Heartaches and Tears – Episode 20

HEARTACHES AND TEARS – Episode 20
A story by Kennedy C Katongo
GREEN-EYED-MONSTER-P-2
If there was one thing I couldn’t stand, it was a man who would faithfully hit a woman without a second thought. That I couldn’t take.
Immediately I got home, I found Mable in the kitchen. I placed the plastics on the table and went direct to the shower. I didn’t want her to see that my shirt was tone and that i had a bit of a bruise on my face.
I took of my clothes and stood in the shower as water ran on my body. For some reason I kept thinking about what had just happened. I couldn’t believe Amanda had settled for an abusive relationsh¡p.
@@ @@ MABLE @@ @@
I was done with everything, the only thing that remained was milk. Nathan had been gone for a while. It wasn’t like him to take long when he went to the shops.
In the midst of my thoughts, the Kitchen door opened. Nathan rushed in, avoiding eye contact he placed the plastics on the table, “So I took long.” He said in a low whisper. Everything was happening so fast that I didn’t even get a clear look at him.
I followed him. His clothes were on the floor. I could hear him hit the wall as he scre-med in anguish.
“Baby! You scaring me. What’s going on?” I asked him. Nathan was weird, he always avoided getting upset at talk costs. That usually lead him to walk out on something if he wasn’t comfortable with him. However, in the few times that I had seen him upset and pissed… I really got worried.
I took of my slippers and walked up to him. I didn’t even think twice about having my clothes and hair w-t. The last 5 months had been good and we promised each other to always communicate no matter how silly the thought was. But… If Nathan had something bothering him and he couldn’t tell me, it meant things were bad.
I wrapped my hands around him, “It’s okay. Am here for you.” I said to him.
“I don’t know what to do.” He responded.
“I’ve seen the clothes… What happened?”
“I can’t tell you. I’ve already hurt you and I don’t want to do that. I don’t wasn’t to torment you.” He said as he held me tightly. “I really love you.” He added.
Nathan was getting me worried, he spoke as if something terrible had happened. He spoke as though – as though it was his last time being with me.
“I promise to be strong. Talk to me baby…” I pressed on. I hated the site of him being helpless.
“It’s about Amanda.” He said. For some reason, he let go of me, between him and me, water was the only thing that stood in the way. That name again. I felt shivers , I wanted to shout and just go crazy. Yet, for some reason I was calm.
“What about her?” I asked him.
“She’s not doing well. She needs help.” He responded.
“Is she the one that did this?” I was turning his head left and right checking him for more bruises.
“No. I got in a fight with a certain man who I presume – is the boyfriend.” He answered.
“A fight! So why did you fight him? I thought you said you done with her. You promised me. And now this? Come on Nathan.”
“I meant every word I said. She was being mistreated and hit in public. I had to do something.” Nathan objectified.
“You can’t be everyone’s superman. I don’t know what to tell you… Because even if I tried to stop you – you still going to do something crazy.” I told him.
“Do you remember, huh, what my greatest fear is?” He asked me.
I remember asking him that question on the second date we had. During that time, I didn’t ever think I would say ‘yes’ to him. I just happened to enjoy his company.
He had been laughing at something the time I threw the question to him, “Fear. Let’s see.” He said thoughtfully. “Am available to die with things on my mind. I wasn’t to make sure I apply myself and be an answer to someone.” He responded.
I began running my hand on his chest, he had hair, I always found myself pulling it when we were playing. But I couldn’t do it, he was tense and worried about offending me if he helped Amanda. While on the other hand, he was still going to do it regardless of what I would tell him.
“Yes! I do remember your fear.” I told him.
“Can I help her? Just this once…” He asked me.
.
.
.
I didn’t know what to tell him, at least he had the guts to ask me about it. That counted for something. For some reason, I let him do what he right was right. He went on to promise there was nothing between himself and her.
After an hour, Nathan was on a phone call. It seemed to be an emergency because he rushed with shoes in his hands. k-ssed me, and left.
@@ @@ MWAKA @@ @@
“Amanda!” I called out. I arrived home only to fight the room was locked. It wasn’t empty though, I could hear KK’s voice – he was shouting at Amanda and asking her questions about who the guy was. I didn’t know what was going on, but when she responded – she was crying. He had been beating her up as he questioned her.
“I told toy if I ever found you with another guy I would break you.” He said to her.
“I wasn’t with him. I was just there and he showed up from nowhere to fight you.” She cried out.
“You think just because am drunk, I couldn’t tell from the way he looked at you that you two knew each other?” He hit her.
I went to bang on the door asking him to stop but he didn’t. I tried pushing the door but nothing was happening. The guys that were renting in another room had gone out for a week, the rest of three place, everyone was in their own yard.
“Tell me who he was! Otherwise am going to make sure I f**k you up.” KK had been hitting her for a while. I felt helpless, I couldn’t believe this was going on and Amanda couldn’t even call me. As far as I knew, KK was the only guy she had been seeing, who ever the other guy was – he really got him pissed.
I got my phone, dialed the only emergency line I knew, the land lord, unfortunately I didn’t have talk time, my account already had a siliza tag of K50.
I went to the back of the house, to check if the window was open, It wasn’t my lucky day. The dumb window was closed. I tried to create some shade with my hand to see if I could manage to see that was going on in,side. However I couldn’t see anything. The light was out.
It then hit me, I had SMSs. I immediately texted Nathan. He was the last person on my mind. If he wasn’t going to respond, then I was to heard to the police station and have then come over. KK was now being abusive. This wasn’t the man I thought he was, the good looks, the slang, the smiles were all just a mask to hide the true person he was.
I left the house rushing to find a taxi because even Mr Saturday wasn’t coming through. I wouldn’t blame him, after all, it had been more than 5 months. Maybe our lines were even blocked.
To be continued…