IS THIS LOVE Episode – 24

IS THIS LOVE – Episode 24

A story by Kennedy C Katongo 

 

THE OTHER PERSON

“Black’s and mayonnaise right?” She smiled back.

After we were done shopping, she escorted me to the bus station which was at the car park. I just couldn’t believe that I was losing two perfect women at once.

This was something that Mwenda warned me about, guess he was right. If only I had chosen one, things wouldn’t have been this way.

“You owe me a meal. So when can I come through?” Lydia asked me.

“I don’t know. Whenever you free I guess.” I said warmly.

“Okay. Just keep that phone on. Will talk to you later, enjoy your day.” She hugged me and walked back.

Even though she hadn’t said it, I knew she was meeting up with him.

@@ @@ MATIMBA @@ @@

“Excuse me ma’am. You have a visitor.” My secretary whispered as she opened the door.

“Who is it?” I asked curiously. To the best of my knowledge I wasn’t expecting anyone. Besides, she knows Lister, that meant it was definitely not her.

“I don’t know him. His handsome though.” She smiled.

“Oh! Let him in.”

“Am sorry for coming unannounced. I was around Manda Hill and decided to pay you a visit.” He said while he walked up to me.

“You…. You are here!” I said while finding it hard to hide my surprised facial expression.

“These are for you.” Ben said as he handed me a red box.

“What’s this?” I asked him as I placed it on the table.

“You can open it. I just hope you love it.” He said while taking a seat, “I knew you worked in an office, I just didn’t think it was this luxurious.”

“You crazy. Am executive something… It’s just normal for me to have something fancy. After all, Manda Hill is a big deal.” I opened the small box inside were cubes of chocolate engraved with letters that spelt my name.

I wasn’t okay with him popping up at my work place like that, but seeing his gesture blew my mind away. Am not sure if it was the chocolate or it was the fact that I knew how expensive the same gift was.

“You really didn’t have to do this…” I finally spoke out after I had taken a picture of the box and sent it to Lister and my cousin.

“It’s nothing. I just wanted to do something nice for you for once, other than cooking.” He said.

After I began giving Chileshe some space and distance, Ben and I had become close. Unlike before when I hated the idea of visiting him at his school, I found myself going there when I was free.

Even though we were not dating yet, or officially, my friends really liked him and didn’t find it hard to approve him… Unlike how it was with Chileshe.

“Can I get you something to drink?” I asked him.

“A glass of milk has been on my mind. Don’t know if you can make it happen.” He was leaning of the chair as he looked at me from the corner of his eye.

“That’s not a problem. I will be right back.” I told him as I rushed out.

Without wasting time, I told my secretary to get me some yogurt. After that, my attention was taken as I began texting with Lister.

LISTER: ‘Someone is having a good day…’

MATIMBA: ‘A good day? I was pissed when I saw him walk in… Now that I’ve seen the chocolate I just want to be all over him.’

LISTER: ‘You should just date the man. What more do you want him to do just to prove his feelings for you?’

MATIMBA: ‘I don’t know. Am scared he might change once I accept him.’

LISTER: ‘Love is a battlefield. It’s not all roses and food, just take a risk.’

MATIMBA: ‘And then if his not the one? What happens then? Besides I still have Chileshe to think about.’

LISTER: ‘Chileshe again? Come on Matimba. I thought you done with him. Why do you still keep him around?’

MATIMBA: ‘I wish I could answer that. Trust me I do. But I have no answer for you.’

LISTER: ‘Then enjoy the romance whole you can. For me babe keeps talking about getting me pregnant.’

MATIMBA: ‘I thought first he pays the bride price and all that… Wasn’t that the plan?’

LISTER: ‘That was the plan. Something happened at his euro place and now he can’t afford to pay… So that will mean another 2yrs again.’

MATIMBA: ‘That’s bad. But why get you pregnant? It’s not like you going to run. Or maybe he wants to take you through the window lol.’

LISTER: ‘He says he wants to make sure another man doesn’t come between him and me. Can you imagine such pettiness.’

“Excuse me – Matimba.”

“Hey, you’ve gotten it?” I asked her as he handed me a plastic, “Thanks very much… You such a darling.”

MATIMBA: ‘I will call you later. Let me check on this man.’

“Am sorry I kept you waiting… His a glass of yogurt. I thought it would be better than milk.” I said as I handed the glass to him.

“Yogurt! You never stop to amaze me. I won’t be staying long, need to be at Woodlands for a meeting. What are you doing after work?” Ben asked me.

“I’ve got ladies night with the girls. What did you have in mind? Maybe I can call in sick.” I said with my chin resting on my hand.

“Nah. Lister would ki*ll me if you began skipping your nights with her. We find another day… Is that okay?” He asked me. His eyes glittered as he glared at me. The aura of passion that came from him was so intense it gave me dirty thoughts. It was so unlike me to behave in such a man.

“Stop that.” I said out of nowhere.

“I stop what?” His eyes popped out in surprise.

“Looking at me like am something to eat. You making me feel uneasy.” I told him.

“Oh! Forgive me, am just used giving eye contact when am talking to someone. I will try to look somewhere else.” He closed his eyes and then opened them again. “You look beautiful.”

“Come on, get up, you need to go…” I said jokingly as we both began to laugh.

.

.

.

“How did it go with Ben?” Lister asked me. I had nothing to do other than wait for them to come pick me up. So I just sat on call with her.

“He was being all funny and cute. His found a way to get into my skin.” I told her.

“I think you growing to love him…”

“What? Spit that saliva… I can’t be falling for him. You can’t be telling me that this is love.” I said as I objected strongly.

“If his giving you butterflies then you falling swiftly for him.” Lister giggled as she pressed on the topic.

“Enough about me. What have you concluded about getting knocked up? Are you for the idea?” I asked her, I couldn’t just sit and allow her to invade my thoughts like that.

“I seriously don’t know. Was thinking I just help him with the money so that we can get married and be done with all this.” Lister said in her now small worried voice.

“Don’t even think of doing such. These men change. He might come and label you as desperate for such an act. Just find a way around it. I mean, it’s not like him having getting you pregnant will solve anything. Guys today have no chill, they ready for baby mamas.” I told her.

“You crazy. I don’t think am ready to be a baby mama. And if his going to use this to cause problems the I will just leave him alone.” She added.

“Don’t be quick to conclude. Just talk to him and here what he says…” I advised her.

 

To be continued…