Solitude – Episode 19
SOLITUDE
_19_
(Unedited)
I immediately take a bath after getting home, after the jab I am feeling much better and now I am hungry.
‘What do you want for dinner?’ I ask August who is busy on his laptop, his presence is making my house feel small
‘I am coming.’ He says
‘No you are not.’ I respond getting busy with the pots
‘Nella you are sick.’
‘It’s nothing serious.’
‘You blacked out on me and you think it is not serious?’ he asks looking at me
I want to laugh but he is serious
‘Nella this is funny to you?’
‘Sorry.’ I say blasting out with laughter
I have never known how to behave when someone is trying to take care of me, it has always been the other way round. And now here is this man trying to baby sit me
‘I am cooking whether you like it or not.’
‘So not only is she short but stubborn too.’ He says shaking his head
‘And what are you cooking for us?’
‘Noodles.’ I respond with a grin
‘The doctor strictly said no pasta.’
‘Whose going to stop me?’
‘You really want to go there?’
He is standing and facing me, I can see he is furious but I don’t mind. I am enjoying seeing him worked up
He sighs deeply.
‘I am going to get some Muesli from the super market.’ ‘Can I come with you?’ I ask excitedly ‘What ever makes your bum hum.’
‘August?’
He laughs and I race him to the car but all the laughter is cut short when we find Chibesa outside
‘I see you are now fine.’ He says between gritted teeth ‘I am much better thank you.’ I respond
‘I went to the clinic and the nurses told me you had been discharged.’ ‘You should have called.’
‘I tried to but your phone is off.’
‘Oh, I think I forgot to switch it back on.’ I say He looks at August.
‘And I am guessing sister dearest doesn’t know that you are here, does she?’ ‘What happens between I and Chanda is my business.’
‘It becomes mine when you are trying to mess her up, don’t you think I know what you are doing?’ he asks
‘What do you think I am doing?’
Chibesa chuckles
‘August I am not a child, you want to mess with Nella so you can get the company from her.’
‘Excuse me?’ I ask
‘You are naïve to think that he genuinely like you, I mean look at you. You have no etiquette, you can never be half the woman that my sister is. What makes you think that he will leave her for you.’
‘There is nothing going on between us.’ I say feeling really hurt
‘And what makes you think I cant go for a woman like her?’ August fires back
Chibesa opens his mouth to say something but closes it, I too wanted to respond but I am too shocked to say a word.
‘Nella and Chanda are two worlds apart, you could never leave one for the other.’
‘And here you are, talking about etiquette and yet you were trying to woe her.’
‘I never did such a thing; I was just trying to be friendly.’
‘Poisoning her is what you call being friendly?’ August shoots
‘What are you talking about?’
‘Chibesa listen.’ August says stepping forward
‘I hope this is the last time that you come close to her, if you want anything; it’s either you go through her secretary or myself.’
‘Are we clear?’ he adds
Chibesa just clicks his tongue and walks back to his car
We get into the car and I keep quiet, I don’t know what is wrong with me. August is not mine, even if he looks happy around me. He is still another woman’s man
‘You are quiet.’ He says
‘Uhm.’ I respond looking out the window
‘Really now?’ he asks parking by the car park
‘What is the problem Nella?’
‘It’s just what Chibesa said.’
‘Which part exactly?’
‘That I am not a woman of etiquette, that you can never be with me.’
He laughs.
‘Why would that even bother you? You know Chibesa is an ass.’
I shrug
‘I don’t know, his words kind of feel true.’
‘Nella look at me.’ He commands
I turn to face him.
‘Any man would be stupid to think that you are not good enough, I would be stupid to think that way.’
I eye him.
‘Yes you and Chanda are two different people, she is smart, she is beautiful, she is a workaholic, she is stunning. But why would you want to be like her?’
‘I am not following.’
‘Nella in your own way you are stunning and smart and beautiful. You don’t have to walk like her to command men or women, you don’t have to speak like her to know how amazing you are. Now don’t you dare compare yourself to her or anyone else you hear.’
‘Yeah.’ I respond
He keeps his eyes fixed on mine for a good second before unlocking the car. We walk to the supermarket in silence, I am inwardly cussing Chibesa for ruining the night but I guess there was a lot of truth in what he said. It is actually a wake up call.
We buy the cereal, milk and yogurt and drive back home. Once there I serve us and eat in silence as I try to relax my head, I was planning on working but it looks like ‘Dr August’ is stuck on making me a vegetable.
I wash the dishes after we are done eating.
‘I will be going to bed.’ I say to August who looks busy
‘I want us to talk.’ He begins
‘What about?’
‘Please sit down.’ He asks politely
I sit, my insides afraid of what is coming.
‘That box.’
‘What box?’ I ask looking around
‘Nella it is time you look at what exactly Chileshe pulled down from the orphanage
I sigh, I have been dreading this conversation
‘I know.’
‘You don’t want it to get in the wrong hands, how about I stay with you the night whilst you go through what’s in there?’
‘I am scared.’ I say honestly
‘Nella you have got to be strong, remember you are not an ordinary girl anymore.’
I sigh deeply
‘Okay.’ I say going to the bedroom
He follows me behind and settles onto the far end of my bed as I remove the box from it’s hiding place.
‘I am here.’ He says
I smiled weakly removing the tape that is sealing it
‘Here we go.’ I say when it’s completely open
I touch an envelop, opening it with care I look at photos. Baby photos, the face looks familiar but I don’t know who it is until I read the name.
‘This is not true.’ I say
‘What?’ August asks
I hand him the papers and he equally looks shocked
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‘Do you know what this means?’ He asked
I shake my head unsure of what to say
