Scarlett Ngcobo

Chapter 37

Being at home can be a bit boring but I have been using this time to practice more. I decided to take my friends out for lunch. I have been gaining weight so badly. Every week I need to buy new clothes. I wore a backless silk dress and gold block heels. I rocked my natural hair and drove to where I used to work.
“Ms Ngcobo you look gorgeous.” receptionist.
“Thank you.”
As I went to Rendani’s work station, I could swear I saw Jas entering Cassandra's office. I had an urge to knock on her door and find out if I'm loosing my marbles or not.
“Look who came to see us everyone!”
Khumo is still a loudspeaker I see.
“Chommie, this is a nice surprise. Already miss us?” Rendani said.
“Nope I don't miss you. I actually wanted to take out my friends for lunch.”
She looked at her wristwatch. “A few more minutes then we can go. I'm still busy now.”
“No problem. I'm going to see Kieran and tell him as well.” my eyes were glued on Cassandra's door. Why would Jas come here?
“Mngani waka!” I laughed at this fool. We live together so I don't understand why the drama.
“You can be so annoying if you want.”
“You didn't tell me you will be popping in.”
“Last minute things. I'm taking out my friends for lunch.”
“I'm not saying no to free food!”
“Where is the free food?” Kieran asked.
“You're looking at mother Theresa honey! I'm taking you and those friends of yours out for lunch.”
“Lucky us.” just as he was about to walk back to his station, he turned to us again. “Khanyi, was I dreaming or was it Jas that I saw here?”
I swear my BP went up!
“Now that you mention it, I think I saw her as well. Did you come together?”
I shook my head no. “Let me see Lutendo before we leave. He mentioned something about fruit baskets.” shit! I shouldn't have said that. Why did I even call him by his name?
“Lutendo? Chommie when did you start calling your boss by his name?”
I nervously laughed. “He is no longer my boss right? So I can call him whatever I want.” I walked to his office and knocked before entering.
“I'm here for my flowers and fruit baskets.”
“Hello to you too Ms Ngcobo.”
“I don't see any flowers here?”
“I had to throw them away. Sorry but your fruit baskets I gave them to the cleaning ladies.”
“How can you give away my things?”
“You took your time. I kept the cards though. And I'll buy the flowers.”
“I'm kidding. You gave me enough flowers to last me a decade. Let me leave you to your work.” as I turned to walk out he stopped me. I looked at him. “What's wrong?”
“Your zip.. uhm your zip is not fully zipped.”
I even forgot about the zip. I had to change the backless dress, and wore one that had a zip at the back.
“Come here let me help you.”
I walked to him. Had my back to him. I felt his fingers lightly on my lower back. I kept on swallowing.
“The zip is stuck. It can't go up.”
“I can't walk around with an unzipped dress. Unzip it then try zipping it up.”
As he did that, I remembered I was not wearing a bra. His fingertips softly brushed my exposed back. He kept on trying until the zip finally decided to do it's work! “Thank you.” I left his office immediately.
You've been in the for a while let's go. We went to Rendani’s station and I realised I left my bag in his office. “Wait I forgot my bag.” I was about to open his door when he came out.
“After you left I realised you forgot your bag.” He held it in the air.
He was going to Cassandra's office so we both walked together.
Cassandra's door opened and I got the shock of my life! I looked at Jas kissing Cass on the lips like lovers would. I blinked twice, thinking I'm dreaming. I looked around and I was not the only one shocked. I slowly walked towards them. I had to be certain I was not seeing her doppelganger. “Babe?” she turned and it took everything in me not to faint!
For a second she looked shocked but she pulled the carpet from my feet afterwards. She held Cassandra's waist, pulled her towards herself and said; “babe this is the consultant I was talking about. She helped me a lot. Khanyisile right?”
Out of shock my stupid self nodded, agreeing to all the nonsense she was saying.
“Khanyisile was a great asset to us but unfortunately she quit.” Cass said. She turned and looked at Lutendo. “Can we postpone our lunch meeting to later on? My fiancé is taking me out for lunch.”
Did she just say fiancé? The room was getting smaller by a second. I looked at Cassandra's finger and there was a huge diamond ring on it. I looked at Jas and waited for her to say, “I'm kidding babe, it's a prank!” but that never happened. She left with her fiancé. Holding hands as if she didn't just shove my heart in my face!
Kele and Rendani rushed to me. “Babe are you okay?”
I was glued to where I was standing. I couldn't blink or speak.
“Khanyi?” Kieran shook me.
“Yeah I'm good. Let's go.”
“I don't think that's a good idea. Especially after what just happened.” Khumo.
“I'm okay guys. I'll be okay, I'm already here anyway.” I took my bag from Lutendo and left.
We went to Joe's Burger Hub. Apparently the burgers were a must try!
I had the double stack burger with cheesy fries and big jug of their home brewed iced cherry fizzy with vodka and gin.
“Who would have thought Jas is cheating!” Kele.
“I'm still shocked that she's seeing Cass. The uptight Cass!” Alex.
Everyone laughed except me. I know they were trying to cheer me up but right now, nothing is going to cheer me up. Not even this delicious stacked burger.
“Khanyi did you know about Jas and Cass?” Khumo asked.
“Not a clue!”
Their lunch break was over, they had to return to work. I continued to sit at Joe's Burger place trying to make sense of what just transpired. I ordered another burger and their iced cherry fizzy with vodka and gin. On a normal day, I wouldn't have been able to finish their double stacked burger but now I ordered another burger.
My phone rang inside my handbag. It was Lutendo. I let it ring but he kept on calling.
“Yes?”
“Where are you Khanyisile?”
Did he just call me Khanyisile? Looks like today is “shock Khanyisile day”
“I'm at a place called Joe's Burger Hub. Why?”
“Send me your location and I'll be there.”
“No need for that, I'm about to leave. Besides don't you have work to do?”
“I'm free right now. Send the location Khanyisile.” minutes later he was here. I thought he was just joking but he really came. He sat next to me and held my hand.
“Looks like you have had enough, I'll drive you home.”
“I'm okay. I'm a big girl. Just a few drinks and suddenly I can't drive myself home?”
“You're not supposed to be drinking and driving in any case. Get up let's go mufunwa. Get up.”
“You don't even know where I live.” he looked at me with a bored expression. He kept on typing on his phone before he started the car, and drove.
Arriving at the apartment, I struggled to unlock the door. I don't know if it's all that alcohol or the tears in my eyes, making my vision blurry.
“Let me help.”
I broke down. I tried to hold it in until he left but I let it all out. I sat on the cold tile and cried like a little girl. He sat next to me and put his hands around me. I laid my head on his chest.
“Why would she do this to me? All those ‘I love you’ from her were all lies? She has been making a fool out of me this entire time!” he didn't say a word. He let me do all the shouting and crying.
“Come get up, you will catch a cold here. Where's your bedroom?” I got up and we walked to my room. “Do you need anything? Something to eat or drink perhaps?”
“No. I'm okay or I'll be okay. Thanks for bringing me home.”
He smiled. “It's okay Khanyisile. You'll be okay. I have to go now, are you sure you will be okay?”
“Before you leave can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“Did you know?”
He sat next to me. “If you're asking if I knew about Cass and your girlfriend.. no I didn't know. I knew Cass was seeing someone but I had no idea who it was. We not that close.”
“If you did?...”
He interrupted me. “If I knew I would have said something. I know you might not believe me but I would have. I think by now you know my feelings for you.” after he left I cried myself to sleep.
I didn't sleep much. I felt like I was about to have a panic attack. I checked the time on my phone and I had missed calls from the devil. I called her back.
“Thank God you answered. I was about to come there.”
“What do you want Jas?”
“I'm sorry you had to find out like that.”
“Find what out? That for months you lied to me! You made a fool out of me? That I was the other woman! What are you sorry for Jasmin?”
“I'm really sorry.” she cut the call. I laid back on the bed. I had a message from my instructor;

Drink lots of water and make sure you rest enough. Tomorrow is a big day. don't let anything get between you and the prize.

I let out a sigh. Now I have to pretend like everything is okay tomorrow? Damn you Jasmin!