Nadir
Chapter 11

My Mondays are always from hell. I have told myself countless times that there is nothing blue about Monday but each time I start the week in the office, it’s another series of hell fire. From the usual Monday meeting to responding to emails and then attending to employee queries, I already have a terrible headache. Joshua and I spoke just when I got to the office and we both had busy schedules so I don’t expect him to reach out.

I am starving but I can’t squeeze in a meal as I have so much to do. The receptionist calls and tells me that Jackie is here to see me. It’s going into two months from the last time we were together and it’s been weeks since we spoke and of course I miss her but she has picked the wrong day to show up.

‘The lost best friend.’ She teases once I let her into the office.

I look at her, wondering where she is even getting the guts to act like everything is fine between us.

‘Jackie I am having a very busy Monday.’ I respond as I type away on the laptop.

‘I know, that is why I brought this.’ She says putting a lunch box on the table.

‘What is this?’

‘I cooked.’

‘You cooked?’

‘Yes we both know I hate cooking but I had to do this knowing you would be mad at me.’

‘Well played.’

‘Come on Nandy, you can’t be mad at me forever.’

‘Jackie I am not mad at you. I am very disappointed in you.’

‘I know and that is why I have been staying away from you. I knew you would be all up in your feelings I was hoping by the time I come back you would no longer be mad but clearly I was wrong.’

‘Dude we blacked out and woke up in a stranger’s house. But instead of you being there you weren’t.’

‘I had to leave, I had things to do.’

‘Jackie what are you not telling me.’

She leans back in her chair.

‘Okay so after the drinks and all, I noticed a gentleman staring at me. He looked hot and I just wanted to get my clothes off and lay in bed with him, he too felt the same. We were too drunk to drive so he drove me in his car and his brother drove you in yours.’

‘You slept with Ems?’

‘That’s his name?’

‘Dude you know me, it was just sex. Besides I was too drunk to even remember how bad it was. I had to leave early because my sugar somebody was arriving at the pent house and I didn’t want to mess that up.’

‘So you left me with strangers?’ I ask bewildered.

‘Joshua really liked you and promised to take care of you, in my hangovered state I knew he was one of the few good ones.’

‘And you trusted him?’

‘Well look at you now.’

I shake my head. Her explanation is valid but I am still not okay with her.

‘I still haven’t forgiven you Jackie.’

‘You have to.’

‘No.’

‘Babe you are being a hypocrite, things are okay between Joshua and you, why must they be off between us?’

‘What I have with him is different, you know this. You were supposed to be my ride or die, but you left me in a stranger’s house.’

‘And I am sorry.’

‘Whatever.’ I say.

She opens the bowl and places it in my face.

‘You are forgiven.’ I say looking at the pumpkin, peanuts and maize.

‘I know the way to your heart yes?’

‘You are my soulmate.’ I tell her sanitizing my hands.

I pick the cob of maize and bite into it, allowing it to make love to my taste buds.

‘You are weird you know that.’

‘I know and you love me like that.’

She rolls her eyes.

‘So you and Ems really had sex?’

‘I can’t remember how it was and I would want to go for a rematch but I didn’t get his number.’

‘A re-what?’

She laughs.

‘So how are things with the boyfriend?’

‘Jackie he is a gentleman.’

‘Awwww.’

‘I know, I am sprung it scares me.’

‘You need to enjoy what you have with him, you know I couldn’t be happier for you.’

‘He cooks, he is considerate, he is not stingy with money and he is an amazing kisser.’

‘I was hoping you would say he is amazing in bed.’

‘We haven’t had sex yet.’

‘Excuse me, what are you waiting for?’

‘Babe we agreed to do it when the time is right.’

‘We? As in the both of you agreed to that nonsense?’

‘He is a gentleman.’

She vigorously shakes her head.

‘What?’

‘If he is not getting it from you, he is definitely getting it from somewhere else.’

‘You know you have a messed up version of relationships right?’

‘I know and I am not trying to make you have the same thoughts as me, you are allowed to think that he is faithful while I am allowed to think otherwise.’

Silence.

‘No.’ I say shaking my head after thinking through what she has told me.

‘I love that the two of you have a good thing going and I am happy for you. But be careful hey.’

‘I am careful which is why I refused to meet his mum.’

‘He wants you to meet his mum?’

‘Yep, she is in town and he wants me to meet her.’

‘He is not cheating on you.’

‘How can you suddenly change your mind?’

‘The relationship is too new for him to want you to meet his mum, it’s either he feels he has met the one or he feels he has met the one.’

‘That’s the same thing.’

‘Exactly, you are the one.’

…

Kwenje’s Girl

Winnie

🙇🏾‍♀️