Chapter Nine

Munzi couldn't have been happier, the exams had come to an end and that was such a bummer since they would now be going home for holiday but she now she had more time to spend with Adrian. Since their kiss six days ago, she had been walking on cloud nine. She felt like the moon goddess she had always thought she was. They would occasionally make out and nothing in the world had ever felt better. Not even exam results. I mean they came close but still paled in comparison to the feeling Adrian's lips on hers. Man he was a great kisser. She would never understand why his wife had cheated on him.

"You look happy." Kalia said during their group discussion after the exams. Munzi blushed and played with her hair.

"I am. The exams are over." She lied and laughed at it. There was a joy and excitement that came with being in love. And she was smitten beyond return.

"You love exams. It was all you talked about for a whole week before they started. Something's up and I'll find out what." Kalia said and Munzi just laughed again.

"Good luck with that. It's a pretty big thing." She said.

"Can you guys concentrate. We are planning something important." Mori said.

"Sorry, what are we talking about?" Munzi said turning to face the group.

"Anatomy and how it's what we should discuss over the three month holiday." Kali said irritated. He had developed feelings for Munzi so he knew the secret to her euphoric happiness. She was in love but not with him and that hurt. Munzi was too happy to sense the annoyance in his voice. Nothing could have brought her down from that high. But then again there is always a loophole to life and no matter how hard we try, we cannot stay happy forever.

"Aren't you guys going home for the holidays?" She asked and felt a little sad since that wasn't even an option for her.

"We are going but not right away. I mean three months is a long time." Duvo said.

"You are right. Let's use sometime to study ahead." Kalia said and took out her notes.

Munzi wanted to be excited with them but she just couldn't. It was time for the holidays after all. She wanted to rest and be stupid. To make mistakes and use that time to do things people her age did. Actually all that was just a scapegoat. What she really wanted to do was spend time with Adrian.

"Isn't it late already? We really should go home. My neighborhood isn't all that safe." Munzi said. It wasn't completely a lie and it was getting darker by the minute. The days tended to be shorter during the months of July and August.

"You're right. Besides, I need to buy some ingredients for a meal." Mori said. The boys didn't talk much nowadays.

"Okay then. Let's pray. Munzi will you lead us?" Jima asked after packing his books in his bag.

"Sure. Let's pray." She said and bowed her head. "Thank you Lord for the wonderful day we've had and the better ones yet to come. We pray that you will guide and protect us on our way home and bring us here next time safely. Amen." She said and the others all chorused Amen. They picked up their bags and went in their separate directions. She was the only one who didn't live in the school premises. And honestly it was a blessing in disguise. Campus kids tended to be immature and irresponsible. Another reason she never wanted to be in a relationship with someone younger than her or her age. It just wouldn't work. In fact to her, age was just a state of mind. In her head she was alot older although of late she had started to feel like a little girl again. Adrian had made sure of that. Just thinking of him made her smile like an idiot in public. The stares she received from the other passersby was evidence enough. But she didn't care. She was in love and very truly happy for the first time in her life. She had come close to tasting that kind of happinesses with Hita, her ex boyfriend but it didn't even hold a candle to this. She remembered the way things had ended between them.

  ***A year before***

Munzi and Hita had just finished walking to their spot by the river. He looked happy and Munzi was glad thinking she had made him happy. They lay there on the grass by the river banks and dipped their bare feet in the water. Just enjoying the beautiful scenery and cool night air. All while listening to the to the water flowing and hitting rocks in the river bed. There were birds chirping and the crickets were audible. Making sounds to let the country people know that it was late and already time to give thanks to their maker and call it a night.

"I need to tell you something Munzi." He said playing with her hair. His tone was serious and playful at the same time.

"What is it?" Munzi asked. Their relationship had been going well and they had already consummated their relationship;he had cut a few strands of her hair without her knowledge. It was all that was required to make her his betrothed. Nothing could go wrong now. They were bound together forever.

"I have been seeing your cousin Kwela for a while now. She is with child." He said and Munzi felt all the energy drain from her body. She just lay there, limp. After what felt like an eternity, she got up and looked at him.

"Why?" She asked him. For some reason she didn't think he was joking. Deep down, she had always known that something wasn't right between them. That he wasn't really hers but she wanted to believe that she had found true love at a young age. She didn't want to see that it was all just a perfect illusion. I mean it would hurt anyone to learn that you had been to blind to see what was right in front of you. She had been that stupid and that's what hurt her even more.

"She was available and I needed a release." He said so care freely. Munzi wanted to push him into the river and drown him. But she stopped herself. He was about to be a father and that baby had done nothing to her to make her deny him or her it's right to a father.

"So we are over?" She asked him pushing back the urge to cry.

"We don't have to be. People marry two wives all the time." He said sitting up to face her.

"But we are Christians. It's not right. In fact, nothing about all this is right." She said and wiped a stray tear.

"So I'm guessing you don't want to be my side girlfriend?" He asked taking her arms in his. She pulled them away. How dare he ask her to stoop so low?

"I don't want anything to do with you. You and that bimbo deserve each other." She said getting up and standing in the water. She didn't care that her dress was getting wet. She then got out of the river and ran away. All the way home. Only she didn't get there on time. Because right before she entered the village gate, she fell to the ground and started crying bitterly.

"Are you okay sweetness?" Someone asked her. It was Kabila, the same man she had rejected a week before.

"I'm fine." She said standing up and wiping her tears. When she walked away, she failed to see the sinister grin on his face. He was plotting something evil.

  ***Back to now***

The break up had shattered her but she liked to think she had come out stronger. After months of living alone and soul searching and only seeing Hita twice, she was finally truly better. She realized that it was okay to be wrong sometimes. Some people were only meant to be there for a period of time. She just wished that she didn't have to get hurt so badly to realize that. That she now knew that, didn't mean that he was off the hook. She still hated him with a passion. He had done something bad and in her case, doing something wrong always earned you a punishment. God would avenge her but she would also do something. Revenge might not make things better but it would make her smile even just for a while. She had been choosing other people her whole life. That's why she had always been polite and kept her calm even when she was about to burst. She was done now. Everyone deserved to put themselves first even just once otherwise what's the point of living. So with a new found courage, she walked home. She had found clarity.