AA1: Dying To Survive

chapter 5

"I know I've been living a lie," I suddenly say during breakfast. The room grows silent and the little chatter and engagement suddenly stops.

"What do you mean by you've been living a lie?" Nathi says quoting on what I've just told them intending to make me feel ridiculous for thinking such.

"Nathi, I'm not a fool." I say silently warning him. Bantu and Amanda have been silent watching closely. They don't say anything or intend to change the subject.

"Right now I'm just wondering if I remember every thing correctly. Like, How much have I forgotten that you have hidden from me?" I tell them not forgetting to show the disappointment in my voice.

"Do you know what I found in that so called bedroom of mine?" I ask them throwing the fork that I have been holding on my hand for a while.

"A huge picture of Quinton and I kissing, splattered on the ceiling." I watch Nathi shift on his sit uncomfortably.  He looks uncomfortable and annoyed. It's too silent and awkward, I also don't know what to do right now cause the tension has grown uncomfortable for me too.

"Gigi, it will be your birthday in a few days. Why don't we talk less of something we cannot explain and just talk more of the party we have to throw." Amanda says nudging me on the shoulder trying to talk me out of the 'digging' for my past. I guess the whole room is thankful to her for saving us from the frowning tension.

As important as the matter at hand seems to be, it can't be as important as my 20th birthday. I love partying as much as I love breathing, anddd I've went through the hardest exams this year. Don't judge me people.

"Are we having the party at your place? Are you paying for everything?" I ask Amanda.

"Of course baby. I won't let you spent a cent on your birthday." She says sweetly as she adores me by playing with my chin. I smile adoringly at her feeling loved.

"Bantu will be paying," she says seconds later.
"Heyy, why do I have to?" Bantu whines earning a laugh from me. I know Amanda is a stingy motherfucker, so am I. On her 20th birthday a few months ago, I bought her a present with her own money. Again, don't judge me, it's the thought that counts!

"I wanna have a pool party, it's great that you two have a huge pool at your house." I tell them in a demanding manner.

"Yeah of course, anything for you sweetheart," A deep voice suddenly says behind me, simultaneously, I feel a hand brush my braided afro.

I quickly turn straining my neck but quickly forget about the pain when I see Quinton standing on his two feet.

I quickly stand, leaving my breakfast, to forcefully sit him down.

"I'm fine I promise," he tries to laugh it off.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, now sit down, you should be resting. What if you start bleeding, or cough out blood then die? Or worse, what if you get paralysed?"

Quinton laughs at my paranoia and exclaims, "you think being paralysed is worse than death?"

"It doesn't matter what I think is better than which. You need to rest."

After successfully sitting him down,
I start taking off Quinton's shirt to inspect his wound when I suddenly hear a clash of thrown spoons on a plate.

"I think Quinton's fine. He looks fine to me. You can stop touching him now." Nathi says while he aggressively chews on an apple.

That's when I notice my hands on Quinton's chest. His chest is so huge, warm and hard.

Quinton smiles at me awkwardly while he stares me down. "Yes Gina,  I'm fine. You can stop touching me now."

I awkwardly remove my hands from his chest And place them on my waist, not knowing what to do with them anymore.