Love Is Forgiving!

Cate and Martin were in the sitting room just chilling in the afternoon, listening to the album 2014 FOREST Hill Drive by J Cole when suddenly, Martin started the dialogue that changed their mood. Here is how it went; 

Martin:  I don’t get why your friends don’t like me, till now…

Cate: (shocked) Baaabe, why? Why do you want to go there… you know this will go south real quick, yes?

Martin:  Noo… I need to understand. Is it because I did not buy them mzinga the other day at Gemini? (A club in Nairobi), you understand I was … (in low tones, as though ashamed) You understand I was broke, yeah?

Cate: It was not a must, by the way, they were not even serious when they asked you for the bottie! And I understood, I understand your situation …

Martin: You know I only tolerate them because of you, kwanza that mother hen, Susan…is just (clicking)

Cate: Babe, please! But you know they are also mad and disappointed with what you did, especially Susan… It was her cousin, Milly, whom you chea..…

Martin: (angrily) I thought we promised to forget that story, si I apologize, ama what do you want me to do to prove to you that I am indeed sorry?

Cate: Ok, I want you to at least try to get along with my friends, they are my day one’s babe, they have been there for me for the longest, they are my tribe…you know?

Martin: Alright I will try… si we go get food?

 

Cate had been through the most with Martin. It's honestly still a miracle they are still pushing strong. Cate was... and still is a sweet girl whose actions shows that she truly loved Martin. She has been the one holding him down after he was retrenched from work when the pandemic hit. He was a chef at one of the 5 stars hotels in Nairobi.  Cate thought it would be a temporary thing (Martin being unemployed) but it was now 8+ months with no hopes. He claims he has been applying for jobs but to no success. This is one of the reasons why Cate’s friends were not on good terms with Cate’s friends – Cate hosted and took care of the boyfriend for everything. The other reason her friends were just not amicable with Martin is that he cheated on Cate with Milly, Susan’s cousin. Quite Telemundo. He did not know the relationship between Milly and Susan at the time. See Nairobi is a dot (small).  And everyone knows everyone in a way. This whole scenario just proved it.

How the friends came to find out was at Milly’s birthday party. Susan was invited to Milly’s birthday party and she brought friends along – i.e., Cate & Martin. And alas…that was where Martin knew that indeed Nairobi was so small. Milly mentioned to Susan what transpired between Martin and her as she needed her conscience clear and free. It was a one-time thing, she did not know the guy was in a relationship, let alone in a relationship with Cate, her cousin’s best friend.  They met at a house party in Juja six months ago. Martin had visited his cousin, the host of the party. They were fond of each other’s company thanks to the liquor. They vibed and had a good time. ‘I really had a blast yesterday, oh and it was nice to meet you…baadaye!’ Those were Martin’s last words to her. Milly blamed everything that happened that night on the liquor. After all, Martin was not her type. They had not seen each other until Milly's party.

All hell broke loose after Milly told Sue what happened between her and Martin. She did quick math, one plus one, and she found out that these happened when Martin and Cate were still together. She was so livid you’d think she was the one dating Martin. She pulled the cheating boyfriend aside and gave him a piece of her mind. She was not kind, she insulted him. she was still high on wine, which worsen the confrontation. ‘How can you cheat on Cate, this babe is hosting you, giving you food, buying you clothes, your boxers … she is standing by you despite everything, yet here you are, gallivanting Nairobi, Kiambu and who knows where else?”  That night was crazy. That was when and why Cate’s friends did not like Martin!

Cate forgave Martin though, mostly because love is patient, love is forgiving as she had read scripture in the bible. Her friends though did not buy to that love is forgiving thing. They hated Martin and they did not hide it. Susan specifically advised Cate to go to therapy, Cate thought it was not that serious.

Martin tried to buy their forgives to enter their good books. It did not work. So here lies a babe, Cate, who prays every day that her friends and the ‘love of her life will one day not only be amicable but will at least tolerate each other. She prays that one day, the friends and the babe can share a meal without quarrels that start out of nowhere or even eat in peace without sneers, sarcasm … but love and acceptance. But until then, Cate is that babe who is conflicted and lives praying and hoping that one day, her people will be in synch one day.