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12
12THAT LATE AFTERNOON
The cloudy breezy weather led to both Sandile and Thando staying in bed after breakfast, they decided to take a lazy day and cancel all plans except one which made Sandile open up a part of his life he did not want to tackle. The apartment situation.
Thando: so, you’re trying to run away from me?
Sandile: no baby, it is not like that at all… I have had this in my plan for long, way before and it is something I need to do--- not for me but for us. We will need the space, a lot—and I am graduating soon, I don’t want to move back home.
Thando: but I can’t help feeling like---
Sandile: no, it is not like that, please don’t be upset. That face breaks my heart. I don’t want to see you crying, I swear this is for us to have some privacy away from campus and---
Thando: are you ashamed to be with me?
Sandile: no, I am not. I am just not ready to--- you know.
For a first fight as a couple, it was not that intense, it was trivial but serious. Thando made some sense and asked good questions, just that his man was not really good at supporting and defending his narrative. Sandile on the other side felt ridiculous that he found this cute, it was exciting and new to him, Thando was just so cute sulking that he could not resist him.
Sandile: you look so adorable right now…
Thando: you’re not in your right sense…
Sandile: all senseless for you
A few comments and he got Thando to smile and be all shy and blushing. He was an open book he could read with no problems; he knew him like he knew himself or even more. this cherry blossom-filled honeymoon-like mood was disturbed by a phone call from Cleo.
[on call]
Sandile: not a good time to be calling.
Cleo: just fulfilling my PA duties, you haven’t about the meeting with the broker right? You have like, an hour to be there.
Sandile: not forgotten, thank you, and please cut the call...
Cleo: in honeymoon?
Sandile: f*ck off man!!
Cleo: okay, bye… just don’t be late!
Sandile: got it!!
[call ends]
Thando: who was that on the phone?
Sandile: why? Jealous?
Thando: no…
Sandile: but your face says otherwise.
Thando rose from the bed, looked at Sandile, said nothing, and started rummaging through his things. The look carried an expression Sandile was hoping for, by the look of things teasing Thando was going to be his favorite thing to do in this relationship.
Thando: I’ll go shower first.. for your thing. You can do whatever.
Sandile: just like that? Can we shower together at least?
Thando: No!
Sandile: we’ll be saving water.
Thando: pervert!
Just like that Sandile’s request was declined. Seeing Thando all fussy, cutesy, and jealous was fun for him. He loved him more than he loved himself. It was a little unbelievable how they’d been together for a just few hours, but he already felt like they’d been together for a lifetime. Putting aside all the good that happened in such a short space of time, Sandile was still insecure about some things. He had not declared verbally to Thando what he wants him although his actions sent the message through.
His other worry was if Thando was still in contact with the guy he had been talking with, how did their date go, and how far had they gone TLC-wise. Wanting to be his first in everything was just a fantasy he had, something he was feeling very insecure about. They had not talked about their past relationships yet, and how many people they’ve been with before, as much as that did not matter because it is in the past and shouldn’t affect their present, Sandile could not have but have performance anxiety. Yes- his mind had already gone that far.
THE WEEKEND
AT MINA’S HOUSE
After crying herself to sleep the previous night, and the night before that, Mina was forced out of bed by her mother to come join the family for breakfast. No one knew what had happened a few days before and that made things worse for her. Her father was a strict-by-the-book Christian and he expected everyone in his house, everyone under his control to abide by his rules, and that meant having Mina and her older sister vow to chastity and never practice in any activities he deemed to be frowned upon by their religion. So, with no hesitation when she went down, she made sure to look normal and not show any signs of rebellious activity in her father’s presence.
Mom: morning baby…
Mina: Mom, Dad, good morning
Dad; morning daughter
Nella: you don’t look good, what’s wrong with your eyes?
Mina: nothing, just seasonal changes…autumn’s almost here
Nella: yeah…
Mom: kids, the grace…
They held hands and Mom said grace and blessed the food before everyone started eating. Like any sisters, Nella and Mina had a tight bond, they were 4 years apart but kind of looked like twins because of Nella’s small frame. She was the big sister, and she knew the excuse about the fall coming through was not all was there to her bloodshot eyes. They and secrets only they shared with each other and when she gave such reasoning Nella knew not to ask any further, but rather reserve the conversation for later because in her eyes it was clear her little sister needed therapy and she was her safe place and space.
Dad: so, Mina…how’s school?
Mina: I’m doing well, nothing new.
Mom: glad to hear that my baby…
Dad: the graduation is soon right? Have you made any solid plans for after that?
Mina: I was thinking of doing some charity work to enhance my resume, but nothing has been decided yet
Dad: great then, you can help at the church until you decide, with the renovations going on, there’s a lot of work that needs to be done and an extra hand can be useful
Mina: yeah…
That was not something she wanted to hear or something she could be joyful about. She was raised in the church and loved it but after growing up and grasping the world differently she stopped attending regularly and focused on living her life without all the frustrating and somewhat meaningless rules the church had about how the youth should live their lives. With her father’s personality, everything was just going to go awry because he liked having the upper hand in everything and wanted his word to be law.
After breakfast, the parents left for a church meeting and Mina was left with only her big sister in the house.
Nella: I’ll do the washing; you handle the drying.
Mina: fine by me
Nella: about earlier… we can talk now; the rents are gone…
Mina: no, I’m fine…
Nella: something happened, and I know… it’s that boy, isn’t it?
Mina: no… just---
Nella: so, I must let my little sister suffer in silence because of some jerk? No, come here…
Hesitant but finally gave in. Mina threw herself in her sister’s arms for a tight long and warm hug which brought her to tears. Sandile was not her first love, but she really loved him. When she broke up with her first love it did not hurt like this, this breakup was different in that she couldn’t hold any emotion in. Her tears told a story she did not have to articulate in words for Nella to understand. Her sobs carried pain she had never felt before, every time her mind went back to the scene, she felt her chest closing up. Boys can really be mean sometimes.
After sobbing for a good 15 minutes, the weight on her shoulders finally felt lighter and her breathing got a lot better, the chest pains got better too.
Nella: I am not going to ask anything further; I will wait until you’re ready to talk. Just remember that you have me, big sister will always be there for you. Love you sunshine.
Nella pulled her in for another hug, a bit tighter this time…
Mina: can’t breath--- please—let go…
Nella: sorry…
Feeling a little better, the sisters got back to handling the house chores before the parents came back from church.
THE DORM
…cause your love is falling
On my heart
And I'm falling for you
Falling with broken wings again
Hush now my angel
I will always be with you
In your pretty smile
In a glow of tears
Out across the frosty night
I'll be there with you…
The stereo went away playing the soft melody Sandile and Thando had fallen in love with upon streaming a few songs on Spotify. After their quest with the broker, Sandile signed off on the apartment after verifying everything and matching it to his taste. Cuddling countless times now, Thando freed himself from Sandile’s hold after a notification that their order had arrived.
Thando: it’s time to eat… I’ll go get the food.
Sandile: no, I’ll go..
Thando: please… I need some fresh air.
Sandile: and I don’t?
Thando: don’t try and make a situation out of this… I am done with your teasing, please.
Sandile: okay, fine… I’ll let you go.
Thando: be right back then...
A few steps away from the door, Thando’s vibrated again alerting a new message. Curiosity kept Sandile on his toes and he couldn’t help but peek at the message. It was from Banzi, and it carried confrontation-like news he did not know about, news that made him wish he didn’t peek at his partner’s phone while he was away. He felt betrayed and a little furious that something this big was kept a secret from him. A sense of distrust kicked in and he was lost in thought that he didn’t even hear Thando come back in.
In his mind, he wondered why Thando didn’t tell him he kissed another guy.
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