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FRED
Game night was in full swing, and the atmosphere was electric. Muthoni and I, having
indulged a bit too much, were struggling with our bowling game. I’d never been this
awful at bowling before; it felt like the universe itself was conspiring against us. We
played for about three hours, catching up on each other's week amidst the strikes and
gutter balls.
Njugush, as usual, was the center of attention. He regaled us with tales of his latest
romantic entanglements. “I’m telling you guys,” he declared, “I’m seriously thinking of
bringing her to our next brunch.”
I couldn't help but ask, laughing while genuinely curious, “What happened to Idah?”
Brandon, who had just made a stunning strike, added with a grin, “And Alice?”
“Yes!” Brandon spun around dramatically, flaunting his victory. “Oh, don’t forget about
Dianne—the gorgeous girl from Uganda. That woman could cook like a dream. Too bad
we only got to savor her culinary skills for two weeks.”
Everyone burst into laughter. Njugush took his turn, and with a dramatic flourish, rolled
the ball. He missed, and the room erupted in jovial laughter.
“Where’s Maggy, by the way?” Muthoni mused nostalgically. “I really liked her.”
“She’s in the UK now,” Njugush replied, still chuckling. “Long-distance was a
dealbreaker, so we had to part ways.”
With that, Njugush took his shot. He missed again, and the room was filled with hearty
laughter. “Girls love me, you know,” he bragged, puffing out his chest.
“I’m sure they do,” Muthoni clapped back with a mischievous grin.
Time flew by, and before we knew it, it was already midnight. We decided to continue
the fun back at my place. We made a quick pit stop at the liquor store for some
refreshing beverages, then grabbed a feast of KFC. With our treasure trove of snacks in
hand, we headed to my place to keep the party going.
Henry strolls into my place with his girlfriend, the epitome of stability. He’s the only one
of us who’s managed to sustain a relationship for the past decade. I don’t know how he
does it, but we all respect him for that. He’s the responsible one. Me, on the other
hand? I’ve had my fair share of situationships. That’s how I like it—no commitments, just
good vibes and inshallah. But not for the past two years; I’ve been laser-focused on my
career. Sure, there have been a few one-night stands when we go partying, but that’s it.
They leave the next day without my name or number.
I’m pulled from my thoughts when Muthoni joins me on the balcony. “The breeze is
amazing. What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing,” I say, trying to hide my daydreaming. “Come here.” I pull her close. She leans
on my chest, and we just stand there for a minute, soaking in the clean air and the
peace and quiet. She’s my best friend; I honestly don’t know what I’d do without her.
She breaks the silence. “You know, you still haven’t told me about your ride to work. You
just mentioned it briefly and then went on with your business with the guys. The
suspense is killing me.” She frees herself from my hold and takes a seat on the chair
next to us. “Now spill.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I respond, laughing. “I met a girl who wouldn’t stop
talking during the ride. She asked for my number and texted me almost immediately,
and we’ve just been chatting. What’s there to say?”
“Ummm, that. So what do you think about her?” she asks, eyes gleaming with
excitement.
“I mean, she was kinda cute.”
“OMG, you like her!”
“No, I didn’t say that. Hey, don’t put words in my mouth,” I retort, trying to keep a straight
face and failing miserably.
“Y'all are gonna end up shagging.”
“Nothing like that is going to happen.”
“Mmhmm,” is all she says before we’re interrupted by Henry. “Brandon and Njugush are
rigging the game. I’m so done with those two.”
We catch up for a few minutes, talking about girls and relationships, before heading
back in for dinner and a movie.
As the night unfolds, I find myself glancing at my phone, wondering if I’ll hear from Lizzy
again. Muthoni nudges me playfully, a knowing look in her eyes. Maybe she’s right.
Maybe there’s more to Lizzy than just a fleeting chat. And for the first time in a long
while, I feel a spark of curiosity that’s hard to ignore.