Themba knocked off and headed to Dragon's Corner with Joe. He preferred Zathu's Bar inside the Zathu Hotel where he got to mingle with corporate executives. Dragon's Corner was the place hustlers and vendors like Joe frequented. Still, he had to admit, it didn't hurt to be known as the major buyer there. They found two Uni friends and sat with them. Five minutes later, a waiter arrived with a round of drinks and grilled pork pieces.

'You been out long, dude? The last time I asked this fool here, he said you was in Blantyre?' One guy asked.

He was an established middleman, bringing in items from phones to SUVs. Themba used him to collect his Mercedes from South Africa.

'Yeah, sorting out some work stuff that side. We're expanding,' Themba replied.

Two ladies walked in and sat two tables away.

Joe nudged the middleman. 'They're here again.'

'Mmmmh, amafuna zambiri amenewo! I can't afford them!' He replied, turning away.

'You can't afford anything, bro! If it weren't for Major Buyer here, you would've had two greens the whole night!' Joe exclaimed.

'Says the adopted one! Let's just drink our sponsored beers in peace!' The other guy commented and they roared in laughter. Themba bought a round of drinks for the girls, who then joined them at their table for some time. After several rounds, chatter and laughter, Themba was ready to go home. He got up to leave, which meant Joe had to leave with him. It was the right time. Joe was drunk and becoming a nuisance to the ladies.

Halfway home, Joe started mumbling in the passenger seat.

'Bro, I'm sorry for what happened back there. I'm gonna get straight with myself and stop this. I'll be serious with job hunting and stuff, bro!'

Joe said the same thing every time he had too much. That plus a few other things he'd forget by the next day. Themba didn't mind. He needed him in that state to ask what he desperately wanted to know.

'We had interviews today. Guess who showed up? Sarah Tebulo.'

'Sarah? The Sarah? The Sarah you almost died for?'

Joe laughed at his own question. Themba ignored him.

'Yes, that one. Her father is the CEO of that...'

'Yeah, yeah! Dr Tebulo! I remember!'

'She broke up with Bongani right?' Themba asked

'Broke up? Mmmmh! Isn't she married to Bongstar? That guy never gave you space, huh!' Joe reclined his seat to lie back comfortably. 'I met Bongstar. Things aren't working for him as well, ey! In and out the superette, walks in and out the superette! If only she knew, ey! She would've been the Mrs. of a boss, ey!'

Joe fell asleep a few seconds after.

Themba turned on the CD player for the remainder of the journey.

He should probably let it go. He was hoping he wouldn't hear the name Bongani again. At least it made sense now. If he had been persistent, maybe she would've been his Mrs. He laughed at himself. Why was he even thinking that? This was something he could add to his motivational talks one day. It would make for a good start to his story. The boy who did piece work to put himself through Uni, the one who got mocked for fancying a rich girl, was now living it up. His struggle was what pushed him to be where he was today. His father left his family for another woman when he was two classes away from writing his Malawi School Certificate exams. His mother put his siblings' education on hold for two years so he could finish. To lessen her burden, he had worked hard and found a scholarship to Uni. Seeing the likes of Bongani only added salt to his wounds. They came from rich families and never had to worry if their parents had anything to eat at home. They laughed at him as he washed cars and tended to faculty staff's lawns. They had it coming. Look at them now, he thought.

His heart ached when he thought of Sarah and how he had longed for her. He would dream about her, in his arms, walking together on campus, opening a car door for her. He had tried dating other girls on campus but they were either too demanding or too shallow. Joe never failed to mention that he aimed too high.

'You want girls who want ice cream every weekend. No wonder they end up with sugar daddies, ey!'

At midnight, Themba parked the car in front of his house. He woke Joe and they both went inside. Themba wasn't worried. Joe wasn't going to remember their conversation. Which was good. The last thing he needed was Joe bashing him about Sarah all over again. He was over her. He knew Sarah wasn't the only woman in the world. Joe never failed to remind him of that fact whenever he had the chance.

With Joe safely blacked out on his own bed, Themba unlocked his bedroom door and went to use the adjoining bathroom. As he washed his face, his eyes locked onto the toothbrush next to his. Yes, Zione was the woman in his life, he reminded himself. And that was all that mattered.