KEPT

3. I DIDN'T ANNOUNCE IT.

KHANYISA

My alarm goes off, jolting me out of my sleep and a dream that I instantly forget as soon as I open my eyes.

I look around and it takes a moment to remember where I am, I remember getting on the bed with the intention of relaxing for a bit before going to bid Nkosi goodnight but with the way I was exhausted I ended up dozing off.

I sit up and realise the I have a fleece blanket covering me,  I didn't have this last night and I'm pretty sure I had my slippers on and the lights were on too. Now my slippers are off and so are the lights. The only explanation I can come up with is that he came and tucked me in bed, he made sure I was comfortable... That's very sweet and considerate of him.

I get off the bed and neatly fold the blanket before laying it carefully on the edge of the bed then I walk in the ensuite to brush my teeth and wash my face then I step out and rummage through my suitcase for something to wear, I really need to pack my clothes neatly and not live from a suitcase but I'll sort through that later. For now I need to find something to wear so I can walk out of this room.

I find a nice floral thin straps dress and a pair of sandals that I change into, I leave the weave off, my hair isn't messy after all, then I grab my cellphone and make my way out and heading to the kitchen. I know he's already up because he has to go to the office today after having taken a couple of days off work.

He is the COO of his family business. They manufacture and sell cars as well as car parts. Only after going out with him for the second time did I do my research and find that he is that Mdlalose. They aren't necessarily celebrities but their business success  has put then on the map and they are well known.

I asked Nkosi about it and he told me about how his father started the business from scratch, he took his time explaining how they got where they are today and that two of his siblings, Bangizwe and Liyana also work in the family company while the one that comes after him, Lwazi, is in the army and currently deployed in Mozambique. I was intrigued as to how this one decided the army was the way to go instead of joining the rest of his family but there seems to be no bad blood between them so I'm assuming they respected that it was his personal choice to make.

I get to the kitchen and start preparing Nkosi's lunch and breakfast. I smile when I think of how this is my life now, this is what I'll be, what I am... A house wife. Not that I'm complaining, it actually gives me a lot of time to work on my books. I've already published three books and the market loves them, currently I'm working on my fourth standalone book and I now have time to focus my energy it it and take it as far as I would like to.

"Good morning," Nkosi enters and I look up at him.

"Good morning,"

"Ulale kahle?" [Did you sleep well?]

"Ngilale kahle, wena? " [I slept well, you?]

"I slept well too,"

"Thanks for tucking me in," I say and he nods.

"You're welcome, I waited and waited for you to come and have supper with  me,when you didn't I figured you must have fallen asleep, " his eyes move over to the takeouts on the counter.

"Sorry about that, that was my intention but sleep got the better of me,"

"Was it sleep only?" He does that thing where he focuses his full attention on me. He doesn't move but looks at me like everything else around us has suddenly disappeared and I'm the only thing he sees and I feel shy whenever he does this.

"What else could it be, Nkosi?" My voice runs thin, I'm about to act like I don't know what else could be the reason.

"Angazi [I don't know] maybe you started having second thoughts,"