IS THIS LOVE – Episode 44

IS THIS LOVE – Episode 44

A story by Kennedy C Katongo

 

THE OTHER SIDE OF LOVE

“Hey! I was about to contact you…” I told her once I answered.

“My friend just called me some minutes ago. He says you really did well according to what the father told him.” She said.

“What you mean the father? You mean that was the son of …” I asked her.

“I thought he told you.” She said sounding a bit surprised as she spoke.

“I wish he did. That explains why he was so arrogant in a polite way.” I told her.

“Is that even possible?” She was busy laughing at me once I told her.

We had planned to meet on Saturday to talk about how my meeting was and everything on Saturday. Matimba never showed up because she had a last minute commitment that she had to take care of.

I didn’t bother on asking her what it was, after all, she had already done a lot for me.

Later on Saturday, around 22PM I received a message from Matimba. It was one to wish me well and also to have my fingers crossed as I waited for the response. Seeing that they were a big institution, I had no idea when they would even get back to me.

Now I was caught between leaving my job at M&B and Waiting for a response that I didn’t know when it would arrive.

Growing up always felt like fun, but there wasn’t anything nice about it. Just a bunch of responsibilities and things to worry about. To think about it, adulthood was all about handling responsibilities and creating more of them at the same time.

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“Hello. I presume you received our package. You will start work next Term. All other information needed you will find in the books provided. Where you are not clear feel free to email the school. May I take this time to welcome you to Open Words Secondary School.” The young lady said.

“Thank you very much.” I responded. Despite it being a phone call, she really had a strong way of communicating that made she sound like a dominant.

I had already spoken to Matimba the moment I received the package. Mwenda was busy shouting ‘Partee after partee’ in our small one room house.

On several occasions I had tried to make him shut up but that didn’t seem to work at all.

“Finally you can leave that job.” He said excitedly.

“I still have like two more months before I start work. I can’t leave. How will I pay for rent and food?” I asked him.

“Don’t worry about that. I will pay.” He said happily. To think of it, he was happier than I was about the news. Talk about the lady who made it happen. She almost burst my ear drum when she screamed on the phone.

Mwenda already had a program to attend to, so it was only me and Matimba. She wanted to bring Lister along but we both new that wouldn’t be a good idea since I wasn’t her spoon of sugar.

Later that day I escorted Mwenda in town to meet his girlfriend, she was coming from 10 miles.

“Why did I have to come along?” I asked him.

“What you mean? You going to be my backup plan.” He said confidently.

“Backup! Hey! Hope you ain’t trying to break up with her…” I said as I followed him from behind. The streets were crowded for some reason.

“Hell no. I can’t do that. That is my woman, my ride or die. Just because we don’t agree on things doesn’t mean I want to break up with her.” He said.

“But what’s the point of being with someone whom you can’t agree with on things that concern life? Just because you have same interests and hobbies doesn’t necessarily mean you are compatible… Hope you know that.” I said.

“Have you been watching Steve Harvey again?”

I began to laugh once he asked me that. It reminded me of my days in college. I would watch videos on his page when I was bored and Mwenda didn’t like him.

“Not at all. It’s just something I’ve picked up lately.” I told him.

“Who sends mails on a Sunday by the way?” Mwenda asked me.

It was until then that it crossed my mind, I received the package from Open Words Secondary School on a Sunday which was weird because the post office never worked on Sundays.

“They gat money. They can do what they want.” I laughed. It sounded funny in my head.

“Are you going to tell your boss that you stopping work?” He asked me.

We had now reached Millennium Bus Station. That’s where his girlfriend would be dropping from. I had totally forgotten about Monday. Mwenda was okay with paying rent. Food wouldn’t be a problem so hell yeah! I was going to stop work.

Despite that confidence, I was curious to know what Lydia would come up with.

Just a couple of minutes after getting there Mwenda’s girlfriend arrived, “Thought you said she hasn’t changed?” I whispered to him.

“What! Okay, she has changed a bit.” Mwenda whispered back.

“A bit? You insane. At least I can see where all those demands go…” I giggled.

“Shush she’s here.” He gave me the elbow.

The minute she saw me she stood puzzled for a few seconds and then spoke, “Wow you haven’t changed!”

“And you have changed…” I jumped in immediately as she hugged me and Mwenda.

“Seems like life has been good with you.” I smiled.

“I can’t say otherwise. It’s been friendly though. What has been keeping you busy?” She asked me.

“Nothing. Just work and relationships.” I told her.

“Relationships? Is it a lady?” She asked me with a strong penetrating gaze that made me feel naked in front of her.

“What are you insinuating? Asking me if it’s a lady huh!” I asked her.

“I wouldn’t be wrong to think you gay. Besides it’s not like you ever introduced a girl to us even in college.” Mwenda’s girlfriend always spoke with a free mind no matter how offensive her words would be.

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After hanging around with them for a while, I got my call from Matimba. She was telling me that she was busy but will be able to meet me up for pizza that was if I was up for it.

Since I wasn’t up to anything good. I told her I would be in town and she could let me know once she was around so that we could meet up and maybe share some slices.

@@ @@ MATIMBA @@ @@

I can’t believe am seriously doing this. Why didn’t I just refuse to meet Ben. It’s not like anything would have happened if I refused and all. Now I have to meet up with him and then later on with Chileshe.

I had just finished talking to Chileshe. I could tell by they way he responded after he heard that I wasn’t going to make it in time.

“Have you knocked off from church?” Ben asked me. He had called once again. I had told him I would let him know once I was out.

“Just did. So were will you find me?” I asked him.

“Can I come and pick you up from there?” He asked me.

“No. No. That can’t happen. I will drop off at East Park. We can meet from there.” I told him.

He didn’t object and that was the good part. At least I was certain about Chileshe being in town. Otherwise if he happened to pop up that side it would be a disaster.

 

To be continued…