Perpetual

I get home and I have never been so excited about calling someone like I am right now, I haven’t even taken off my clothes yet and I am already soaking Pearl’s number.

‘That was quick.’ She says immediately she picks up. There is a certain relaxation in her voice.

‘You are saying that you know where I live.’

‘Well I might have an idea.’

‘Are you stalking me?’

‘Maybe.’

I find myself laughing because I don’t believe her.

‘How about you freshen up, eat something then you can call me.’

‘How about you do those things with me?’

‘Your phone is water proof?’

‘May.’

‘Leo take a bath and you can call me as you eat.’

‘Alright.’

She cuts the line before I can say anything else. I take a quick hot shower and check the kitchen for some food. James is probably out with his other friends, between the two of us he is the outgoing one and I know his friends think I am full of myself because I choose to keep to myself but I have found but that solitude can save you from a lot of things. There is a potato salad in the refrigerator and roasted chicken in the grill which I warm up and serve it on the same plate as the salad. I am about to call Pearl when she calls me.

‘I was about to call you.’ I tell her

‘Liar liar bums on fire.’

‘You didn’t.’

‘I just did.’

We both laugh.

‘I was just warming up dinner.’

‘What’s for dinner?’

I tell her as I settle down on the couch.

‘You are sure that’s enough?’

‘With the heavy lunch that we had, I needed something light for dinner. I called the help before hand.’

‘A help, that’s some fancy way of leaving.’

I don’t want to say anything, we might have different lives but she has no idea that I have walked the low life before and if I am here it’s because I worked for everything that I have. I deserve all the help I can get.

‘Bad joke?’

‘I don’t think that was a joke.’

‘Come on Leo, I was seriously just messing with you. You don’t have to take it serious.’

I sigh deeply.

‘When are schools opening? I was thinking you come to my office and look at my office, give me a quotation and see what magic you can work around there.’

‘Why are you doing this?’

‘You told me what you are studying didn’t you? Unless you are not ready then I would understand.’

My question is met with silence.

‘I have ruined the night haven’t I?’

‘Not ruining it, but the air just got thick.’

‘Yeah I know. I have this habit of doing this, pushing anything good away because I don’t think I can handle any good in my life.’

‘Have you talked to someone about it? Do you need help.’

‘Only rich people talk to therapists Leo. I don’t come from such a background, look at my mother.’

‘What makes you think that I come from a rich family? I am really curious to know.’

‘I don’t know, I guess the way you carry yourself and stuff.’

‘You are so gullible ain’t you?’

‘Don’t use the word gullible.’

I laugh at how she sounds.

‘Pearl I think let’s call it a night.’

‘Let me make it up to you Leo, I am not this stuck up gullible person you are beginning to think I am.’

‘What do you have in mind?’

‘Let me take you out for lunch this weekend.’

‘And what happens between now and the weekend?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘I am not waiting for the weekend to see you Pearl.’

‘Oh I forgot to mention, I will be staying at my cousin’s place the next couple of days. She needs help preparing for her graduation party this weekend.’

‘Your cousin?’

‘Yes, Sasha. She just graduated with a degree in banking and finance. Everyone in the family seems to be proud of her because she is the perfect daughter unlike me who is studying what I am.’

‘Get some sleep, you are tired.’

‘Leo.’

‘An idle mind is the devil’s playground Pearl. Get some sleep.’

..

Kwenje’s Girl

Winnie

🙇🏾‍♀️