03
THINGOLUHLE MTHETHWA
As Melusi walks towards me, l find myself holding my breath, my eyes fixed on him. The heat of the shower has left his skin flushed, and the droplets of water on his chest glistened in the low light.
He reaches past me putting the lotion on the dresser, and l can't help but inhale his scent, a mix of soap and musk that sends a shiver down my spine.
Thingo : I'm so sorry, I didn't know this was your room.
He glances at me for a moment, his eyes flickering with amusement.
Melusi :It's okay, you're not the first person to accidentally wander into my room, (a hint of a smirk on his lips) but now that you're here, maybe I can help you find your own room?
Thingo (nodding) : Yes, that would be appreciated ( trying to regain composure). I don't want to intrude on your privacy.
Melusi ( chuckling extending his hand) why don't I give you a tour of the place?
Thingo : A tour? Isn't it a bit late for that?
Melusi : "It's never too late to make you feel at home, Thingoluhle. Besides, I can use the distraction from the day's events.
l hesitate for a moment, but the sincerity in his voice is hard to resist. "
Thingo : Alright, a tour it is.
he leads me through the ornate hallways, showing me the living room, the study, and even the guest bedrooms—which, to my surprise, are more like luxury suites.
Melusi : So this is where you're expected to sleep, huh?
-opening the door to a spacious room with a four-poster bed and a balcony overlooking the garden.
Thingo (admitting) :This is...more than I expected.
Melusi (chuckling , leaning against the doorframe) : It's nothing compared to the master suite upstairs. Trust me, you haven't seen luxury until you've seen my bathroom. I think I could fit my entire previous apartment in there.
Thingo (letting out a soft laugh): Well, if you're trying to impress me with your wealth, it's working.
Melusi: lt's not wealth, it's the perks of having a family in organized crime. And I'm not trying to impress you. I'm just trying to show you that this place isn't all bad. (quietly)Maybe we have more of a choice than you think.
Thingo (confused): What do you mean?
Melusi (hesitating): It's not something I can say out loud, not yet. But...maybe if we work together, we can find a way out of this. A way that doesn't involve either of us being forced into something we don't want.
Thingo : You're talking about escaping?
Melusi (running his hand through his hair.) :Escape? No. That would be too risky, and too easy for my father to sniff out. But what if we pretend? What if we make everyone think that we're actually happy with this arrangement?
Thingo : "You mean we pretend to be in love? To be excited about the wedding?"
He nodds, a glint of mischief in his eyes
Melusi : Exactly. If we play along, your father will think he's won, my father will think he's gotten his way ... and while everyone is busy celebrating our 'love,' we can figure out a way to untangle ourselves from this mess. We can use the distraction to our advantage.
Thingo :What if we get caught?
Melusi ( shrugging) . What's the worst that could happen? We'd be in the same situation we're in now. But if we don't try, we'll definitely be stuck here forever... well, if we're going to pull this off, we need to make sure we look convincing. We should start practicing. How's your acting?
Thingo (rolling her eyes) : let's just say I'm not exactly a method actor, but I can hold my own. What do you suggest? Kissing?
Melusi (grinning) :Now you're catching on. Kissing is the cornerstone of a fake relationship, after all. And I think it's important we look convincing in front of my father....So what do you say? Up for a little practice?
his steps closer, his eyes fixed on Thingoluhles lips.
l hold his gaze for a moment, my heart racing. It is a crazy idea, but l can't deny the thrill of it all.
Thingo : Fine, let's see what you've got."
he chuckles, moving even closer, his lips just inches from mine.
Melusi :My pleasure
he murmurs, before closing the distance between them.
The kiss is gentle. But as l relax into it, the heat between us grows. his hands find their way to my waist, pulling me closer as he deepens the kiss.
surprised by the intensity of the moment , her hands finding purchase on his shoulders . they finally part, their breath is ragged, their hearts racing. He gazes down at her, a mixture of surprise and admiration on his face.
Thingo : (breathless): Well, that was...quite convincing.
Melusi (smirking): I aim to please. But seriously, we’re not bad at this. My father won’t suspect a thing.
Thingo(raising an eyebrow): You sure about that? I mean, he’s a mob boss. Deception is his bread and butter.
Melusi (chuckling): True, but even the best can be fooled. (steps back, giving her a bit of space) So what do you say? We start playing the part of the happy couple? We can hold hands, share longing glances, maybe even start planning the wedding.
she rolls her eyes, but can't help the smile tugging at her lips.
Thingo :Sure, why not? The sooner we get this show on the road, the sooner we can get out of this mess, right?
He nodded, his expression turning serious.
Melusi : That's the idea. And if we do this right, maybe we can even have some fun along the way.
Her eyes sparkle with curiosity as she askes, “What do you mean by ‘fun’?”
Melusi :Think about it. We’re playing pretend. That means we can say and do whatever we want, within reason, of course. We can do all the things that lovers do. It’s not like we’re actually together, right?
Melusi (clearing his throat) : Ngyaxolisa, I should probably get dressed. Why don’t you rest up for the night? Tomorrow, we can start planning our great escape.
She nods, attempting to smooth out the sudden tension in the room.
Thingo :Yeah, good idea. See you in the morning.
turning to leave.
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