Broken Clocks

The Lunch

It's a Sunday afternoon and I'm on my way back to Joburg. This weekend started out good but turned into a nightmare. My hand is better now,the pain has slowed down thanks to the painkillers. Funeka woke up this morning and apparently told the police that she was mugged . Ntando said that he'll cut of all ties with her once she recovered. I stride into my apartment with my bags tired as hell. I sat on the couch and placed my feet on the coffee table. I could use a hot bubble bath right now. I threw my head back and sighed. The door suddenly opened and i glanced over to look and I'm pretty sure you know who is it by now , yep Mnqobi ! He was in black Nike tracksuits.

Mnqobi : i missed you , hey what happend to your hand?

I lifted my head to look at him and smiled slightly.

Me : Nothing serious , just a little accident.

He sits next to me and caresses my hand

Mnqobi : you sure?

I nod and stare at him for some time

Mnqobi : what is it?

Me : what?

Mnqobi : i know you want to say something, spit it out

Me: What are we doing ?

Mnqobi : what do you mean ?

He asked wrapping his arm around my waist pulling me closer to him

Me:  Mnqobi...i mean , we do all this. We have sex , we cuddle . I've shared things with you I've never shared with anyone else i-  i just want to know where we stand , you know . I just don't want to get hurt in the long run.

There was silence and i sighed , already giving up mentally. I didn't really expect an answer but i had hoped he would be considerate enough to say "don't worry about it babe " . Just as i snuggled closer he started talking

Mnqobi : I'm sorry I'm just not good with words but i just don't want to put a label on whatever we are . Most of the time it doesn't turn out how we want it to go . Just know that i care about you and what we are doesn't matter. What i feel for you is abstract , let's just see how things go and we'll move with that.

I was not completely certain that meant but a part of me felt reassured. But i was willing to give whatever this was a try. Even if it was to end badly , atleast i would've learnt something from all of this. Although i don't know what yet.

                                ****

A month later

It's been a month and everything has been good.  Work has been amazing and so are things with Mnqobi. Nelisa finally came back from the bundus and she's 8 months pregnant and looks huge ! Don't let her hear you say that though.  It was a Saturday and i was in my apartment going through my socials when a notification popped up my screen from . It was a Facebook text from a Themba Makhoba. Huh the school psychologist i thought to myself as i opened the text .

I'm in Midrand , can we do lunch?

Well it's not like i had anything better to do so why not plus he's a nice guy. I texted him back and we decided on a restaurant that was closer to my apartment . Awesome that meant i don't have to drive there i can simply walk. I quickly freshend up and got dressed in paperbag black jeans with a black bodysuit and see through block heel sandals. My short hair was now all even and platinum blonde in colour. I grabbed my grey handbag and i was good to go. I arrived at the restaurant and there he was , i give iy to him , he looked good. Light skinned though but handsome huh. We orded and ate over light conversations. He's a very interesting character. Around 18h00 he offered to drop me off at my apartment . I said my goodbyes to Themba and walked into the building. I suddenly felt a hand on my back and i turned around to see Mnqobi with a grim look on his face  . Uh oh. He didn't look too happy. "Walk and when we reach your apartment you going to tell me why you think it's funny to be running around with some other guy" he said with a stiff tone and i swallowed .

Oh shit!

"Mageba , look i can explain everything no need to draw any conclusions" i said hurriedly while we were in the elevator . He didn't say anything and i frowned a little. Was this man even listening to me ?

" Mageba , Mnqobi ?" I called out for him.

"If you don't want to make your punishment worse you better keep quiet " he said without looking at me. I shut my mouth quickly . Punishment? As weird as that sounded , it made my panties a little wet. It was almost as if time was passing by slowly . I swallowed and opened my mouth in an attempt to talk again but one look at Mnqobi's mouth set in a grim line was enough to change my mind.

Soon enough we reached my floor . I walked out first and turned back to look at him . He was staring down on his phone . I stared at him and stopped then i went back to him

" Mnqobi can i jus- " i stated

"Ndalo ngena endlini , ungmele ekamareni ngiyeza( get in the house and wait for me in your bedroom I'm coming)" he said without removing his eyes from his phone . I sighed and walked to my door.  I got in and sat on the couch , was Mnqobi that mad . I mean it was just lunch. I walked to the bedroom and as i sat on the bed , i heard the door downstairs opening. It was him. I looked at my hands and they were shaking. I swallowed. He walked into the bedroom and thats when i noticed that he was in a black tux and had a rectangular box in his hands . Okay strange , he must have went back to his car to fetch it.He came to stand infront of me and placed the box on the bed.

"Mnqobi what did you mean when you said punishment?" I asked with a shaky voice ." Nevermind that we already later we have to get going get dressed" he said.  Okay i was confused, i stared at him. "Uhm what's going on?" . He kneeled down with one knee and took my hands into his. Oh no no no no . Is he doing what i think wait...