A bitter-sweet nightmare – Episode 14

A BITTER-SWEET NIGHTMARE
Episode 14
THE SCENT OF LOVE

“So, what is it going to be?” Chansa asked Markus.
“Let me just have a quick bath. I will be there in the next half an hour.” Markus said.

“Are you still available for that rice?” His mother asked.
“Not anymore. I have to go and see Janine. Seems like something has happened.” He said.
“Okay.” She said.

#MAX

Max had taken a tour in town trying to find someone who could trace phone numbers. His thought was since he had Janine’s number, tracking it to its location would help him know which town she was in. Within the town, not far away from Bank of Zambia… There was a young man who had worked in almost all the Zambian telecommunication companies and was praised for his hacking abilities on the street. His name, KK.

“Excuse me. Am looking for a man called KK. Do you know where I can find him?” Max asked.
“Oh, KK. The hacker? He doesn’t have any specific place. Check the walls, there is an add with his phone number.” The old man said as he continued to remove watches from a small display stand.

Max managed to find the number after he had called five wrong ones. The man told him that all he needed to do was give a K1000 to the old man selling watches and then text him the number that he wanted to trace.

“When can I have the results?” He asked.
“Within an hour.” KK responded.

And for certain, within an hour, Max received a message from an unknown number with Janine’s full names and location.
‘Chingola! What the heck is she doing there? I hoped she could be within Ndola.’ He sighed.

#JANINE

“I have good news and bad news. Which one would you ladies want to hear first?” Chansa said as he dashed into Janine’s room.
“Is it possible to get the good news and let you keep the bad?” Alice asked. He shook his head.
“Let’s start with the good news,” Janine said.
“Okay, the good news is that Markus is coming over and the bad news is… While, my talk time has finished.” He said in a dramatic sobbing voice.
“What!” Alice exclaimed. Janine was busy laughing as she watched the two chase each other around her room.
“Thank you.” Janine said with a smile.
“You don’t have to thank us. It’s what friend are for.” Alice responded.
“I will be leaving soon. I need to attend to a few things at home.” Chansa said.
“Can you give me a lift? I need to get something in town as well.” Alice said in a hurry.
“Are you guys running away?” Janine asked them.
“Nah. It’s nothing. Are we?” Alice and Chansa said while they giggled.
“You guys are evil.” She told them.
“You are going to be fine. Don’t worry. You will be in good hands.” Chansa assured her.
“Good hands! You leaving me alone with a stranger. How is that being in good hands?” Janine asked.
“Because you are going to be with a stranger that loves you.” Alice responded as she got off the bed running out of the room.

By the time that Markus arrived, Alice and her boyfriend had already left.

“Where is everyone?” Markus asked.
“They just went out a while ago.” Janine responded.
“I see, they pulled the fast one on you… Do I get a hug?” Markus asked.

A step in front and Janine was perfectly positioned in his arms. It had been a week or two since they last spoke. Being in each others arms made it feel like forever.
She inhaled the scent of his perfume, “you smell like food.” She said.
“Don’t I always do?” He responded.
“I missed you. I missed this.” Janine said.
“Who misses the smell of food?” Markus teased her. He knew very well what she meant.
“You such a bully.”
“I wish I could live up to that. Are we going to be like this the whole afternoon?” He asked her. They were still hugging each other.
“Just a little bit longer… Okay. Let’s go.” Janine said as she turned around.
“I was hoping we can watch a movie…” Markus said as they went to the living room. He didn’t want to make her feel uneasy. Chansa encourage him not to talk about whatever little difference they had previously.
“What locus do you have in mind?” She asked happily.
“What about The Hobbit?” He asked her.
“What! That movie isn’t romantic at all. I have a better one. I doubt if you’ve seen it.” She said excitedly.

The fear of the dream she had was nothing but smoke at this point. Seeing Markus really made her happy.

“It’s about this married guy, he receives a friend request from his old old girlfriend and then she seduces him and the like. Later on, it’s discovered that his best friend was the one who actually set him up and all. Because he was jealous of what his friend had.” Janine explained.
“That sounds interesting. Hope it’s not Nigerian.” Markus said.
“What’s with you and hating Nigerian movies? Anyway, it’s not. It’s a black American movie.” She told him.
“What’s the title?” He asked.
“Friend Request.” She said.
“Oh… It’s that obvious. Okay, let’s see it.”

Moments like these made life worth living, but to every sweet side of the story _ there is a bitter side as well. One that hasn’t just surfaced yet. After all, dreams kiss the most precious parts of our souls.

“I will be leaving soon…” Markus told her. It had been more than 3 hours since he arrived.
“You not sleeping?” She asked him.
“No. I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Markus said.
“Are you still upset about last time?”
“I really don’t know if am upset anymore. Am just trying to accept all this, that’s what am working on right now.” He said.
“Please; I want you to sleepover.” Janine told him. She was fearful, all that she wanted was to sleep in the arms of the only man whom she felt safe being around.

Tbc…

KENNEDY C KATONGO