Stars Aligned

Insert 80

Thando's pov

Me: Stop looking at me you creep.
Weirdo! Why was he looking at me like that? It was making me uncomfortable and slightly irritated. I knew one thing for sure, he was checking me out. He's so mannerless. All he ever sees is a skirt. Men like him, they don't interest me, to be honest.
Leone: Love, why must you be this insolent?
Insolent? Is he calling me insolent? As if!
I chose not to answer him, instead went around to get in the passenger seat. I was joined by him in the driver's seat after.

Leo: Where to love?
His deep and husky voice irritates me. His slick and sexy smirk irks me. It's like he knows he is the shit and flaunts it. The buzz cut that makes him look like a bad boy and actually looks good just makes me want to bang his head with a pot. His slight five o'clock shadow that makes him look manly and intimidating - gosh I just want to strangle the living hell out of -
Me: Don't call me that and take me to the hospital.

He looks surprised at first, but soon curiosity peeps in and he gives me a loop-sided smile.
Leone: I thought I was taking you, home love, now I'm curious as to why you saying otherwise.
Completely disregarding what I just said about him calling that he shoots another question at me. I shrug, not feeling like I need to explain myself to him. I know he was told to take me home but I need to make a detour by the hospital for personal reasons.
I will probably call a cab home or something.
Leone: If you going to give me the silent treatment love, you might want to give me the name of the hospital first, hmm?

Well, now I'm embarrassed. I mean I wasn't giving him the silent treatment but I didn't feel like talking to him which makes this whole situation look like I was. I sigh internally. How do I rudely tell him the name? Should I grunt the name out and look away from him. I could write it down but that'll be proving him right and it's too childish. But again this man brings out the childishness in me and I hate it. Sucking it in I finally grunt out the name of the hospital to him. He chuckles and I know it's because he thinks I'm childish. Fucking idiot.

Leone keeps quiet the whole time on the drive. Oddly quiet. I take a peek at him to see if he's actually breathing and not blaming him to drive us into a ditch. As I turn I see him so engrossed on the road and actually relaxed. His whole body leaning against the seat with his right arm on the steering wheel and the other unconsciously brushing his lower lip.
At that moment I find myself admiring him. Leone was a good-looking man, I knew that but he looked so different now. Like he was in deep thoughts and not the arrogant jerk.

Leone: Take a picture sweetheart.
His hand that was on his lips goes to change the gear. He just had to talk and ruin it. I can't deny that I was embarrassed to be caught staring at him. Now it will boast his stupid and already enormous ego. Why did I have to be a creep and look at him? What must he be thinking now, that I'm like those girls who find him attractive and want to shag him? Well, the former is correct. I look out of the window avoiding anything Leone like. Right, don't look again.

Soon we had parked outside the hospital and I didn't waste time unbuckling my seatbelt. I got out and turned to look at Leone. I found him looking at me with a raised eyebrow. Not sure whether it was because I almost didn't thank him or because he's just feeling himself too much.
Me: Thanks, I'll take a cab home from here, so don't wait for me.
As I finished saying that I realized that I hadn't needed to disclose that information to him at all.

Leone: Is that an invitation love?
In all his smugness, he ruled out what I had said about him not staying. I was starting to question whether this man was dense or something. I made sure to slam the door after I had rolled my eyes at him and walked around to the driver's side to where the entrance of the hospital was. I didn't get far before Leone yelled out at me;
Leone: Hey Thando, you forgetting something.
I sighed and turned around to look at him.
Me: Yeah? what's that?

Leone glanced at the passenger seat and seemed to seize something from it before flashing me a smirk and my phone. I patted my back pocket and gaped at him. Great, way to go Thando. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and just snatch it and leave. Instead I sighed and walked further to the driver's side and sheepishly held out my hand.
Me: Oh that, thanks.
I heard him scoff, but the amusement on his face was still very much there. Leone didn't take away his gaze from my eyes as he planted the phone on my palm.

The way he was looking at me was so intense and for some reason, I couldn't find myself looking away from him. Leone actually smiled, not smirked but gave me a genuine smile. I didn't know what was going on in his brain but I didn't question instead I walked away without a second glance behind. I made my way to the reception and told them who I was visiting and signed my way in. I found myself standing before the room where my brother was situated. I sighed and went in.

Lwazi: Sis!
He beamed at me, a contagious smile on his face. I couldn't help but smile back at him. And the guilt of lying to my friends about my mom being the one hospitalized vanishing immediately. This boy was my everything and more. I hugged him and sat next to him on the tiny hospital bed.
Me: You look better.
Lwazi: Are you sure you aren't just charmed by my good looks? Cause I could understand, I mean who can resist me?
I rolled my eyes but gave him my playful smile.

But he was right though. Lazwi was a good-looking man. Tall, dark and had a breathtaking smile, showing all his white and straight teeth. He would have won all girls with his looks if he wasn't gay. Which was why he was here, admitted to this hospital.
Some homophobic maniacs jumped him and put him here for his sexuality. I love my brother and I am going to make sure I put those sons of bitches behind bars, even if it's the last thing I do. Lwazi didn't deserve this, he was a great guy, too good for his own good but good nevertheless. People who did this to him weren't fair at all and it breaks my heart.

Me: Are you hungry? I'm sure I can get you something around the corner. I saw a store around.
Lwazi: Finally, I'm starving and this hospital food is not doing any justice to my stomach.
I smiled and kissed his temple before getting up. I took out my wallet and took a few bucks before leaving it by him. If it was under different circumstances I wouldn't leave my wallet next to Lwazi, I would find it empty. That boy knows how to suck me dry.
Me: Don't touch my money or you die!
I glared, pointing a finger at him before walking out of the room and the hospital.