Perpetual
Chapter 30

The beers are starting to hit so people are lightening up. Zara and Celine are still seated alone whilst Sasha and Lona can’t stop talking about God knows what. From the look of things, Lona is starting to get drunk, she keeps dancing to every song and I don’t know why Gabriel is not getting her off the alcohol or stopping her from drinking because if she were my woman, I wouldn’t allow her to embarrass herself like that.

‘Leo I respect you.’ Zac says pointing at me with his bottle of Miller.

‘Respect me?’

‘Man I am sorry to say this but you have fucked into the same family.’

The guys cheer and I just look on with embarrassment.

‘I mean you dated Pearl, God rest her soul and then ended up marrying her cousin. How do you sleep at night?’

I sigh deeply, I am not offended by the question. I am actually glad that he has asked it because people are always so scared to ask me these questions. They look at me with weird eyes making it hard for me to socialize.

‘Honestly I have been wondering too, because from what we heard you were so in love with Pearl. How did you end up with Sasha? I mean the two of you could have co – parented not so?’ Musonda asks.

‘To begin with, I must mention that I didn’t replace Pearl with Sasha. I loved Pearl. I love Pearl and no woman will ever replace her.’

‘But?’ Gabby asks.

‘The baby, I am not one of those men that will choose to raise children in separate homes. I know this is the twenty first century and the world has evolved but I am traditional at heart. I want my kids to grow up in a home where both parents are there.’

‘You are the same person that has said that you can never replace Pearl. Do you think it’s fair that your children will grow up in a home where they know their mother will always be second best?’ Zac asks.

‘Sasha is not second best, she is in no competition with anyone dead or alive. What I refuse to say is that she has replaced Pearl because the two women are in no competition and they will never be in one. I loved Pearl, Sasha will be the mother of my children.’

‘So you don’t love her?’ Musonda fires back.

‘We have an understanding.’

‘You didn’t answer the question.’

‘We have a mutual understanding and it is enough to take us through.’

‘I can never be you.’ Gabriel says drinking from his bottle.

‘Men rarely marry for love.’ Zac shouts back.

‘Oh hell they do.’ Musonda responds.

‘Dude love is for dating. When you want to settle down you look for someone who you know you can build with. Men look for stability in a partner. Someone that will be their peace and help them build a life together.’ Zac shoots back.

‘What if you replace those things in the same person that you love?’ Gabriel asks.

‘Lucky for you, but not everyone is that lucky. Look at Leo here, he loved Pearl and he was going to marry her for love and all but she is gone. He could have just raised the kids with Sasha whilst co parenting but we all know that Sasha is stable. We know amongst the four woman in this place she is the most stable and if shit hit the fan, she would bail all of us out that is why given the chance we would all end up with her. All of us!’

‘You know that’s my wife you are talking about right?’

‘Please remind him because Zac here is so passionate about her you might think he wants to be with her.’ Musonda says.

‘Okay but can we talk about how good she looks even though she is pregnant?’ Zac asks.

‘No dude, that is just wrong.’ I say.

‘Fine fine.’

‘Good.’ I say and look in Sasha’s direction. She smiles. And at first I think it is at me but then notice her eyes look past me. There is only one person behind me, I don’t need to know who she is smiling at.

‘When are you planning on marrying Lona?’ I ask turning to look at Gabriel.

‘Eventually.’

‘What? You are scared of marriage?’

‘Scared? Of course not, I just want us to do it at the right time. But I did buy a ring.’

‘That is good news, I will share it with my wife.’ I say putting emphasis on the word wife.

‘I want it to be a surprise, please don’t tell her. You know how ladies are with surprises, it may get ruined.’

‘Yeah I know.’

…

Kwenje’s Girl

Winnie

🙇🏾‍♀️