Betrayed

Chapter 21

We'd been on the road for two hours, and the garage we stopped at offered a welcome respite.

Burger King beckoned, and we decided to grab a bite to eat and switch drivers. As we stepped out of the car, the stretch felt good, loosening our stiff limbs.

"Yooo, who's driving next?" Vusi asked, but I was done with driving for the weekend. Asemahle and I walked ahead, leaving the debate behind.

I held her hand, feeling a sense of comfort in her touch. "So, we haven't had time to catch up. How have you been?" I asked, genuinely interested in her life.

"I've been okay, to be honest," she replied, her voice hinting at a deeper emotion. "Just okay?" I pressed, sensing there was more to it. "Yeah, Lihle, I miss being around you. This thing of moving really got to me," she confessed, her eyes revealing a longing.

I smiled, placed a gentle kiss on her hand, and promised, "Well, I'm here now. And I'm gonna promise to see you more often." She responded with a soft peck on my lips, and I returned the affection.

Just then, Vusi chimed in, "Get a room," as he walked past us, prompting a chuckle. But before I could respond, Asanda approached us, her expression serious. "Lihle, can I talk to you?" she asked, her voice low and urgent. I nodded, feeling a sense of curiosity, and took out my wallet to retrieve my card.

I handed my card to Asemahle, specifying my order, "Get me a bacon king meal, and make sure the drink is Mountain Dew. You can get anything you like too. Password is still the same." She took the card, her brow furrowing slightly. "I don't remember a password from two years back," she admitted.

"Your birthday," I replied with a smile, and her eyes lit up. "Really?" she asked, her voice tinged with surprise. I nodded, and she blushed, taking the card and heading into the shop.

As we waited outside, I realized I'd never changed the password because I'd been too busy, and I'd chosen her birthday as the code because she was special to me. I trusted her implicitly, knowing she'd never misuse my card.

When the others were occupied inside, I turned to Asanda and asked, "Can we go talk in the car?" I gestured for her to lead the way, and we settled into the back seat, leaving the door open. The warm sunlight filtered in as we sat in comfortable silence for a moment.

Asanda broke the quiet, her voice tinged with curiosity, "Lihle, what are you trying to do?" She searched my face, her eyes questioning. I met her gaze, my expression inquiring, wondering what she was getting at.

Asanda's words cut deep, her voice laced with pain and confusion. "You tell me you love me, then go and show that love to someone else in front of me, just by the way, that someone else is my best friend." Her eyes accused me, and I knew I had to explain.

"I'm not showing the love I have for you to her," I clarified. "I don't have the same love for everyone. Asemahle is special to me, I'll admit that, and I do still love her. And for as long as I'm single and she's single too, we have every right to show that love to one another." I hoped she understood the difference.

Asanda's gaze held mine, her expression searching. "I said this in front of you, I love Asemahle, but I want someone else. I mean that. I just don't want to be with you with the intention of hurting you. I know I will hurt you, Asanda, so I'd much rather do my thing without hurting you." I spoke from my heart, wanting her to see my perspective.

Her response was laced with a mix of sadness and resignation. "You'll forever not be ready to commit, until you decide to commit again." Her words hung in the air, a poignant reminder of my past mistakes and uncertain future.

"I know myself," I said, my voice firm and resolute. "It's like that for other people, but not me. I commit when I'm ready, I don't let someone teach me how to love them. I love a person the way I know how; it must be a love they don't expect. And if I just date you and force myself to be loyal, it will end in tears." I explained, trying to make her understand my perspective.