Not Another Love Story – Episode 24

NOT ANOTHER LOVE STORY

Episode 24

#ALLAN
I wanted to leave but Ivy wasn’t for the idea. Besides, she knew that on Wednesday I didn’t do much at work.
Before I knew it the place was flooded with people I didn’t know, all of them excited about the wedding. Every glimpse they got _ meant Another endless chit-chat for myself and Ivy. She was good at it, the way she composed herself and smiled endlessly when talking to everyone. It only made more sense why Dad fancied her a lot.

“Is this how it’s going to be the rest of the day?” I asked her.
“More or less. You tired?” She giggled.
“You see… Even without me telling you, you already know am tired.” I told her, she laughed. My sense of humour was thrown around that sentence hoping she could let me leave.
“Oh, your mother is on her way,” Ivy mentioned.
“What! Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I could have left already.” I sighed. I was disappointed.

My mother was the last person I wanted to see. After that confrontation she pulled at Lucas’s house, we hadn’t spoken much.

“Aaah! She’s here.” Ivy said cheerfully.

She walked up to her and they did ask their greetings. I was surprised to see how comfortable the two of them had gotten. As if that wasn’t enough, Ivy’s mother came through.

“A picture please…” One of the photographers said.
“And what are you looking at? Came here…” Mum called out to me. It made me feel like I was 12 years again.
“This is lovely… Smile.” The photographer said energetically.

After what seemed like forever, we were done with photos.

“I will leave you two alone. I’ve got to check on the ladies at the kitchen.” Ivy said warmly. It was like she had been soaked in a pool of respect and humbleness. Not that she had ever disrespected me _ I just thought she was overdoing it.
“Lovely girl…” Mum pitched in. She had a sneaky way of bringing up conversations.
“Yeah!”
“So, what made you change your mind?” Mum asked me.

We had walked to the garden, that’s where we sat.

“I don’t know. I thought about what you said and realized I hadn’t given my relationship with Ivy a chance. My attention was on the things she couldn’t do rather than what she could do.” I told her.
“I see. What about that small girl you’ve been seeing?” She asked.
“H-Her…” I said.

I didn’t expect mum to ask me about Mwape. That threw me off balance.

“What about her?” I asked. Very stupid of me.
“Am the one who is supposed to ask you that question baby. If another scene breaks out concerning you and some girl out there… That paints a bad picture for the company.”
“But mum…”
“But listen! I gave you a way out of this and yet you still chose to be with Ivy. If you try to disgrace what your father and I have worked so hard for… I will send you to hell with a box of crayons. Are we together?” She asked.
“Yes ma’am.” I cleared my throat.
“Good. Now, you do what you have to do.” She said with a smile.

At that moment, I swear I asked God why my mother wasn’t like Ivy’s mum.

I only had two days left and I didn’t know what I wanted anymore.
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.
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#MWAPE
“What are you doing?” Emily asked as I took a seat at the reception area.
“I’ve come to see your boss,” I told her as we began to laugh about it.

She hugged me.

“I’ve come to collect my paycheck. He called me yesterday and asked that I come through.” I explained to her.
“That’s good… He just went out. Am sure he will be back soon. Unless you want to check in with his secretary…” She suggested.
“Nah. I will just wait.”
“What’s wrong? I know you want today something so just say it.” I poked at her.
“Well, I was on Instagram earlier and Ivy had posted photos of the wedding preparations and the family. Am sorry…” She apologized.
“There is no need. You don’t have to beat yourself up. Besides, I knew there would be something like this. Is he there?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“That explains why he isn’t picking up my calls.” I felt crushed but tried my best not to show it. Emily could tell that I had taken a hit _ this was the kind of nonsense Limpo spoke about.
“Oh, you told me that Ivy asked you for a favour. What was it?” Emily asked.

I had totally forgotten, when I was about to tell her Besa walked in and I didn’t want to say anything sensitive in front of her.

“She knows everything. I don’t know how… But she knows about the house Allan bought and that he plans on not showing up for the wedding.” I started by telling her that.
“What! But why is she still busy making preparations for the wedding?” Emily asked me. That was something I didn’t know as well.
“She said I shouldn’t run away with Allan. Instead, I should continue my relationship with him.” I told her.
“Is she crazy! Who in their normal mind would suggest such a God-forsaken thing.” Emily was pissed. More pissed than I was when she told me.
“So, if I do that for her… I will get my job back with a promotion slapped on it, then in due time, he will be mine.” “I don’t know what she meant by that but yeah. I’ve been thinking about it and I don’t know what to do.” I sighed.
“Have you told Allan about this?”
“No… No! I can’t do that, Allan loves me but there are things he is hiding from me. The whole thing about the inheritance is a big deal. I wouldn’t want him to lose all that just because he loves me. I’ve already suffered enough and I don’t want to get married to another person who is suffering, nope.” I told Emily.

She just started laughing at me.

Tbc…

KENNEDY C KATONGO