Not Another Love Story – Episode 26

NOT ANOTHER LOVE STORY

Episode – 26

#IVY
A FEW YEARS BEFORE THE ARRANGED MARRIAGE.

“Girl you look stunning…” Sophie smiled with a smile. “Just be there… Don’t move.” He rushed out to get her phone from the bedroom.
“Are you being for real…”
“Yep, you are an Instagram model. Looks like these need to be seen by the world.” He said as she began capturing photos and moving me around like a doll.

Sophie was my crazy white friend. I met her while I was still in college advancing my business studies. She was always upbeat about social media marketing and ended up convincing me to model.

While, there is a quote, “Before the rainbow comes the rain…” For me, it was the rainbow first and the rains later on. Charlie had called, he told me to prepare for a date and this was me _ all spiced up in black. I loved being crazy, the Nicki Minaj kind of colours and all that.

However, Dad was against that as it wasn’t a good image for the company. Charlie, my boyfriend agreed with that _ despite him being responsible, good looking and loveable… My father didn’t like him on the grounds that he was white.

“Enough with the photos. I have you to go.” I kissed Sophie on the head and rushed downstairs.
“Wow!” Charlie exclaimed by the site of me.
“Wow as in nice or wow as in I look terrible? Which one is it?” I asked him.
“Well, let’s just say I was expecting the crazy version of you. This black widow look has come as a surprise.” He walked up to me and higher me tightly.
“Someone missed me…” I whispered in his eye.
“Am just that white dude that’s addicted to chocolate. You can’t blame me.” He said.
“You know I hate it when you make such racial remarks.” I moved his hands from my waist.
“Am sorry. I just thought the whole chocolate thing would be amazing. Anyway, today we are taking a walk to a nice Italian restaurant. Highly recommended.” He said cheerfully.
“Ooh! I’ve never had Italian food before…” I told him.
“I know.” He kissed me on the cheek.

Charlie was always flirtatious with me. Even after being with him for most of my life here in the Netherlands, he still treated me like he was just knowing me for the first time.
.
.
.
“I hear Italian pizza is nice.”
“We can get some when leaving, but right now I want you to try something called Linguine.” He said warmly.

Minutes later our food was served and it was just pasta. The meal ended up being a delight regardless of my low expectations once I saw it.

“You not going to answer that?” Charlie asked me. This was after he noticed that I flipped my phone.
“I will call him when am home.”
“You know that your dad thinks am a bad influence, right? And this kind of behaviour doesn’t help at all.” Charlie said.
“Charlie, now you overthinking.”
“Am not overthinking anything. Look at us, we are in Amsterdam. Do you think your father will let you stay here!?”
“Okay! If I talk to him will that help?” I asked him.

Without waiting for him to respond, I got my phone and walked out.

“Hi, Dad!”
“Hey baby, I’ve been trying to reach you for some time now…” He said.
“I know. I don’t want to talk to you.” I responded.
“Ivy, don’t be selfish. I sent you that side for an education and not for you to get married. Once you finish that side you have to come back to Zambia.” He said.
“But dad…”
“But nothing. You are busy wasting my money, doing whatever you want with your life. Your month and I need you to be here… You already know about the marriage arrangements we’ve made with that young man Allan.” Dad said. This was like a national anthem every time we spoke.
“I have someone I love, Charlie. There is no way am going to come back to Zambia for an arranged marriage.” I told him.
“Stop being stubborn. Not everything is about you… If you don’t return to Zambia by the end of this year, I swear to God am going to cut you off.” He said and cut the call.

“Hey, is everything okay?” Charlie came outside.
“No!”
“Arranged marriage drama again?” He asked me.
“Don’t…”
“Ivy… Listen, am on your side. I want to spend my whole life with you as much as you want but we need to be real here, your family won’t allow that.” He said.
“Why can’t love mean anything?” I asked him.
“That’s because love wants what it wants. Even if we don’t end up together, I’ve enjoyed every moment you’ve been in my life and I don’t regret it.”
.
.
.
#THE_PRESENT_DAY.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” Mum said as she walked up on me.
“You scared me!”

I had just finished talking to Mwape a while ago and zoned out in thought.

“Do you need a drink?” She asked me.
“Yes, please,” I said as I followed her to the bar.
“Everything is going to be alright,” Mum said as she poured me a glass.
“Everything will never be alright. I left the man I love to come and be with someone I have no feeling for _ I pretend to be this weak little girl around him and watch as he takes advantage of that. All that just to make you guys happy.” I sighed as I took a sip.
“You can always find love, but you can’t always secure an empire. Divorce him if you want after you marry him. One day, you will see the benefit of the choices you’ve made.” Mum said.
“I was happy in Netherlands riding bikes and being hopeless in love,” I commented.
“You think your father would have allowed you to get married to some white boy? The faster you move on the better. If it means sending you for a holiday in Dubai to get you to work on your past life then so be it.” She drunk the whole glass in one shot.
“I hate you!”
“Well, I love you too,” Mum said with a smile.

Tbc…

KENNEDY C KATONGO

Note: The time Ivy was in Netherlands is different to the time when she comes from Europe at the start of the story.

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