Zekhethelo: Love redefined.

chapter 13 : Teenage love affair

It's Sunday evening and I'm in bed with Okuhle, Athi decided to sleep with her granny tonight, I'm going through my social media accounts and the triggers are still there, I still bump into my former "friends" living it up, it's almost the end of the current year and all that I'm praying for is that something opens up for me next year, I've been living off my mum and my siblings, I know they seem to have no problem about this but it bothers me so much.

I worked so hard in law school, I was almost always at the top of my class, how can life be so cruel?... I'm disturbed by my depressing thoughts by my ringing phone, it's in my hand but I contemplate answering it because of the caller ID, it's Mthokozisi and also I've been crying I don't want him to notice that.

I let it ring until it stops then I continue going through my Instagram feed, a few minutes later a message pops up on my notification bar, "Zekhethelo, I know it's late but can I see you?"  ~ Mthokozisi

I'm surprised, does this mean he'll drive from the south to Soweto just to see me? At 10 pm? "It's late for you to drive all the way here" I respond

"I'm outside" he responds almost immediately it's as if he had already typed the message just before I could even respond. I could do with a bit of fresh air and maybe this is my chance to finally set the record straight with this man.

I change into my grey sweatpants and a simple plain black hoodie, it's summer so you know it's rainy and wet outside but I'm wearing my slides. As soon as I reach the gate he flashes his lights to indicate that I should come, he's parked 2 houses before my house.

I walk towards his car, today he doesn't even come out to open the door for me. I wonder what changed. "Sawubona..." I greet as I try to get comfortable in the front seat, you know the struggles of being a chubby short girl, getting into a big car is a hassle on its own.

"Yebo mama, ukahle?" I nod, "so what's up? Why are you out here so late?" One thing about me? I'm not big on small talk, so we need to get straight to the point. "Uhm, I was here to see my aunt, I've been contemplating since 7 o'clock whether I should contact you or not, after the last conversation we had" I sigh, "look Mthokozisi, I don't know what you're playing at but I already have a lot going on in my life and I'm certainly not looking for a relationship"

He sits up and starts the ignition, "Good, I'm also not looking for a relationship maNgcolosi..." he starts driving, "where can we find the nearest McDonald's? I'm starving" just like that he shifts the focus. I direct him to McDonald's, we get there and he orders for the both of us, I mean I ate but he's been quiet all along, he didn't even ask me what I'd like to have.

"Two spicy fold-over meals...large, passion fruit mcfizz, and 2 oreo mcflurry" that's what he ordered. Once we get to the last window he takes the food and hands it to me, I mean I'm just sitting there looking at this man who's making decisions for me. We find a parking spot at McDonald's, he turns off the ignition and balances his seat. He takes the big paper bag that contains the meals and hands me one wrap and chips while he places his meal on his lap, he then opens his food and digs in.

"Awudli?" He asks as he takes his second bite, I just eat the fries while looking outside the window, they slap though, they do. He finishes his wrap and starts driving, "siyaphi manje?" I ask, "siyofuna uphuthu nenyama, ayisuthisi lento" I laugh, he's a typical Zulu man I guess.

We drive to Melrose arch, guys I'm still in my sweatpants and it's almost 11 o'clock, when we get to moyos in Melrose the restaurant has closed and he looks very disappointed.

"Lalela ke mama, I'm really starving I haven't had anything to eat since breakfast but I also want to spend a bit of time with you, can we go to my place and make a quick meal then I'll drive you back home before morning, I promise" I sigh, there's just something about how he speaks to me though, I like it. "Sure asambe" he smiles, he rarely ever smiles because of his dimples but when he does, he certainly looks like a model cut out of the GQ magazine.

We drive for a few minutes then we finally arrive in Rosebank, we drive into this posh-looking complex. We park outside a decent looking 2 story house. "Asambe" this man must be hungry because he doesn't care about me right now. He walks out of the car and walks towards what looks to be the main door.

I follow after him, we enter and it's a decent-looking place, as you walk in there's just an almost empty passage, big enough to fit a few big vases with beautiful fresh plants, but all there is an A3 wall painting and a full-length mirror, I wonder why.

I follow him to the kitchen, it's beautiful, and has a dark maroon theme with a beautiful black smeg French door fridge and a smeg stove. The kitchen is clean with just a few dishes in the sink. "Excuse my pig life, I live alone and I didn't expect to have any visitors" he starts stacking the dishes preparing to wash them. "Hlala la" he directs me to one of the high chairs on the other side of the kitchen counter. I sit as I watch him watch the dishes, he's facing the opposite direction and I'm basically behind him.

I use this opportunity to scan his well-built body properly, he's a big man, not big in the sense that he's overweight but he's tall. He turns to me "please boil the kettle for me" I do so and yep you've guessed it, it's a smeg kettle,  I fill it up with water and then boil it. He finishes with the dishes and then walks towards the fridge which looks almost empty, "I hardly cook so please don't judge the condition of my fridge" he takes out an onion and 2 tomatoes, opens the freezer, and pulls out a tray of frozen chicken portions, he places the tray on the counter and starts chopping the veggies.

"So are you going to cook this frozen chicken as it is?" I ask out of curiosity, "yes, I usually just pop it out of the fridge, add it to a pot then add water, spices, and these veggies" I suppress my laugh and just nod. I need to save this man from his bad cooking just for today. "Let's do this, focus on making uphuthu and I'll prepare the chicken, how's that?" He nods like a little kid in a candy shop...