Make it Work

The fruitless night

I am home now, rush to the refrigerator and place them there and but walking in I see no one, so I rush to the living room searching for them. And there they are seated on the couch watching a movie. Laughing together and it appears they do not even notice that I am back home.

Well, let me not disturb them and head to the bedroom to change and maybe enjoy the ice-cream in solitude! That is a plan! I head to the bedroom and change take my earphones this time and I fall to the floor and faint.

Time has passed, slowly opening my eyes feeling very tired and it seems like I am on the bed now. But what happened really and why is there a soft hand feeling my head.

“This is why I told you that he should probably not drive himself or leave the house alone, both of them should not because one just got out of a coma and the other just had a people incident where she was brutally beaten! But nooo, no one listened to me and she even aided him to escape without us noticing!” Tendai sounds furious right now speaking to Tanya.

I cannot see them but now the hands that are feeling my forehead are now starting to feel familiar. It means I am slowly regaining my consciousness that is good.

“Come on, she is always going to support him and it already happened! Let us focus on the now and prepare to block this kind of thing from happening again in the future!” Tanyaradzwa is defending her.

That should be expected and should not be a surprise but it does not seem like she has done any talking.

“But when he wakes up, I would love to teach him a lesson for disrupting us!” now her voice is starting to stir up some anger.

I guess, I will just have to continue sleep because if I wake up now! I will get devoured by these angry ladies and hopefully they did not touch my ice-creams. After waking up I will check to confirm they have not. Right now, waking up is a suicide mission. Wait! Sounds like they are leaving now.

Open my eyes a bit to see if they have left for real. At the moment I do not think I can take that scolding is going to come my way eventually. Breathe heavily, some relief they have left the room. A hand is laid on my chest. I quickly close my eyes with so that the person who stayed behind will not see that I am awake.

I am feeling uneasy now. I just hope my ice-creams are still waiting on me in the refrigerator. Maybe I can take a sneak peek and see who it is.

Turn my head slowly partially opening my eyes and lock eyes with Vimbai.

“So, you are awake?” her eyes are red, but not from crying but she is somewhat disappointed and angry.

“How long was I out?” ask her look up into the ceiling.

“Just a couple of hours!”

“It is that bad, huh?”

“Yes! And they are going to eat you alive this time! I already had my scolding and it was very hard for me to take.”

“I was hoping things would be different and that everything would flow smoothly but everything has been getting harder with every effort to alleviate.”

“Guess until we get better, we are going to be living as kids then!” the sadness is making her voice sound heavy.

“I guess so.” Sigh in disappointment, “Hop on the bed and sleep here next to me.”

She climbs onto the bed and lays her head on my shoulders. She is smelling really nice! Should I tell her?

“I saw four boxes of ice-cream in the refrigerator! Were you planning on eating those alone?”

I knew someone discovered my delicacies, but I am glad it is her.

“Yes actually, but unfortunately my body forsake me before I could devour them while you were watching TV.”

“You are a stingy little man!”

Hold her tighter, “Hmmm, I know! You just going to have to bear with it!”

“I know.” She agrees rubbing head on me.

My heart is in the right place right now.

“Would you like to go and watch TV while we eating ice-cream?”

“Depends.” She gets up off me.

“On what?”

“We are not going to watch those child movies that you like or those cartoons, are we?”

“I do not watch cartoons and what do you mean by child movies”

“I mean the ones with men with tights!”

“Ohh, the superhero movies! I was not thinking about watch those or anime. I was thinking of catching a cooking program or a Nat Geo wild program that is interesting.”

“Okay that is better.”

“But if you insist, I will just have to show you my good collection!”

“No!”

“Well, you started it, I might as well finish it by making you watch!”

“That is just not fair!” yells folding her hands together sitting on the bed cross legged and looks away.

Get out of the blankets off the bed follow her face that she twisted putting an annoyed face. Tightly closing the lips, making them thinner.

I get off the bed and to her bedside, lift her up from bed and carry her out with her kicking the air asking me to let her down. But I just ignore and keep going.

“You going to drop me going down those stairs. put me down!”

“How unfortunate that would be! So, you better hold on to me tighter and not think of kicking the air!” and keep going down the stairs.

Get into the sitting room and lay her on the sofa. Look at her with a serious face but I feel like laughing at how she is contorting her face.

“Do not move, I will be back!” speak in a commanding tone and in a hurry to get the ice-cream in the refrigerator and the spoons.

I return back and find her sitting crossing both her hands and legs on the sofa. Maybe she is angry for real and I am going too far. Slowly approach the sofa, holding the ice-cream close to my chest and sit down hide the other spoon and open.

“What are we watching! Surely you did not carry me all the way downstairs to watch a switched off TV now did you?”

“No, I did not! Let me turn it on.”

“Pass over the lunch box so I can handle it while you play something on the TV!” she reaches her hands over and her eyes lighting up before she has had the ice-cream.

Wait, was she not being all childish and acting mad a second ago? I have a feeling if I hand over the ice-cream to her, I will not be getting a spoon in my mouth. Jump off the sofa fast, chest up walking fast in a funny way with the lunch on me.

“Do not worry baby, I got it!”

“I just said wanted to hold it for you while you play the movie we are going to watch!” she tries to make her intentions seem pure, but I did see those eyes lusting for my delicacy.

“That might be the case your mouth is building but those eyes said a different story.” Refute her words.

Take the remote, return back to sit on the sofa and I can feel her glare in my direction. But I will not turn my head or remove my hand from the lunch box.

“After forcing me to come here, the least you can do is hand over the lunch to me so I can start without you.”

“I am here now, there and done, my favourite movie! Instant Family!” I smile speaking jocundly laying back as I play the film.

“You are not even listening to me are you?” she asks but I am now opening the lunch to eat.

“And where is my spoon!?”

“I am sorry, did you say something just now?” act like I did not perceive anything she was saying.

“You are really unbelievable!”

“Did I do something wrong?”

She scoffs and looks away from me. And this does not seem like a childish thing because I am the one who was being childish. But who cares anyway the movie has started and I am starting.

“Here is your spoon!” I hand it over to her and place the bowl at the centre.

She silently takes the spoon and starts digging in too. I do not understand why she is almost calm and so forgiving though.

“What is this movie about?”

Is she really asking me that right now? Like she wants me to spoil a good movie for her?

“Or we can just watch it as it is, I have already played the movie!” I reply her with an insolent tone.

“Alright then!”

Silent she goes and looks disinterested in the movie. Maybe it is just because I picked it and she is mad at me. Maybe she will warm up to it as time goes on.

Get up from the sofa to leave and she does not say a thing but rather keeps eating and watching the movie. I got to the bedroom grab a blanket and return back to sit. Besides her continue the movie, cover myself with the blanket.

She settles her spoon down and settle in the blanket with me. What is this now? Was she not acting all mad at me then why is she here now, squeezing herself in? I will just have to ignore and concentrate on my movie or else I will be dragged into something that will put me in a bad mood maybe. But at the moment there is a rude awakening and I cannot sit well anymore and my anxiety is now starting to kick in and I am feeling very uncomfortable in this situation.

“Can you move for a second, I need to go somewhere!” will she agree now to move.

“But you just came from somewhere a few moments ago, where do you want to go now?” with her tone right now, sounds like I will not be moving.

“There is something that I need to do!”

“What? So, now you want to leave me here watching a movie that you forced me to watch?”

“It will only be for a second I will be back.”

“Okay, you can go, I will be waiting.” She moves from my lap.

Quickly, I get up and leave the room to relief and refresh myself for that there was becoming an uncomfortable situation. Find myself outside and it is already dark. Tanyaradzwa has not returned yet and dinner is yet to be cooked.

Turn back with haste and head for the kitchen. Arrange everything and start cooking. I wonder how Davidzo and Anaishe are doing right now? I bet they are having a lot of fun. I need to send them some groceries tomorrow.

A smile goes from ear to ear on my face, setting up everything to cook.

“And what the hell are you smiling about?” Vimbai’s voice comes from behind me.

Immediately the smile on my face changes, it no longer feels broad and it is slowly shutting down. Why do I feel like something is blowing wind on my spine?

“Nothing! Just that I am going to cook what I want to eat.”

“Ohh, need any help?” she asks advancing closer.

“I do not think so!”

“Are you sure?” she gets really close wrapping her arms around me.

“I, I, I am umm, sure really.” Stammer and turn, remove her hands from my waste, “I think I need to concentrate on this.” I point at the pots.

“I know, but the movie is over now and I was getting bored,” the seductive tone in her voice is something.

It is enchanting my mind into thinking of doing her bidding. Maybe I can respond a bit, keeping an eye on my pots. Well they are too close to where we are.

Puts her index finger on my lower lip, “Do not over think this!”

I guess she has not learned anything about us thinkers. No situation can make me stop thinking in life. But I guess she is right about this. And I am still over thinking and she just pulls me down and I can smell her sweet smell. An ecstatic feeling arises from deep inside me, her lips she locks on my lips slowly and gently. My mind is feels like it just left my body to dance in delight.

She stops takes my hands and drags me back to the table slowly. A smile on her face, and the eyes are filled with light and look exciting. But why do I feel uneasy, before I would front but now I feel like I am being dragged and do not want to but I have no power to refute her. She seems to be calm and am about to explode and my sanity feels like it is hanging in the balance.

Should I speak? Should I excuse myself and say I have to check on my cooking? The pressure is becoming too much for me to handle!

“Ummm ……….”

She puts her finger on my mouth again, “Shhhhh, I did say do not speak did I not?”

“Yes, you did.” I answer agreeing but I feel no strength to say otherwise.

What is this? Why am I so powerless against her? The ecstatic feeling of wanting to dive in it is there but it is no longer as much as it was before.

Wait, what did Davidzo mean she said she got me and Anaishe and school? I really hope they are good and are having fun and hopefully I will not forget to buy them groceries tomorrow. Definitely tomorrow I have to buy the groceries!

Bite her tongue while I am trapped in too deep in my thoughts and we both freeze! And she releases me and I exhale loudly, should I apologise? But I told her I want to concentrate on my cooking.

“You just bit me on the lower lip!”

“I did, guess my attention is dividing.”

“I wonder what it is that is taking you away from me.”

“I was thinking about ……...!” if I speak on Davidzo and Anaishe I will be in trouble! “I am thinking about my pots on the stove. I mean you are holding me ransom from playing with the pots!”

“Ohh, they seem to be more important to you than me!” she shoves me to the side and gets down from the table to leave.

Her mood has changed. Should I grab her hand? No, best I let her go so I can finish cooking and the food might burn with me thinking about her. One thing at a time will be good.

Proceed with my cooking, really enjoying playing with the pots.

Tanya enters through the kitchen door and I freeze looking at her holding the spoon stirring slowly. With my eyes wide open and she stares right back at me in the eyes. A moment of weird silence and it feels like she is reading through my thoughts.

“Still have that pot loving habit of yours even though you have a wife, I see!” she continues walking inside.

“I did learn to cook so I can cook for her!” reply her tasting the food.

“They say a ‘A snake cannot be killed by its own poison!’ I think it also applies to the cook tasting his own cooking!”

“Well, my taste buds are not that biased like yours, little sister. You burn while cooking you still call yourself a master chef.”

“You are just a hater, Michael. By the way where is your wife?”

“I think she is watching a TV.”

“Good, I will go and join her it is better than listening to you hating on my good cooking.”

“We both know am a way better cook than you!”

She scoffs and continues to the sitting room to join Vimbai and I continue cooking.

Finish my cooking, straight to the sitting room to call them for dinner. I hear their voices and seem to be discussing something. What are they discussing? I close in to listen to them without them noticing me.

“He did respond! He did kiss me back but I did not feel any passion from him!” Vimbai pauses and it looks like she is in deep thought, “It was like he was trying to run from me and he was not there with me.”

Tanya is confused by what she means looks at Vimbai with a face filled with questions.

“What do you mean? I do not understand.” She asks.

“Like his mind was elsewhere and not with me. He was like speaking about cooking!”

Tanya scoffs, “Sounds like him!” she exhales deeply, “This going to take a long time, way longer than I expected, we just have to be patient, I know he will come to his right senses.”

“I hope so.” Vimbai responds softly.

“Everything is going to be okay, trust me. He will come around!”

So, this is what they are discussing! That is why she left and took longer to return? But why? Why do all that? Why is she trying to set me up with Vimbai so I can have s*x with her? She is still making those decisions behind my back pertaining my life. Just when I thought she had understood and changed she still doing it. I guess people really do not change.

I walk in look at them, “The food is ready you can go and eat now!”

Tanyaradzwa gets up first, “About time bro!”

I remain silent looking at Vimbai who still has shown any sign of movement. She must be furious with me because I did not do as she desired. But I still can’t bring myself to do it because I feel betrayed.

“Are you not going to go and eat?” I ask her folding my hands.

She turns her head to look at me and her eyes are expressing disappointment. She gets up and walks in the direction where the kitchen is and I follow right behind her silent.

We get to the table sit and start eating all three of us silent, no one exchanging glances. Except for me who is staring at them both.

Tanya swallows her food clears her throat, “Where did you go during the day?”

Continue chewing my food slowly, swallow slowly, also clear my throat.

“I went to the office to fire Mr Steve!”

Both of them look at me like I just killed someone.

“Why are you both looking at me like that?”

Tanya presses her hands together, “You just said you fired Steve.”

“Yes, yes I did and tomorrow I will be bringing guards home!”

“That would be good because the guy is unstable and you did not just paint me and your wife as targets for him but the rest of those who are close to you!”

“I know, I am going to make arrangements for them too! For now, no one is allowed to leave the house except for me of course.”

“You? Only you Michael?” Tanya laughs, “You are not well!”

“I agree with her.” Vimbai interjects.

I thought she was going to like not speak the whole night.

“I will stay at home, but only after I have finished doing everything I have to do and no one is going to lock me up in my own home like a prisoner or tie me down to some rules like a child!” raise my voice shouting.

They do not answer and I just lost my appetite. Grab my plate throw away the food left in my plate and arrange it in the dish washer.

“I am tired and I think I am going to sleep!”

I leave immediately for the bedroom and sleep.