Always been mine!

Chapter Seven

The weekend before exams I had a huge battle with morning sickness. Everything made me nauseous except ice cold water.

Monday morning, Martha made a mistake of bringing coffee up to my room and I threw up. I just couldn't stand the smell. She offered me peppermint tea. I took a sip and waited for the nausea to assault me again but nothing, she nodded, smiled at me and left.

The first exam was chemistry at exactly 9a.m. Our exam table said exams on monday, wednesday and friday from 9a.m to 12p.m.

We got to class 20 minutes before 9, the paper was fair and I was certain I had aced it. Wednesday morning , we wrote communication skills and physics on Friday. The following week Monday was mathematics, my favorite.

Michael's siblings had called to say they had stopped in South Africa and would be there for a week or two before coming down to Zambia. They were going to spend xmas in Zambia.

Bonnie and I spent the whole of Tuesday studying engineering drawing. I hated this course. I just needed a 50% and I would be good.

Her:" don't you think you should see a doctor,"

Me: "I am fine," she didn't seem to believe it.

Her: "you're pale and getting thinner by the day."

Me: "It's because I'm having a major battle with morning sickness, but I'll get over it."

"She'll be fine." Martha cut in and we turned to find her with a tray. "I brought some fruits, am sure you can stomach these, If not I'll get you vanilla custard. We'll just keep trying things until we find something." She smiled and patted my arm. "Don't worry, that part will be over soon and then all you'll have to worry about is finding something that fits, locating bathrooms wherever you go, and charming someone into tying your shoes!"

Michael stepped into the room as Martha passed him, "you're staying for lunch, sir?" She asked.

He glanced at his watch and shook his head. "I have a meeting at two. But I'll be home for dinner."

He kissed my forehead and waved to Bonnie. "See you later." And he left.

Engineering drawing was the last exam which meant I'd be free for two-three months.

The exam wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and I am sure I got my 50% to make it to second year.

Bonnie left with her grandpa again, to celebrate, so she told me. Grandpa was old enough to be her dad and I am sure he was married but I never commented.

She had a motto,"sharing is caring." Lol

I went into the kitchen to get my bowl of fruits when I found Martha and Jack the guard at each other's necks.

"My wife makes the best chikanda." He said.

Martha smiled: "Ofcourse, she's a house wife who does nothing all day but learning how to make chikanda."

I laughed and they both turned in my direction."Ma'am." Martha smiled at me.

Me:"Martha, I am younger than your last born child. How many times should I ask you to call me Nikki?"

Jack: "Because the day we'll do that ,our necks will be on the line."

I laughed and asked her for my fruits and ice cream.

"Ooh ma'am, we've run out of ice cream. I was just about to ask Jack to get some...."

Me: " I'll get it myself. I need to get some flippons too, so I'll go."

Jack: "Thank you." He said and turned back to martha."You know,you can get the recipe from my madame."

And they were back. I bit back laughter and ran upstairs to get my purse and hurried out. I went straight to After Ten for a cup of ice cream before heading to ShopRite and I ran into Gina, Michael's workmate. I had only met her once.

"Nikki, right?" She smiled at me and I nodded. "How are you?"

Me: "am great," I hugged her and she told me she was rushing back to work and left.

I went by the counter and asked for a scoop of coffee ice cream. I sat on the bench outside to enjoy my ice cream and what a miracle it was that I'd written my exams in peace.

There I was imagining all things I wanted when a dark figure stood in front of me and smiled at me behind a pair of sunglasses.

It was Kumbwa.

I stood up and headed for the exit but he stopped me with a hand on my arm. I shook it off and looked him in the eye. "Don't touch me," I ordered quietly. "I haven't forgotten what you did to me a few weeks back."

He dropped his hand from me, accepting my rebuke with a nod. He seemed repentant. "I know. I saw you and came to apologize. I couldn't approach you in school because I didn't know how to."

Me: "you could have killed me."

K: "I'm sorry. Am not violent, even I don't understand what made me act that way."

Me: "whatever."

K; "how's the baby?"

"The baby you almost killed?" I asked him.

K: "I'm sorry Nikki, I'm an ass." He said "and you said he could be mine, right?"

I picked up my purse and frowned. "Do you even care?" I started walking toward the exit and he followed. "Kumbwa, please leave me alone. And no, this baby ain't yours!"

He pulled me back but I slapped him and got into a waiting cab.

I arrived back at the house to find Michael was already in. He walked up to me with a glass of water in his hand.

"Assure me that my baby is in one piece." He said putting his hand on my flat belly. "I came back early to focus on spoiling you. Exams are done, so we can do anything, right?" He kissed me lightly.

Me: "be specific."

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That night he took me out for dinner with a few of his workmates.

Gina was there and two other men named Mulenga and Bernard.

"So how's it going?" Mulenga asked, leaning toward me. "Everyone at work wants to meet you."

I nodded: "He's a wonderful guy and makes me very happy."

The waiter brought my soup and bowl of ice cream with vinegar water.

"The baby's first words are going to be ice cream!" Michael commented.

Me: "she'll have to get her own flavor. Coffee and chocolate are mine."

'`You're only surviving on ice cream?" Gina asked, laughing at me. "So that's what you were buying by after ten earlier on?"

I nodded and she continued. "I met her rushing inside like it was a life or death situation,"she said, turning to michael. "And I saw that tall yummy friend of yours from CBU, they sat outside together."

Gina delivered that information completely unaware she'd dropped a grenade.

Michael's eyes swung to me, their expression injured rather than angry. Everyone sat quietly in discomfort waiting for Michael's reply.

"I mean, I saw them chatting as I was driving out. She was eating ice cream and he....."

"Gina." He stopped her. "She knows him, I can't get upset over her talking to someone. I'd have to sell her into slavery."

They all laughed. But I knew he was furious, and probably planning to call that slaver tonight. He kept his arm around me all evening but I felt the tension.