Zekhethelo: Love redefined.

chapter 14 : could it be love?

He decided to go upstairs to change into something more comfortable, I've already started on the chicken stew, and I'm very impressed with his spice collection.

"Kuyalunga lapho mama? Ngilambe ngiyafa manje" I laugh, "you would've had to wait another hour had I not decided to defrost this chicken, I'm almost done" he smiles then walks towards the high chair which is right across the stove so now he's just sitting there looking at me as I cook, this here is very uncomfortable,  I think even for qualified chefs.

"It's rude to stare..." I finally speak up because if I don't then I'll die in this very position. "Ngiyaxolisa mama, I got lost in my thoughts" I've given up on trying to make sense of his riddles, this man speaks in riddles almost all the time so I just let him be.

"Let me go and watch football while you finish up me since I'm making you a bit uncomfortable, you'll just shout when you're done" he smiles and stares at me intensely before he walks off.

I finish up and decide to dish up because firstly he said he's starving to death and secondly he's been shouting at those soccer players who cannot even hear him so just to reduce the anger, let me do this one act of kindness.

I plate uphuthu and the chicken, I look around and find a serving tray, place everything on the tray then walk towards where the noise is coming from. 

"Awwwuuu wadla mfo ka Magaye," he says as I hand him the tray, see what I mean? Riddles! "Ngiyabonga mama" I smile then he looks at me with a questioning look, "why didn't you dish up for yourself?" But it's midnight, who eats at 12? "It's midnight, and I ate before you fetched me" he looks at me and then briefly at the screen again, he hands me the spoon that I placed on the tray for him, which he didn't use for some reason he's using his hands.

"Asidle ke" by the stern look that I got from him, I cannot even protest I just join him. He's so invested in this meal that he has completely neglected the TV. We are done eating in no time, he takes the dishcloth that I placed on the tray and then wipes his hands, "ngiyabonga maNgcolosi" I just smile.

We spent the remainder of the time just getting to know each other and he even let me in on what has been bothering him. I suggested the rehab that I went to and he promised to check it out. "What do you usually watch?" He randomly asks, "I enjoy cooking shows, reality shows, and movies sometimes" he hands me the remote.

"And then?", "faka phela sibuke" I just chuckle, and I decide to pick a movie, "resort to love, sounds cheesy" I laugh, "so you think love is cheesy?", he looks at me intently, "no, but I think movies have a very cheesy way of portraying love, love isn't perfect and happily ever after shouldn't be experienced only at the end, happily ever after should be every single day between two willing hearts" he then stands and walks off.

I just decide to press play, he returns with 2 cups of hot chocolate. "I heard that this goes well with movies" I just laugh and thank him, he sits next to me then takes a throw that was on the other couch and covers me up, this is cute but on a hot summer's night? We enjoy the movie in complete silence...

*Mthokozisi's POV*
"MaNgcolosi...Vuka mama kusile manje" she jumps up when she realizes that she passed out. She passed out even before we were halfway through the movie that she chose, I know I promised to take her home before sunrise but I couldn't help it she looked so peaceful and everything felt perfect. It's 7 am and I might have also passed out after the movie hence I decided not to wake her up.

"Mthokozisi what time is it?", "7" and as soon as I said that, her face changed from cute sleepy eyes to very alarmed, "but you said you'd take me home before sunrise, oh my word ngizothini kuMa, oh God my babies slept on their own..." I decide to cut her off because she won't stop. "Please relax, I'm sorry for not waking you up, let me freshen up then we'll have breakfast before I can take you home" she looks at me as if I'm crazy, "uyahlanya Mthokozisi? Freshen up? Breakfast? Then mina ngizothini kuMa?" Shoot, I didn't think about that.

"Let's think of a way around that then" she's now pacing up and down, and her phone rings "Mntase..." (silence), "I'll tell you all about it when I get home, just tell her I left early to go and help Nelly with something", (silence), "eyyy just make something up please!!" (Silence), "thank you!! I owe you one!" She hangs up and releases a huge sigh!

"Okay my sister will cover up for me, take me home, uMa is preparing for church, she leaves the house at 7h30 so asambe" I just stand and take my car keys, I mean I'm a little sad that I cannot get to have breakfast with her but hey what can we say. This feels great though, I feel like a teen again, I think I've fallen way too deep for this woman and there's no way out.

*Zekhethelo's POV*
The drive from Mtho's place to Soweto was long, the car was filled with complete silence, I'm upset that he didn't wake me up on time as he promised to.

He keeps stealing glances at me and I just bluntly ignore him, we arrive home and as if what he did was not enough, he decides to park right at the gate, this man is testing my patience today.

I try to open the door and it's locked, I look over at him and he's just staring at me with a questioning look. "Ungidinelwe mama?" I just look outside the window, "ngizoza ngizokubona ke later, please be ready at 3" I'm honestly convinced that this man is crazy, "so ngishiye iyngane zami yet again?", "no, get them ready too, I'll see you guys at 3" then he starts the ignition, unlocks the door for me but I'm not even moving.

"Ngifuna ukuhamba ngiyogeza mina" honestly I'll never understand how this man thinks. I just open the door and leave it open. He waits until I'm inside the yard before driving off.

"Ubuyaphi ke sisi" I find my sister sitting on the stoep outside the backrooms with my kids next to her, "mummy" they run towards me, "hello babies, did you behave?" They nod. I sit next to Za and update her about my evening she's both shocked and impressed, I was always the good kid growing up, so she's impressed that I'm finally snapping out of it and sneaking out like other kids, I even told her about the 3 pm arrangement, I initially didn't want to go but she thinks I should...