TASTELESS

CHAPTER FIVE

'Wait, I know you, Andrew'. Kayla thinks. Or maybe she is mistaking him for another person?

<<<<REWIND 6 Years ago<<<<

Butere Girls high school

Two girls in form three are having a chatty conversation in class on a Friday afternoon. They are friends. Their names are Kayla and Monica. The class is half empty because it is games day, and most of the students are out playing. Kayla and Monica don't like playing. They prefer staying in class and telling stories.

"Why was he calling you bytheway?" Kayla asks Monica.

"He wanted to confirm whether I will be visited tomorrow," Monica responds. Well, the following day, a Saturday, will be visiting day. It happens every 2nd weekend of the month.

"So that he can do what?" Kayla asks. The previous day, Mr. Otende, their history teacher, summoned Monica to his office after a lesson.

"I don't know, the other day he gave me 200 Kshs for bread," Monica responds.

"Did you take it?" Kayla asks.

"Yes, siwezi kataa pesa." Monica replies.

"Really? You are inviting trouble." Kayla says.

"Why? I never asked for money. We met outside the corridor, he stopped me, took his wallet, and gave me 200. I thought he was sending me to the canteen, but he said it is mine." Monica explains. Kayla looks at Monica and smiles.

"You are entertaining him," Kayla says.

"I don't think so. If he has free money to give, who are we to refuse?" Monica replies.

"So, what did you tell him about tomorrow?" Kayla asks.

"My brother will visit me tomorrow. But Otende insisted that he will buy me chicken. I can't wait" Monica responds.

"Heey, stop that joke. Don't entertain him, come on! What is wrong with you?" Kayla says loudly.

"Lower that voice, don't announce it to everyone," Monica replies.

"You have to stop that. I cannot sit and watch you getting lost. Do not entertain him." Kayla responds. She always tries her best to help Monica stay on track. But most of the time her advice falls on deaf ears.

"He can't do anything to me. I am just going to enjoy the gifts." Monica replies. Kayla has never understood what Monica wants. There is a day Monica was dropped in school by a white person. When she inquired about it, Monica said he was just a friend.

"You said the white guy who drove you to school during opening day was your friend??" Kayla asks

"Yes, he will visit me tomorrow bytheway," Monica replies

"What about your brother? Monica are you serious?" Kayla responds and laughs. She is always amazed by Monica's funny behaviors.

"My brother will come later," Monica responds.

"Shauri yako, but you need to be responsible. Don't be careless." Kayla says. She does not like the way Monica handles her life.

The following day, a fine Saturday, the mood was jovial across the school. Students dressed neatly and waited for their relatives at the gate. Kayla was not sure whether her Dad will visit her. But she has become used to that. Her friends usually share with her snacks, all the time.

She is with Monica at the gate when a Subaru WRX drives in.

"Here he is. See you later." Monica says. Kayla does not respond, she stares as the white guy gets out to hug Monica.

'Poor girl. She is making a mistake.' Kayla tells herself.

"Hey, Monica is your close friend, right?" Mr. Otende interrupts Kayla, who is waiting patiently at the gate to see if her dad would show up.

"Yes she is," Kayla replies.

"And who is that person who has visited her?" Otende asks.

"I don't know him," Kayla responds. Otende seems offended. He looks down for a few seconds then leaves. After several minutes, Monica is done with her white friend and she returns to Kayla with a green paper bag full of snacks, chicken, and shopping.

"I told you, lazima tukule." Monica says.

"Really? All these for what?" Kayla asks.

"For nothing. Let's go to the class before my brother finds me here." Monica says.

Later that evening, Monica's brother came. They were in the dormitory when a student dashed in and told Monica that his brother was waiting at the gate. Kayla accompanied her to the gate.

"Sorry I came late." Monica's brother said.

"No problem, meet my friend Kalee," Monica responded. Her brother seemed to be in hurry, he gave Monica a shopping and some amount of money then left.

"That is my brother, he is an accountant in KCB," Monica said.

"Nice one, he seems nice," Kayla replies.

"Yes, he is a nice person. What did Otende tell you?" Monica asks.

"Nothing, he wanted to know who that guy was," Kayla responds.

Kayla and Monica's friendship remained intact until when they got in form four. Monica became pregnant with the white guy, who had already flown back to his home country. She had to go home and never sat for her KCSE.

**********************

"How is Monica?" Kayla shouts at Andrew who has already walked out. He pauses, then slowly walks back to Kayla's office.

"You got such sharp memories. How did you remember me?" Andrew says.

"You looked like someone I know. I couldn't be wrong. So how is Monica?" Kayla responds.

"Monica is good. We will talk tomorrow." Andrew says and walks out.

'He is Monica's brother. That was close." She tells herself.

At 5: 30 pm, Lucia gets in and starts to close the window.

"It's time to go home." She tells Kayla, who seems carried away by thoughts. Her first day at work has been a rollercoaster. They close the office and walk out with Lucia.

"See you tomorrow girl," Lucia says as she walks away, leaving Kayla behind waiting for Mercy to pick her up, as she had promised. As she stands waiting, she recalls that her mom tried calling her. She reaches for her phone in the handbag and dials on her mom's contact.

KAYLA; Hello, what were you saying, mom?

KAYLA'S MOM; Hello,nilikuwa nakuabia usikae sana kwa wenyewe. Find your own house and stay alone.

KAYLA; Mom, Mercy was suggesting that I could live with them for a while. She insisted.

KAYLA'S MOM; Whaaaaat? Don't listen to her...