THE ONE

Chapter Seven: Crushes

Joseph saw a text from Trevor asking were he was. They had coding practicals. He left Dejen to his phonecall, hoping he'll find no luck with his PI.

"Gwe obweda oliwa?" (Where've you been?), Trevor scolded as soon as Joseph entered the computer lab.
"Ntuse" (I've reached), he shrugged taking a seat.
"Ndowoza leero tukolemu ku oracle" (Think today we dive a bit into Oracle), Trevor suggested.
"Eh? Nga nze nne Java sinamukwata??" (Eh? But I haven't even grasped Java yet), Rodney grumbled.
"Kale katumuyitemu" (Ok let's recap it a little), Joseph started the software.

"Joseph, you're brother is so hot", Lynette watched his whatsapp statuses.
"Argh", Joseph rolled his eyes.
"Is he sing-?"
"You don't want to be dating him", Joseph cut her off. "He's a player"
"Why don't I even care?" Lynette quipped.
"Oh ok. But don't come to me crying when he breaks your heart"
"Well since you broke mine..", Lynette added.
"Haha", Trevor chuckled.
"It wasn't like that you know", Joseph explained.
"Ono!" (This one!), Trevor chirped. "He's never had a girlfriend".
"Are you going to be a priest or what?", Lynette grilled.
"Maybe", Joseph added.
"What does Max do?" Lynette asked.
"He has a gym in Kikoni"
"That's near. Can you take me?"
"A-charginga meka?" (How much does he charge?), Trevor edged in.
"Simanyi. Sinamubuuza" (I don't know. I haven't asked him yet)
"Hmmn?" Lynette nudged him.
"We have practicals", Joseph stressed.
"I know, after??"
"Okay", Joseph relented.
"Nange nja genda" (I'll also go), Trevor added.

The three took a taxi to the gym in the evening, finding Axel chatting with a few of his students as he prepped an evening fitness session. He always interchanged with Saul & if he conducted the evening, Saul did the morning.

Axel wore black gym shorts, a blue tanktop, & plaid blue sneakers. His toned arms & legs got him attention from his female students ~one of whom was feeling his right bicep up close.

Joseph shot him with a stinkeye,  Axel soon glimpsing the new arrivals so he excused himself.

"Good evening", Axel held his hands behind his back.
"Max waali?" (Is Max around?), Joseph didn't greet back.
"Nedda afulumyemu" (No he's stepped out)
"Eh, oliko body!" (Eh you got a body!), Trevor admired.
"Webale kusiima" (thanks for appreciating), Axel smiled lightly.
"Nange njagala nga ogwo" (I also want like that), Trevor added.
"Osobola" (You can), Axel assured.
"Class yameka?" (How much is a class?) Trevor asked.
"Nanti kati bino ebya fitness.." (Ok for fitness..), Axel pointed "Fitness yokka olunaku ziba taano. Osobola okozesa nne ku byuma. Naye woba oyagala bikonde, oyongeramu e-taano okola omutwalo olunaku" (Fitness alone is five thousand shillings a day, you get to use the equipment as well. But if you want boxing lessons, you add another five thousand to make ten thousand a day)
"Whew!", Trevor whistled.
"Naye tulina offers kati wali ku gym yokka, ziba kumi nebiri omwezi, then ku bikonde tukola weekly offer ya mitwalo etaano buli week" (But we have offers; the gym alone is one hundred twenty thousand shillings a month, then boxing we have an offer of fifty thousand per week), Axel explained.
"Ok kansasuleyo ezo lwaleero" (Okay let me just pay for today), Trevor reached for his wallet.
"Pay for me too", Lynette added.
"Joseph?" Trevor shifted to him.

Joseph simply strolled off, setting himself down on a bench on the far side the gym. Over his dead body!

Axel was quite professional. He took his time to pump up each & every one of his students.

Max returned, walking to were Joseph was seated..

"Axel mulungi!" (Axel is good), he pointed in admiration.

Joseph rolled his eyes, following him to his office.

"Watusse ddi?" (When did you reach?), Max unlocked.
"Dda ko" (Sometime back), Joseph followed him in.
"Kwata ekisumuluzo" (Here's a key), Max plucked one off the bundle.
"Nkuletede bba customer" (I brought you customers), Joseph rested in the chair across the table. "Sasula" (Pay up)
"Haha by the way njagala onyambeko awo,  okwongera okunfunira bba customer" (...I want you to assist me there, to get more customers)
"Ntya?" (How?)
"Nne social media. Olina ba follower bangi" (With social media. You've got many followers), Max opened a water bottle.
"Oyagala nku-market-inge??" (You want me to market you?)
"Nja kusasula tokitya" (I'll pay you don't fret)
"Sikyekyo just, waliwo gwendowoza asobola okikola obulungi" (Its not that just, there's someone I think will do a better job)
"Ani?" (Who?), Max sat in his chair.
"Dejen", Joseph assured.
"Kyali wo owessimu?" (Your phone friend?)
"Yeah yakomyewo eKampala. Alina bba follower bangi!!" (Yeah he returned to Kampala. He's got many followers)
"Yye afanana atya?" (How does he look?)
"Wuno kamukulage" (Here let me show you), Joseph took out his phone, handing it over.
"Eh half cast?", Max stared.
"Yeah halfcast", Joseph assured.
"Kale yogera naye" (Okay talk to him), Max handed back the phone.