Chapter 9
Do (mostly) as I do
After the ceremony Simba and Kuhisha made their way towards the waterhole.
"Why do they always have to do that?" Ranted Simba.
"The cooing ? I don't know, its irritating." Responded Kuhisha.
"It's like they think we're still little cubs." Simba went on.
"Granted, it's hard to take you seriously with your ..." Kuhisha hesitated
He knew that Simba wouldn't react well to what he had to say.
"My what?" Simba inquired.
"Nevermind. I don't want you to get upset again." Said Kuhisha trying to play it of
.
"I'm not gonna be upset. Just tell me already." Simba demanded.
"Alright. But remember that I warned you" Said Kuhisha
"Just spit it out already" Said Simba, growing impatient.
"It's hard to take you seriously with your non existent mane." Said Kuhisha
"You don't have a mane either" Countered Simba
"True, but I have at least a tuft of hair. You don't." Explained Kuhisha.
"I do too. " Said Simba with a pout while covering his head with his right front paw.
"Listen, it doesn't matter. It's sort of ad..." The last word wasn't audible to Simba.
"It's what ?!" Said Simba as he grew more angry.
"It's adorable. I know it sounds really dumb but you just got a very childlike face"Said Kuhisha
"Are you saying I look like a toddler ?" Simba had stopped walking.
"I...dude seriously it doesn't matter." Kuhisha tried to assure Simba.
"It matters to me. Is that why Nala is always chuckling at me." Simba asked, more himself than Kuhisha.
"Listen. How about this " Kuhisha said, trying to derail Simbas train of self-conscious thought.
"I teach you how to let things not get to easily to you and you help me reintroduce
myself to Mhetuu? How does that sound ?" He said
Simba lowered his right paw and chuckled.
"Oh that's right, you still have that crush on Mehtuu. That's too funny not to help you with." Simba said.
.
Kuhisha just rolled his eyes. Redirecting the conversation to a vulnerability of one self to help someone else to open upwas always good.
Relateability was worth more than gold sometimes.
"Alright, then let's go." Said Kuhisha.
A few minutes later the two lion cubs arrived at the waterhole where Nala and Mhetuu were already expecting them.
Nala immediately ran up to Simba and nuzzled him.
Simba gave an involuntary purr as a reaction , prompting Nala to giggle.
"I've heard you two managed to finish the indlela sa bazalwane. I'm so proud of you and Kuhisha"
"Yeah it wasn't easy." Said Simba.
"It's just great to see that you could swallow your pride like that." Added Mhetuu.
Kuhisha avoided looking at Mhetuu.
"Nala?" Simba asked Nala nervously.
"Yeah , what is it?" She responded.
"Is...is my mane...i mean ...my hair tuft is it...does it make me look too young?" He finally said.
"I like it, its cute. It's a fierce little tuft of hair for my fierce boyfriend" She responded with a smile.
"But...all the other cubs have more mane than me. Even Mhetuu has more mane than me"
"Hey, what is that supposed to mean?" Opined Mhetuu.
"Sorry Mhetuu i didn't want to insult you. It's just that you're younger than me and
even you already got more of a mane ..." Simba started only to be interrupted by Kuhisha
"Eugh, for f***s sake Simba. Yer f****n mane is ok and it's gonna grow bigger.
Could you now please do what you promised you would help me with, so that i can return the favor."
Said Kuhisha , obviously more annoyed then impatient at this point.
"What?...Oh yeah. Totally forgot about that." Said Simba.
.
Simba was about to address Mhetuu, when he couldn't help but wonder.
"Wait. If you are going to help me be more self-assured. Then why do you need my help?" Asked Simba.
"Are you serious? It's because this is new territory to me, but not to you. On the other side , the things i will help you with are my areas of expertise."
Explained Kuhisha with faux exhaustion.
"You will learn to do as I do. However right now you will help me to not make an a** off myself." He finished.
"But aren't you setting a bad example by wanting me to make the first step for you? Sounds like something i shouldn't follow." Simba reasoned.
"Yes, you are right. Don't do as i do now but do as I do later on when I fu***ng know what I'm doing myself. Alright?!." Kuhisha asked visibly annoyed.
"Alright, geez don't get your panties in a twist." Mumbled Simba.
.
"What are you talking about ?" Asked Nala , confused.
"You'll see" Responded Simba as he walked over to Mhetuu.
"Mhetuu?" Simba asked.
"What's up" Responded Nalas twin brother.
"Ok, so here is the deal. You see Kuhisha over there. You probably remember that he bullied you a few days ago.
However I'm here to tell you that he really isn't such a bad guy." Simba explained.
Mehtuu looked over to Kuhisha who was nervously scratching the dirt underneath him.
"In fact I'd go so far as to say that he's actually quite sensitive and loveable once you get to know him."Simba said.
"You think so?" Asked Mheetu.
"I mean I don't hold grudges and I did feel sorry for him yesterday but I don't know if he's gonna be nice when he's around his clique again." Said Mheetu.
.
Simba hadn't really thought about that. Now it worried him somewhat, but he kept going.
"I honestly don't know about that. I do know, however is that he would like to tell you something."
Simba said and turned to face Kuhisha who was still awkwardly looking at the ground.
"Kuhisha!" Hissed Simba, prompting Kuhisha to look up.
Kuhisha slowly made his way over to Simba and Mhetuu.
"Hi." He said trying to keep his cool demeanour.
"Hi. " Said Mhetuu expectantly.
Kuhishas face went suddenly red as he stumbled for words.
"You wanted to tell me something ?" Asked Mheetu.
"I...er..." Stuttered Kuhisha.
.
Simba couldn't help but wonder if he had looked this insecure when he told Nala about his feelings but he remembered the feeling well.
It was as if he wanted to talk in colors and impressions but no words allowed for this kind of depth.
He had to stepp in.
"Kuhisha likes you...and wanted to ask you if you'd like to maybe ...y'know go out with him or something." Simba said.
Mhetuu looked at Kuhisha in surprise. Kuhisha was still avoiding eye contract.
"Is that true?" Mheetu asked Kuhisha. "Or is he joking"
"It's true." Mumbled Kuhisha still looking down.
"I really like you. Do you...?" He hesitated.
"Do you like me? It's ok if you don't , just tell me." He said ,slowly raising his head.
.
"Well." Mheetuu began.
"I don't know. I mean you are kind of cute...but... " He said with a sly smile.
"But what ?" Inquired Kuhisha.
"But my Sister once offered me to judge homever was interested in me before I gave them a chance.
I'm still not sure if that's a bit patronizing but I trust my Sisters intuition more than my own. I know that
I can be a bit too naïve at times. So you'll have to show my sister that you're not too mean." He explained.
"Nala?" Kuhisha swallowed.
"You don't sound very pleased to have me around. " Said a familiar sassy voice just a feet away.
Nala had listened in on the conversation and was now sporting a sweet smug smile.
"Is that really necessary ?" Asked Kuhisha looking at Mhetuu with a puzzled look.
"Sorry. I would like to go out with you but my sister is very protective of me. If you're not mean than this won't take long"
Elaborated Mhetuu with his usual innocent smile.
A smile that could melt Kuhishas heart any day.
.
"Ugh fine." Kuhisha agreed. "Is she gonna question me or something?" Kuhisha inquired.
"No. I'm just gonna follow you around for a bit." Nala said.
"But i was gonna help Simba with his self-esteem problems. I don't have time for this." Complained Kuhisha.
"I don't see the problem. I can spend time with Simba and observe you while you teach him some stuff." Reasoned Nala.
Kuhisha let out an annoyed grunt. "Fine."
Then he turned to Simba.
.
"Alright first thing we're gonna do is visit my gang." Kuhisha said.
"I will show you how to lead a group and how not to do it."
"I'm gonna go back to mom" Said Mhetuu.
"Not to be rude but I'm still not too keen on seeing those cubs just yet." He reasoned.
"Alright" Said Kuhisha.
Then he turned to Nala.
"You can come along if that means I can convince you that I'm not gonna be an a** to Mhetuu."
"Sounds alright. Hope you don't feel embarrassed by having a girl come along with you." Nala said with a teasing smile.
Kuhisha chuckled.
"As if. That's Simbas job." He joked.
"Hey " Protested Simba.
"You have to admit that you get embarrassed easily when you and Nala cuddle in front of others."
Simba rolled his eyes. "Not that easily"
Nala giggled.
"Alright Kuhisha consider this the first positive impression you made on me. Simba pouting is always funny."
Nala said as she gave Simba a playful nudge.
The trio comprised of Nala , Simba and Kuhisha made their way towards the western green planes.
End of Chaper 9
Next Chapter : 10 The difference between respect and fear.
