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TELL ME LIES
-Chapter Eighteen-
Unedited
‘’I am glad she has finally left,’’ Mama says as soon as I walk back into the house after seeing Rissa off. After lunch, Rissa and I watched a movie and talked about random stuff before she decided it was time to leave. She is picking up Eloise from school, she will keep her at her place for the weekend because Cedrick travelled.
I roll my eyes, ‘’I don’t even un-derstand why you would just decide to hate a person you just met, Rissa has done nothing wrong to you.’’
‘’I don’t want her in my house, I don’t you being friends with her and I want this whole plan you have made to deal with Gabriel to be cancelled.’’
‘’We are not cancelling anything and I will not st©p being friends with Rissa.’’
‘’What the elders see while sitting, the young ones standing on their toes won’t see. I am your mother Iris and I love you, I mean well for you plea-se do as I have said.’’
‘’I am sorry Mama but this time around I will not obey your instructions, I am not a child anymore and I am capable of ma-king my own decisions, I love Rissa and she will be a p@rt of my life whether you like it or not.’’
She looks at me intently, ‘’so you will disrespect me because of that silly girl? Iris, I raised you and made you who you are today and—.’’
At this point I decide it’s not worth it to argue with her so I gr-ab my handbag and car keys, ‘’I think I should be going back to my house now. Thank you for lunch.’’
‘’And now you want to walk out on me? What has that girl turned you into?’’
‘’I will see you later Mama,’’ I lean in and k!ssher forehead before walking out of the house. I love my mother but I don’t appreciate this attitude she has suddenly developed. I hope she comes around soon because Rissa is not going anywhere.
I have just pu-ll-ed up in front of my house when my phone rings.
‘’Gabriel!’’ I answer.
‘’Babe! I miss you, are you home?’’
‘’I just got home, why?’’
‘’I want to come and see you.’’
‘’I will be going out soon.’’
‘’What’s happening Iris? We ha-rd ly spend time together, you are always busy.’’
‘’But we are meeting tomorrow, aren’t we?’’
‘’Only because you want us to talk about the wedding? Can’t we meet and just spend time together, away from the wedding, I miss us, I feel like we are drifting ap@rt and–.’’
‘’Can we talk later, mum is trying to call.’’
‘’But babe I…’’
I end the call before he can finish his s£ntence. Gabriel and I haven’t been talking much, I have focused all my attention on Godfrey. Gabriel’s people met mine two months ago for the marriage introduction, he was charged and he paid something. Well, he still thinks we are getting married, he doesn’t know what Rissa and I have up our sleeves.
*
‘’You are back!’’ Gabriel says when I walk into the house later that afternoon.
I just got back home from getting Eloise from school, she will be spending a few days with me. Cedrick travelled on a business trip earlier this morning.
‘’Yes I am and I am here with my little friend Eloise- Ann.’’
‘’Eloise, this is my housemate Gabriel.’’
‘’Hello,’’ she extends her hand to him and he firmly shakes it.
‘’Hello, how are you?’’
‘’I am fine thanks, how are you?’’
‘’I am fine too.’’
‘’Great.’’
‘’Babe, can we talk in pri-vate?’’ Gabriel asks.
‘’let me show Eloise to her room first so she can get settled.’’
‘’Okay, you will find me in our room.’’
‘’Sure.’’
After showing Eloise around, I head to the be-droom to find Gabriel waiting up for me.
‘’Who is that little girl and why is she in our house?’’
‘’My house you mean?’’
He chooses not to respond to that.
‘’She is my friend’s grandchild and she will be spending a few days with us.’’
‘’And you didn’t think of asking if I would be okay with her spending time with us.’’
‘’This is my house, I don’t nee-d to ask for permission from you before ma-king decisions.’’
‘’You have reminded me several times that this is your house Rissa, what’s happening to you? What’s happening to us? Do you want me to leave the house for you?’’
‘’If you have somewhere to go then I have no problem with you leaving. I am tired of being the man in this relationsh!p, its draining Gabriel.’’
‘’So what do you want me to do? Rob a bank to plea-se you?’’
‘’You don’t even have to do that, get your $h!t together and find a job.’’
‘’You and I have both know how ha-rd it’s been for me to get a job.’’
‘’I am tired Gabriel, I am tired.’’
‘’I hear you but that aside, I nee-d a favour.’’
‘’I am low on cash, I was wondering if you can give me a k2, 000 I will swear I will give you back by the end of the week.’’
‘’It’s always about the money with you, sometimes I even wonder what you love more between me and my money.’’
‘’How can you even say such a thing you know that I love you.’’
‘’But would you love me if I was broke?’’
He hesitates before he opens his mouth but I silence him, ‘’you don’t have to say much, I alre-ady know the answer to that. And concerning the money, I don’t have cash on me right now, I am sorry I cannot help you.’’
He frowns before he gets his phone and walks out of the room.
*
I think I am fade up with Rissa’s attitude, she has been acting up and treating me like a stranger, she no longer gives me money, she doesn’t buy me fuel, she st©pped cooking, she doesn’t wash and she has been stingy with S-x.
I have been tolerating her hoping she will change but things are getting out of hand, what if she is cheating on me? And as if that isn’t enough, Iris decided we can’t have S-x now until we tie the knot, she too has been acting up but I don’t blame her I think she is just stressed with the upcoming wedding.
I wish I could dump Rissa right now but I have to wait until Iris and I tie the knot. I don’t want to start paying rent when I can live here for free so for now I will hang on and allow Rissa to think she is winning then when she least expects it I will strike.
TELL ME LIES
-Chapter Nineteen-
Unedited
It’s a Tuesday evening and I am heading out for dinner. I am meeting Rissa’s parents tonight. I am nervous because I am not sure if they will like me or if they will react like mama did when she met Rissa. Rissa hasn’t told her parents about Gabriel and me, she believes they will not un-derstand the nee-d for us to get back at him like we are trying to. In their eyes I am just a new friend that she recently met.
Clad in a short sleeved flowing knee length black dress and knee high boots, I get into my car and get settled, as I start the car and before I can get out of the drive, my phone rings. By the ringtone, I immediately know who is calling.
‘’Mama, hello,’’ I say after retrieving my phone from the bag.
My mother and I haven’t been in talking terms over the last couple of days. She still insists I should end my friendsh!pwith Rissa but I told her I wouldn’t do that. Join our telegram page to re-ad and enjoy more of such stories throu-gh Sophia on+218910806723 .I am surprised she is even calling me tonight. I tried calling and texting this morning, but she ignored my calls and texts. My mother has never been this cold towards me or the friends I introduce her to, I don’t un-derstand why she is like this with Rissa.
‘’My child, how are you?’’
‘’I am fine, I don’t know about you?’’
‘’I am fine as well, what are you to this evening?’’
‘’I am heading out for dinner, why?’’
‘’I was hoping you could come over here for dinner so we can talk.’’
‘’I am sorry Mama, I can’t tonight, Rissa’s parents will be expecting–’’
‘’Rissa’s parents?’’ She cuts me off before I can finish my s£ntence. ‘’ You are meeting that girl’s parents after everything I told you about her?’’
‘’Mama, I am sorry but I will not st©p being friends with Rissa because–.’’
‘’Iris! If you know what’s good for you, do not go to that house.’’
‘’Mama, I will talk to you later, I am driving.’’
‘’Iris! Do you…,’’ before she finishes her s£ntence, I end the call, turn my phone off and focus my attention back on the road. There should be more to this issue than meets the eye, I make a mental note to have a talk with my mother tomorrow. She nee-ds to explain why she is so against me and Rissa being friends.
I finally get to her parent’s house and step out of the car to find Rissa waiting for me at the verandah, walking towards her, she smilingly greets me before we walk into the house. Her parents are sitting next to each other in the living room, they are engrossed in a conversation and do not notice us at first.
‘’Mummy! Daddy! My friend Iris.’’
‘’Iris, my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hadebe.’’
‘’Hello,’’ I stick my hand out in greeting towards her mum. ‘’plea-sed to meet you.’’
‘’plea-sed to meet you too,’’ she shakes my hand. ‘’You look so much like Rissa.’’
‘’I told you so,’’ Rissa laughs.
‘’So it’s true what they say, everyone has a look-alike and you found yours.’’
‘’I did mummy, I did and she has been an amazing friend, the sister I have always wanted.’’
‘’Good evening sir.’’
‘’Good evening child,’’ Rissa’s dad responds. ‘’I am still amazed at the resemblance, you two could pas-s as twins or sisters, welcome to our home.’’
‘’Thank you.’’
‘’And plea-se take a seat, while dinner is still being prepared.’’
‘’Thank you,’’ I sit on the couch across from them.
‘’Can I get you anything to drink?’’ Rissa asks.
‘’Water would do.’’
‘’Okay,’’ she says, heading out to the kitchen.
‘’So tell me about yourself, child,’’ her mother says.
‘’There’s really nothing to tell, I am Iris Chiluba, I am 28 and I am auditor.’’
‘’How did you two meet?’’
Rissa walks in at that moment and hands me the water before she says, ‘’we met at the mall, I told you about it mum, don’t you remember?’’
‘’Oh yes you did.’’
‘’And your parents?’’
‘’My father is late, my mum is alive, she runs her own restaurant.’’
‘’Sorry about your dad.’’
‘’It’s okay, I am used now.’’
‘’When did he die?’’
‘’He died when I was very young, I was single handedly raised by my mother.’’
‘’What’s the name of your mother’s restaurant? I love trying new places, I could go there and support her business.’’
‘’Trish Bites,’’ I respond.
‘’Is that her name?’’
‘’Yes, she is Trish Chiluba Kunda, just ask for her if you happen to go there, she will be glad to meet you.’’
‘’Trish Chiluba Kunda! That’s your mother’s name?’’ her dad asks.
‘’Yes,’’ I respond and suddenly I notice her father’s face becoming pale and his mouth wi-dening as if in shock. This is the same reaction mama displa-yed when Rissa told him her father’s name. Maybe these two know each other from somewhere.
‘’Babe! Are you okay?’’ His wife lightly taps his shoulder.
‘’I am fine, why?’’
‘’You look like you have seen a ghost.’’
‘’Oh, I am fine, so Iris, where exactly is your mother’s restaurant situated?’’ He asks and I go ahead and give him directions.
‘’I nee-d to take my wife there one of these days.’’
‘’You should babe, you know I will be more than happy to go.’’
‘’Food is re-ady,’’ the maid says a couple of minutes later, kneeling down beside Rissa’s parents.
‘’Thank you Vero.’’
‘’We should go and eat alre-ady. I am hungry,’’ Rissa stands up.
‘’You are always hungry child, what does that man do to you?’’
‘’Mummy don’t start alre-ady I don’t want to deal with your drama.’’
‘’Iris, you should advice your friend to leave that boy she calls a man.’’
‘’I have been telling her to leave him,’’ I say and Rissa rolls her eyes, causing her mum and I to bur-st into a fit of laughter.
‘’Time to eat,’’ her father stands too and leads the way to the dining room.
*
Tbc