A bitter-sweet nightmare – Episode 7

A BITTER-SWEET NIGHTMARE

Episode 7

Questions

HE STEADILY WATCHED as she walked around getting things ready, and those jeans, they weren’t being of any help at all.

“Sorry about that. We can finally chat now.” She smiled.
“It’s okay…” “How have you been?” Markus asked.
“I’ve been okay, just trying to get myself together.” She giggled.
“That’s what you told me last time…” He pointed out.
“I knew you would say that. I don’t know; I feel like I’ve not yet found myself.” She said, sounding a bit thoughtful than usual.
“Well, you still in your mid-twenties, I guess you still have time to figure that out.” He commented.

Janine was already aware of how Markus would repeatedly steal glances at her once she faced somewhere else.

“Ah, am I everything you thought I would be?” The question sent Markus flying, it wasn’t something he was expecting to hear _ at least not presently.
After blushing for what seemed like a lifetime, he finally spoke, “I’ve seen a lot of your photos _ I don’t see any difference at all. It would be right for me to point out right now that I thought you would be shorter.” He said it jokingly and they both laughed about it.
“I told you that I wasn’t short.” She said while laughing.
“What about you. Am I as you thought I would be?”
“Well, I can’t point out the difference. After all, we’ve done video calls countless times. But, for the sake of commenting _ you’ve lost weight dude. What you been eating?” She teased him.
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“So…”
“What!” Markus asked. The two had been talking for hours now.
“When are you coming back to Zambia?” Janine asked.
“Am not sure. It all depends on how things are going to move in SA. If all goes well, then I might stay a little longer.” He told her.
“That’s too bad. I was just starting to get to know you.” She said in a sad tone with her eyes all popped up.
“That sad face isn’t cutting it…” Markus commented with a smile. He moved closer to her and widened her lips to expose her teeth. “That’s much better.”
“You such a bully. I hate you.” With her tongue exposed and face covered.
“We have known each other for years. I don’t see how it’s different.” He pointed out.
“It’s different because ladies deal with touch, while you guys do with vision. Of course, we have been chatting and all that but having you next to me and being able to see you, all this gives off a different vibe.” Janine told him.
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While the two were finally landing on common ground and bonding, Max was getting impatient of waiting for Janine. The biggest blow was that she wasn’t responding to his messages.

‘No! No! No! I can’t come all the way here and then she pulls a fast one on me. That’s unacceptable. Janine isn’t the type to do such or maybe she is?’ Within his mind, he debated with himself.
‘Maybe that guy was right, after all, I might need to get therapy instead of trying to mend a broken egg.’

Janine “@” Hello, have you started off already? “@”
Max “@” Yes, I have. Am even in Kitwe. How’s it going with your brother? “@”
Janine “@” It’s going fine. Let me know when you get to Chingola. Maybe you will find me in town. “@”
Max “@” Sure thing. I don’t think there is a problem “@”

Max had it all planned out, the only thing that was left was for him to pray that everything would work out according to plan.
In an attempt to pass time, he decided to go window shopping; a little bit of everything and nothing at the same time.
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For Janine, being around Markus proved to be different. Well, apart from the awkward staring he proved himself to be a real gentleman and held his ground firmly (The conversation kept going).

“Is that meeting you told me about in the after still on?” Markus asked her.
“Yes. It’s still on. The person is even from texting.” She responded warmly.
“Good.” He quickly commented. It was obvious that Markus wanted to spend more time with her and the same was true for Janine.

The two spoke for a few more minutes until there was no time left. Otherwise, Max would be calling soon to complain. He was a cry baby like that, something that got on her nerves.
Together they walked to the roadside, their small talk was nothing serious but brought laughter and smiles.

“I didn’t know you can be funny. Oh my!” Janine said excitedly. She was trying to get a hold of herself.
“I don’t think am funny at all,” Markus said.
“I see what you doing there, why did it take so long for us to link up?”
“Well, should I answer that, or I let it slide?” He smiled widely, exposing his teeth. It was more like a fake smile though.
He cleared his throat; the laughing virus was still lingering around there. “I think we haven’t met all these years because you’ve always been in a relationship as far as I can remember.” He pointed out.
“Always!” She exclaimed, “That’s so not true.” She added, giving it a bit of thought as she spoke.
“While there was that guy, then that one, we also have the Ndola dude whose so obsessed. I wonder what happened to him…” Markus said.
“Huh! Who?” Janine was startled.

It was true indeed that for some weird reason Markus happened to be right. ‘He remembers all our conversations…’ but that wasn’t her main focus, what caught her off guard was him referring to Max. When in actual sense, she was going to meet up with him.

Tbc…

KENNEDY C KATONGO