CHAPTER 8

I ignored Khetho for a three weeks and for some reason my mind was finally at peace. Christmas and New year's had passed meaning everyone was back to work including me. For a fraction of a second I had finally thought my life was moving accordingly but little did I know.

A lady waved at me ,not to greet me but for me to go to her.

"Dumelang"

"Le kae"

"Ke sharp"

"Uyakwazi ukukhuluma isiZulu"

"I don't know how to speak isiZulu. "

I nod not knowing how to reply to that statement. How the hell are you in Kwa-Zulu Natal and you don't know the flipping language. It's the land of Shaka Zulu, how can you not know the language?

"English?" I asked. She shook her head, embarrassment flushing her cheeks. I nodded in understanding.

"Nka fumana kae  vitamin E supplements? "

I shrugged my shoulders in reply and she let out a sigh.

"Good afternoon, may I assist you with anything"

I turned around to see who the voice belonged to. Every single blood cell in my body had disappeared. Both women were looking at me waiting for an answer. I turned around to look at the Sotho speaking lady.

"She asked if you needed any help."

"Mmolelle seo ke o botsitseng sona . "

She was quite demanding for a stranger who needed my help.

"She asked if you have any vitamin E supplements. " I translated to Khetho's friend. She nodded in response, she then took out her phone to call someone.

A few seconds after she ended the call a thin man came to assist the Sotho speaking lady. I was guessing he was also Sotho since his name was Thato.

By the I was let alone with the one person I was keen on avoiding for the rest of my life.

"Do you need any assistance,sir ?"she asked with a neutral tone

"What have I done to you that makes you hate me this much?"

"Sir, this is my workplace, I do not have time for this. "

"Do you know how annoying it is to have you looking at me like I just stole your candy? "

"Are you expecting an apology or what?"

"No, instead you can have dinner with me. My treat. "

I don't know why I said that.

" No, I'm not going anywhere with you in public. I would prefer you come to my house and we will have a normal dinner like normal people. And no Khetho will not be there. "

I was glad Khetho would not be there but why didn't she want her there ? She was her friend after all. Those friends really confused me.

"When are we having this dinner?" I asked

"Tonight at 7 p.m sharp."

Wow, desperate much aren't we ?

"Okay."

I took what I needed, paid and left. I realized, I didn't know her name.I knew nothing about her except that she is a fake best friend who wants to hook up with her best friend's ex friend with benefits. And the claim that me gender is the untrustworthy one. Women will suprise you.

Nothing eventful happened after that. But did I hate time for being so slow, definitely not. Why? Because I was seriously not looking forward to having dinner with a stranger. I was grateful my brothers didn't see me that stressed about a simple dinner with a woman. They had taken a road trip to lord knows where and I was sure they wouldn't be home for the next few days.

Back to what I was saying. The only thing that connected her and I was Khetho and we possibly could not for the lord's sake be talking about Khetho throughout the whole dinner, and the only things we had in common were the complications we added to each others' lives.

I drove to her flat at about quarter past six but I didn't go in. I plan on going in at about quarter to seven. With the thirty minutes I had left, I tried to gather my thoughts and think of possible topics to talk about.

I noticed time had the ability to jump when it was  not needed. It was already ten minutes to seven so I scrambled out of the car as if I was forty minutes late. Relax people, I was not excited. I just didn't want her thinking I was only there for the food.

She opened the door and wore a frown on her face."You're early. " She said as if it's the most out of line thing a human being can possibly do. "You were always late when you came to see Khetho. " She added.

Sure, let's start talking about Khetho the moment I walk in. I said nothing after that. I didn't know how to respond to that. I wouldn't tell her that the reason was because in most cases, I didn't want to see her or that I had to keep reminding myself not to break her neck.

I made myself comfortable on the sofa and watched a soccer match. Don't blame me, it was the Manchester derby and I wasn't planning on missing it no matter what.

I didn't mind sitting here and not eating really because the match was getting intense and I wasn't sure I would move an inch if she called me for dinner.

I saw her approaching from the corner of my eye but paid not much attention to her. But then, something caught my full attention. She kneeled down and raised a bowl of water  and a cloth hanging on her fore arm for me. Her head facing the floor as always. What the living hell. I looked at her dumbfounded. I stared at this at the being in front of me for a few seconds. She softly giggled to herself. "Please wash your hands. "she said. I slowly complied.

She got up and left the room as soon as I was done. I never expected that from her. I wasn't even sure if people still did that. That was only done in traditional homes or rurals. A few minutes later she came back with a tray and placed it on the table. After that she didn't come back. I thought I was having dinner with her.

I stood up and took the tray of food that she left on the coffee table. I sat on a different couch that was situated on the left side of the lounge. In the angle I was seated in, I could see her sitting on the island table.

We stole glances at each other from time to time as if it had been the most unforgivable crime. I wanted to praise her cooking skills, to talk to her. So I did what any non-sensical person would do. I got with my plate and went to the island table and sat beside her. Her eyes darted to everything surrounding us excluding me. I noticed that as soon as I sat next to her she never ate, she just kept on playing with her food.

What a horrible host, really. She invited me and now she acts like this is the last thing she had planned on doing for the day. I decided to be the bigger man and drop the heavy awkwardness.

"So you weren't planning on sitting with me vele vele. "

She shot a shocked expression my way. Didn't she expect me to say anything to her?

"No, I just didn't think you would like my company. I'm a very quiet person. "

She was stumbling over every word like uttering those words was the most difficult task.

" You've never told me your name."

I changed the topic, hoping to make her feel more at ease around me.

"Zamagcina Cele."she uttered.

I repeated it after she had said it just to try and perfectly role it out of my lips. I loved her name.

"Are you the last born between your siblings?"

"How did you know?"

"The meaning of your name. " I stated the obvious.

"To my mother, yes but not my father."

"How many are you as your father's kids?"

I wasn't sure if that was the right thing to ask maybe her father was a man whore.

"Five to my mother and twenty to my dad. What about you?"

What? She said it as if it was mere casualties of life on earth.

"Are you the first ten or the second?"

She softly chuckles and said"no man Nkosana. "

That was the first time she said my name with a playful tone, with such tenderness. I was clueless, weren't all men. Did I say something to offend her?

"You're making it sound like we're just a bulk stock of meat. But to answer your question I was at the last ten. I was the fourteenth, Khetho was the fifteenth. "

I froze as soon as she finished talking. Zama was Khetho's sister. What more was Khetho hiding from me. I didn't blame her though. It was not like I was the most truthful person either.

"You didn't know we were sisters didn't you?"

I stuffed my mouth with food and shook my head. I didn't want to respond to that. I didn't want to end up saying something that might offend her.

"Maybe it's because you don't look alike."

"We don't. We only have the same eyes that we all took from our father. He is half coloured, that's why our eyes are this colour. " She pointed at her eyes.

After endlessly discussing our and completing about who has the most needy siblings. I later found myself insisting to wash dishes with her. We were much more silent by then. I wanted that process to take longer so I could find a reason to stay. I enjoyed her company although I enjoyed seeing her smile the most. It was rare yet so genuine.

"Zama." I said while wiping the last dish. She turned to look at but I carried on with what I was doing. "Can I have your number?" I asked making sure to not sound too desperate. She darted her eyes around the room before finally nodding.

I left the kitchen and went to the lounge to get my phone and handed it to her. She put her number while walking me to the door.

I stood by the door and looked at her concentrated face. She looked like she was trying her best to remember the correct order of her number.

"Zama." I said, regaining her attention. A faint yes escaped her lips. "Can I have a hug." I was testing the waters. She gave me scowl and her face eventually softened as she shyly shook her head with her cheeks slightly swelling with each passing second. She handed me my phone and stood with her eyes looking at everything besides me. Feeling defeated, I let out an internal sigh.

"Goodnight Zama"

"Goodnight Nkosana"

With that said, she closed the door leaving me a confused mess. How the hell is she sisters with Khetho but yet they are so different.

I drove home and tossed myself on my bed. I didn't bother locking since my brothers were to return ' when the road told them to return '