Shrivelled Roses 1 (Intro)

Chapter 21

-𝑺𝒊𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒉𝒍𝒆 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝑩𝒊𝒚𝒂𝒔𝒆-

One week later...

She hadn't spoken to Luzuko since the lunch date, and she had not saved his number from the last time he called. Well, he did call her later on after the date, but that was it. She knew though, that if she back-searched to that day's calls she would find the number, which wouldn't really count now even if she were to find it because he did mention that he would be out of the country for three weeks.

"What kind of business was he into anyway? I mean, three whole weeks out of the country? He better not be a drug dealer Nkos'yam" She thought to herself.

Her sister called and notified her that she was on her way from Cape Town, they would commute together to the villages where their parents lived. It was December, they always went home for the end of year shutdown. She was happy to go home, just sad that it would be another year efika ephaca unlike the rest of her siblings. As much as they understood what she was going through, she still felt like she should at least have something for her parents but...

In the afternoon of that same day, Claire received a bank notification of R15 000 deposit into her account. She did not even check the reference, because she knew that someone probably made a mistake and they would call and claim it back. There was no way anyone would just send her that amount of money unless that person really made a mistake.

"I bought you some stuff, khaw'zofithisha before ziyofika ezilalini zithathwe ziphele" her sister urged pulling Claire to the bedroom. Her mind was on the money, she was even tempted to go to the bank first thing the following morning and reverse it. As she was about to get into the second dress, her phone beeped and it was next to her sister. She read the message from the screen and then smiled looking at Claire who was frowning.

"And that? Why are you blushing kwi phone yam?" Claire asked and her sister passed the phone asking, "I thought we were taking a break from dating, who's the mystery guy?" Claire didn't respond, but read the second message that didn't appear on the screen three more times before she went back to the bank notification to read the ref which was written: Uyothenga impahla ye Krismesi - L.

Her eyes filled up instantly. The text that her sister read was just a casual "I miss you" but the second one that followed was even deeper. Or rather, more in depth:

"Siphesihle... I know you won't like this, and I'm sorry if it makes you feel weak in any way. I've just sent you R15 000 so that you can chip in kokwenu kule Christmas, I know awunyanzelekanga because they know you're unemployed but I know they will appreciate xa usithi uzothenga iveg or some spices ngokwakho nawe uzoziva ungumntu xa ungazomane ucela imali yetyuwa or something ephelileyo while you're there. Iingxaki zakho ke andizazi kodwa the rest you can buy yourself Christmas clothes ufane nabanye abantwana. What I'm trying to say is that I don't care nge change... I just want to make you happy, even if andikho phambi kwakho. I know you didn't save my number because you probably thought I was joking ngayo yonke lanto ndandiyi thetha kuwe that day, well I was serious and I saved yours. You don't have to save it nangoku ke, but please text me when I call video call you, you don't have to say anything. I just want to see your face... I really do miss you"

She got out of her sister's bedroom and went to lock herself in hers where she bawled her eyes out to satisfaction. When she was done, she texted him back... "Enkosi" he opened the message, and then called her immediately. She thought of going to wash her face quickly so he doesn't notice that she was crying, but then decided not to. So she answered the video call...

Claire: Hi.

Luzuko: Siphesihle... unjani?

She shook her head trying her best to not cry again, not with him watching her. He smiled, and just looked at her. After a few minutes, she spoke up, her voice cracking up a bit.