Forks and Knives – Episode 12

FORKS AND KNIVES
Episode 12
A story by Kennedy C Katongo
∆ LOVE AND OTHER THINGS ∆
“Ta… Tandiwe right? Tandiwe!” He called out to her.
“Stop calling my name.” She responded.
“I won’t stop calling you until you stop and talk to me.” Mambwe said sharply with confidence in his voice.
“Some sounds like he doesn’t get turned down easily. Keep calling if you want.” She smiled as she kept on walking.
‘Am seriously following her, man this is bad. Since when did I get this desperate?’ He thought to himself as he followed her.
“Come on, I just want to talk to you…” Mambwe said.
“There is nothing to talk about. Just stop following me.” She responded, sounding a bit rude this time around.
“You know what! Fine!” Mambwe exclaimed as she stood.
‘This isn’t me. I can’t be begging some girl just to talk to me.’ His inner voice echoed. With that thought, he turned and went back to the shopping complex to have a sit and have his Sharwama.
“You see why I don’t buy food for girls? The dude just got turned down.” The man who wrapped the Sharwama said to the seller.
“Mmmh so you just there looking at what is happening…” She laughed. “From the look of things the lady knows him. Maybe he just needs to try h-rder.” She added.
“Try h-rder! You funny. He just got ignored in public by a lady. That’s embarrassing.” The man commented.
“Not every girl is easy. To think of it, there is no such thing as an easy girl. The fact that she likes you enough to accept you within a week doesn’t mean she’s weak. She’s just in love. Other ladies want to make sure the man they give themselves to is a fighter.” She said in her girly voice.
Mambwe sat alone outside the complex tables as he took a bite off the Sharwama. And just like the last said, it was just as good as the one found at Northmead market.
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.
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“Is the crowd outside waiting for you?” Malumbo asked.
“I don’t think so. I hear they waiting for a certain thief who was beaten down.” Roderick answered.
“Beaten. What’s with guys and being beaten down. This is just wrong.” Jeff contributed.
“Has the baby mama called you?” Malumbo asked his friend.
“Nah. I doubt she wants to talk to me. Cherry really insulted her, you know how she behaves when she’s upset.” He coughed as he made an effort to laugh.
“I know. That’s why am even switching off my phone. I don’t want to get tangled up. To make matters worse if she finds out I knew about this… God am dead.” Malumbo said.
“You knew? You knew? Hey Roderick, what’s going on with you two? First of all you don’t tell me you have gotten a girl pregnant. Then I here that your rich friend knew about it.” Jeff said with a sad tone.
The tension in Roderick’s hospital bed was obvious between Jeff and Malumbo. Jeff felt left behind on everything that was happening. Being aware of the fact that Malumbo knew everything really knocked him down. He felt like his position as best friend had been invaded by the rich guy. No wonder, with every comment in the room the two of them were almost picking a fight.
“It’s a good thing I didn’t know about all this. That way I don’t get to face Cherry at all.” With a smile, Jeff spoke.
“Well you still his friend. She will cook you alive regardless of having knowledge about this or not.” Malumbo jumped in.
“You two really need to fix your issues. Am the one who got beaten down, am the one with a baby mama and a crazy girlfriend. Yet there you are picking on each other. I thought only girls do such.” Roderick said with furry.
Outside the hospital, Tandiwe had found herself a s₱0t to seat as she ate her food. For some reason, Mambwe’s face kept popping up in her head. She didn’t like him, in fact, he wasn’t even her type of man.
‘Am not going to let him mess my thoughts up.’ she said to herself as she shook her head.
‘But he seems to be a good guy. Anyway all guys are innocent until you allow them in your life.’ She said in a manner that contradicted her own thoughts.
He got the Fruitree, opened it and took a sip.
On Mambwe’s said, his phone rang. It was Jane calling.
JANE: ‘Hey. How are you doing?’
MAMBWE: ‘Am fine thanks. I didn’t think you would call.’
JANE: ‘Well, from how I’ve known you. I thought you would be the one to call me first. lol.’
MAMBWE: ‘I thought of calling you. The only problem is that I didn’t have to say to you. After all it’s not like you did anything wrong.’
JANE: ‘You still act like that. Dropping things when you upset. That’s just so wrong. Stop burying your feelings and express them for once.’
MAMBWE: ‘What do you want me to say? That I was hurt finding out you dating in such a manner? Or maybe I should explain to how how hopeless my love life is because I’ve failed to move on ever since our relationsh¡p ended… Which one would you like me to start with?’
JANE: ‘I didn’t mean it like that…”
MAMBWE: ‘Then what did you mean? As far as my memory goes I remember us agreeing over dinner that if either one of us began dating we would notify the other. But no… You didn’t think it was necessary to tell me. After all, you the boss, you can’t be told anything.’
JANE: ‘Mambwe let’s not drag my work into this. Am sorry I didn’t tell you. I just didn’t know how to tell you. The truth is I wasn’t even planning on dating this guy, it just happened.’
MAMBWE: ‘Just happened… Girl am not young. Things don’t just happen, unless you tell me you didn’t notice it every time he called you or asked you to meet him at some fancy place. Listen, I know we’ve grown, maybe am the problem here… I can’t accept that we are done and I fight very hærd to keep us close so that I don’t feel alone. But I now get it, congratulations.’
Jane got irritated and cut the call. There was just something about Mambwe when he was upset that broke her down. He had a way of saying things that just hit the heart.
She knew very well calling him was a bad idea, but she didn’t want him to go cold on her. After all, that was the type of man Mambwe was, emotional and sensitive.
Mambwe’s day had just gotten worse. From being ignored in public to a phone call that stirred up his frustrations. He packed his Sharwama and decided to go back to the car. Without paying attention, he walked passed Tandiwe without saying a word to her.
When she saw him approaching, she thought he would say something to her. But to her surprise he seemed low and upset as he passed her.
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.
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“Man! I need to get going Roderick. Mambwe is going to kill me if I don’t give him his money.” Malumbo said nervously.
“You and your brother are really something else. Tell him am not getting him his favorite wine this time around.” Roderick giggled.
“You know how difficult Mambwe can be at times. And you myself, you better act fast otherwise you will be left with no girl at the end of this.” Malumbo said as he tapped him on the leg. “It was nice finally meeting you Jeff. Looking forward to seeing you again.” He added as the two of them did a fist bump.
“Am sure the next time you see me you will be replacing Roderick on the bed.” Jeff laughed.
“Hahaha. Now the brother is trying to be funny.” Malumbo commented as he walked out the room.
“Why are you looking at me like that? I still don’t like the dude. Did you see how arrogant he was… Busy trying to be the first. Mxxxm.” Jeff nagged.
“Come on. His not a bad guy. His just competitive that’s all. Furthermore, I think you would enjoy the brothers company more.” Roderick added.
“How did you even get to be friends with the richest kids in Lusaka. Did you bribe them to be your friends?” Jeff asked.
To be continued.