Umfelokazi

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Just a few hours after Thulani had left I receive a call from him and he asked if we can go out and have some super together. I have never went out at night before and this will surely be an experience. Knowing Thulani he loves food and has mentioned before that he loves food. Besides that when I am with him one way or the other I will come back full and fed too. I agreed to the super thing and so I took out a dress from the clothes that my mother packed for me when I left home. I got to bathing and Mimi was going to visit me but I told her that I am leaving in a few minutes and she told me she will ask questions when I come back. I am guessing she wants to know where I am going since I disappear alot these days. So here she is in my room with Rethabile doing her homework on the floor and her mother having a glass of wine in her mug while she is looking at me. 
“Ai this dress is not it”,I run my fingers on it.
“Well I like it”
“You are going on your first date you need to look sexy and I have a dress in my room for that”,I turn to her.
“I do not want to show my thighs and wear something short”,I say.
“I have just the dress for you”,She mentions and she quickly goes out of the room. Rethabile looks at me.
“Are you going to have a date with Malome?”,She asks.
“He did not say it is a date”,I say.
“It is, Mama has been on alot of them before where men ask her for supper”,She mentions.
“How does that make you feel?”,I ask
She shrugs her shoulders.
“I wish Mama can have a man like you and Malome Jabu who can be my father”,she mentions.
“Do you want a dad?”,I ask.
“Yes, I know my dad but he is not a nice person”,she mentions.
I feel bad for her.
“Don’t worry you have us that love you”,She smiles widely. 
Mimi comes back and she is holding a green long dress of which I did not expect from her. 
“You can take it, I have never worn it and an ex of mine got it for me. I hated that it is long”,She says and places it on the bed.
It is simple and beautiful too. Has noodle straps and a side slit to it but the material is what I like too. 
I take off my dress and then I try this one on and it sticks to my body a bit but I seem to like it, it is not as revealing as I thought it would. I wear my sandals and I look fine as well.
“You look beautiful Mvelo”,Rethabile mentions.
“Thank you Nana”,I smile at her. 
My phone rings and I take it and answer it.
“Hello”
“I am outside. Should I come and get you inside? Do you need some little time to get ready?”,I lightly laugh.
“No, I am coming now”
“Okay you look beautiful by the way”,He mentions.
“You haven't seen me”,I mention
“I know you look beautiful”
“I am coming”
“Okay”,We end the call and I turn to look at Mimi and she has a smile on her face.
“You are blushing”
“I am not, I have to go”,I mention.
“Come Riri”,Rethabile packs her things and we all walk out together. I lock the door and then we go our seperate ways. I walk out of the gate and I see him already standing outside the car. I get to him and we share a hug as I inhale his scent into my nostrils.
“Hi baby”,He says with his arms still wrapped around me.
I look up to him and I smile. 
“Hi”
“I hope you left some space for food”,He mentions.
“I have learnt to when I am with you”,He chuckles.
“Come, let's go”,He then opens the door for me and I get inside with his help. He closes the door and goes around the car and gets inside.
He helps me with the seat belt even though I know how to put a seat belt on but he just likes doing that and I think it has became a habit too. 
He starts the car and off we go to wherever he is taking me.  We are having a conversation during the ride just talking about anything that comes into our minds. I get to know more about his family as he talks about his brothers and how they are as people. 
“I know Qophelo will not be happy finding out that we are together”,He mentions.
“I do not care, it is not like I owed him something or he was my ex or something”,I mention.
“Yes”,I give him an assuring smile.
“Do not worry about it Ntaka”
“I won't mama”,I nod my head. 
“When are you going to see Mphokopheli?”,I ask.
We have never really touched up on that topic before but I do know that he loves that child. You can tell with the way he talks about him if you pay attention.
He lets out a sigh and he runs his fingers over his  bald head. Another thing I keep up with. He shaves his head every week.
“I am thinking of keeping my distance as much as it is hard but I don't want to confuse the child more further”,He mentions.
“He has known you all his life. I am sure he is confused now than before as he had known you to be his father and now to know that the only man he knew as his real father is not but another person must be very confusing for a 10 year old”,I mention.
“What do you think I should do?”,he asks.
“I don't know,do what makes you feel okay.”,I say.
He takes a glance up on me.
“Still, As much as I would love to be in his life but I cannot. I have to move on”,He says.
I feel for the little one the most. It must be difficult between them.
“Don’t worry everything will be okay”,I mention.
“Yeah”
The drive still commences and we talk about other things until we reach our destination. 
It has been a few weeks just being with Thulani but it feels wonderful and I do not feel an ounce of doubt or guilt just by being with him.  I think when I was removed from mourning I was letting Jabulani rest and with me carrying on with my life.  
We are led inside the restaurant and we get to be seated. The menu comes and we get to look through it and I do find something that I think I might like. I place my Menu down and look at Thulani as he is focused on the menu.  This man! It feels so surreal that I am in an actual relationship with a man like him. I am not half way through figuring my life well but here is this dark skinned creature like he was sculpted out of dark chocolate and with his neat beard that makes his facial features pop just because he has a bald head to it.
He looks up to me and catches me staring and I quickly look away at that moment.
“Have you found something that you like?”,he asks.
“Yes”
“Are you ready to order?”
“Yes”
“Please look at me”,I look up to him and he has a slight smirk on his face.
“What is it?”
“Nothing”,He chuckles lightly and I shake my head.
The waitress comes and takes our orders and our drinks are double. She leaves with the menus and we are back to focusing on us. 
“Thulani”
“Nomvelo”,I fiddle with my fingers before I smile.
“Thank you for this”,I mention.
“You don't have to thank me.”
“Still, thank you”,I mention and he takes my hand into his. 
“You are utmost welcome”,He mentions
We talk about anything and our drinks come and we take a sip on them while we wait for our food. He tells me that he has found a way for me to move my things back home but he will inform me further by tomorrow if he gets a chance and I thank him. He really didn't have to go that extra. I could still find someone to buy my things before I leave.
I tell him that if that happens then I might move home sooner than I had anticipated. 
“What if you move tomorrow?”,I look at him.
“I don't know, would it be that fast to find transport for everything?”,I ask.
“Yes”,He mentions.
“Oh, then I don't think I have a problem. I mean there would be nothing left here to do”,I mention.
He smiles and nod. 
“We will leave together then”
“Okay”,I take a sip off my drink and then our food comes in no time wasted.
We enjoy the night with us in each other's company just laughing and being affectionate here and there. We even got desert and then we left the place.  I enjoyed every moment I had with him in there too.  Really I did.