Naledi (The Moon)

Chapter 2

"So you have a crush on Emmanuel, yeah?" I prodded Neo as soon as she settled down on the bench during her lunch break. She quickly woke from her lethargic state, checked the coast to see if anyone was eavesdropping. "Wha-What, what makes you say that?" Her guilty smile betrayed her. Deadpanning, I rolled my eyes at her. "Oh, come on!" I relaxed further back into my bench, arms crossed, full interrogative mode. "If it's not beaming ear to ear when his within close proximity, it's the memorising his 'go-to' order and his time schedule." I smirked deeper.

A guilty chuckle rested on her face. "S-So what?" She chocked, sounding ridiculed. "I'm good at my job." She added defensively. She tried taming her heightened breathing. Flattening my eyes around her, "girl please. There's being good at your job then there's whatever that was, you were doing when Iman, was here. It's okay. I get it, I think." I absentmindedly scratched my newly braided hair.

"Of course, you get it. He's your boyfriend." She iced as she uttered the last word. Now it was my turn to laugh but more of an impudent cackle. She looked out of place as she watched me laugh till tears sprung from my eyes. "No, that's definitely a good one. I think you mean, 'boy-friend'! As in space between boy and friend." I corrected.

Suddenly, beaming with interest. Mood lightened, "so, uhm. You're just friends?" She sat up from her bench. "Ugh, more like siblings that fight like a married couple. Trust me the irony isn't lost in both of us." I remarked, smiling slightly.

"I don't get it. You guys seem perfect for each other. Constantly together, weirdly close, not to mention the family visits or the lovingly kisses and long hugs." She paused. "You must've at least tried." She said matter-of-factly.

I winced awkwardly. "Huh, so there is a story." Her face fell once again. I quickly took her hands into mine, trying to reassure her. "Not a story, more of an interlude into nothing." I tenderly bit the inner tender flesh of my mouth, bracing both ourselves. I swear I wasn't going to tell this to anyone and I'd deny it when asked but I felt like, it deserved to be said so I can be truthful to her. "It happened, in the early stages of our friendship. When I somewhat found him attractive and weirdly charming. We bonded then shared a brief moment but as quickly as it started, it ended. When it faded off into nothing, we both came to terms, that we're better of as friends." I paused to shrug. "Besides, we're a tad too similar that when together or separated for an extended time we tend to combust over small, silly things. And that kind of energy in a relationship would consequently ruin us and even push us away from each other." My heart clenched, at the thought of that. I rubbed soothing circles on the back of her palm, simultaneously calming myself down too.

"And that's something I don't want to imagine." I exhaled. She too exhaled a ragged breath, her eyes sympathetic as she relaxed. "Now, I definitely get it." She said in a loving, understanding manner.

"So to answer your telepathic question, yes. He is single." I sweetly smiled at her as she flushed once again.

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After having spent the whole day, studying at Cookies&Cups, I finally got home around five-thirty in the afternoon. As soon as I entered into my room, I found my sisters passed out on my bed, whilst 'The Amazing World of Gumball' played along in my mini TV. I guess, this is what I get for leaving my room unlocked.

My phone rang, I checked the caller ID and saw that it was Ziya. I've missed her so much. It was weird, waking up and her face not being the first one I saw in the morning. "Heyyyy!" She squealed over the speaker. I instantly walked out of my own room, to go speak freely without waking the twins up.

"Hey! How are you?" I greeted.
"I'm okay. So, am I the only one who's already tired of being at home?" She asked sounding incredibly bored.
I scratched my scalp once again, "in a way, no?" She instantly gasped over the speaker.
I chuckled dryly, "not like that. I obviously miss you." I paused.
"Hun-nay, but of course! I mean why wouldn't you?" I could hear her loud smirk through the phone.
I laughed, "I meant like, yes, I miss all of you guys. Surprisingly even Jay's annoying ass but being away from there means no Luca, and for now, I'm okay with that." And just like that, the mood shifted.
"Ugh! I'm sorry for bringing him up." I palmed my face, feeling disappointed at myself for letting him get to me.
"It's okay. When last did you guys talk?" She asked.

For the second time today, my heart clenched once again. I didn't want to admit it. I didn't want to admit that he's forgotten about me. That Tommy, was right. That I was, "strung up on a boy that doesn't even deserve me."
"It's a week today, since we've spoken. Well, since I walked out on him." I shook my head, eyes screwed shut, trying to remove that vivid memory unsolicitedly playing in my mind.
"Oh wow. Not even a single text or even a butt dial?" She gasped.
I inhaled deeply, feeling my heart sink further down into my core the more she pressed on. "Nada." I tried to sound cool, unfazed but we both know that I was. I was hurting. I mean, I know that I said that I never wanted to see or hear from him again but how could he have opened up like that, kiss me like that, hold me like that to move on me like I never existed? Like, we never existed...

In my moments of weakness, when sleep refused to take me, I'd been fighting myself thinking that maybe I was wrong. I shouldn't have left. This was my fault. If I stayed, he would've kicked Skylar out and we would've probably finally made love and fade deeper into our world.
But that's just crazy talk. His the one who gave up. His the one who didn't even fight for me.

"I see. I guess, this would be a wrong time to say that I've been seeing Wakhi since I've arrived?" Her voice faded out as she finished her statement.
"Girl what?!" Luca forgotten, I sat up from Sammi's twin sized bed.
She laughed nervously, "yeah, he fetched me when I arrived home from the bus station. And we've been chilling and talking ever since." She stopped.
I sat in silence, waiting for her to continue but when she didn't, I exclaimed, "AND?!"
"Nani, what's the point? I mean, yeah it's cool and all that we can still bond and connect but I don't necessarily live here anymore so not unless he moves to Pretoria with me then there's nothing to add on to that." She answered sourly.
"Well, what if he did? Would you at least try?" I sat up straight, facing the twins' baby pink and lavender wardrobe. I was suddenly feeling better. As much weird as it might sound, it felt good to be worried about other peoples' business other than drowning in mine.
"No, don't do that. Don't plant your hypotheticals in my head. I've been through this already." She sighed. I know I was wrong but you honestly never know.

'Yes, you do know. You're just lying to yourself only to end up sad all because of the notion you've created in that messed up head of yours.' Susan scoffed, rolling her eyes.

I ignored her hurtful jab, "besides I really want to see where this whole AJ thing is going." She sounded cheerful once again.
She told me that they've been talking everyday, sharing moments with each other through pictures of what's going on during their days, checking in, sweet good morning and good night texts and did I mention, he was obsessed with her?! Everything, you want a guy to do, he's been doing it and he was that fine?! Could I be more envious?

'Well, yes. Actually.' Susan added impudently. Nodding her head, impassively.

"Ziya, I'm happy for you that things are working out for you and AJ. No wonder, you want to go back." I chuckled dryly, when it finally hit me.
"I see that but I miss you." She stated.
"And I miss you."
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