Luyando, Book 2, Episode 7

By Brian Ngoma

BOOK 2
It was a beautiful day and Luyando felt good about herself. Her brother had gone back to work. Before he went back, they had a very nice conversation about her future. 'You know, I think its high time you go to college now, I think I have raised enough money for you', Josi said. 'Really, Josi', she was happy. She told her friend about college and how ecstatic she was. She knew that was going to be a new chapter in her life. She got tired with all the drama in the neighborhood. She needed to go away.

LUYANDO: EPISODE 7

WARNING: It has come to our attention that a lot of people have been swindled by people who claim to have properties they need. For example, cars, houses, Laptops and plots among others. We highly suggest that if you need to buy things mentioned here, you should ensure that its done in a legal way. If you see that it is too good to be true, it probably isn't. The Police.

She put the Newspaper on the table as she read that part. She thought about how Tyson gathered the courage to come at her house that night. She thought he was a good person but she was wrong. Never did she ever think that he would be the one who beat up her brother. She could never tolerate anyone who did bad to her brother regardless of how she felt about that person. She had a big day ahead of her, she had just been called by the Orphanage that she needed to come in on a Monday. Usually, she never worked Monday's so she was surprised by the sudden call.

She left home and went to the orphanage. It wasn't far from her place. It was a ten minutes’ drive. She got on a bus and put her headsets on. She had a good feeling about everything. She didn't even understand why she was feeling so good that day. She posted on Facebook that 'She was queening and owning the day'. Life was good.

She reached the orphanage and found the people who were waiting for her. It was two men and a woman who had a serious look on their faces. They all sat down. 'We have seen the good work that you have been doing for this orphanage. The consistency and determination you have shown is highly appreciated', the woman told Luyando. 'Thank you, I just do what I can for this organization', Luyando replied. 'Would you like to work for this organization on a permanent basis?', the man asked. Luyando's life was turning bright. Her brother had told her about college and now she was being offered a full time job. She was the luckiest girl on the planet.

Leaving the orphanage so excited and happy, she called her brother and told him about the job offer. 'We talked about college Yes, but that’s for next year, you have ten months till next year so get the job', Josi said over the phone. 'I have taken some papers that I need to look at, I have to read the terms and conditions and everything. they have given me a week to do so', Luyando replied.

She needed someone to celebrate with but Priscila was out of town for training. When coming back she decided to walk by foot because she was not in a hurry. She passed through some kids who were playing football. One of the kids had difficulties speaking, he was stammering and she remembered Nyambe. Luyando and Nyambe last met on that fateful night Tyson came to her place. She had been avoiding Nyambe's phone calls. The fact that he told her that he knew someone from her neighborhood and was not in good terms with made her scared. She only thought about one person. She scared that if it turns out to be the person she expected, things would never be good between her and Nyambe even if it was just friendship. She decided to start ignoring him because it was only for the best, so she thought.

Nyambe had come to Luyando's place a couple of times but she told her grandmother to tell him that she wasn’t around. 'Will you manage to keep avoiding that young man?', asked Luyando's grandmother after Nyambe left. 'I don't want to see him, Iam tired', she replied while putting her headsets on. Nyambe knew that she was ignoring him but he didn't want to accept. He wanted to talk to her face to face to find out what had happened. So he made a plan to do just that.

Luyando had reached the market. She stopped by a shop where she used to buy phone credit. As she was about to leave, Angela came in. The girls looked at each other and smiled. 'You look beautiful Luyando', Angela told Luyando. Smiling she answered, 'Thanks, you look well too'. 'Where have you been, I heard you left Tyson's place', 'Yes I did, and I heard what transpired between Tyson and your brother, it was sad'. 'OH well, Tyson is a wanted man now, no one has seen him since that day, and Iam sorry that you had to go through all that', 'I deserve it, I also fell for the wrong man and now I live with a friend, this life'. 'If he comes to you, let me know he needs to be put in jail and if you need anything you know where I stay, I wouldn't mind helping', Luyando added. As they were talking Derrick came in. When he saw Luyando, he got scared. He greeted the two girls and bought what he came for and left the shop.

It was thirty past 3pm. Luyando was tired from all the walking and she needed a good sleep and food. As she was approaching her place, she saw Derrick running towards her. She didn't think he wanted her so she kept going. He got to where she was and apologized about what happened. 'Tyson gave me a note to give you, believe me I haven't seen him since that day', he told Luyando. Luyando just looked at him and got the note from Derrick. She wondered what was in that note and couldn't wait to read it. She entered the yard and opened the note;

Dear Lu, Iam very sorry for what happened between me and your brother. If I could turn back time to that night, I would. I don't want to make a lot of excuses. I accept what I did was wrong but it was all a misunderstanding. The people I worked for misled me. I knew nothing about the deals. When I found out, I left. That’s the reason I didnt know that Angela was pregnant. It still breaks my heart when I remember how you looked at me that night, like some sort of monster. I have gone back to that town. I want to find a way to expose those people. They have ruined my life. Iam only asking for time to clear my name. Please don't notify the police. I thought we could have had a great life together; things are now messed up. Love, Ty.

She felt something in her heart, she felt pity for Tyson. She didn't want to think about it. Her life was great. She read the note from the outside and didn’t notice that Nyambe was behind her. Nyambe saw that she was reading something so he didn't want to disturb her. After she was done he called her name. 'Luyando'. There was no way she would run from him; he was behind her. She turned around and acted happy to see him. She went inside and got some chairs.

'Why ha...ve you be...been avoiding me Lu....yando, i do...don't understand', he complained. 'It’s not that, it’s just that I have been busy with work and other things', she replied. 'Te...ll me...me the truth, is getting to know someone such a bad thing now', he asked further. She felt the need to tell him the truth. What if what she thought about him was true? How will she tell him that he had to stop coming over? Was that being fair to someone who has only been good to you? These were the questions burning in her head. She knew she had to ask him.

The excuses she was giving were sounding lame. She knew she was better than that. There was nothing wrong with asking someone something. It’s either a no or yes. She hoped for a No. 'We have a bana Nyambe in this neighborhood, are you in anyway related to her?' She asked him. ' Yes she's my mother, why?', Nyambe answered.