It's has been two months,sixty five days to be exact. The roommate and her have had a life together. Only the landlady, the massive chest bearer with flat rear(they jokingly baptised her Lollipop) who has a clue that they had no prior knowledge of each other. Her office was the meeting point.
Beat, as Ben prefers to call her, is an MSc student who got bored sharing her nagging aunt's apartment. She calls her a modern version of Wangu wa Makeri, the legendary Gikuyu lady dictator. Her uncle is a regional branch manager of Faidika Bank. His authority ends in his office, at home he is a babysitter, a housewife and a nurse to the ever angry nag, the aunt. If that's her uncle's position, hers was a slightly above modern slavery.
Beat, is a music loving soul. Her real name is Beatrice, Ben cut it to Beat as a symbolic reference to her enjoyment of music beats. In addition, she fell for his poetry, love poetry to be precise. She has that brilliance to master, recite and dramatize his poetry. He has amidst much rebellion, recorded some of the presentations.
Ben, an MA student in Creative Writing is the infamous roommate. He was the spring of the alien idea, 'Let's share the available room' he suggested to the stranger. She blushed, then sternly lectured him that she wasn't a loose lady, a dangling ripe fruit by the roadside, ready to be picked by any pedestrian and the manner less bikers. He stole her show by a simple diversion, 'Coffee or tea?' He pointed to the direction of cafe across the road. They had just left the landlady and her new plot with a promise that one of them will be the tenant of the single bedroom on the first floor. She was perplexed. She'd wait.
They are coffee addicts, great brewers and on Saturday, their only day off, they tour Java for the best quality. Coffee bound them, like life smokers, they relax over it. They open up, share their mysteries and miseries. That day, sixty five days ago, they agreed to share the available room. It was convenient for both. She had her high density three and a half Bobmil mattress, he had a same sized bed. He had a gas cooker, she had utensils. They complemented and later complimented each other.
The rules were simple,she had the house the whole day, and he had it for the night, save for the weekends. She worked as a night shift accountant in the Bantas Hotel, courtesy of her 'sat on' uncle who created a connection, and her mother's love for accounts that saw her complicate her law studies with accounts, which she had a CPAK certificate. She hated it. Her law degree wasn't much helpful either, she cursed and ridiculed the very root of her career, a law clerk. A fortnight was sufficient to make it a loose end. She despised her youthful desires and sacrifices. A postgraduate was her next pursuit, she preferred lecturing to running up and down looking for and lying for clients, poisoning the society with immorality. Luckily, she had a funny roommate who made a life by putting down all the absurdities and adversaries in a fictitious humorous world. At the beginning, they had reservations but currently their tension is a joke. Who could have imagined that they could share t-shirts, khakis, sneakers and once in a while boxers? They made a pair of idiots whose laughter during their day off made the newlyweds next door envy them, maliciously of course.
Ben was a creative editor at a gutter press that struggled to confuse the advertisers in the name of convincing them. His days were mainly spent online,doing his research than editing. His contract demanded editing ten stories a day which he couldn't waste two hours on. The Boss,a former newspaper vendor loved his arguments, guidance and language mastery. The only he fear harboured;his editor was too qualified that he risked to be poached by the cruel giant corporations. Ben was at ease, he promised to stay. He knew that his ventures, studies and writing were best taken care of in such an environment. .
His departure from the varsity with a degree in Linguistics and Literature was a great ego booster but a license in job hunting, which he couldn't easily fathom. His days were spent glued to the old mini laptop, the only reminder of his undergraduate loan. He couldn't help but type articles for a few upkeep bucks. His city survival was highly supported by his village friend who generously hosted him until sixty five days ago, when he had a new thought. And a new job that saw him enrol for a postgraduate degree that his host despised profusely as a waste of money that is scarce.
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Ben and Beat shared their stories, coursework, views,room, towels, bed but not bodies, at least not yet. The closest contact they ever have is a pat, slap,a hug or a peck in an extremely awkward situation when something really nice happens.
Today's topic is a dilemma. Beat's sweetheart, whom she says is a beholder of a shaky relationship, is coming. His departure from the bush, where he teaches Geography and History is facilitated by the school so that he can attend a conference he lied about. His conference is the darling, who 'lives on her own in the city .'
Ben's Cinderella, a character in his sixty five day old manuscript 'Climbing Business' and also highly featured in his 'Absurd Love Poetry Collection' is also claiming to land in his abode, since' he is now living in his own house, on his own.' She's planning to hang around for a few days as she sorts out her complicated transcripts. She had a special examination courtesy of a careless common course lecturer who awarded her a mere 26 out 100!
Coming up with a solution is inevitable. The time is not helpful, it's running like a maiden hen after the cock spits on her for the first time. Her guy is silent, humble but critical. Cinderella is a jerk, but not in presence of strangers. They're certain to be treading on eggshells, not that it matters. The two newcomers have two options, they either understand them, or leave. The third option is obvious but not yet tabled, give them freedom to swim in the sea of their refrained fantasies. By the best addition, their friends believe they're a pair too shy to confess their love.
Bit(yes, that's his name) is the first to arrive. He hugs Beat warmly and due to his intuitive caution, he spares her the kiss, not until she explains who he is.
Cinderella does the same. She hopes that they're just friends and will be out soon.
The introductions are suspended until lunch is taken. Beat, the lawyer in the house, will lead the arbitration process. Ben is waiting to touch his keyboard, a climax is in the making, he hopes his fingers will still be intact to type and his skull,to compose the literary juices if not spilling its thick brain somewhere. He hopes that the matter is solved amicably. He curses Beat for rejecting the idea of inviting two friends at least for their own security.
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Cinderella is a genius. Yes and all along Ben took her for granted, her studies in sociology must have had a great impact on her reasoning.
"You're a great pair, so at ease with one another.You manage your endeavours and interaction in a remarkable incredulity. With all due respect and honour, I am good to let you be. Explore what you have been keeping for us. Then I hope Bin considers my proposal."
The room is silent. She's right but too bold, too soon. Bin springs like a great warrior, lifts her in the air and there he plants his lips in her worrying face, they kiss as Beat and Ben stare disbelieving.
Beat looks into Bens eyes; seductively,moistening her full red lips, she moves her hand around his neck, uses her index finger to draw around his confused face...
His blood runs, his bell rings uncontrollably,he's certain he'll feature in his masterpiece.
