CHAPTER 18

I woke up to the sound of shuffling in the kitchen as well pots clattering. I took a shower, brushed my teeth and wore a pair of sweatpants. I went yo the kitchen and found Zama preparing a full greasy breakfast. Lomuntu uvuke nini? I pulled her in a hug and she yelps in suprise. She playfully slapped me in my chest and gave in to my embrace.

" Good morning sthandwa sami, did you sleep well?"

"Yes, I made breakfast."

"You didn't have to stress yourself about that but thank you anyway." I mumbled while nuzzling my nosed against her neck. I loved burying my face in her neck but fighting the urge to kiss was my biggest nemesis. I wanted her to be fully comfortable around me and I was too scared to overstep any boundaries. I didn't want to risk being taken ten steps back. For the first time in a long time I'm actually hoping what we had could work. Somehow.

I noticed how she would face the floor when I tried to look at her in her eyes although she would steal glances at my lips from time to time.

"Muzongi halela alikho icala lapho sthandwa sami. If you want to kiss you can kiss me, I'm all yours anyway." I whispered in her ear.

She looked surprised by my statement and a few seconds after the embarrassment crept in. She realised that I caught her checking me out. I loved it when she did and did not want her to feel embarrassed for doing so.

She went on her tippy toes and planted a small peck on my lips and that was it. I pulled her closer to me and held eye contact.

"What did I say?" I whispered with my lips a few moments away from hers.

"That you're all mine." She breathed out.

"Exactly."

I placed my lips on hers and waited for her to continue. She was gentle yet so intimate. I deepened the kiss and we were left breathless a few minutes after.

She dished up for the both of us while I made both of us coffee. We hate in a comfortable silence. I remembered the message I received yesterday. I always had a plan for any worst case scenario but not this time. I hated Mseki for being so reckless.

"What's bothering you?" She broke the silence.

"My siblings are reckless sometimes. They get themselves into shit and expect me to get them out. Raising grown men to be grown is not easy. I went them to be the best version of themselves but they're always looking to fuck things up one way or another. Now we're not on speaking terms and I feel somewhat guilty." I vented.

She reached for my hand and laced her fingers into mine." They're kids Nkosana, they're bound to make mistakes. Just let them learn from them so they can grow from them." She advised.

I played with my food as I listened to her and registered everything she had said. She was right in a sense but in this particular situation. They completely fucked my life up.

"Thank you. This is the reason why I love you." I beamed.

She blushed immediately afterwards and packed the dishes. She offered to clean the kitchen since she would leave later. I dressed up for work and gave her clothes to were. She was quite surprised by the fact that I packed her undergarments and a few pads.

I kissed her goodbye, took my lunchbox and went to work.

Work was very uneventful save for Skhumbuzo boasting about his yet again pregnant wife. They're just always at it, I guess. The woman was pregnant twice in one year.

I drove back home and I was invited by an aroma filled with lavenders and all sorts of cleaning materials. I walked over to the kitchen and found already made food in the stove which was fried rice and roasted chicken.

The kids went all out with the apology I see.

I went to my room, took a shower and only bothered to put a pair of boxers. I went to their rooms but found no one. Kanti who was cleaning my house? I walked into the guest room and found Zama taking a nap. A smile crept up face face as her soft snores filled the room. She slept like a baby.

I walked over to her and placed a peck on her lips as well her forehead. Her eyes fluttered open and I was met with the most beautiful any human could ever possess.

"Wakey wakey." I cooed ever so softly.

"You're back." She stated the obvious. "What's the time?" She added.

I grabbed her phone and showed her the time. It showed 19:08 and yet I was as tired as a dog.

"Let me brush my teeth so I can get you fed." She said while getting off of the bed and heading to the bathroom.

I loved how she said 'fed' and somewhere along the line I wished that word meant something else.

I returned to my room and got properly dressed. I had an oversized shirt and sweatpants. I know, I own quite a large number of sweatpants. In my defence they're very comfortable.

I went to the kitchen and helped Zama dish up the food while she complained about a specific customer who came half drunk and demanded that a bottle of wine be thirty percent cheaper because she didn't have enough money to pay for it. It was hilarious really. She gave me a playful glare when I had laughed at her misery.

We ate with a light conversation about how she actually wanted to be a marketing manager than an acting general manager and how she still wants to persue that dream of hers although she thinks it's going to be a bit difficult. I offered for her to work for and she refused saying that she wouldn't want to get a job because of pity or that I know her. She later said akafuna ukubizwa ngomuntu weboss.

I made sure to hide the smile on my face when she said that.

***

Zama stayed over for three days and when she left I felt the emptiness of my house again. I was still not on speaking terms with my siblings but I needed to go to Mseki's graduation. I had sent ten thousand to each of them so they could get something presentable to wear.

I had on a navy blue three piece suite that fit like glove. I had a fresh new cut and trimmed my beard. I was headed to Zama's work with her lunch with me.

As soon as I stepped into Woolies, every women gawked their eyes at me. I paid no attention to them, my eyes were searching for specific set of eyes.

I asked one of ladies who worked there to call Zama for while I packed the costumer's goods in the back. I gave the old lady a small smile and mumbled a small greeting. She didn't greeted but decided to gawk at me with no shame whatsoever. I wasn't sure if she was undressing me for herself or for one of her children.

I felt violated.

Fortunately Zama had finally decided to show up and I immediately stopped what had been doing. I walked up to her and met her half way. By then all her colleagues were watching us from the corner of their eyes. I placed a kissed 9n her forehead. I wasn't a fan of public affection. I would barely even touch Zama in any way save for holding her hands in public.

"Mnomo"

"Sthandwa sami, Kade lunjani kodwa usuku lwakho maNdosi."

She didn't answer me, I didn't think she could. Judging by her relentless blushing and her giggling. I let out a small chuckle as well. She looked extremely beautiful when she blushed.

"Ngikutholele into encanyana yokubambisa, sthandwa sami." I said while handing her the plastic bag.  "It's seafood but we can buy you something else if you don't like it." I added.

She quickly dismissed that idea and thanked me. I told her I'm leaving and that she should call me before she slept but before I could bid her good bye she requested that I buy something to eat first.

"Don't you think you should have some snacks to carry with you though. Yazini, let's buy buy some snacks for the road." She reasoned.

"Okay?" I wasn't sure where this conversation was going.

She hurriedly left and when I was about to follow her, she came back with a trollie. I raised both my eyebrows at her.

"Are you using me maCele?" I jested.

"No,sthandwa sami, I would never do that." She said while she brushed off  imaginary dirt on my chest. "Phela my paycheck is on the line here. I just need you to meet me halfway and sweat I will die for you one day." She said with fake seriousness.

I shook my head while chortling. I bought your typical travel snacks such as juice, biltong, dried fruit and so on. I bought four of so I don't end up sharing with my siblings. My siblings have a tendency of fighting more than eating when we're sharing food.

We went to the till to pay for what I had bought while the cashier kept on stealing glances at Zama and I. I took out seven thousand Rand to pay for my mini groceries. I had initially withdrew the money for Zama to spend on herself while I was gone. I took out six hundred and gave it to the cashier and gave Zama the remaining amount. The cashier's eyes bulged out of her eye sockets as soon as Zama refused it. While Zama and I were still arguing about the fact the she should take my money or not, the cashier decided to interrupt us.

"Nkosana, your change." She purred with her chest forcefully blown out and her nonexistent eyelashes batting.

Her dulled gold tooth that looked more brass than gold on both her front teeth was enough to make me scowl at her behaviour. I made sure to give her the deadliest glare just for control.

"Keep it." I hissed and she blushed in return.

Women are confusing. The woman next to me refused to take R6400 while the one infront of me blushed at R73.

Zama held my hand while the other pushed the trollie while I followed suit. Jealous much. We walked up until we got to my car. I put the mini groceries in the passenger seat for easier access.

Zama stood there awkwardly shifting from one foot to the other. I went to her and wrapped my arms around her waist.

"Ucabanga Ini muntu wami." I inquired and planted a small kiss on her lips.

She suddenly wasn't her normal self, she looked a bit distracted. Shook her head in hopes of dismissing  the issue from her mind but I doubt it worked. She wrapped her arms around my neck  and pecked my lips. She always did this, she never liked taking full control of a kiss so she would simply just start it instead. I gave her  a proper kiss that left us both breathless. Her hands were still on my neck and she rested her head on my chest.

"I'll miss you." She whined

"Nje sthandwa sami ngishilo ukuthi uzongifonela mase ulala." I reasoned.

"Still." She exhaled.

I pulled her in for another kiss to stop her whining. I didn't care that we were in a parking lot and that people could see us. I gently nibbled on her lower lip and she let out a small moan in return. I dived into the kiss a bit deeper. Again, I cared less about the fact that we were in public. Zama finally pulled away.

I noticed three older women glaring at us with their noses scrunched up in pure disgust.  Zama then lowered her face in embarrassment. She whimpered a small goodbye and sped away.