THE COMPANY WE KEEP…..cntd

THE COMPANY WE KEEP
(INSERT 2)

I said goodbye to Monica and started heading home. Friday was one of my worst days because I had to walk all the way home. Mum was usually busy which was the reason for my walking. Since Dad passed on things have been hard, mum spends more time at work than at home. As I was walking my phone rang, it was Monica calling, “Jane stop, at least let me give you a ride home.” I hesitated for a few seconds then accepted, I knew I just had to because I hated walking home from school. I stood beside the road, as I waited for her. “Never talk to me like that again okay? You will find me at the Kiosk up the road.”

A few minutes later I saw Monica’s car, from a distance I tried to focus my eyes to see if she was with Katuu. I sighed soothingly when I noticed she was alone. The eyes of the men near the Kiosk were all on me, I liked the attention but those penetrating looks started to freak me out. “Hey come in”, she called out to me. I’m in my mid-twenties but somehow look younger than my age. Dad was the strict and concerned type, just saying hi to a guy meant questions at the end of the day. It was for this reason I never went through teen-age relationships and heart breaks like most girls do.

With every guy that proposed to me I looked for a father figure, but coming to this part of higher education proved me wrong. I got into the car and for the next 5 minutes I had no option but to listen to her apologies. “I want to get something at the mall, is that okay?” she asked trying to be polite. I smiled and shook my head in agreement. “What are you getting?” I asked. She smiled before she could answer, “Remember that guy I met on Facebook? Earlier today I asked him we could have lunch, but he said he was busy….” I tried to remember the guy as she spoke but as usual it wasn’t an easy thing because just this week she had met up with about 7 guys from social media and one of them almost raped her so she said.

“Kennedy?” I asked with a frown on my face. She dramatically giggled. This came as a shock for me because I never knew her as the type to like or be into someone. “Someone seems to be falling, finally.” I added as we continued to laugh. I checked my watch and I still had time to make it for the prayer meeting. We arrived at the mall, from a distance we could see Kennedy as he stood waiting, unlike Katuu he was younger and a gentleman. “Are you going out dressed like that!?” I exclaimed as Monica tried to open the door.

She was in a short skirt that only covered her backside, her brown legs were hard not to notice because of her complexion. “There is nothing wrong with what I’m wearing Jane loosen up, this is Lusaka” she said. As we walked to were Kennedy was, every guys’ eye was on her thighs, at least five guys had said hi by the time we reached our destination.

I wondered if every guy was like that, but the one who caught my attention was Kennedy. Even though Monica acted all crazy about him, he seemed different and not the type that would go out with her. “Hey guys…” he said warmly as we got to where he was standing. He gave Monica a hug and extended his hand to say hi.

“Am not taking long with you guys, but I would like to buy some food for you since I couldn’t make it for lunch.” He said and led the way. Unlike the rest of Monica’s guys, he was very well mannered and funny at the same time. He reminded me of my dad, after getting everything we needed he walked us to the car. “Jane, it was nice seeing you again.” I couldn’t help but smile simply because he remembered my name. I entered the car so that they could have a few seconds to themselves.

I got my phone and decided to call mum since these guys were taking longer than expected. “Hey mum…” I said warmly but it seemed she was busy as usual and couldn’t talk. “Am sorry love I will call you later.” she said and cut the line. I felt a sting in my heart as I continuously replayed her words in my mind, it’s like she had an obsession for work that she couldn’t even talk to me or find time to talk. I tried to cry out to God but my heart was heavy that I couldn’t think about his kindness anymore. In as much as I tried to be strong, inside I knew I was hurting deeply.

I checked on Monica but it seemed like they were having some sort of misunderstanding. Kennedy was holding her hand and trying not to cause a scene as he spoke. “I hate this.” Monica’s voice echoed in my ears as she opened and closed the door. I didn’t have to ask because she would eventually speak up on her own. “Imagine, we’re not even dating and he wants to be controlling my life!” I almost laughed that she was mad because he tried to control her. The last guy who did that received insults like an Egyptian sand storm.

“Why does it bother you? Just leave him like you do with the others weh!” I said. Deep inside I knew this wasn’t me giving such advice. But I didn’t want to be religious with her and get her more upset. “He said he didn’t like the skirt, ati if this is how I will be dressing then we won’t see eye to eye. Imagine the nerve, there are guys dying to see me like this”, She said. One could tell how full of pride Monica was just by listening to her for 5 good minutes.

The last time I saw her this upset was when she was called a slut by one of her boyfriends. There was something more that I wasn’t getting, Monica wouldn’t just get upset this easily. “But why are you bothered mama naimwe?” I asked calmly as I perceived the matter to be serious.

“Do you remember that day I came back for class saying I saw dad?” she said. I agreed with no doubt because our class tutor wouldn’t stop talking about it the whole afternoon calling it a miracle. “The thing is I lied. It wasn’t dad that I met but Kennedy, he shouted at me and dragged me to his car and brought me back to class.” I sat dead still, my lower jaw dropped and I couldn’t believe what I heard.
It was like Kennedy had a strong effect on her and his opinion towards her really made some form of impact.

CLICK HERE FOR EPISODE 3.