Shrivelled Roses 1 (Intro)

Chapter 19

-𝑺𝒊𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒉𝒍𝒆 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝑩𝒊𝒚𝒂𝒔𝒆-

A week later, she still had not received feedback from the Ndlongolo's regarding her application and she didn't want to ruin her friendship with the twins by asking them to put in a good word for her or asking them to push their parents for an answer... so she kept to herself, praying every day that by January at least kubekho into ecacayo so that azozazi ukuba uyahlala e Eastern Cape or she will have to indefinitely move to Cape Town in search of greener pastures.

Second week in waiting, second week of gradually approaching the thin line between desperation and depression mode... she was woken up around 10 am by a call from an unknown number.

Claire: Sihle Biyase good morning.

Bhazuka: It's been two weeks.

She looked at the screen, and frowned then returned the phone to her ear as she recognized the voice but wondered where he got her number... "Damnit! He has my CV" her brain clicked on the light bulb.

Claire: Mr. Ndlongolo, unjani?

Bhazuka: I'm glad you recognized my voice.

Claire: I have a very good memory... I don't know what came over me when I was with you though.

Bhazuka: Well, I didn't drug you.

Claire: I know.

Bhazuka: Great... lunch?

She sighed as she sat up, supporting her back with a continental pillow.

A part of her wished the call would be about her application, she had not forgotten about his lunch request. Well honestly, she didn't even take him seriously, she didn't think he was serious about it either.

Claire: I am pretty sure you said whenever I have time nje, I don't have time yet.

Bhazuka: I'm leaving SA in two days and I would like to have lunch with you before ndihambe. Is that possible okanye funeka ndicele ipermission ku tatakho?

Claire: Utatam ungenaphi kengoku?

Bhazuk: You're a daddy's girl, and it's cute... so ndithini? Ndiye kuye?

Claire: Oh Bawo yintoni le ndizifake kuyo?

Bhazuka: I could bring lunch to you xa kucaba awukwazi uphuma kwakho, I don't mind.

She weighed in her options, it would be better to have the lunch in private as she didn't know how her friends would feel knowing that she was meeting up with their uncle and the "meeting up" wasn't work related.

Claire: Prepare something at your place, send me your address, I'll be there around 12 pm.

Bhazuka: I will send a car to fetch you ngo 11:30 am, is that okay?

Claire: I wish you would allow me to come ngokwam, but ke it's okay. Send the car.

Bhazuka: I will allow you to cum ngokwakho sisi, sungxama.

Claire: Huh?

He laughed...

Claire: Oh crap, no, that's not what I meant. God!

Bhazuka: Don't be late.

Then he hung up.

She smiled at the phone allowing herself to bask in the excitement.

She laughed again at the "cum/come" comment. She had been excited about this lunch since he initiated it but obviously didn't want him to know that and besides that, she thought he wasn't serious about it hence she toned down her excitement and pretended to even forget about. Playing hard to get was always the way to go, or else she would be labeled as "desperate" or "easy"... right?

****

By 11:25 am a black Chevrolet Camaro was already by the gate, he didn't hoot or make any sort of indication that he had arrived. Claire noticed it by chance as she whipped herself a glass of fruit smoothie angafiki komnye umzi sekhaba izitya yindlala. Draped in a white plunging neckline chiffon dress, gold jewelry and matching sandals... she stepped out at 11:45 am as their date was supposed to be at 12 pm. As she neared the car, the driver stepped out and opened the back passenger door for her without saying a word. She obviously greeted, but he responded with just a nod, got in his side of the car and drove off without batting a lash her way.

Her phone rang, five minutes after they left her house...

Claire: Hi?

Bhazuka: Is there anything that you're allergic to?

Claire: Uhm, no.

Bhazuka: Any meat you don't eat?

Claire: No.

Bhazuka: Sho.

Claire: Uhm... are you cooking?

Bhazuka: Can't wait to see you.

He hung up again, and she just smiled.

He was indeed a mysterious man... or trying his best to be one.

They arrived at his house, the one she woke up in... not the one they met in earlier that month. That one, was the family home. The driver did the same thing, got out of the car, opened her door and walked her to the gate. He buzzed, it opened and then he watched her go inside. After taking a few steps, she turned and saw him walk back to his car. She had no choice but to brave it out and knock on the front door. One knock, and Lukuzo appeared dressed in navy chinos and white buttoned up golf shirt with matching sneakers. He looked like he was leaving...

Bhazuka: Good afternoon Ms. Biyase, welcome to my habitat.

Claire: Mr. Ndlongolo, thank you for the invitation. May I?

He did a little bow stepping aside for her to get inside and the he closed the door and led her to the dining room. In her mind, she expected the room to have the long family dining table, but lo and behold she walked into a perfect setup for two people. A round table with just two chairs and welcome snacks, then at the end of the room there lay a very long buffet setup for self-service. He pulled a chair for her before taking his seat...

Claire: Thank you.

Bhazuka: u Sindiswa wenze itheko ke, uyaw'tya oyityayo uyeke ongayifuniyo. Where do we start?

Claire: Nd'cela i-juice k'qala? And then tell me why you pushed for this lunch.

For once he blushed, oh well, men don't believe they blush... so he beamed.

Bhazuka: I like you... a lot.

Claire: You don't know me.

Bhazuka: I don't need to know you in order for me to like you.

Claire: Ah, umXhosa kwedini. Uy'buka ivaliwe.

Now he laughed!

Bhazuka: So, kuzofunwa iinkomo ezingaphi pha kokwenu?

Claire: Haibo bhuti, iinkomo already?

Bhazuka: Oh, ufuna sithethe nge bhedi yam le sewulele kuyo ke? Fine, did you like my linen or should I buy the Pure Parima ones?

Claire: Hay suba mdaka apha!

Bhazuka: Right, back to iinkomo... xa ucinga bangafuna zibengaphi kokwenu?

She smiled basking in his unique sense of humor, he was indeed a Xhosa man.

All proud and wise... what a weird timing. Couldn't he have pitched later in her life when she's more established and ready to be in a relationship? What a weird timing he had!

****