Love is tragedy

THE NEGOTIATION

Day 23.

*11:30am. Bukoto.*

The 210k was split. 100k in Jimmy’s pocket. 110k hidden in Jessica’s bra.

They hadn’t slept.

"Don’t go alone," Jessica said. She was braiding her hair but her hands were shaking.

"I have to," Jimmy said. "He said alone. Or Brian visits you."

Alex paced. "It’s a trap. Mr. Kato doesn’t negotiate. He collects."

"Then what?" Jimmy said. "We run today? With 210k? And start from zero?"

Silence.

"I’ll record it," Alex said. Pulled out his Tecno. "Voice note. If anything happens we take it to police."

"No police," Jimmy said. "Not yet. Let me try first."

*12:00pm. Wandegeya Market. Container 14.*

Mr. Kato was waiting. Same table. Same bulb. Same metal bar.

But today he wasn’t counting money. He was eating rolex.

"Sit," he said without looking up.

Jimmy sat. Put the 100k on the table. Neat. New notes.

"I brought 100k," Jimmy said. "Like you said."

Mr. Kato finished chewing. Wiped his mouth. "Good boy."

He took the money. Counted it. Slow. "So. You want to talk terms?"

"3 months," Jimmy said. "20k every week. Starting next Monday.

We keep the 110k for rent and food. We work. We pay."

Mr. Kato leaned back. "Let me tell you how this works, Jimmy.

I’m not a bank. Banks give you time because they have insurance.

I don’t have insurance. I have Brian. And my reputation."

He stood up. Walked to the door. Locked it.

"If I let you do weekly, 10 other boys will come tomorrow saying the same thing," he said.

"So no. 3 months is cancelled."

Jimmy’s stomach dropped. "But you promised—"

"I promised nothing," Mr. Kato said. "I said 3 months if you paid on time.

You ran. That broke the deal."

*The Offer*

Mr. Kato sat back down. Folded his hands.

"New deal," he said. "You pay me 1.2M. Total.

200k you owe. 60k interest. 940k for pain and stress."

Jimmy laughed. Bitter. "I don’t have 1.2M. I barely have 210k."

"Exactly," Mr. Kato said. "So we do this instead."

He pulled out a paper. Handwritten.

"Contract. You work for me. 6 months.

Deliveries. Collections. Night runs.

I pay you 50k per week. 20k goes to your debt.

You keep 30k. In 6 months you’re free."

Jimmy stared. "You want me to be a collector?"

"I want you to survive," Mr. Kato said. "And I need boys who aren’t scared.

You looked me in the eye. That’s rare."

"And Jessica?" Jimmy asked.

"She can braid hair in my sister’s salon," Mr. Kato said. "50k per week.

We take 20k. She keeps 30k."

It sounded almost... fair. Almost.

Until Jimmy saw the last line.

_If you miss one day of work, we take the boda. And the girl._

*The Trap*

Jimmy pushed the paper back. "No."

Mr. Kato didn’t get angry. He smiled. "Then pay me 1.2M cash. Today."

"I don’t have it."

"Then you work."

"No."

Mr. Kato sighed. "Brian."

The door opened. Brian came in with Craig.

Craig’s face was bruised. Lip split.

"Boss," Brian said. "He was trying to run."

Mr. Kato stood. Walked to Craig. "Did I tell you to run?"

"No boss," Craig whispered.

"Did I?" Mr. Kato hit him. Open palm across the face.

Craig fell.

Jimmy stood up. "Stop!"

"Sit down," Mr. Kato said. "Before you’re next."

Jimmy sat.

Mr. Kato turned back to Jimmy. "Last offer.

You sign. 6 months. Or I take the 110k from the girl right now.

And the boda tomorrow. And we start counting interest again.

20k per week. Forever."

*The Stall*

Jimmy’s mind was racing. 110k was everything.

If he gave it, they had nothing. 2 weeks on the street.

"I need to think," Jimmy said.

"You have 5 minutes," Mr. Kato said. "Then Brian goes to Bukoto."

Jimmy stood. "Can I use the bathroom?"

"Brian will go with you," Mr. Kato said.

In the bathroom, Jimmy locked the door. Hands shaking.

He pulled out his phone. 1 missed call. Alex.

He sent a text fast: _He wants 1.2M or 6 months work. Taking 110k if I say no. What do I do?_

No reply.

He flushed the toilet. Came out.

Mr. Kato was on the phone. "Yeah... no, don’t touch her yet.

Wait for my word."

He hung up. Looked at Jimmy. "Time’s up."

*The Decision*

Jimmy looked at the contract. At Craig bleeding on the floor. At Brian by the door.

And he made a choice.

He reached into his pocket. Pulled out the 100k.

"Take it," he said. "It’s all I have on me.

Give me until Friday. I’ll bring 50k more.

And every Friday after. 50k. Until it’s done."

Mr. Kato studied him. "Why should I believe you?"

"Because if you take the 110k now, you kill me," Jimmy said.

"And dead men don’t pay.

But alive men with hope pay everything."

Silence.

Mr. Kato picked up the 100k. Put it in the drawer.

"Friday. 50k. 6pm. Here.

You miss it, I take the boda, the girl, and your fingers."

He unlocked the door. "Get out."

*Outside*

Jimmy ran. Didn’t look back.

Alex was waiting 2 containers away, phone in hand.

"Did you record?" Jimmy asked.

"No," Alex said. "He saw me. Took my phone."

Jimmy told him everything. The contract. The threat. The 100k.

"We have 3 days to find 50k," Alex said.

"And we have to hide the 110k better," Jimmy said. "He knows where it is."

They started walking home.

Halfway, a boda passed them. Slow.

Brian. He didn’t stop. Just looked at Jimmy and smiled.

*Night. Bukoto.*

They moved the 110k. 3 times.

Under the mattress. Inside a rice tin. Inside Jessica’s shoe.

Jessica didn’t yell. She just stared.

"Friday," she said. "50k. Where will it come from?"

"I’ll do night deliveries," Jimmy said. "Private clients. 2 bodas. Me and Alex.

No sleep. We’ll make it."

Craig was gone. He left a note: _Sorry bro. I’m going to Gulu._

At 3am, Jimmy couldn’t sleep.

He did the math.

50k per week x 12 weeks = 600k.

They owed 1.2M.

Even if they paid, they’d still owe 600k in 3 months.

Mr. Kato wasn’t letting them go.

This wasn’t a loan anymore.

This was slavery with interest.

*The Realization*

Jimmy sat up. Woke Alex.

"He’s never going to stop," Jimmy said. "Even if we pay 50k every week.

He’ll add new fees. New interest. New reasons."

Alex nodded. "So what do we do?"

"We fight," Jimmy said. "But not with fists.

We find something he wants more than money."

"Like what?"

"I don’t know yet," Jimmy said. "But Mr. Kato has enemies.

Every loan boss does. And enemies talk."

He lay back down.

Friday. 50k. 6pm.

3 days.

210k was now 110k.

Minus rent 150k.

They were already negative.

The negotiation failed.

The war started.