Heartaches and Tears – Episode 16

HEARTACHES AND TEARS – Episode 16
A story by Kennedy C Katongo
GRENADES
Amanda and I spent the rest of the night chatting. She went on to tell me how she met KK and how they began talking to each other.
“He sounds very persistent.” I laughed.
“That’s just the half of it. He walked up to me and asked if I had a ride home. When I refused he put up this smile… It was priceless. Then he said, ‘guess today’s your lucky day. You just got yourself a driver.’ The nerve with this guy.” Amanda said as she blushed about it.
“Someone is in love…” I commented.
“What! Nah. I don’t do love at first site. You know me better.” She giggled while throwing a pillow at me.
“I won’t lie, his cute. But guys like him have a lot of girls throwing themselves at him. I don’t think I can manage that. This time around I wasn’t someone I can call my own.” She smiled as she spoke.
“Easy said than done. Get to know him. He might prove to be another.” I told her.
I couldn’t remember the last time Amanda felt uneasy talking about a guy. I felt happy that she was finally considering other people after things between her and Mr Saturday turned off.
Even though she wouldn’t say it; Nathan had become a big part of her life and finding a man who would live up to that standard or yet, come close was like finding a grain of sand in a bag of meali meal.
“Are we washing tomorrow?”I nagged. I hated it.
“Not again. I just washed the previous day.” Amanda responded.
“What you say we call the lady that washed blankets for us?” I suggested. We both agreed.
@@ @@ MWAKA @@ @@
“Why haven’t you called your rich friends to help you? After all, that’s where you go when you have money.” I told him. I knew he wasn’t bluffing about calling Mable. It was a good thing he didn’t bring it up while we were home. On the other hand, there was no way… I was going to give him a K20, 000.
“Okay. How much can you help me with?” He asked. I stepped on the gas and we continued on the way to his home.
“You know you can’t ignore me for life right?” He laughed.
“Am going to help you. But I don’t like you blackmailing me for money. You need to learn to save and invest instead of moving from one company to the next. That’s not healthy. You 36 for Christ sake.” I told him. He had pressed the button and he has this lecture coming.
“Oh! Just hold it. You want to point fingers right now?” He laughed, “I told you not to clench your heart with feelings. But nope, you went ahead.” He added.
“You not going to drag Amanda in this. You want to rat me out. I’ve had your bloody back from day one! And what do I get for it? You – using my screats to get money from me.”
I was so pissed such that when we arrived at Emmanuels place, I told him to stay away from me and my family for some time. I assured him I would send him some money but other than that, that was it. I was done with him.
When going back home, the only thing I was thinking about was what Mable might have been going through. She has always been smart, believing she bought the lie that Emmanuel sold her was a myth. I was certain she saw through him.
When I got home I found her seated on the living room watching TV. This wasn’t a good sign. I was in need of a wonder.
“Hey. You up?” I asked her.
“I’ve failed to sleep. I have something on my mind that’s bothering me.” She said. She turned to look at me and asked me to join her.
“I want to ask you something. I need you to be real with me.” She said as I sat down.
“Please… What’s the question?” I asked as I felt my knees weaken from being tense.
I knew what she wanted to ask. But the fact that she was ready to ask me made me scared. I wanted more days to eat some Chinkamba and all those. I wasn’t ready for another fight, this time around I wasn’t prepared.
“I want to to tell me… Who is Amanda?” She asked as her eyes got fixed on mine. The shivers my body received. I was caught between lying and saying the truth.
“She’s a friend.” I responded, I pulled myself together with a slight cough and added, “A close friend.”
“I see. By close, do you m-e-a-n you’ve slept with her?” She added another question.
I wasn’t planning to answer that question despite promising to answer every question truthfully. I bowed my heard to break the eye contact. I knew very well admitting to it would just break her more.
“Answer me Nathan. I want to hear it.” She said in a whisper. I raised my head and tears were now rolling down her face.
“Am not answering that.”
“Answer me dammit!” She shouted.
“You going to wake up the kids…” I responded as I touched her hand. I don’t even know were the slap came from… All I remember was my vision fading a bit.
“How many times did you do it?” She asked me. At this point she was in tears. “I know I made a mistake, I know I went to far. But that didn’t give you the right to go sleeping around.” She yelled.
I was silent trying to nurse my face. She was behaving like I was Saint Paul. She starved me for almost a month and she expected me to be strong.
“What’s wrong with you Nathan?” She asked me as she sobbed. “To make it worse you took my children to meet your wh-res… Why could you do such a thing?” She asked.
“Amanda is not a wh-re. You can disrespect me all you want but I won’t be here listening to you call her names.” I told her.
“Oooh! So you even supporting her?” She got up and pushed the glass table. It was a good thing the curved TV was mounted. Otherwise if would have hit directly into the TV.
“Get out!”
“What? Its late. Where do you expect me to go?”
“That’s non of my business.” she said as she pointed a cooking stick at me. God knows were she even got it from.
I knee very well what was good for me. I got my phone, a pillow and went out to the car. Was this ‘forever after?’ or maybe I was over thinking. I knew this wasn’t over, she might have been hesitating because of the kids.
@@ @@ MABLE @@ @@
“Get out!!” I shouted. I felt my heart tighten and my emotions flow out everywhere. I was mad. I wasn’t to get a stone and through it on that big TV to just make him know how much hurt I felt.
“What? Its late. Where do you expect me to go?” He asked me as he moved backwards.
“That’s non of my business.” I responded. I watched as he got a pillow and his phone.
Tears were pouring. I got my phone and called Candle. I left her two missed calls since she wasn’t responding. I just wanted to get a stone and hit him. In that moment I didn’t care, the thought of him cheating on me kept echoing in my head.
Even though I had no idea how Amanda looked like, I couldn’t help it but feel bitter about her. I got the keys and locked the doors. I didn’t know were to go anyone. Maybe it was all my fault – after all, I denied him heaven.
But no! Nathan, my Nathan?? I still couldn’t come to terms with the truth. He was just so innocent. Maybe I was a fool to think he wouldn’t explore other options.
I picked up my phone and buzzed Candle a few times till at last she answered.
“What’s going on? You know its late right?” Candle said in a whisper. “Wait, are you crying?” “What’s going on? Are you okay? She asked me.
“Am not okay. It’s Nathan. He f**ked another girl Candle. He cheated!” I cried out.
Candle was silent, am sure she was out of words. After all, she told me such a thing would happen if I continued playing diva. I didn’t want to hear her say, “I told you…”
“Am coming at your place right now.” she said as she cut the line.
To be continued…