CHAPTER 10

"Wow, so it was true." she says with her arms folded on her chest.

What happened to 'hi, how are you'.

"What was true?", I asked nonchalantly, still holding Zama in my embrace

"Are fucking my sister, Nkosana?", she asked while squinting her eyes.

I let out a humourless chuckle." So I turn my back, and my ex is already fucking my sister, wow, yazi ngiyavelelwa.",she says while clapping. Always so dramatic.

"Can you keep it down, she's sleeping." I whispered yelled, I slid my hands behind her knees and picked her up bridal style.

I stepped out of the elevator. Khetho had opened her mouth to speak before being disturbed by the shuffling Zama in my arms.

"Nkosana, can you please put me down.",she said softly.

I slowly put her down, making sure that her body was stable enough for her to stand by herself

"Zama, I'm very disappointed in you." Khetho says, wearing a disgusted look on her face

"He's just a friend." she says defensively

"No, Zama nje voetsek." she interrupts. She looks at me for a while "Nawe." she adds.

Khetho clicks her tongue and leaves and so does Zama. Women.

**********

I haven't spoken to Zama since the day of the elevator incident. I called her a few hours later to check on her.  Our conversations were awkward and uninteresting, I haven't called her ever since.

On some days, I want to call her but on some days I just want to delete her number and forget I ever met her.

I had thirty minutes before my lunch break was over. At some point, I wanted to go to her workplace and act like I wanted to buy something just to see her.

Sandile and I were eating a take away he bought a few minutes back.

Whistles filled the the building. Perverts. There was only 8 people in the room I was currently in which were my close colleagues.

The noise came from the cafeteria. Sandile looked at all of us quizzically, none of us had the answer to his unsaid question.

"Fresh meat?" he asked, looking at all of us,with a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Wena, shut up. You're married." Samkelo said from the corner

Bayanda got up and left the room, I followed.

I entered the cafeteria and my eyes immediately landed on a lady wearing a khaki coat with black heels. This was was reason for so many whistles? She was carrying handbag and a lunch bag with the other. Maybe she was a new employee. When I was about turn my back, the woman turned, facing my direction, giving me a full view of her body

Zama?

"sawubona sisiza" [hello woman]

"I'm single"

"Ngizomushada loyo" [I'll marry that one]

"Waze wamuhle,muntu wami"[you're beautiful]

The men  screamed while others whistled. I took a few long strides before getting to her.

I gave a few of the people I knew death glares so they could shut up.

I placed my hands on her shoulders "Zama"

"Nkosana." She mumbled softly

"What are you doing here" I asked

She kept on opening her mouth and closing it with no words being said. I could sense that shat she was very uncomfortable with all the prying eyes.

I put my hand on the small of her back, my lips slightly twitched as I felt that little shiver that formed at the bottom of her spine. Good to know I have an effect on her.

The whistles died out as soon as I did that. The room was then filled with inaudible mumbles and questioning stares.

I led her to where I was, while she faced the floor. I entered the room, Bayanda, Thembani and Skhumbuzo stopped eating, Mandla was sleeping, he felt guilty for cheating on his wife for the fifth time. Ziyanda was reading a book about some  manual, I thought she was hot until I found out she slept with the boss to get the job, Sandile was making kissing sounds in the corner, he always does this when he's calling his wife while Samkelo was playing maskandi. I'm guessing Mnqobi went to throw away  his take away.

I introduced Zama to my colleagues with Bayanda looking at her with eyes that told her that he was undressing her.

I'm going to punch this boy.

"I brought lunch for you." she finally said

"Why?", I didn't understand that statement

She let out sigh, "I  just wanted to see you"

"Awwwww" my co-workers cooed in unison while she turned to the table and started removing her coat, leaving her with a black long sleeved turtle neck dress that hugged her every curve of her body.

It was hot, for every man in that room. It's like she dunked our heads in a pool of water and forced us to breathe.

I cleared my throat more than twice already, I was hoping to put out the fire that had ignited within me.

I hated how everyone just kept on looking at her. Skumbuzo was even drooling!

I slid her hand in mine and led her out of the room, we kept on walking up and down the corridor with her telling me how Khetho went ballistic and even assumed that I slept with her.

" My lunch break is almost over" I said with a bit of sadness that I hope she hadn't sensed.

"Oh.", she said, her smile instantly faded

"Zama" I said while pulling her into a hug. I rest my head on the nape of her neck and get a whiff of her scent. If only she knew how addictive she was. "When am I going to see you again?" I ask with my breath fanning her neck. I wanted to distract her, to scatter her thoughts as much as possible.

"I.....I... don't.....kn-know." she stuttered

I hummed in response and held her tighter.

"Nkosana were you still going eat the food" an unknown voice disturbed

I immediately glared at Bayanda who was stuffing his face with steamed bread while holding a take away on the another hand.

I'm going to strangle my colleagues one day.

Zama pushed me off her and left me with Bayanda.

"Kodwa, Bayanda udlisa i-team." I said in an irritated tone

"Sorry." he shrugged, like there was nothing wrong with what he had done.

I ignored his apology  and chased after Zama. She had already put on her coat and had her handbag and lunch bag on her shoulders. I stood by the door while she scrambled around the room, she was probably trying to figure her way out.

I took few steps towards her, I wanted to take one last whiff of her scent. Adrenaline was coursing through my veins. I grabbed her wrist resulting in her turning around with the most startled eyes and her flinching away from my touch.

"Can I walk you out?" I asked with desperation almost revealing itself in my tone.

Her eyes stared at my hand on her wrist before looking at me, wordlessly asking for her hand back. I wrapped my hand in hers and rubbed her knuckles.

"I....uh" she said, looking at everything that seemed better to look at, I looked her straight in the eye while I waited for her answer. The room also went dead quiet, I'm guessing everyone was shamelessly eavesdropping. I fought the urge to roll my eyes at them. Typical South Africans.

"Fine."she sighed. I pulled her towards me so we could leave. Bayanda stood in the doorway.

"Nkosana, I'm sorry mfo, kade ngingazi. Yazi you can carry on with whatever you were doing and we will all close our eyes. We promise." He says

I will have to assassinate Bayanda when I have time. I gave him the coldest glare I managed to master.

I shook my head in disbelief and pushed him out of the way.

I showed her around just incase she would want to come back again. I doubt she would but a man can only hope.

We were getting closer to her car and I hated it. It was one of those moments you would want to pack away in a briefcase you would wish to never stumble upon.

I pulled her to me until her head hit my chest. I snaked my arms around her waist and rested my head on the nape of her neck.

"Zama, when can I call you?"

"When will you feel like calling me?" She asks

"When I miss you." I say not even sure if that was the correct thing to say. She lets out a chuckle and raises her head to look at me.

"Okay then, call me when you miss me." She says and puts her head back on my chest.

We stay in silence for a while. "I have to get back to work, you do too." She says breaking the silence.

I let a few seconds die before releasing her. She doesn't look at me after that, I could see her cheeks proped up as a small blush taints them. She gets into her car and drives off.

I walked back to the office and dialled her number, I knew it by heart because of the many times I stared at it and not being sure if I should call her or not.

I never thought I would ever be at that stage of self confliction because of an ordinary women who I met through my friends with benefits. I'm sure everyone had come across that stage right?

"Hello?"

"Zama"

"You miss me already?"

I let out a toothy grin and nodded, forgetting she could not see me

"Come back." I plead while involuntarily sulking.

" Goodbye Nkosana, I'm driving. Call me when you're done with work."

"Bye"

Authors note

Guys I'm so sorry for not updating for so long I've been so busy but please bare with me. Please carry on reading, vote and please comment ❤️