Three Empty Words – Episode 7

07

KELVIN

Gitau Muchane wrote – “Thieves will be thieves. And the most bereft are those who would steal words. Theirs are empty souls. Such are but the useless shells of dead insects. Dust. Ignore them.”

It was December, five years exactly after my sister had been killed by ruthless armed robbers. December was supposed to be the festive month but for I and my family it was different, this was a month in which we mourned Mercy once again. She was a beauty, in fact the most beautiful woman I had ever set my eyes on.

I never got to see mum because she died during childbirth leaving behind only I and my sister. My father died two years later due to depression and now it was us against the world. I can’t say that I suffered, our parents had left us a fortune but that didn’t stop us from working extra hard. We were blessed not only with looks but with the brains as well.

Mercy was the one person that was welcoming, she still accommodated our parents’ relatives even though they didn’t do much for us.

She met Kangwa when she was in her third year in university doing nursing, the two were madly in love from the very day they met and I was just happy that she had met someone who genuinely loved not only her but me as well. He became the elder brother that I never had.

The day she was attacked, one of dad’s relatives had fallen ill and there was no one looking after him. She had taken it upon herself to drive to his place in garden house despite me being against it.

‘Mercy your wedding is tomorrow, you can’t possibly drive there this late.’ I remember telling her

‘Kelvin I will be back shortly and please don’t tell Kangwa otherwise he will murder me.’ She joked and drove out.

That was five years ago, the last time we spoke and Kangwa has refused to move on, he has been more of a brother since the incident. Making sure to look out for me and protect me from all vices of life. But in the process he had forgotten about himself, it’s like he had shut his heart from the world and the man he once was had been buried with her. And for people that didn’t know our story, believed that he was really my brother.

I dusted my feet as I stood up from the tombstone, I always made sure to come and clean it whenever I had the time. I looked at the watch and decided to head back home.

I drove first to arcades to grab something to eat, I was hungry and the burgers from mikes kitchen would do me justice.

I parked in the parking lot and walked to the place, I got a chair and ordered my food with the waiter then concentrated on my phone. I didn’t have much of a life apart from work and staying home so I made sure to have enough games on my phone.

I looked up when my food was served and seated just opposite me was the unconscious girl I had saved. She looked different from the last time I had seen her; she had a nose ring, her hair was straight and she was dressed in something short. I wanted to ignore her but I chose why not say hey.

I walked over to where she sat and the look she gave me told me that I was not welcome.

‘How are you doing?’ I greeted

The colored guy she was with stared at me with shock, she too didn’t hide her shock.

‘What do you want?’ the guy asked

‘I just wanted to see if you are fine.’ I said seeing my presence wasn’t welcome She laughed drawing attention.

I walked back to my seat without a word and asked the waiter to pack my food. I drove back home in shock, I had never been that embarrassed in my life. How could she treat me like that when she seemed really nice the last time I saw her.

I brushed off the thoughts and reminded myself that girls were always going to be girls and that is why I needed to stay clear of them.

I went to the bathroom to take a bath but quickly came out with a towel wrapped around my waist when I heard a knock at the door.

I opened it but was shocked to see Xenia standing there.

‘Hey.’ She greeted innocently

I could feel my blood boil, the guts she had to show up at my apartment after the way she rudely acted earlier.

‘Is this a bad time?’ she asked when she saw how upset I was ‘What do you want?’

‘I came to thank you for saving me, I know not so many people would have acted kindly.’ She said

‘I am only letting you in because I don’t want your mother being on my throat

when I send you out.’

She laughed lightly

‘What’s funny?’

‘I don’t know my mother to be fierce.’

‘Dude, I experienced firsthand what her mouth can do.’ I said softening up

There was something about this Xenia that was different from the one I had met at arcades

‘Will you dress up?’ she asked trying not to look at my chest ‘Sorry.’ I responded quickly and disappeared into the bedroom

I came back minutes later fully dressed and she was still seated the same way I had left her.

‘Can I get you anything to eat?’

‘Cereal will do.’ She said realizing that she had not eaten the whole day

I went to the kitchen only coming back with a bowl of cereal, milk and sugar.

‘Do you just like cereal or maybe you have issues people cooking for you?’ I asked putting the things on the table

‘Well, I just love cereal.’ She said trying not to look into my eyes I got my burger and warmed it then came back with it and a soda. ‘Don’t tell me that is from Mike’s kitchen.’ She said pointing at it ‘Of course it is.’

‘My sister loves their burgers too, you two would get along.’ She said with no emotion in her voice

‘I doubt.’ I responded

‘Wait; did you say sister?’ I asked wiping my mouth ‘Yes, I have a twin sister. Identical twin sister.’

He now connected the dots and felt bad for thinking that way about her ‘You guys are close?’

‘We are sisters.’ She said responded coldly *