THANDI
I spend saturday morning shopping for a house warming gift. The invitation made its way to my office on Wednesday and I didn't have enough time to go shopping for a gift. It's even harder because I don't know Chase, this is just me trying to be a nice Co-worker and he does seem to be a nice guy
I go through a couple of shops and when my last thread of patience tears I decide to just get him a gift card so I walk to the help desk in the mall to get him a gift card that allows him to buy from any shop. He will see what to get with it
While I'm still sorting the gift card matter my my phone rings and it's Gundo. I hesitate for a moment, guilt still getting the better of me but I decide to answer
"Hey"
"Mufunwa, how are you?"
"I'm good thanks and you?"
"I miss you" he says and I sight. The lady helping me gives me the card and a small gift bag then I thank her and start walking
"Don't do this, Gundo" I go back to the phone call
"Do what? Tell my wife that I miss her?"
"I'm in the mall right now" I try to change the direction that we are headed
"You could be anywhere in the world and I'd still miss you. It's been over a month Thandiwe and I'm trying to give you the space you asked for but until when? When will you come back to me?"
I feel the tears start pooling on my eyes so I do my best to try and blink them away. As if I didn't have enough emotions going for me already, I just had to go and add guilt on to the list
As Gundo speaks like this I can't help but wonder if he would still say the same thing if he knew what I did. Would he still miss me as he says he does right now or would he despise me
"I don't know when... Or if I'm coming back Gundo... This polygamy thing, I can't"
"We can work through it together. You know I love you, you know I'll never stop loving you"
"Please don't put pressure on me"
"That's not what I'm trying to do, mufunwa"
"It sounds like you are... Look, I'll be home for Christmas... That's the best I can do right now, I have nothing more to give than that"
"Will you atleast spend some time with me? I know it will be a full house but some time alone eith my you is what I'd appreciate a lot"
"We will see... I have to get going now, I'll see you next Thursday" I tell him and he hangs up
I go back to the house to get ready for the party. I put on black skiny jeans, a white dress shirt and a pair of heels, I leave my weave loose on my shoulders then I head out using the adress on the invite to get there. Once again I'm driving solo, something I've come to enjoy. Being driven my seem fancy but sometimes those solo drives while singing different songs on a playlist are fulfilling
Chase lives in a very nice surbub. The houses there are beautiful and expensive looking, and instead of grass and trees or flowers they opted for fancy pavings
When I get to his house there's already a couple of cars parked outside. Some I know the from work. I look around for Musa's car and I don't see it. Maybe he's on his way
"Thandi, You made it" Chase says cheerfully walking to where I am
He stops and gives me a hug and I give him the little gift bag "Happy house warming... I didn't know what to get you so... Yea" I chuckle and he joins
"It's no problem, I'll blame it in the fact that we don't really know each other. But thank you, this does mean a lot, your presence too"his gaze lasts on me a little bit longer than I'd like
" Am I late? It seems like a lot of people are here already "
"You can never be late at a party, as long as you make it" he says and leads me to where everyone is at
I spot a couple of doctors, nurses and admin staff. He really went all out. I exchange greetings with a lot of them and I join the circle already formed by chairs
Chase lowers the music and stands ip " I think this is everyone now, Uhm I'm not really good with words" he chuckles "But I just want to appreciate and say thank you to all of you. We hardly know each other, I'm just this forward doctor that won't stop chatting to everyone and next thing you know he's inviting you to his house warming. Best believe I had to come up with ways to fill this house up and presents were the way to go"
Everyone laughs with him then it settles down
"But on a more serious note. Thank you all for welcomimg me with open arms at the hospital and for reserving your Saturday to come spend it with me. I truly appreciate it. Also, a big thank you to Doctor Thandi, the first person I met when I first arrived, she's been very welcoming to me"he says and everyone looks at me, I just smile and look at them too
"So without wasting anymore time, food and drinks are served, please be sure to enjoy yourselves and if you feel you won't be able to drive home later then let me know, I've got rooms available for safety sakes"
We all get up and start dishing up then we sit around in a circle again chatting, I find myself wondering why Musa didn't show, the way he loves parties I would have expected him to be the first one here. I think if calling him but then I remember that I requested that we keep some distance so it'll be somehow if I then turn and start calling him so I put my phone away
After eating we start with the hard beverages, something Chase also stocked up on. There's a lot of things to choose from but since I have to drivr myself home I decide to limit myself to a drink or two. Enough for me to wear off just before getting on the road. The others are already going hard and some are dancing getting tipsy
After a while of sittingI ask Chase to show me the restrooms and he directs me in the house. When I get up I feel a little dizzy, something I'm not used to especially since I only had one drink. The dizzyness goes away and I walk to the restrooms. With every step that I take I feel my body get weak, my legs are failing to carry me and my vision is starting to get a little drowsy
I manage to get to the toilet to pee then when I'm done I splash my face with cold water thinking I'll get better. I stand there for a while but instead of getting better I'm starting to feel really sleepy and deep down I'm freaking out because I know I didn't have that much to drink
I decide to step outside and I immediately balance myself with the wall
"Hey, are you okay?" Chase appears and I can barely keep my eyes open now
"No... No I'm -"
"Come, let's get you a place to sit"
He helps me walk and I have no idea where we are going, nor do I have the strength to walk. I feel him place me on something soft. Maybe a couch, maybe a bed... I can't be too sure, all I know is that I'm feeling very hot
"Did you drink that much?" he asks
"No... Just one... My driver... I need to call"
"Give me your phone, I'll call him for you" he says and I struggle to get my phone out of my pocket, when I do I unlock it with my thumb print
"What's his name?"
This is the last thing I hear Chase ask before everything goes blank
