HOW I MET MY CHEATING GIRLFRIEND

Episode 5

From the message's content, I was very sure it came from Sweeney, even though the number was strange to me. Because she called me yesterday while at the restaurant, she could be keeping my number. "I have no business with Martine now. Already I have the number I could be in need of from him," I certainly thought I had reached the sky.

I couldn't wait to hear from her. I called her at 4.30am with no replies and so I sent her a message.

"Good morning my love, am so sorry please. I slept earlier. Had a lot of stress last night. It's when have received your message. Please please may you pick my calls..."

I waited for her response that morning and never got. Another stress just came in. Why was she not receiving my calls nor replying to my texts? I never thought it was too early that other people could be still asleep by that time. I thought of completing the assignment but I had lost morale. My attention got diverted to Sweeney the first time I saw her text. Approaching 6am, I called one of my friends and a coursemate, Belrose, to help me finish the assignment for Prof Bigwambo which was to be submitted at 7am. She understood my 'laziness' and sent me the assignment via WhatsApp. Because I had the computer, I simply copied and pasted the work. I submitted it online but only to be told, "Sorry, the same assignment has already been submitted".

Because of this, I requested two other different assignments. I edited one that Belrose had sent to me, fixing those that I received from the copies I got from George and Mercy. I immediately uploaded the file. "Dear Oscar Odhiambo Aluru, ADM no EPL/027/17, your assignment has been successfully submitted!" Finally, I was done with Prof Bigwambo's work.

"Stress one done! Congratulations to me. Now I have stress two for Sweeney and stress three for rent." I said to myself.

For the rent, the landlord had earlier sent to me a message, indicating that I was to pay the rent not later than 8am on Monday, which was the D-day. My mom had a chama yesterday and I knew she could be having some good money by then. So I decided to forge something that could allow me get the money. Initially, she had given me Ksh 2,300 for the rent and I accidentally bought airtime with it yesterday while with Sweeney. We were almost doing the end of semester two of year two exams. As usual, she would ask for my performance results once it has been updated in the student's portal. "I think, I have to tell her that the student's exam portal is being upgraded and the administration needs 2k from each student." But that could be only possible when am back in school, to show that it was something I never knew before.

"Hey, can we meet in town now? Have been sent to look for something." Sweeney texted at last. I couldn't say any 'No' to her in whatever she wanted anyway. So I replied, "Yes love, give me 30mins please."

I prepared myself and was ready to leave. "Mom, I need to leave now. We have a class at 10am and it's compulsory, with a lot of practicals." I said.

"But it's not yet 8am and here is just about an hour journey. Why on hurry?"

"Mom,you know the whole weekend I wasn't in school. So I thought I should reach earlier enough to make me prepare for the classes."

"Okay, my son. I hope you still have that money for your rent."

"Yes mom..."

"Use it for your trans..."

"No mom!" I cut her short. "I have sent it to the landlord yesterday." I added. I knew she wanted to tell me to take that money for my fare and yet I had misused the money. I didn't want to tell her the reality.

"But did you say you have it? Show me the MPESA message."

"Mom, am sorry. My phone started to hang and it forced me to flash it yesterday in town."

"Oscar, then give me the landlord's number I want to confirm."

But why was my mom doubting me that much, for the first time? I had no proofs that I had done that transaction anyway. The only MPESA message I had was the one I received after buying an airtime of Ksh 2,000. But because she had strarted to ask me about the money, it forced me to delete it as she was interrogating me.

"When you flash your phone, mom, everything gets lost, including contacts." I found a way to avoid giving her that number.

She gave me Ksh 2,000. "Take this," she said, "use part of this as transport and for the iron box you said you wanted. I'll send you some cash tomorrow," she added. "Thank you mom, God bless you." I said while smiling.

I hugged my mom and said bye to each other. I left for town, with an aim of meeting Sweeney. It was past 45mins when I got into town. I called Sweeney to ask where she was. We met at opposite Absa Bank, formerly known as Barclays Bank PLC. She was dressed in a maroon long trouser, black top and a white bra that was almost visible. She wore a long brown necklace which was hanging squarely between her breasts. Attached to it was a piece of metal, written "I LOVE YOU". Her mom was a high school English teacher while her dad was a pharmacist with his own shop in town. She was only remaining with her eldest sister who arrived yesterday from Nairobi.

"Happy to see you, my beautiful..." I started the conversation, really admiring her beauty and smartness. She gave me a warm hug. I could spend more time leaning on her chest, but we were beside the road. I got hold of her hands.

"Am happy as well.... actually have missed you sweetheart. But wait, you have the bag on your back...are you up for something?"

"Yes. Am actually headed to school." I said.

"Oops!" She said with a disappointed face. "Oh, okay....I wanted us to go for a nature walk at Impala park this morning." She explained.

I was in a dilemma. I had lectures. But I also knew I was hardly attending them even if I was in school - so that wasn't an issue. I tried to ignore. But how about the rent? The landlord said if by 8am I would have not paid, my belongings would be taken to their stores and my door locked. So I decided to text the landlord. "Morning, I received your text. Please I had a funeral back home and am on my way coming back. I'll pay the rent by 2pm when I arrive." Thank God he replied, "Am sorry for the loss. Consider it done as soon as you arrive today." My mind was at peace! Of the three stresses I had, all of them have been solved. I had enough time to go out with Sweeney before I could journey back to school.

"Fine dear. We can go. I'll leave by 1pm to help me catch up with my afternoon classes." I said.

We decided to leave for Impala park. "Before we can board a vehicle, let's have a drink here. I'm feeling hungry." I suggested. Sweeney accepted and we entered the restaurant. I got in first and she was following me. "Ghai!" Sweeney got surprised. Looking at her, she was covering her mouth with her right hand. She made a U-turn and left. Sweeney, my girlfriend, had met her dad in the restaurant!