Secret Love

Chapter 13

Two weeks pass without incident and the days, and nights, are much colder and darker as Winter makes its presence felt. After seeing her family for the first time in three months, Moiponi's life has never felt better. Two weeks later, her mind was at ease which helped her to concentrate on her studies for the upcoming exams which are about to commence in a few days.

She found one of her modules challenging and took Fezile's offer to help; initially, she was reluctant to receive his help due to her pride, but after she realised that she had squandered two days without doing anything, she succumbed to her desperation and asked him to assist her, and he has continued to do so.

A freshly brewed cup of hot tea rested on Moiponi's desk today, with papers, books, and stationery scattered around. She had not seen the family and her colleagues much since she began focusing on her schoolwork these past few weeks; her daily tasks were assigned to Bontle who was more than happy to take them on along with hers. Despite not doing much work around the house lately, Moiponi still got her full monthly salary without fail and she was surprised by it.

Her surprise and suspicion led her to go to Senzo's office to ask why her salary hadn't been reduced. His answer was shocking to say the least as he felt that Moiponi was a like a member of his family and thus felt obliged to provide her with a full reward. Moiponi had no other choice but to take his word for it, and sat down at his desk, engaging in a long and meaningful conversation with him.

It was official, Senzo had become the father she never had; he proved to be twice the man that Elias never was with his kindness and generosity, that Moiponi could not believe that such a man would exist. Additionally, his sons have shown her compassion as well, making her feel not only like a servant, but like a friend or sister over the past few months.

Moiponi has also taken a liking to Fezile and Nomthandazo, but mostly Fezile as she has spent a bit of time with him more than his fiancée. From her observations of his character, she finds him to be a person that is fun-loving, confident, intelligent but also a bit closed off and sensitive about some things. Her secret attraction to him has also remained and is slowly brewing into affection as she gets to know him better.

Every small conversation that she has had with Fezile has made her acknowledge the fact that she has a trivial crush on him; always feeling the need to discreetly observe him every time he is sitting next to her whenever he comes into her room to help her. His small full lips have tempted her to feel the texture and taste of them as they are pressed up against hers in a daydream; a daydream she has been unable to stop for a few days.

Her eyes are constantly drawn to the frown lines on his forehead when he is in deep concentration, and to the pressed firmness of his lips when he is silent; Fezile is a sight for sore eyes with his serious handsome face. Moiponi is aware that the young man that sits next to her, could never be hers; and has taken it upon herself to keep her slowly growing feelings hidden. Her feelings are reciprocal, though she is unaware of them, as Fezile has recently been experiencing some confusion.

He has also found himself taking a liking to Moiponi with her intellectuality, shyness, ambition, determination, empathy and playfulness. He finds himself thinking about her more than he does his fiancée and looks forward to spending some time with her during their sessions; and has no plans of ever acting on his attraction towards Moiponi, which he recently admitted to himself.

His impending marriage to Nomthandazo, who has been the only woman that he has ever been with, is moving ahead as planned. This is despite the doubts that have begun to creep up. Not only on his side but on Nomthandazo's as well; recently she has sat down and started reflecting on her life and what she wants to do with it.

It has become increasing difficult for her to think about getting married and she does not know how to tell her family and Fezile. Up until now, she was so certain she was ready to marry him and spend the rest of her life with him. But at the moment, things are looking rather bleak. She wants to fulfil her dream of traveling all over the world each year; moving from place to place constantly, yet she also wants to fulfil a promise she made to the one man who has ever truly loved her.