Shrivelled Roses 1 (Intro)

Chapter 20

-𝑺𝒊𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒉𝒍𝒆 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝑩𝒊𝒚𝒂𝒔𝒆-

Around 3pm, the lunch date was over...

But Claire was still in the company of Mr. Ndlongolo, sipping on wine and chatting like old buddies by the pool side. He watched her for a few seconds and then she stopped laughing, her cheeks all flushed at the realization that the man was watching her.

Claire: Don't do that...

Bhazuka: Umhle.

Claire: Thanks... I should go futhi.

Bhazuka: Uleqa usana?

Claire: No, but I have a date with my friends later on. I need to go and freshen up.

Bhazuka: So you sweated while sitting here?

Claire: Ewe, I'm musty and sticky so I have to freshen up and change. Don't worry yourself, I'll catch u Bolt.

Bhazuka: You said you're sticky? Hey hay iyandibhida ichoice of words yakho Siphesihle. Ubuqale ngokuthi you want to come ngokwakho.

She laughed, she did expect him to bring that up.

Bhazuka: So when are we doing this again?

Claire: Who said we will do this again?

Bhazuka: You mean to tell me you won't go out with me ukhona? Ulapha eMonti?

Now that was her chance to see how her application went.

Claire: I won't be here for long, I might be in Cape Town next year... well, kweziveki zizayo coz we're almost half-way through December already.

Bhazuka: Hm, uyohlala khona?

Claire: Ndiyokhangela umsebenzi... I can't forever be dependent on my parents. They did enough ngokundifundisa and carry me ngento yonke after my graduation, I should now allow them to enjoy their retirement bengena stress esindim. Noko bagqibile ngoku.

He nodded, deep in though.

Claire: And you said you're leaving the country anyway.

Bhazuka: I'm just going on a business trip, I should be back in three weeks.

Claire: Well, sizobonana aph'estratweni bhuti... thank you for hosting me. Please pass imibulelo yam to your helper or your chef. She's a great cook.

She got up and fixed her dress then smiled at him as she went inside.

He had no choice but to follow her, she put her glass in the sink and then went to fetch her bag from the lounge. He was waiting for her there, as soon as she walked in, he grabbed her wrist and spun her around so she ended up right in front of him. Their lips a few inches apart...

Claire: Luzuko...

Her voice trailed off as she felt her body warming up against his. He let go of her wrist but both his hands grabbed her love handles. They both heaved, but remained silent for a while.

Bhazuka: MaTshangisa, Bhodlinyama, Snuka, Nxuba, Fak'inyama emlanjeni iphume ivuthiwe.

She blushed, and her nipples hardened.

Bhazuka: UmXhosa ongangxengwanga.

Claire: Wandithutha Tshawe, undisaphi?

Bhazuka: Ndiyakuthanda Zulu, Skhomo... and ndijongile nje, andiphinde ndikwazi uyeke ukukuthanda. Noko kudala ndizinyamezele, ndizicinezela ii feelings ezi ndinazo ngakuwe.

Claire: You don't love me Luzuko... awundazi. We only met two times, once ndiyofaka iCV and the second time e club'ini.

Bhazuka: We met more than two times... the first time I saw you wawunxibe ilokhwe emfutshane e blue kwi party yoo Chume. Second time I saw you wawunxibe a black two piece kwi graduation ye sister ka Liyanda. The third time I saw you wawunxibe a black and white camo pant with a white crop top usenza u Mimi intloko ezoya kwi interview last year ngo June and the fourth time I saw you ubuhamba no mamakho e Hemingways Mall last month unxibe denim on denim.