Betrayed

Chapter 6

It's been a month since the whole Vusi and Asanda drama, and I'm proud to say that Vusi has actually changed. Their relationship has been smooth sailing, and I'm relieved that my intervention seemed to have a positive impact.

"Heyy," Asanda says, approaching me with a warm smile. "Hey, hey," I reply, and she wraps her arms around me in a friendly hug. My arm instinctively goes to her back, and hers around my neck. We pull away, and as we start walking, I notice the comfortable silence between us.

I realize I forgot to mention that Asanda and I have grown closer over the past month. Not romantically, but I've loosened up around her, and we've developed a friendly bond. I guess fixing their relationship has brought us together in a way.

"So, don't you think it's fair if I actually get to know you?" she asks, holding my hand in a gentle grasp. "Get to know me how?" I ask, curious about her intentions. "As in, like, open up," she says, her eyes sparkling with genuine interest. I shake my head, hesitant to reveal too much.

"Nahhh, I'm good," I say, trying to brush her off, but she stands in front of me, making a cute face that's hard to resist.

"Eyy, listen, I know you now. That won't work on me anymore," I say, trying to sound convincing, but she just laughs and playfully hits my arm.

"Seems to have almost worked," she says with a grin, and I can't help but laugh and shake my head. "Yeah, keep telling yourself that. Might boost your confidence," I tease, and she pushes me again, her laughter infectious.

I join in, and we walk together, her pushing me again, and me laughing. "Okay, sorry, khe," I say, pretending to surrender.

But then she asks, "How many exes do you have?" and I stop, thinking for a moment. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven..." I start counting, but she interrupts me, looking at me with a curious expression.

"Nah, I'm playing," I laugh, relieved, and she lets out a sigh of relief. "Be serious," she says, her tone gentle but insistent.

"Okay, uhm, I think if I remember correctly, zero," I say with a shrug, but she stops and looks at me, her eyes narrowing.

"Aiii, I don't have exes. Don't do that nonsense," I say, trying to sound convincing, but she's not having it.

"Okay, but realistically," she says, her tone gentle but insistent.

"I don't have exes," I repeat, trying to avoid the conversation, but she's not letting up.

"How many people have you dated, like, they were your hun?" she asks, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Five," I admit, and she raises an eyebrow.

"So, five exes?" she asks, and I chuckle.

"You really want this word 'exes' yoh," I say, laughing, and we find a spot at the park and sit on the grass. I lay back, and she crosses her legs in front of me, her eyes still on mine.

"How many did you break up with?" she asks, her voice soft but probing.

"All of them," I say, my voice matter-of-fact, and she looks at me with a hint of surprise.

"But why date them if you're going to leave them?" she asks, her question piercing, and I feel a pang of guilt.

"Because once upon a time, I actually loved them. Then I got over them," I say with a shrug, trying to downplay the complexity of my emotions.

"That's heartless," she says, her voice laced with disapproval, and I shrug my shoulders again, feeling a bit defensive.

"Have you ever cheated?" she asks, her eyes narrowing, and I respond quickly.