CHAPTER 11

"So she's your girlfriend." Thembani concludes

"No, I don't think so. Did you guys see him? He looked like a thirteen year old boy who was talking to his crush for the first time." Skhumbuzo said while chortling.

I pointed the screw driver I had at Skhumbuzo "I will stab you with this." I threatened "and wena Bayanda-" I add

"I'm sorry okay." He yelled from the top of the crane. What the hell is he doing over there ngoba phela we're fixing the engine.(because)

Everyone starts laughing and giving Bayanda disapproving looks. I waved off his apology dismissively and carried on with work.

"You should ask her out though." Mandla says. He should mind his business Lona, he has marriage problems.

" Vele, she looks like a good girl." Thembani seconds

" And she has a banging body." Sandile adds from behind me.

"You like her right?"  Skhumbuzo asked while raising his eyebrows. He should mind what concerns him.

"I guess." I said with uncertainty while shrugging my shoulders.

"I guess." Skhumbuzo mimics me with his pitch a bit higher than mine.

****

I  knocked off at worked and contemplated on going to Zama's house or just calling her. I do stupid things sometimes and that was one of those times.

I started the ignition and drove to her apartment.

After a good 25 minute drive and a few breathing exercises. Don't, don't ask. I stood at her doorstep and knocked once and twice and the third time.

Calm down Nkosana, breathe.

I knocked for the forth and fifth time.

Why the fuck isn't she answering!?

The door flew open breaking my chain of thoughts and I am met by the most hypnotizing set of eyes. She peaks her head out of the door

"What are you doing here?" She whisper yelled

"Zaza are you coming or what?" A male voice yelled from the inside

"Give me a few minutes!" She yelled back

First of all, who the hell is that and what is he doing in her house? Secondly, out of all the cute names you could find this man chose Zaza, really?

She opens the door slightly and squeezes her body through the limited space.

"Zama-" I said.

"Nkosana, you have to go. I'll call you in two hours." She interruptd while pushing me backwards.

With that said, she slammed the door on my face.

"Kanti kade usushonephi?" (Where did you go) the male voice questioned

"There was knocking at the door but there was no one. I guess it's the neighbour's kids playing ding-dong- ditch again." She effortlessly lied.

I drove to my house and busied myself with the silliest of things. I even ended up calling my brother's to check up on them which resulted to me being guilt tripped by Nhlonipho and me giving them money that I know will be spent on the most stupidest(if that's even a word) accessories like shoes and leather jackets.

I, again was devoured by my pride which led to me cursing everything and everyone because Zama didn't keep her promise. I sat in my bed with my phone on my lap, waiting for her to call. I sat there for 3 damn hours.

I finally concluded that I didn't need her to call me because my happiness did not revolve around her [it did] and I would be just fine without her.

At exactly 2:08 a.m my phone rung, I finally answered on the sixth ring without looking at the caller ID. Lord knows I want to skin this person alive.

"What." I hissed to the caller

"Nkosana." the person said softly. I let out a sigh in response.

"Explain." I said in a calm tone.

"Listen, that was my brother. He came to raid my fridge and if he saw you I was going to be in big trouble plus Zamani was coming over and he would see you."

For some odd reason her reason did not ease the tension in my muscles.

"I couldn't then but I can come over now." I said in an involuntarily pleasing tone.

"No, Zamani is here and he is a very light sleeper." She whisper yelled

"But I miss you." I whined.

"And I miss you even more." She said, a wide grin spreads across my face as soon as those words were said.

"You're beautiful." I said randomly, I had practised those words in my head so much it felt like the most sincere thing I had ever said.

"Are sure about that?" She challenged while letting out a few giggles.

After a few moments of shuffling from her side a ping alerted me that a message was sent from Zama. I click into the message and saw a picture of her with her tongue out and her caramel eyes fully out with her nose slightly scrunched. She wore a hair bonnet, preventing me from seeing her full blown afro. She looked so adorable even when she was trying to look ugly. I felt the urge to dig my hands in the screen and feel the softness of her skin, if only she knew how agonizing it felt to be in her absence.

"Nevermind, I take that back. You look hideous." I said breaking out of my daze.

What are you doing Nkosana, focus. Learn to control yourself, she's just a FRIEND.

A whole hearted laugh knocks me off my senses as I felt my lips twitch.

"Unlike you Nkosana, some of us do not have the talent of looking handsome 24/7" she defends

I let out a chuckle not knowing how to respond to that statement

"Tell me more, I'm handsome and...?" I said getting a little cocky

She let out a huff and I could just imagine her rolling her eyes.

"I need to sleep Nkosana, some of us are not night owls." She said

"I do sleep, I was actually sleeping when you called so between you and I, you're the night owl." I defended earning myself a soft giggle.

"Fine I'll let you have your beauty sleep." I surrendered

"Thank you." She said

"Always remember that you're beautiful, even with your nose scrunched up And your eyes as wide as saucers."

I could already imagine her smiling with her cheeks swelling up. There was a long silence.

"Zama" I said, checking if she was still there.

"Goodnight Nkosana." She mumbles, one could barely hear her if they weren't as attentive to her every word as I was. She then disconnected  the call which left me grinning like a retard in the dark.

She was just a friend, that was  the only thing she could ever be. I didn't have the time to invest on girlfriends and I most definitely did not have the emotional capacity to love anyone.

I didn't want to waste her time by promising her sweet nothings I knew I wouldn't give her and promise her world's we both knew we wouldn't exist in. The only way to have her close to me was being her friend.

Maybe I did have feelings for her but the inner turmoil in me that wanted her to be happy didn't want her to love me let alone like me. I could not and would not make her happy, we had to be friends- nothing more.

I scoffed at the thought of my colleagues' disapproving glares if I had to tell them that  in no timeline of my life would I ever find myself in Zama's heart and her in mine.

Authors note

Hi guys, firstly I would like to thank everyone who is reading this book. I know I'm not updating as much as you would want me to. I'm so sorry but I will try harder plus it's December meaning I have a lot of free time on my hands. Again thank you and please share, vote and comment and also brace yourselves it's definitely going to be a bumpy ride.  ;)