THE LEAF

THE LEAF(4)

Chapter Four

June was finally over, this meant two things, I was almost eighteen and it was the long school break. I didn't really fancy big parties, most of my parties were small get-togethers with my close friends. Aside from turning a year older, I had an eclectic list of plans for the three-month break. My dream was always to go to The Maldives and watch the sunset on the beach. Mum always said she'd take me.

Dad and I watched TV in silence, the flashing advertisements of hotels got me in holiday mood.

"We should go on holiday too dad, like to The Maldives."

"No, that wouldn't be necessary Joe."

"What do you mean not necessary, come on dad..."

"You'll be old enough to go on your own with some friends when you turn eighteen, won't you?"

"Wait for real dad? Yes! ...I'm definitely going to be old enough, thanks . How did you even know?"

"Come on Joe you're my son, but your mum also told me, I'm fulfilling the promise for her."

"Oh come on dad you don't really have to..."

"No, don't start some pity party Joe, you're going to The Maldives as mum promised."

"Thank you so much dad!" I hated the fact that mum had to make dad do this for her but hey, I was going to The Maldives!

Immediately after, I went web surfing looking for the best sites to go to in The Maldives. I texted Cole and Xavier and told them all about it. Of course they were down to go, who wouldn't be? I would've asked Kairah but there's no way her dad would even consider it of course, but i wouldn't let my daughter fly out with a bunch of boys either anyways. While I surfed on the web a message notification popped up, it was from an unknown sender. I opened it.

-'Hey, it's Ziki, we need to meet up.'-

Now Riziki was a long-time friend of mine, not particularly close but we were always there for each other. She was always that friend indeed but almost always the one in need of help. Her parents had this toxic love-hate relationship and would always get into fights then make up after then fight again. A lot of the times her parents went rogue she'd stay at ours' for a while till things cooled down. There was this one time her parents caused so much commotion that the police had to intervene and it was a court case for about two months. Ziki stayed over during that whole period and practically became part of our family, that was the only time I recalled us really bonding, we never really talked much before or after. All that was like five years ago from now though. Her message showed some urgency of some sort so I got to Lavington Curve as fast as I could when she asked. Helping her had become some sort of protocol.

I looked for her everywhere but I couldn't seem to notice her very distinctive body amidst the multitude of people in the area. I mean I knew it had been ages since we had last seen each other but Ziki was usually very easy to notice. She was extremely slim, her hair was short and well-combed and her chocolate skin had a slight natural glow to it. Her voice though, I'd never forget her ardent voice.

"Joe! Here! I'm here!" she waved her arms in a side to side motion. I stood rock-still for a bit. This wasn't just Ziki anymore, this was an altered Ziki. She was drop-dead gorgeous! Her skin still glowed like it always did and her hair was still short and well-combed but that was all she retained. She had fattened a bit more but it was the good kind of fat, really. Her hips had broadened in a vase-like manner. Her breasts were much larger, much larger. The tight jeans she wore significantly pronounced her big ass. This wasn't the same Ziki I knew of, I was lost for words.