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9
9ON THE ROAD: SIBULELE'S CAR
After spending the whole weekend with his sister, it was no time to go. Besides the heavy talks he had with her, the plenty of advice he received, and the number of times he lost when they played board games, the overall weekend was awesome. He had missed her, and he only got to know that after spending some time with her. He even had the pleasure to be driven back to campus, a rare occasion for his office worker sister but a great thing a sister can do for his little brother after spending the weekend together, they ended things on a lighter note.
Sibu: I believe this is the end of the journey, have a great one kid- crush this week!
Sandile: thank you, crush it at work too.
Sibu: it was nice spending some time after so long.. really.
Sandile: I enjoyed it too.
Sibu: thought I’d never hear those words from you. About what we talked about, just wing it! Be you, we’ll deal with the rest later. I believe in you, dude.
Sandile: not sure about winging it but--- thank you, seriously. Now go before you embarrass me, I’m getting eyes
Sibu: want me to honk and gather even more attention?
Sandile: please leave!
Sibu: all right, bye…
Sandile: bye…
The engine revved as Sibu drove out of Sandile’s residence premises. Sandile watched the car as it disappeared in the distance and got in after it totally disappeared from his sight. His nerves started shooting out of the roof as he remembered what had transpired the last time he was here. Keeping in mind what he talked about with big sister Sibu, he kept his head up and walked towards the dorm door. He leaned on the door as if he was eavesdropping on a conversation, indeed someone was talking inside the room, presumably on the phone. He waited a few minutes outside practicing what he would say once he got inside the room. After getting ready, he got in finding the person on the phone still on the phone--- seemingly busy and smiling--- a very big smile.
INSIDE THE ROOM
He gestured his hello as he did not want to disturb the phone call and the other party waved back but was still fully focused on the phone, that hurt a bit, but he understood. After pacing up and down the room trying to collect his thoughts he finally found his feet and collected his toiletries to go and take a shower. Something about the way Thando and the stranger he was with on the phone made his body itch, it made him sweat, and he did not like that Thando smiled and laughed at some other punk’s words and jokes and not his. Thando’s smile was sacred to him, and he wanted to be the only one to make him smile like that, laugh like that, and mostly the only one to see him smile like that. The fact that someone else other than him had seen Thando’s beautiful smile and moonlit eyes made him boil inside. This was not what this week was supposed to start but whatever it is that was happening it was already in progress, and he had no power at all to stop it, he was the reason for it, but he had no idea.
MEASLY 15 MINUTES LATER
The jealous angry man retreated from the showers feeling a little cooler than before but with a lot of emotions contained and put on a leash. As usual, he flexed his sculpture-like build as he clothed himself. The phone call that made him angry a few minutes ago had ended but he felt he still did not have the whole attention he usually gets. So, what better way to check what wavelength the other party is on than ice-breaking and starting a conversation by asking how he spent his weekend?
None.
Sandile: God, I feel like I haven’t been here for a fat minute… any way how was your weekend?
Thando: great… very interesting. Yours?
Sandile: great but can’t compare to yours. You’re all smiley and giggly on a Monday morning, something good happened?
Thando: I’d rather not say, I don’t want to jinx it but for your curiosity---yes!
Sandile: wow
That ‘wow’ came out as a reaction out of disappointment and a hint of jealousy. Thando’s eyes glowed differently, and he couldn’t keep his hands off his phone, he was like a kid who just got his first cell phone. He was doing things Sandile has never seen him do before, just how much did he change over the weekend? Whatever this good thing that happened to him was, it certainly was not good for and to Sandile.
Sandile: any classes today? You don’t seem to be preparing anything.
Thando: just a practical task in the afternoon, nothing much
Sandile: okay… enjoy yourself, I’m off…
Thando: bye…
He said that without even looking up. That hurt, that really bruised Sandile’s ego. The short and precise replies, the act of not asking questions back and yapping about random stuff was so not Thando. Whoever kept him occupied sure was more entertaining than Sandile and had made themselves a rival of Sandile before he even met him.
AT CLEO’S PLACE
Sandile invited himself in with an annoyed face and started going off about how unfair the turn his life has took in just the course of 2 days. Cleo being of emotional support and pretty much getting used to being Sandile’s therapist by now listened to his friend rant, attentively.
Sandile: I feel like I am being cheated on man… this just doesn’t feel right. At ALL!!
Cleo: so, you’re mad that the guy seems not to have time for you anymore.
Sandile: are you laughing at me?
Cleo: you’re funny, dude. But seriously, what did you expect? you expected him to wait on you to ‘come around’ while you don’t want to deal with what’s current? You’re asking too much and expecting too much from a person who doesn’t owe you anything. A person you owe an apology and explanation by the way. You’re emotionally projecting your complex feeling and state of confusion towards someone who does not deserve it. You’re emotionally burdening someone because what—you’re afraid to confess your true feelings… funny…very funny.
Sandile: I know I am a mess okay; you didn’t have to be so harsh.
Cleo: just spitting facts. But the real question is, do you like the guy… like truly truly truly…
Sandile: more than I can say and explain.
Cleo: then what is your problem? Why are you living for what someone else will say instead of enjoying the moment? You’re still a young man, if this is one of the mistakes you’ll make in your life…well then, make it! You’re still young dude, you’ll learn from it later. That’s why we make mistakes after all--- to learn from them.
That was a lot to think about for anyone. Cleo did make some valid points and said similar things that Sibu said. Was this a sign? To live for himself and stop worrying about what will people say… especially what his father would say because he was the reason why Sandile was in this mess…this indecisive and this cowardly when it came to doing things that make him content.
THE CUPID CAFÉ
Thando sat on a chair across Banzi after being called out on an unofficial date. Seeing and talking to Banzi in person again felt no different from all those phone calls and texts they’d exchanged upon sharing contact information. But, seeing and chatting with him in person was comparably better because his sense of humor was on par--- which is something that did not really show through texts.
Banzi: feels strange to be served but nice to a customer.
Thando: because you’re usually the server, right? I can never relate.
Banzi: what? You have never ever worked before, even if it was part-time or for a little while?
Thando: no, my mother thought I was too precious for any manual labor so she made sure I stayed off servicing anyone
Banzi: she was right… you are precious. I too wouldn’t let you work for anyone.
Thando: well then, here’s a toast to hopefully a lifetime of never working!
Banzi: here, here… so, your family… do you have any siblings?
Thando: none, just me and my mother--- and of course extended family for competition!!
Banzi: I thought that only happened in my family, glad to hear other families do be in unsaid competitions too
Thando: yeah… what about you? Your family?
Banzi: I am one of 3 siblings, the middle child to say. Our parents divorced so--- that’s why I am working. I am not too precious to anyone.
Thando: how sad…
Banzi: why do I feel that that did not come from the heart?
Thando: argh.. stop
Banzi: but seriously… when will you date me?
Thando: what?
Banzi: I am a very straightforward person--- I don’t waste your time or my time when we should already be on our honeymoon…I like you and I’d like for you to let me be your boyfriend and you be mine
Thando: you really are bold… how do I even start to answer your question without sounding like a boomer?
Banzi: I don’t want to make you feel pressured or anything. Do what makes you comfortable, please.
Thando: can I be granted time to think my decision through before I publicize it?
Banzi: by all means necessary. But can I at least have you as my Valentine’s date?
Thando: well…
Banzi: I know you don’t have any plans for the day and I’m making some for us! No will not be taken as an answer. This is me trying to appeal and increase my chances of earning just the teeny, tiniest amount of affection from you--- let me, please?
Thando: fine!
Banzi: thank you, you’re the best!! Now to try and survive the friend zone--- let me handle today’s bill.
Thando: don’t be silly, we can split.
Banzi: no, let me do this for you. This is also another way of me trying to appeal. I want you to remember this clearly when you make that decision, not to pressure or coerce you or anything but--- just, just for the sake of it.
Thando: smooth talker!
Banzi: I aim to please…
Unlike any conversation with Sandile, being with Banzi was different and totally surprising. The man had charm, charisma, and surprise written all over him. It was hard to fathom that he was single. Not that Sandile lacked any of these characteristics but these two were just different both in their ways--- but it was a good difference either way. For the first time, Thando talked about his family and a little bit about himself and did not feel embarrassed or felt the need to mask or censor any details. The sense of freedom he felt from being with Banzi cannot be compared to anything. The man romanced him off his feet.
But there was just one mishap about their interaction--- his heart did not race as much as it did when he was around Sandile. Was he as drawn to him as he thought? Or was he trying to make himself believe that he was slightly attracted to the man to make himself forget about Sandile?
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