The bad boy’s backup Plan

Our first interaction

My phone starts to buzz in my back pocket, I pull it out and look at the screen.

Brian is calling me.

I slide the green button across the screen and put my phone to my ear.

“Hello” I answer into the phone’s mouthpiece.

“Hi, we are outside.” He causally says.

“We? I thought it would just be us.” I do not remember agreeing to meet Brian and other people.

“Ahhh, come out and see who I am with then.” He ends the call.

Brian is my friend whom I have known for some time now. We dated back in high school then after a failed relationship we decided to stay friends. We were better off as friends than in a relationship. We have been good friends for the past three years since we broke up. Brian and I occasionally hang out after I get off work.

My place of work is in Ibex hill which is the neighborhood he lives in. Crossroads a small shopping center that is strategically close to his house and my place of work. We always go to crossroads on Fridays and Saturdays after work, although I must say I rarely work on Saturdays. We both enjoy ice cream from our favorite spot, Gigibonta.

I pick my small bag from my desk which only has a few items like my phone charger, headsets, face powder and lip-gloss. I walk out of the office after I bid my goodbye to Mr Matthew who is packing parcels for transportation.

When I walk out of the gate, I spot Brian standing with two other guys. I walk towards them and clear my throat to get their attention because they are facing the opposite direction.

“Hi.” I make a small wave when they all turn to face me.

“Hey.” Brian says moving towards me. “Sorry I could not ditch them, they came to visit me.” he whispers in my ear only loud enough for me to hear.

“Cool.” I shrug my shoulders. It is not like I have a choice.

“Guys this is Nandi.” Brian introduces me to his friends.

“Hi, I am Wiza and that is my brother Benjamin.” one of the guys introduces himself and the other guy behind him.

My first thought of Wiza,

Cute.

“Hello.” Benjamin waves at me.

“Hi guys.” I give them a half smile. “Nice to meet you both.”

We all start walking, Brian is having a conversation with Benjamin by his side leaving Wiza and I behind. Wiza is talking to me but I am not paying attention, but I think he is talking about the weather. It is the end of July which is mostly windy with a chilled breeze but in our case it is very hot. With the constant climate change, I would not be surprised if it snowed in Zambia which has never happened, ever!!

I cannot help but admire Wiza, he is 6ft tall. He has a slender body with broad shoulders and some visible muscle from his arms. His fair in complexion with cute facial features. His eyes have something about them that can make me want to melt and so I am trying my best not to look at his eyes. His lips are perfect, any girl would want to feel them on their lips even just brushing against them. His smile is captivating, and his laugh is even better, it melts my heart instantly.

“So, you work at Mart speedy?” he asks bringing me back to earth. He has both his hands in his pockets as we walk side by side.

“Well, I am an intern right now” I began, and he cut me off,

“Do they pay you as you are interning?” he asks.

“Yes, an allowance for transport, as well as lunch.” I say.

“That is good enough. So, what is it you are doing at Mart speedy?” he asks.

“I sort out parcels into what is called a data ledger. Which separates parcels that are coming in and going out to be couriered both within the country and outside the country.” I explain all the things I do.

Wiza goes on asking me questions about myself, what I am currently doing which is only work. He asks about my plans concerning school, I am waiting for responses from applications I filled in for scholarships to study in Russia, Canada, and Malaysia. My best friend and I are praying to get into the same university or at least universities in the same country.

I ask Wiza the same questions he asked me a few minutes ago. He and Benjamin are fraternal twins, and they are both 20 years old. They have an elder sister and brother as well as two younger siblings. They are both starting university here in Zambia at the university of Zambia.

Wiza and I share a lot of information about ourselves with each other while Brian and Benjamin hold their own conversation. I am so distracted by the conversation I do not realize we have reached kabulonga, it is a wonder we have walked from ibex hill to where we were now. Brian usually makes me walk this far while blinding me with stories then says it is a good exercise.

We stop by the bus stop, Wiza and Benjamin must catch a bus to long acres which is where they live. Before they get on the bus, Wiza asks for my contact which I type and save on his phone then he gives me a hug.

Oh my, no one has ever hugged me like that.

Brian and I continue walking in the direction of home, thank God home is not too far from the bus stop.

“So how was work today?” Brian asks.

“It was okay but exhausting as usual.” I respond.

“No drama today?” he asks.

“Actually, that reminds me. There was a lady who came yelling over a parcel she had not received.”

“Really?” he asks.

“Yes, and it turned out that the parcel had been delivered to the wrong address she had provided us with earlier.” I finish.

“I think you have an amazing job.” he says while laughing his guts out.

“I do not see how amazing it is.” I roll my eyes sky wards.

“Well, remember last week you had that client that mistook your workplace for UPS?” He points out.

There was indeed a client that came last week fuming and accusing Mart speedy for misplacing a parcel and not delivering it to them. After carefully checking our records we could not find any records of receiving their parcel. After they produced a printout of the tracking number and credentials, I discovered that the courier was UPS and not Mart speedy. When I told the client the courier company was UPS and not Mart speedy, they were embarrassed and apologized to me.

“Yeah sometimes it can be fun.” I chuckle agreeing with Brian.

“You see?”

“Yeah.”

We both laugh about it.

“So, you and Wiza ey.” he says suggestively.

“Me and Wiza what? We were just making small talk.” I say rolling my eyes skywards.

“Seemed like more than just small talk.” he says, he is right, but I am not going to admit that. Wiza and I had a weird chemistry while we talked. Or is it just me thinking otherwise?

“Besides you are the one that decided to have your own conversation with Benjamin.”

“I am just saying what I observed.” He says with his hands in defense.

“Brian we just talked. What did you expect when you abruptly introduced me to new people? And I hope you are not trying to play cupid here.” I say

“Dude relax.” He says.

I think I am being more defensive than I actually should be.

He raises his hands in defense and says, “I am sorry, I am only telling you what I saw and to be honest I am happy you were able to make new friends.”

“If you say so.”

“But I think you guys look good together.” he says.

I just give him an eye that would make him evaporate immediately.

“Anyway, we are at your home now.” he says as we arrive at our gate.

“Yeah we have, thanks for the push.” I mention, then I give him a hug squeezing him tight.

“You are welcome. Now please do not kill me.” he says.

“Let me know when you get home” I say once we pull away. 

“Sure thing.” he plugs his headsets in which have been hanging around his neck this whole time. The moment I enter the yard my phone starts buzzing in my back pocket.

Audrey is calling me.

Audrey is my best friend, we are both 18 years old, we meet in high school where we both were from 8th grade to 12th grade. We were not friends when we were in 8th and 9th grade because we never found ourselves in the same dorm or class. When we went back to 10th grade, Audrey and I were in the same class and same room.

“Hello.” I hear her voice burst through the phone speaker. You cannot miss the excitement in her voice.

“Hey.” I greet.

“I received a call informing me to pass through the bursary’s committee tomorrow morning.” she informs me with great enthusiasm.

“That is great news.” I respond, she notices my calm tone then asks,

“Did they not call you as well?”

“No, they did not, but not to worry.” I tell her.

“I am sure they will call you soon.” she says.

“Yeah” I really hope so.

“So how was your day?” she asks.

“It was the usual, except Brian came with two of his friends today.” I tell her as I enter my room.

“Oooooh tell me more. Are they cute?” she asks.

“Really Audrey, are you really asking me that?” Audrey is always asking me such questions whenever I tell her I met a guy. She has a thing for good looking guys.

“Yes, I need to know.” she says, as I sigh.

“I need to help prepare supper, I will call or text you later okay?”

“Promise?”

“I promise.” I know I am not going to call her, perhaps text her just before I go to sleep.

After I end my call with Audrey I go to the kitchen and help my aunt prepare dinner. We do not take long because it is just us two. My little sister Kuzipa is staying at our aunt Sharon’s place while mom and dad are out on a vacation in Bali.

It was their 19th anniversary 2 days ago.

After supper I take a shower and dress in my most comfortable pajamas, a pair of shorts and a vest. With the heat, I want to wear as less clothing as possible.

Aunt Miriam suggests we watch our current favorite series, ‘Glee’ which we put on. It is fun with all the singing and high school teen drama.

A text pops up on my phone. I pick my phone up from the chair I am seated on and look at the screen. I have received a message from an unknown contact.

                ‘It was nice meeting you today, I hope we can hang out again, soon I hope.’

For a second, I wonder who has sent me the message. It could be from Wiza, I met him today and gave him my number. I decide to respond.

                ‘It was nice meeting you too. Looking forward to seeing you…………’

I am smiling as I type my response and my aunt notices,

“Who is making you smile?” She asks.

Her question startles me, and I accidentally press the send button.

Shit!

I slap my face thinking about how corny my response sounds.

“Just a friend” I tell her.

“Is it a boy?” she smiles as she pauses the show,

“Not you too.” I get off the chair and start walking towards my room. “I am going to bed.”

“C’mon I want to hear about my baby’s new boyfriend” she wails.

“His not my boyfriend.” I call out as I enter my bedroom.

“Yet!” I hear her shout from the living room. I walk straight to my bed without turning the light on once I am in my room. The moment my head lays on the pillow I drift into a deep sleep.