HOW I MET MY CHEATING GIRLFRIEND

Episode 6

I proceeded to have a seat because I did not want to get embarrassed. Opposite, was a tall man with a dark complexion seated together with a lady of a middle age. On the table, were two bottles of longneck wines, two Coca-Cola bottles and glasses. A cool music of 'I have fallen in love with you' by Chidinma was playing. Inside the next room, people in twos were dancing. Actually, I couldn't imagine what I saw for the first time through a small opening. "We could get inside there but Sweeney is not here." I said to myself. I texted Sweeney.

"Hey beautiful, what's up... Where are you?"

"Osy, am sorry. My dad is inside the bar. I was shocked and had to leave..."

"Was there a problem with that?" I asked.

"Actually...my dad is having another lady there. He got shocked too and I didn't want to embarrass him or myself. I wanted to give him space."

Dr. Kennedy, Sweeney's dad, was married to Madam Mary who was the Sweeney's mom. The couple had three children; Rose, who was a third year student at Kenyatta University, Sweeney and Elisha, their last born who was in form two. Madam Mary was the deputy principal at Koru Girls.

"Do you know that lady?" I asked.

"Yes. I once got them with my dad in his shop. I used the backdoor because I wanted to get in. I knocked, and opened the door. Okay, I found them in an abnormal position."

"Terrible! And what happened?"

"I wouldn't like to go deep into the story. I never asked him but the first thing he told me when seeing me was, 'Swee, this is your aunty Caro' and to her, he said, 'this is my beloved daughter, Sweeney.' My dear, I had just to believe that. I smiled at both and said 'pleasure to meet you, aunty." She wrote.

My morale got finished. I wanted to leave immediately but I thought I had to take something, just because had already entered. "Customer, what can I bring for you?" The waiter asked. " Just a cold soda of blackcurrant and chips." I ordered. I had promised myself to go for a strong drink, maybe, a beer. The money I was given for an iron box was just enough for that. "Si jirani Otis ako na pasi... Mbona ninunue yangu? Upusi hiyo." Because I used to ask for the iron box from my neighbor Otis, I found no reason to get myself one. Furthermore, my mom won't come to my house to check. I wanted both of us to get drunk. If really Sweeney deserved to be loved, then that was the day I had spared to give her love.

I was almost getting through with my drink when the man who was with the lady approached me. For quite some time, he had been staring at me. TV was just close to me so I thought he was just watching it. He sat next to me. He was smelling alcohol and I hated that smell. I had never tasted, but that was the day I wanted to do so before I got disappointed. I wanted to show Sweeney that I was a man. "How are young man?" He said, trying to be close to me. I wasn't feeling comfortable at all. So I moved further from him. "Am good, thank you." I answered. Before he could utter yet another word, my phone rang. " Excuse me, lemme pick up this call." I told him, trying to be well positioned. It was Sweeney calling.

"Yes swee." I received the call and started the conversation. I could see a surprised face from him.

"Please baby, I don't see us going to Impala. Just come out. Am waiting for you near Naivas Supermarket just to bid you goodbye... "

"Fine swee, am coming. Just give me some few minutes. Am still talking to a friend here."

"A friend? Who could be that, Oscar?" Sweeney raised her voice. She thought he could be her dad, because he might have seen both of us entering the restaurant.

"I'll tell you please."

"Okay. Be faster, I need to be back in the house. My sister is now lonely." She ended the call.

"I saw you entering the bar when you were two. Where did the other go to?" He began. I wanted to say the lady saw her dad and left, but also remembered that I couldn't use that argument. I didn't know him and so I couldn't get into more details. "Excuse me! Who are you to ask?" I responded.

"Am Dr Kennedy, aka Dr Ken. Am a pharmacist." I remembered Sweeney had told me that her dad was a pharmacist. I was filled with fear.

"We never held our hands while getting in here. Furthermore, I was in front and I didn't know who was actually following me. Must I know everyone getting in and out of this place? Apparently, that isn't possible. So I don't know." I'm a Political science student. Maybe he didn't know. I was not as easy as such to be driven.

"And who has called you now? Can that be my daughter Sweeney? Because she was the one following you and she made a U-turn when she saw me."

"Dr Ken!" With some respect, I asked, "How did you know that I was talking to your daughter, Sweeney? I even don't know if I know any lady with such a name."

"Did you call her Swee?"

"Yes, I did."

"That's short form of Sweeney. That's how I use to call her."

"Yes, I called her Swee. That's short form of sweetheart. That's how I use to call my wife. Am married anyway. "

Dr Ken took his phone, trembling, called her daughter. "Where are you my daughter?" He asked. "Am in the house, Dad." Sweeney responded.

"Are you really sure you're in the house?"

"Yes dad."

"Then give your sister Rose the phone, I need to talk to her."

"Let me call her now..." Sweeney pretended to be calling Rose before hanging up the call. "Rozy? Rose?" She called with no response. " Hello dad," she said, "she went to take a shower. If she comes back, I'll beep you. Her phone is off and no power in the house."

Sweeney called her sister and advised her to switch off her phone. She also switched off hers.

I told Dr Ken that I wanted to leave. I paid my bill. "You're safe. My daughter is in the house." He said. He went back to his seat, where they were seated with 'aunty Caro', his Mpango wa kando' woman. I called Sweeney and her phone was off. She was unreachable. It was 11.32am. When I reached Naivas Supermarket, I tried to wait for her, while trying to call her. At 12.05pm, she opened her phone. I called 3 minutes later and found her line busy. It was unfortunate her dad called immediately she opened the phone.

Sweeney's dad had warned her not to tell her mom about her aunty the first day she got them in the shop. He was guilty that Sweeney would tell her mom about that issue. But maybe, for this case, it was difficult for Sweeney because she was also with me, a man, and headed to a 'bar', as her dad would say. Dr Ken knew if he fought her, she would automatically let out all his cases as well; that of the shop and the bar.

Sweeney called to ask where I was. She came over and met me next to supermarket. The only thing I got from her was small box rapped well. She told me to open it once have reached school. "This is for you, my love. It's your surprise. But do me one favour," she said, "please open it when you reach your house." Despite the crowd and many passersby, Sweeney gave me a warm hug followed by a short and sweet kiss and bid me goodbye. I left for school. On the way, I was being tempted to open the box, but I wanted to be patient and loyal enough. For the whole journey, I was thinking of all sorts of things that could be inside the box. I couldn't wait to be in school to open it.