life, we all have a way in which we blow off some steam.” I told her.

“Are you always this casual when talking to girls or you just act this way around me?” She asked me.

“That’s a hard one. I really funny know. I’ve never tried to notice how I behave around other girls…” I smiled.

She went on to ask me if she could ask me something to which I agreed without delay. “Whilst you asking me questions, can I continue eating?” I asked her. She seemed okay with me eating expensive company food.

“Why don’t you take alcohol?” She asked me.

“I love being sober, it keeps me alert and focused. I really just don’t see the whole point of getting drunk, throwing up and then a throbbing headache the next morning.” I responded.

“So you’ve never tasted alcohol before?” She asked with a more intrigued facial expression than when she asked the first question. To top up, this was the first time Lydia and I were having a conversation that didn’t focus on work.

“I’ve been drunk a lot of times. Used to enjoy Black Label. But then I noticed I wasn’t doing anything positive in myself except always making sure I had money for alcohol the next weekend. I wanted to do more with myself and my life. So I stopped.

“After you stopped… You’ve never drunk again?” She smiled. She seemed to be enjoying the conversation.

“I actually had two bottles last week. A friend invited me to their get together, so I had two bottles of Black Label and then switched to some cold Coca Cola.” I filled up a folk and drove it to her mouth.

“Open up…” At first she kind of felt shy and refused, on my second attempt she ate.

@@ @@ MATIMBA @@ @@

“What’s wrong with you? You have this guilty look on your face as if you have done something…” Lister asked me.

“Oh God. Is it that obvious?” I asked her.

“Very much. Let’s hope nothing happened between you and the school boy.” She added sharply.

“Do you really have to keep making fun of him?” I frowned.

“I can’t help it. My man kept asking me why you turned his friend down for Chileshe. I get it, he looks charming, he has the innocent look on his face. But we all know how that ends.” “You my friend and I will keep it 100% with you. Be careful…” Lister said in her sharp voice.

I couldn’t blame her. She knew very well how much of a hopeless romantic I was. Already I couldn’t help it knowing that Chileshe was going through a tough time in school with his tuition fees.

Telling Lister that I had lent Chileshe money would seriously get me into trouble. I really didn’t like the idea of hiding things from her, at the same time I didn’t want her to be on my neck for doing such a thing.

“Another thing, babes friend wants to take you out for a movie.”

“Am not going anywhere with that dude. Did you see the way he was looking at me? I can’t be with someone who looks at me like a pervade.” I responded.

“His a great guy. His single. His got a great job, has his own apartment. His the full package.” She campaigned for him.

“I think his a player.”

“Why is it that every successful black man is a player with you?” Lister questioned me. Her question was so weirdly-funny that both of us began laughing at what she had said

“There is nothing wrong with a tall, handsome, successful black man. The problem is most of them can not commit to one relationship. They want to be everyone as if they are the ones God told, ‘You will be the father of nations’ that’s the only thing I have against them and that guy looks like one of them.” I explained to her.

“I hear you girl. But if Chileshe does something stupid, just remember that I told you he’s up to no good.”

I knew all that Lister wanted for me was the best. But she had to know better, I hated the idea of being set up on a date with some random guy whom they thought would be suitable for me. I already had Ben on me like every single minute, u couldn’t just show up online without him dropping a message to ask how my day was going so far.

I really wanted to shake him off, but he had stuck around when I was going through some dark times in my life. For some reason he never loses hope and keeps clinging on to the idea of me and him being together one day.

“I would love you to carry my kids.” He said one day as we spoke on phone.

“That right there is exactly why I avoid meeting up with you.” I responded rudely.

The idea of carry his kids did give me butterflies every single time he said it. Besides, he knew how much I loved babies.

Even after all this, I still felt that being with Ben wasn’t going to take me anywhere. My resolve was clear and to me – he was nothing more than a good friend whom I could talk too and just pour my heart out to.

“One day you will be my wife and I will tell you, ‘I told you’ trust me on that.” He would say.

“Maybe in your dreams. You need to find a good girl, there are a lot of good girls at your church pick one and make her your everything.” I would tell him.

This chat mostly ended with him getting pissed and cutting the line.

 

To be continued…