IS THIS LOVE – Episode 48

IS THIS LOVE – Episode 48

A story by Kennedy C Katongo

 

JUST LET IT BE.

I knew there was no way she was going to let it pass. Especially that she had heard me curse more than once in a matter of seconds which wasn’t something I did.

“Does this have anything to do with Ben?” She asked me. Nosy cousin of mine was always keeping tabs on me.

“What would make you think this has something to do with him?” I asked her. I hadn’t told anyone apart from Lister that I would be meeting up with him.

“I already know you guys went chilling and all. Lister dropped the bomb. So is he the reason you seem tense and worried?” She added.

‘Tense’ she said, all that I knew is that I was acting up and telling them about my little blunder wouldn’t change anything. After all, both these ladies were on Ben’s side and not Chileshe.

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A few days went by and Chileshe was still not picking up my calls. I didn’t know anyone who could help me reach him so the best I did was check his ghost Facebook account hoping he would post something on there. But that never happened.

MATIMBA: ‘I know I messed up again. Am really sorry.’

CHILESHE: ‘There is nothing to be sorry about. You don’t owe me any explanation of how you move and the like.’

MATIMBA: ‘Why does that sound off? Am just trying to say sorry here…’

CHILESHE: ‘There is nothing to be sorry about. Let’s just pretend you never stood me up after I waited the whole day in town for you. Let’s pretend I didn’t call you on several occasions and on each one you didn’t pick up. Let’s pretend everything is just fine.’

MATIMBA: ‘Pretend, like the way you act like you don’t like me anymore?’

CHILESHE: ‘I don’t pretend anything. Maybe you need to come down from heaven a little so that you can sympathize with me.’

MATIMBA: ‘Wow! I can’t believe you have said that. Do you seriously think am taking advantage of you by helping you?’

CHILESHE: ‘Let’s just drop this chat. Am at M&B Levy if you want to talk.’

I send Chileshe another message, but he didn’t reply. My friend had already told me about when he was due to report for work. That made sense why he was still working at that place serving breakfast to people.

@@ @@ CHILESHE @@ @@

@ THE PREVIOUS DAY @

“You are now becoming a problem with these two ladies,” Mwenda said. He was pissed as he sat me down to nag me through a lecture of how reckless I was getting.

“But you making it sound like its my fault.” I objected. I couldn’t take the finger-pointing anymore.

“Don’t even speak up young man. I decide not to come back home, and what do I hear? That Lydia spent the night here!” Mwenda said furiously.

“I think you overreacting. Besides, nothing happened between the of us. She just kept me company, we saw a movie and slept.” I told him.

“You even calm about the whole thing. She just started dating a few months ago and here you are making her sleep out. Chileshe you playing with fire. This Lydia chick _ let her go.” Mwenda insisted.

I knew what he was getting at. However, I didn’t know what to do with Lydia anymore. It was like this; the more I pushed her away, the stronger she came back.

@ PRESENT DAY @

“Excuse me. Chileshe, the boss is calling you.” A workmate tapped me on the shoulder as he came to cover up for me.

“Thanks. Let me check him.” I said as I left to go to his office. The day had started up well, with a few tips, and I had already pocketed a K200.

When I got to his office, my boss, the manager was comfortably swinging in his chair. ‘I thought adults don’t do that.’ I thought to myself as I sat down with him.

The reason for the meeting was for him to notify me that Lydia would not be working from Levy until the few days, I had asked for finished.

“I still don’t understand something. Am very much aware of her relationship, but yet, she’s so much concerned about you. It’s not every day you find a lady who is willing to risk her own career for the sake of a man.” The manager told me. He did look like someone who had given the whole situation much thought.

“People will do anything when it comes to matters of the heart sir,” I commented in a low passive manner.

After that, he began to question me about my new-found job and asked how I managed to land an interview with the owner of the school. He went on to tell me about his cousin’s Daughter who had applied there three times and when she was called for interviews she flunked.

“What! But why?” I asked him.

“From what she told us, the son to the owner was the one interviewing her. His comment was that she lacked innovation and creativity.” He explained to me.

“Now I see. I mean _ when I was being interviewed he never even asked me about my qualifications. It must be one of their thing.” I added.

“It’s a blessing you have been accepted. All I can tell you is that made the most out of this opportunity. Make it count, plan well _ you a man and you need to think like one. Be the kind of man a lady wants to follow and not one who has nothing to show.” The manager told me.

He went on to give me tips on how to live and how to handle money. In that short period, he became more of a father than a boss to me.

“Many people stop work here and go to other places. Never have I sat one of them down to teach them the ways of like. Yet, in my spirit, I felt the need to uplift your spirit, and just talk you through life. I know at your age, you want to buy expensive clothes, frequent expensive eating places, and the like… But avoid that. Your family, every one of them is looking up to you to help them.” He said calmly.

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On my way out of his office, I went to the kitchen to see my friend the Chef. I was hungry _ indeed wisdom had a way of making people eat.

I found the kitchen was busy with everyone, walking up and down.

“Chileshe my boy. How are you?” He asked me? He wasn’t even looking at me.

“Am fine Chef. Seems like you guys are having a full house.”

“Yeah, there is an order for some rich family that week be coming. So, they ordered some specials.” Chef told me. He turned around to get a proper look at me. “You look good.” He said with a smile.

“You teasing me right?” I asked him.

“Not at all. You look like Jesus when he was coming down from the mountain for prayers.” He said we both laughed about it.

 

To be continued…