Nadir

Joshua has just left. The trip wore him out and he looks like he could use some rest. After I see him off, I open my phone and go straight to Facebook. I should have blocked Ems but I wanted to see the contents of the message so I open it.

‘Congratulations on bagging Lusaka’s most eligible bachelor.’ The message reads.

I am not sure why but I read that over and over again. I don’t know if it is coming from a good place or has some sarcasm in it but it doesn’t sit well with me that he is even texting me.

‘What do you want?’ I respond.

‘What makes you think I want something?’ he responds almost immediately.

Ems pisses me off. Our first meeting wasn’t any better and it keeps getting worse each time we talk and I wish I knew why.

I am about to respond when there is an incoming video call. A part of me wants to cut it and block him but the curious part of me picks up.

‘Why would you be picking my call this late when you are dating my brother?’

He is dressed in a military combat.

‘What sort of a person are you? And what exactly do you want from me?’ I ask angrily and I don’t care if I am being rude.

‘Are you just having a bad day or you are naturally rude?’

I sigh in defeat. We have been on this call for close to three minutes and not once has he looked at me. The entire time his eyes have been else where, I am not even sure why he called.

‘What did I ever do to you that you choose to make my life miserable? I don’t know you, I don’t have any business with you. It’s your brother I am dating yet you behave like we had some sort of relationship that didn’t work out and you can’t get over the fact that I am with him.’

‘Is that how highly you think of yourself?’

‘You know what Ems?’

‘For Christ’s sake not you too.’ He says this time looking at me, he looks tired.

‘What?’

‘Why can’t just say Emmanuel? You had to say Ems? Where are the rest of the letters?’

He sulks even as he asks that and I find myself laughing.

‘Something funny?’ he asks making a British accent, I laugh again and find myself relaxing in my chair.

‘How have you been? With your sister away and all?’

‘How are you a yellow bone?’

‘Question for a question huh?’

‘What makes you think that I want to tell you things about me?’

‘I should earn that?’ he asks with a raised eyebrow.

‘You got it right.’

‘How don’t you know why I am a yellow bone from your boyfriend? Isn’t that one of the first things you talk about before you can get in each other’s pants?’

‘We are not getting in each other’s pants.’

I am sweating.

‘Eventually you will, he is not a virgin and I know you are not.’

‘I am holding up just fine with Martha staying with her bestfriend.’ I respond trying to move away from the conversation.

‘Have you checked on her?’

‘How are you a yellow bone?’ I fire back and that has him smiling. It’s a first.

‘Our grandfather was white, I got most of my genes from him whilst Joshua got most from our dad.’

‘He must be god’s favorite child then.’

‘What? You are racist?’

‘I just like my men dark.’

‘Like Joshua.’

‘Of course like Joshua.’

‘Then it must be nice being close to God’s favorite child right?’

‘I hate your sarcasm.’

‘And Joshua will hate you for talking to me.’

I roll my eyes. I know it’s wrong that I am even talking to him but my curiosity has brought me here.

‘Duty calls pumpkin, take care of yourself hey. And check on your sister, the two of you only have each other.’ He says and cuts the line.

I am left staring at the phone for a while, why is he all of a sudden behaving like we are friends? Asking me to check on my sister and then calling me pumpkin. My thoughts are interrupted when Joshua calls.

‘Hey babe.’ He says.

‘Hey you.’

‘I just got home.’

‘You must be tired please rest.’

‘I feel better after the bath but I still need that much needed rest.’

‘Yeah, I don’t know how you managed because if I were in your shoes I would be dead with sleep right now.’

‘I am not working tomorrow so I get to rest before Monday.’

‘Oh yeah.’

‘What do you have planned for tomorrow?’

‘I need to get these couches out of the plastics and put them in order.’

‘You need a help, you work too hard.’

‘I swear I do. With Martha gone I am realizing just how much she meant around here.’

‘Yeah, until people are gone do we realize their value.’

That makes me feel sad but I choose not to say anything.

‘Babe let me get some sleep, I will come through tomorrow after church.’

‘Sure, what would you like for lunch?’

‘What would you like?’

‘Joshua we are not doing this.’

‘It’s our tradition, I get to cook for you.’

‘If you insist.’

‘That’s more like it.’

‘By the way, have you heard from your brother?’

‘He texted when he arrived and we haven’t gotten any news about injuries so there is nothing to talk about.’

‘Oh I see.’

‘Nandy.’

‘Yes.’

‘For what it’s worth I hope my brother never comes between us.’

‘But why would you say that?’

‘I know him.’

‘And you should know me.’

‘I just get scared when I think of my past.’

‘It is you I am with.’ I say.

‘Alright sleep well.’

‘You too.’

Immediately the line cuts I go to my Facebook messenger, delete the messages with Ems and block him.

…

Kwenje’s Girl

Winnie

🙇🏾‍♀️