CUSP

There seems to be an elephant in the room when we get into the house, I take a seat on one of the couches and wait as Caleb locks up. Nancy is not even bothering herself with me, I am not sure she knows what is up.

When he is done he comes and sits opposite me.

‘What do you think you are doing?’ He begins

‘What do you mean?’

‘You are honestly going to ask me that question right now? You think I am a fool right?’

‘Caleb I have no idea what you are talking about and if we are going to have this discussion I would rather you open up.’

He chuckles and I can tell that he is extremely mad and just trying so hard to contain himself.

‘When did you start buying airtime in people’s cars?’

Silence

‘I asked you a question and I expect an answer, when did you start buying airtime in people’s cars?’

‘Wane we care about you and right now it might look like we are being hard on you but trust me we only want what’s best for you, there is no way you can allow a man to come and see you at this hour and he even makes you leave home.’

‘It won’t happen again.’

My brother walks out wordlessly and goes to his bedroom, I guess there is nothing I can say that can make either of them believe me if and when I decided to open up.

‘Woman to woman, the man you were seeing outside.’

‘Yes?’

‘Is it serious?’

I look at her intently

‘I really want to know how to convince your brother not to worry because you and I know him and from today onwards he will be tough on you. You know that.’

‘The two of you don’t have to worry about me, I am fine and I am not getting myself in any sort of trouble.’

She raises an eyebrow obviously seeing that I am not about to tell her anything.

‘And I don’t want to over emphasise but Astridah is not the best person to be friends with.’

‘Have a good night Nancy.’

I walk to my bedroom after she responds and close the door, I am starting to get irritated with this whole Astridah issue.

Still feeling irritated, I go online to check what’s happening and I find a message from Besa.

I really want to open it but then decide against it.

I go to Facebook but before I can check what’s happening my phone starts to ring, it’s Besa himself.

‘Hello.’ I say trying to sound natural

‘I sent you a message on WhatsApp and you haven’t responded but you were online.’

‘You might as well tell me what was in the message.’

I hear him breathe out loud like he has so much he has to say but then holds back.

‘Tomorrow is Astridah’s birthday, we wanted to have something simple but then mum has suggested that we hold a luncheon at home for her. I want you there.’

‘Excuse me?’

‘I want you there.’

‘Are you inviting me or maybe you are commanding me to be there.’

Silence

‘Can you please come for the lunch tomorrow.’

‘Besa in what capacity am I coming there tomorrow? Why didn’t Astridah invite me herself? Why didn’t Claudia do it?’

I pause

‘You won’t command me to attend your girlfriend’s party because you want me there, and what is the major reason you are commanding me to be there for you.’

‘I am sorry, I shouldn’t have come out that way but I am going through so much and I don’t want to do it alone.’

‘Besa what are you talking about?’

‘Astridah was pregnant and she lost the baby, I feel really bad so I am just going to marry her.’

‘You want to marry her because you feel pity for her?’

‘That is not what I said.’

‘That is exactly what you said Besa and I can’t believe that you just did because that is so low of you.’

‘Mum likes her for me and is happy to add her to her list of daughters, dad is mad at me for going this direction.’

Now that pecks my curiosity

‘And your father is upset because?’

‘He knows that I am in love with you.’

I laugh but then there is silence from him.

‘You are not joking?’

‘No I am not, I mean I didn’t tell him back in the days because I was scared seeing you were more like a child to them but I opened up recently.’

‘Recently is what?’

‘Last week I think.’

Now it makes sense, O’Brien had acted funny some days back and this could be it.

‘So why don’t you tell your mother the truth?’

‘It’s complicated.’

‘Why? Because you are hitting your girlfriend?’

‘Did she tell you that?’

‘No she didn’t.’

‘How could she? I will make sure to deal with her.’

‘Besa.’

‘Bye Wane, please come tomorrow.’ He says dropping the line and I feel bad, I don’t know if I should mention it to Astridah or even Nancy but I have messed up really bad and this might come back to me. And what is that about him being in love with me? And then O’Brien knows about it and yet he hasn’t said anything to me, how messy can this whole situation get? This is just bad.

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Winnie

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