Inhliziyo Yami Yopha: My Heart Bleeds

Chapter 24

ZANOTHANDO

Finding out information about the ladies' parents is proving to be a hard ass job. Since they both have different parents, I'm kind of all over the place trying to piece together all the information on how these two might be related. I'm using the word "might" because they are still waiting for the DNA results.

I can tell just how much of a toll it's taking on Nikiwe and I'm pretty sure it's the same for Nombuso. Of course I haven't been introduced to her because we are nothing but friends, her words not mine. I don't know how much more I can take of whatever game she's playing because I'm definitely starting to lose my patience.

She says one thing but does another. One minute she wants us to stay just as friends but gets super jealous and flirty when she sees me with someone else. This is why I'm getting all worked up about this situation because she is going out of her way to confuse me. It's not a secret that I want her and that I'd do anything to make her mine but if she doesn't want to then I can't force her.

So much for "self introspection" when she can't even let me do what I want. I guess it's true what they say about karma- I hurt a lot of women in my past and the one I truly want doesn't want me back. This, I did to myself and I truly have no one else to blame but myself. One thing I am sure of is that I'll have to set boundaries for our friendship because we can't keep going back and forth.

Now back to the search- I just feel like things are a bit complicated because everyone we ask about the parents, the information varies from every person that knew them or had an idea of who they were. At first, I assumed that they would be twins since Nikiwe says they look almost identical but then she mentioned that they were born on different years. The age gap is not a lot but it's something.

Nombuso is slightly older, 25, and Nikiwe 23. So that rules out any possibilities of them being twins. All I have to do now is keep an eye on Nkunzi since he is the one overseeing this entire project of getting the info. To be honest, he is the only man I trust enough to get the job done and I am a hundred percent sure he will.

He is not happy about all of this though, me doing something for a woman I admire. I shouldn't mix business with pleasure is what he says. And I really don't know how helping out a woman in need is mixing business with pleasure. Personally, I think he just doesn't like Nikiwe.

Which is confusing because when he looked after her, he was always the one encouraging me to pursue her and make her mine. It really is shocking how a person can switch from liking to disliking someone. But on a serious note, I do have to ask him why the sudden change of heart.

I believe he'll tell me like it is, he always has and that's the one thing I needed in my life. Someone to call me out on my bullshit and not be afraid to tell me when I'm going astray just because they are intimidated by my wealth. I also think he just has a sixth sense for calling out people on their shit or sensing if people are generally full of crap. So it really worries me on why he'd not like Nikiwe suddenly.

The time is 02:00 a.m. and I can feel the tension on my shoulders and back. I suppose all the work and little sleep is finally catching up with me. Taking a break is essential so I do take those fifteen minute breaks when I can but I guess it's not enough.

This just goes to prove that there is no length I wouldn't go to make this woman's life a lot less troublesome. I'm hoping this earns me some points in actually making her mine and if it doesn't, I'll know that I would have tried and that I at least did some good along the way.

Sigh.

It's better I go to sleep because tomorrow...well, today, is going to be a long day. And since I'm going to meet "Thee" Nombuso for the first time, I want to look good and not have any eye bags. Maybe, just maybe, if she sees me she'll be able to convince Nikiwe on what a fine man I am. Not that she doesn't see it, but maybe she needs a little nudge in the right direction.

*************

Shit!

Nikiwe is definitely going to kill me today. I'm half an hour late to the grand opening of 'Daily Fix Bakery' and I know I won't hear the end of it. She asked me to be her date today and I of course agreed. She told me I'd find her here already because she had to help out Nombuso and her business partner with making sure everything was okay.

It's an event for people with sweet teeth so I thought that there wouldn't be as much people here. But I was definitely wrong because the outcome is really outstanding for a new business that doesn't have any clients in the area yet. The opening is always just the business owner showing people what they'd do for them and that is exactly what I see happening here.

I've never been a dessert lover but I do know one or two that I enjoy. My eyes land on this delicious looking Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread that looks so inviting. Like I said, not a fan of sugary stuff but this I definitely have to take a bite and taste it. I hope it tastes as good as it looks.

My hand reaches out for a piece when a hand slaps mine away. I turn to face this rude person and I come face to face with the one my heart desires. She looks gorgeous in her orange summer dress, that has a bow in the front. And dare I say, she looks amazing in flats.

"Where were you Zanothando? The event started thirty five minutes ago.", she whispers as she pulls me outside of the little bakery or should I call it a café?

She looks extra hot when she's mad and it just makes me long for her even more. "I'm sorry I got held up with work.", I smile.

"Nywa nyorry...nywa nyorry. That doesn't mean anything Zano. You promised you'd be here at a certain time but you get here later than that. To top it all off, you don't even inform me that you'll be late. Kanti waba njani wena?( Why are you like this?)", she lets out a breath as she finishes off.

See? This is the kind of confusion I was talking about earlier. Why worry that much if you see me as only your friend. I want peace right now so I will just apologize so we can this over and done with. I'd laugh at her pouting if I didn't feel like she'd strangle me if I did that at this moment.

'I'm truly sorry lala. I'm sorry and I know what I did was wrong. Forgive me, please?", I pull her hand and caress it.

She huffs and lets out a sigh before saying, "Okay I forgive you. But please let's not do this again. You really scared me I thought you got hurt or something."

"I promise. So awufuni ukuba ngowam nyani? (So you really don't want to be mine?)", I ask her.

I can tell she's blushing as she looks to the ground and says, "Hayi man Zano, uyazi kuthi ngitheni ngalakho. (No man Zano, you know what I said about that.)"

Sigh.

Here we go again. This cycle of never ending torture of me not knowing where we truly stand. We can't act like concerned lovers but not want to be lovers. It doesn't work like that and I certainly don't have time for this.

"Look here, Nikiwe. You know I like you, very much so. But I really can't keep on playing this game of yours of going back and forth. We're both grown adults and we know exactly what we want from each other. It's either we stay strictly friends with no flirting or we put a title on what we have going on. The ball is in your court and it's up to you what you want. Whatever you decide, there'll be no bad blood between us. You understand?", I say.

"I understand.", she says barely audible.

I sigh and smile, "Look at me. Don't worry about it. We'll talk about this some other time okay. For now I'd like to meet your look-alike. Is that okay still?"

"Yes it's okay. Let me take you to her.", she grabs my hand.

I pull her back and hug her, "We'll be okay lala.", I kiss her shiny big forehead.

She lets out a shaky breath and hugs me. I hope she got my message loud and clear because I truly want to make her mine. And I don't think I was too harsh now...was I?