KEPT

14. PLAYED.

KHANYISA

"Are you done?"

"Almost, " I reply with a thinned voice.

"But that's what you said thirty minutes ago, "

"That's when I thought I was almost done... "

"And then what happened?" I hear the impatience in his tone.

I bite my lower lip, fix my glasses then look up from the screen to find him looking at me expectedly "Plot twist,"

"Plot twist?" he has this confused look on his face.

"Yes, but I'm almost done. I promise. "

"Fifteen minutes, or else Ngizokushiya mina nale plot twist yakho [I'll leave you behind with this plot twist of yours]

He grabs the last bag and walks out leaving me to my typing. I wasn't planning on writing today but there's this chapter that's been bouncing so hard in my head and leaving me restless so I finally gave in and just when I thought I was done, another idea came through and now I'm here trying to wrap it up as quick as I can before Nkosi returns.

We are heading to KZN and I'm quite excited, I always am when it comes to taking long distance trips. After the Christmas disaster I wasn't so sure that I wanted to spend anymore time around Liyana but it was too late and either way, we are still going to have to meet at some point. I might as well get this over and done with but I swear, if she dares starts with me this time, I will not be holding back, I'd rather it becomes a whole circus than take anymore insults from her. I'm human, I also have limits and I've reached them where she's concerned.

I pack my laptop away after saving my work then I put my sneakers on just as he calls me on the phone.

"Uyahamba noma?" [Are you going or?]

"I'm coming, Nkosi," I say then hang up and rush outside, the sun is starting to set and I know we will arrive there late at night.

He takes off as soon as I have my seatbelt on then I pair my phone to his car's bluetooth so I can play my music mix. As soon as the sound comes through, Nkosi looks at me then shakes his head "Uyayibona lento yokushada ama2000" [you see this thing of marrying people born 2000's]

"Please, you know I'm not a skrr skrr and deep house isn't a 2000 thing, it's a 90's kinda vibe, old man, " I mumble the last part but he hears me.

"Mina? Old man?" he sounds offended but I can't stop laughing

"Ngiyadlala" [ I'm joking] I try to stop the laughter but his facial expression is killing me "Ngiyadlala Nyanda, you're still a young one, very young...at heart"

"Awungiboni yazi" [You don't see me] he tries not to smile but his lips betray him.

"Ngiyakubona wena khehla lami [I see you, my old man] and I lo-like you just as you are" I quickly correct myself hoping he didn't catch on the mistake I almost made. I look at him to check, if he did, then he's doing a good job of acting like he didn't.

He laughs off my teasing and the moment doesn't turn sour or awkward, that's when I know I can breathe easily.

It's a long drive to KZN and we make two stops on our way there for a restroom break and getting more snacks and water. Nkosi lets me hog the radio the entire ride and does not complain even when I start playing my Xitsonga music. It's a bad passenger habit but it is what it is, I'm trying to stay awake here.

We spend more time on the road due to the endless road constructions and his mom keeps calling to find out how far we are. He ends up telling her that she can go to bed because our arrival time will be delayed but she insists on staying up. He attempts to argue with her about it but I stop him. It's only natural that she will worry about us being on the road this late at night, my own mom has texted quite a few times and I know she won't sleep too until I let her know that we've arrived, it's a mom thing I guess and if staying up gives them peace of mind then let them.