Not Another Love Story – Episode 17

NOT ANOTHER LOVE STORY

Episode – 17

#ALLAN
“I don’t want your help! Why did you lie to your family that I am an Interior Designer? I think I get it, you never planned on leaving her _ all those words were meant for me to bring my defences down. Now that you have slept with me, you can proudly move on to the next victim and lie to her about your inheritance bullshit.” Mwape said as she hit my chest.
“I don’t think I can talk to you in this state. I will come back when you are not upset.” I said.
“You aren’t coming back anywhere. I don’t want to see your face, you have already ruined my life. How will I take care of my family?” She asked me.
“I will do it for you?”
“I don’t need your money _ I never needed it!” She said getting out of his car.
I walked into the house and cried.

I watched her as she walked inside. I never thought Ivy would use her families name to suppress someone.
I drove home like a manic _ I swear if there were speeding traps I would have paid a lot of money.

“Ivy!” I yelled as I got out of the car. I knew very well she couldn’t hear me but it just felt like the right thing to do as I expressed my anger.

I banged at the door continuously and that’s when she came out with her bumshort and a broom.

“You will call that manager and get the poor girl her job back!” I yelled once she opened the door.
“I will do no such thing…” she said walking back into the house.

I followed her, “Ivy!”
“I will not do such a thing, trash needs to be put in the trashing bag.” She said.
“What’s all this? You behaving like my wife when we are not even married.” I said.
“Allan, nobody is forcing you to be with me, in fact, if it was up to me I would have left you by now…” She sighed after letting her mouth loose. “Am already married to you dummy. December is fast approaching, so, if I were you _ I would get a lawyer and end this before we stand on that alter. Am sure you know devastating that will be…” She laughed.

My heart was beating fast, the rush of adrenaline that I felt would cause me to murder someone’s child. I never anticipated this, not Ivy was putting up a fight.

“You are lucky my mother never raised a woman-beater because I would have taught you a lesson,” I said furiously.
“Oh please! This isn’t about your mother… you can’t do anything to me.” She rolled her eyes at me.

If there was a way for me to hit dad with the Pamela Gondwe approach, I would have done it at that moment. Damn these signatories.
I got to the office and began browsing for houses to rent or buy if prices would be favourable but I couldn’t find anything to my taste within Lusaka. I decided to call a friend in Livingstone who advised me to visit him and he would be glad to help out.

“So, we are going to Livingstone this weekend,” I told Lucas as I walked into his office.
“Pardon me!”
“I know this is a bromance. Nevertheless, I need your help not.” I said.
“Don’t I get a say in the matter first of all?” Lucas finally managed to speak.
“I can’t do this without you man. I need to get a house for Mwape and myself.” I told him.
“Have you lost your mind? No! That was polite, have you lost your bloody mind?” He yelled at me.
“Am fine. Listen to this, Ivy convinced Mwape’s manager to fire her. Can you believe that?”
“Are you seriously asking me that, Allan?” He asked.
“Anyway, that’s the short version. So, are you coming?” I asked him.
“As if I’ve got an option. I will tag along.” We fist-bumped and I went back to my office.

I went back home after work, Ivy was watching TV _ a bow of crisps and a glass of juice was on the table. She looked at me and didn’t say anything.

“If you have something to say love, just say it. Stop staring at me like that.” She commented.

LATER THAT WEEKEND

Lucas and I managed to travel to Livingstone. I called up my friend who took us around to see houses. We later settled for one that was in Dabwa North Extension. The house was fairly big _ very big for two people actually. Lucas loved it and I trusted his judgement.
We later met up with the owner of the house, the process went smoothly and we managed to purchase it.

“To new beginnings!” We toasted.
“How are you gonna convince Mwape?” Lucas asked me.
“I will talk to the mother first if I can pay the bride price and get her…”
“You joking right? Dude! The mother has no idea who you are and then you just want to storm their house and start buying off her daughter?” Lucas shook his head as he spoke.
“I can’t just get her and start cohabiting,” I responded.
“You seem to be ahead of yourself. Mwape doesn’t want anything to do with you right now.” He commented.
“Come on, she loves me. Am certain she will agree to move in with me.” I told him.
“This is life man, love alone just doesn’t cut it.” Lucas was always the one to say terrifying statements that shook my bones to the marrow.
“I will talk to her when we get back to Lusaka,” I told him

The next day we left for Lusaka. I had no option but to find a way of talking to Mwape even though she kept ignoring my calls.

I couldn’t find Ivy anywhere in the house, my guess was that she had gone to her parent’s place. After all, I hadn’t received word from them since the little play that happened last week. That meant she hadn’t spoken to them yet.

I decided to go to Mwape’s place and then come back before Ivy was home. That way I would only have to answer questions of my whereabouts for the previous day.

“What are you doing here!” Mwape snapped. I had actually knocked on their door.
“Can we talk? Please!” She closed the door and took me to sit under a tree that was near the gate.
“Am sorry for all of this… I know you hate me right now but hear me out. Am not going to marry Ivy, I want us to get Married… I want you.” I said holding her hand.
“I’ve already bought us a house in Livingstone,” I said.
“Us! You must be dreaming… What makes you think am going to move in with you? You want to tell me that you are giving up on the inheritance?” She laughed.
“It’s not important, I want to be with you, not Ivy,” I said.
“I don’t know what you playing at. You want us to get married before your wedding in December without telling your wife and then you don’t show up? What an ingenious idea. You think am going to marry you and then allow you to go back to idea till December?”
“It’s going to work! Trust me, besides, Lucas already has it under control.”
“I love you, mama!”

Tbc…

KENNEDY C KATONGO