Jasmine

8. 'The Daniels'

The drive around Randburg is drawn out, and this pleases both Brandon and Jasmine, they going so far as even Northriding before turning south past Randburg again, towards Sandton.

As they enter Sandton, grass gets greener, buildings taller, and spaces in between properties less sparse. Some of the buildings are made of marble, and some have a glass exterior. A posh place to put it tersely.

"I'm gonna see if I can get us dinner at home," Brandon says interrupting the silence.

"Please don't," Jasmine immediately butts.

"Why?"

"I don't want to meet your family today."

"That's hurtful. Why would you say something like that?"

"I didn't mean it that way. I'm just unprepared. If you wanted me to meet them tomorrow I wouldn't have any problem with that."

"Okay. Because, you know...my family's very important to me," Brandon ventures.

"So is mine to me," Jasmine utters defensively.

"Great," Brandon says ironically, his mood declined.

Jasmine exhales deeply, the mood contagious. She then voices a, "I'm sorry Brandon. I realised before today that you cherish your family. I'm just shy, so I'd rather see them when I'm prepared."

"Prepared how?" Brandon smirks barely amused.

"I have no idea. Till I know more about them, I guess?" Jasmine relays, and Brandon makes a noncommittal sound.

"Fine," she throws, annoyed at him, "I'm not sure what I mean."

"Okay dear," Brandon slips in, trying to shift the mood. "You want to make a good impression," he advances in a sweet tone.

"That's it," Jasmine conveys glad at his perspicacity.  

"Just be yourself, they'll definitely warm up to you," Brandon says coming to a halt next to a tall gate with high walls.

"You think?" Jasmine asks, her eyes peering through crevices of the gate into the flowered front yard, already impressed.

"Sure," he adds reassuringly, before adding a "You know hun..."

"Hmh?" Jasmine ferrets.

"There's one family member I was planning on you meeting today."

"Brandon."

"It's my twin, we're two peas in a pod. There's nothing of my life that I hide from him.

"A twin!"

"Uhm, that's my ear."

"Sorry, I'm so excited! Yes, let's meet him today!" Jasmine chirps and Brandon releases a laugh. At once he recovers from his surliness.

"I know what you're excited about" Brandon interpolates, adding "and I hate to be the one to burst your love triangle fantasy bubble, but no, him and I don't look the same.

"Oh. Well that's a pity," Jasmine says clearly disappointed.

"You're taking it a lot harder than you should," Brandon remarks sensing her lacklustre disposition. "Am I not enough for you?"

"Of course you are, but can you imagine how blessed this world would be if there was two of you!"

"You say the sweetest things," Brandon lets out, a soft smile on his face. Jasmine reflects his with a smile of her own. The two are lost in each other's eyes until Brandon's phone vibrates.

"It's a text from Edwin, my twin," Brandon informs. He says he's running a bit late but should be home by 19h00.

"What time is it now?" Jasmine mumbles to herself taking her phone out, seeing '18h18'. "What do you wanna do while we wait?" Asks Jasmine.

"Just chat?" Brandon suggests uncertainly. "We can go get dinner - well I will go get dinner once Edwin's here.

"Could we quickly go to a garage or something then," Jasmine requests, "I need the loo".

"Oh sure. I also need it," Brandon makes known, putting on his seatbelt. Jasmine follows suit and Brandon starts the car heading off. In roughly 20 minutes, Jasmine taking so long, they are back at the same spot waiting for the clock to strike 7.

"So are you constipated or something?" Brandon bursts into the silence.

"Hmh?" Jasmine asks politely hoping what she just heard, isn't what she just heard.

"You took forever in there."

"I have rituals" she puts forth defensively. 

Are we at that point in our relationship? What is this?

"Relax," Brandon hushes. "I'm only kidding. I won't ask what those are."

"You might as well - you started it," she challenges, teasingly wanting to see how far she can take this.

"But I was only joking" he pleads eyes popped out.

"So first I line the seat with toilet pape-"

"I'm kicking you out of my car" he relays opening her door, slipping his hands beneath her scooping her up.

"Okay, I'll stop! I'll stop please...put me down!" She implores giggling. Brandon in a moment withdraws from her and lies back on his seat. Jasmine glances at him, a grin plastered on her face. He looks to his side, at her, smiling sweetly.

"You're cute", she mimes at him feeling flirtatious.

"So are you, dimples," he mimes back, his hand gently above hers as he looks at her. In a moment he ties his fingers in between hers.

A knock on Brandon's door breaks their contact.