“Why haven’t you been answering my message?” he asked in anger.

“I went in town to do some shopping,” she answered with a ‘don’t care’ atittude.

“Town? Why am I hearing this now?” he hissed.

“I didn’t plan it, we just decided,”

Munashe walked two steps and looked at her enraged.

“You and who? Huh?” he shouted.

Caroline couldn’t tell her boyfriend, Munashe that she went shopping with Portia and Musa. Munashe hated her friends because there were rurmours that they danced in a club every weekend for money. She knew that telling him would make them fight, but she lies in a relationship hurt more.

“I went with Portia and M,” she said scared.

“But you promised you are not going to befriend them?” he said angrier and left her.

Caroline stared at him as he left. Other people were watching them because they were in a restaurant where she worked; she was on duty. She pretended as if nothing was happening and continued with her work. She just thought it would pass.

At lunch she left the restaurant and went to join the other two waitress who sat outside.

“What up with you and Munashe?” Chipo asked curiously.

“I don’t even care about you two fighting, you always make up,” Rudo said grasping a sandwich in her mouth.

Caroline smiled but didn’t like them talking about her. She sat and ate quietly while Rudo and Chipo talked about outings during weekends. She thought how Munashe and her were always fighting. She smiled and remembered that she was at fault, she did what Munashe disagreed on. But Munashe always did the same; he had so many female friends. To her it was flirting when he talked to them and she didn’t like it.

After lunch they went back to work. Her mind was else where, thinking that this incident between her and Munashe was just a phase. They met at College and had been dating for a year. Munashe was a full time studen while Caroline only went to school on weekend s because she worked day shifts.

After work she went home. She sat on the sofa, switched the TV on and watched a show about relationships. She wasn’t happy inside, all she wanted was to sleep. Something made her concentrate on the TV then she increased volume.

“Things can be rosy and you will disagree sometimes. Because there are two minds, two different ways of thinking and two kinds of expectations.” a lady spoke in the televison.

She watched the whole show and felt she had to mend things between her and Munashe. She took out her phone and sent him a message.

I am sorry baby. I love you. I promise I will stay away from Portia and Musa . I don’t know how to live without you. Please forgive me.

She sat and smiled. She was happy when they were on good terms. She stood up and went to take a shower. Caroline stayed with her cousin, Sandy who worked as a receptionist at a retail supermarket.

She dressed in her tracksuit and checked her phone. A message appeared, it was Munashe.

I am sorry too for being mad at you. I love you too.

The joy she felt made Caroline’s face glow. She went to the kitchen to make a chicken casserole. Sandy entered when as she was checking. It beeped three times.

Can I join you for supper?

Is it you cooking today?

Baby. Caro.

She quickly wrote back that he must come over. She smiled at Sandy who stared at her.

“I know that face, it’s Munashe. What did he write that’s making you smile, forgetting to greet me?” she said and went to her bedroom.

Caroline had to change for Munashe. She was all smiles as she set the table. Within thirty minutes there was a knock at the door. She rushed and opened, knowing who it was.

“Baby, I thought you wouldn’t make it,” she said with a smile.

“Who would refuse your cooking?” he answered and hugged her.

He held roses behind his back.

“These are for you, my special queen,” he said smiling.

She took them and sniffed them. She was delighted , full of joy. She chuckled and said, “Thank you Muna,”

“I knew that Caro smiling had something to do with you. You two,” Sandy snorted as she joined them at the table.

“Yes, she is my Queen, I love this girl,” he said holding her hand.

They said grace and ate the food, giggling as two lovebirds who never quarrelled or argued. Sandy couldn’t even tell they were busy arguing during the day. Munashe spent the night with Caroline. They did the dishes while Sandy went to sleep. The two lovebirds went to bed talking about their future.

***

Tell us: Do you think Munashe has a right to tell Caroline who to be friends with?