PREPARATIONS FOR A NEW BEGINNING

"Wow!" I say this as we check out the well-decorated modern kitchen with well-furnished modern amenities in my new house. It's located on the outskirts of Ngara, within walking distance of the beautiful city of Nairobi. Actually, the balconies of the master bedroom and sitting room overlook the city from the south. It is not just the beauty of this humongous house that is mind-blowing, but the convenience of the place, the quiet, serene environs, and the accessibility of almost everything. The supermarket is just a three-minute walk, and the market is about five minutes from here. Men, do I love it?

"You like it?" The caretaker asks me.

"I love it." I answer with all honesty. The laundry space is just across the kitchen, and it's as spacious as all the rooms of this three-bedroom house—actually, four, including the servant's room.

I know I said earlier that my dream place was the wetlands, but that has changed now. I love this one. I love Ngara. This is the beginning of a new stress-free chapter. A chapter of life that is filled with freedom, peace, and happiness. Now this is life, and nothing is going to restrict me from living it to the fullest. And, of course, sing! Music to the world. I will not entertain any hindrances. It's time to live, laugh, and be happy.

"I am taking it." I utter, still lost in this beauty.

"Thank you, miss. I assure you that you will love this place." The caretaker says:.

"I have a feeling I will. So, what's the next step?" I ask. I want to finalize everything as soon as possible and move in. I do not want to waste any time. It's not that I am being chased away from Deep's house, but I just need my own space.

As a matter of fact, Deep doesn't want me to leave. I don't know what is going on in his head, though. It seems it's his turn to make a fuss about my decision to leave his house, which I don't understand. We didn't have an agreement that we would be housemates. He just hosted me because of the mess I was in and the fact that I had nowhere to stay. Now that I have decided to look for a place to stay, is he not okay? Huh! He is quite confusing sometimes.

"You leave your email with me, and I will send you the agreement form and all the necessary details. Once you've signed the agreement and made the payment, you'll need to bring the signed forms to our office, and then you'll be good to move in at any time of your convenience."

"Okay. Wait." I write down my email address and hand it to him, and he leads the way out.

I can't wait to be a tenant here. Walking out, I bid goodbye to the caretaker and the security guards and decide to take a walk to the bus stop, which is about 100 metres or less from here. I am not that good at estimation. It can actually be 50 or 80. Sigh! Talk of convenience! This place is just dope! The next thing I need to do is order the furniture and everything I need for my new house from Jumuia, a one-stop online shopping app. That will be easy since they deliver your orders to your doorstep, so I have nothing to stress about that. I am loving the sense of this and the rapture I am getting.

My phone buzzes from my purse as I stand on stage and wait for a cab, and I fish it out. Huh, who else could it be except Mr. Callaway? "Good afternoon, handsome!" I tease him, and I can imagine the beautiful smile on his face right now.

"It wasn't until now that I heard that sweet, angelic voice." I knew he would start pulling my leg. He always does, making me feel like I am so special to him. Special, huh! I am actually special to him, but I am a special friend. So special that we have already made love, but hey, it was just once. He is keeping his promise about not repeating that again, and I, well, I am okay with that. I believe I am. I should be, right? "Are you still there, beautiful?" There he goes again. He should upgrade to something like love, babe, or, better yet, sugar or honey. Forgive my brain and my expectant heart. I am trying to be fine with just "beautiful.". At least he thinks I am beautiful, but not lovable. Imao!

This is one of the things that is making me leave his house. My heart can't take his jokes sometimes, and it's hurting. Seeing him every day is not doing me any justice either. Being with him all night reminds me of that one night we romantically lost ourselves to each other. Thinking about that night makes me want to fall into temptation again, to drink from the sweet pot of sin again. I need to try and stop my heart from being broken this early. Deep is just sweet and nice. He can offer me anything I may need—accommodation, protection, safety, and even sex. But that is as far as he can go, and I have to make peace with that. My thoughts, though. I should stop keeping my hopes high. He would have said so if he really felt something for me.

"Yeah, I am," I say.

"I thought you hung up on me! What are you thinking about?" You, Deep! You are the only thing on my mind at the moment. I have grown so attached to you that I doubt I will survive a day in my house without seeing you or even hearing your voice. Your heartwarming smile is something I will miss, for sure.

"Nothing specific. I just saw the house, and I love it." I say.

"There is nothing I can do to change your mind at all." He asks, his tone of voice changing at this moment.

"I don't think so. I need this, Deep. We have talked about it, haven't we?" I say.

"Yeah, yeah! And you know, I don't agree. Come on, Gia! You can pay me rent if that is what you will do to stay." He pleads.

Why doesn't he want to understand? I need my own space far from him before things with my heart go south. I can't afford a heartbreak right now. If I wasn't feeling this way about him, maybe I would have stayed forever with him. Indeed, I would. If only my heart could accept that what we did that night was a one-night thing, then we wouldn't be having any problems at all. But that is not the case here.

"No, Deep. I need this. I really do." I affirm.

"Alright. But I want one thing before you leave. And you are not allowed to say no." He says.

"Yes? What is it?" I hold my breath, and my heartbeat increases with ecstasy about what my temptation wants. Maybe to lure me into yet another sin again?

"A date with me!" His voice echoes through the phone, making my heart skip several beats.

A what? That… He didn't say that, did he?

"What?" I am trembling with fear, finding it difficult to keep my breathing steady. A date with Deep Moore Azzua? What in the devil's name is he up to, huh? Wait, he doesn't have to be up to something bad, right? I am just overreacting, right? It's me who is developing romantic interest in him, not the other way around. He just wants a friendly day out, right? You know, like, taking a walk in the park or eating in a restaurant? That should be all. A friendly date. Shit! Not even that sits well with me! And I am not supposed to say no? Is he serious? "But..." I start, but he cuts me off.

"TONIGHT!" The next thing I hear is the annoying sound of an end call. No, wait, wait a minute! Tonight? And he has the guts to hang up on me? Look at this dominant, autocratic jerk! He should know he can't order me around like that.

I redialed his number, and if I considered him a jerk for hanging up on me, then I don't know what to call him now because he has switched off his damn phone. What the heck! He is joking, right? He can’t be freaking serious about this.

I look at my wrist watch, and it's ticking past midday. Two, huh? I still have to go see the girls. How will I do that and still have time to prepare for the stupid date? This jerk really knows how to mess with me. Wait, he didn't even tell me the time and place of his so-called date. Is he for real? Maybe he was just messing with me.

I hail a cab and give the driver the address of where I am going. If at all he is serious about that date, he will call or text. I will not stop everything or freak myself out because of him. Annoying, cute jerk!