Love, the unconventional way

Chapter 1

My phone vibrates on the side of my desk. Shortly after, my screen pops up, indicating that I have a notification. I grab my phone only to realize that it's almost 16h00 and I have since been glued to my laptop, I am performing a very major audit, even though this is my first big client, I always want to make a lasting impression so I sacrifice a lot of my own time to focus on work, it's not like I have anything else to do with my time.

Anyway, I unlock my phone and well, I am disappointed to realize that it was just one of those marketing emails that Shein sends whenever they're trying to lure you into buying, you know those "50% off valid until sunday" promos? Yeah.

I scroll through my whatsapp, and really, there isn't anything interesting besides one message from my dad. He has this tendency to send me anything he finds funny on the internet. Shame, man. He probably misses sharing these with his other half. May her precious soul continue resting well.

My parents are the true definition of "til death do us part" they were high-school sweethearts. They got married shortly after my mother finished high school because obviously she was a bit younger than my dad. They've since been inseparable, well, until the untimely death of my precious angel mom. It's been a while, and I think it's safe to say that dad is definitely taking it one day at a time.

Oh, how I long for a love as genuine as what my parents shared. "Earth to Lu!" Sisanda brings me back from my day dreaming, she is the PA to my senior. "Ms Adam's said I should let you know that you should take it easy on this audit. In fact, she said I should ask you to please knock off at your normal time today. " Am I weird for being a bit upset about this?

I throw her a lazy smile before I get off from my chair to start packing my bag. While at it, let me introduce myself. I am Lungile Mthembu, I am 26 years of age and I am an Audit trainee, I completed my studies last year and this is my first year of training, I work for one of the big 4 firms, yes! I am very passionate about my job, and I have since been doing quite well. I am the middle child, sadly. I have an older sister, uBuhle, she's 30 years of age, married and she's a qualified dietician, she is leading a very successful life with her little family, she has a 1 year old son.

I also have a younger sister, Aphelele, she's 19 years old and is currently doing her first year in radiology at wits. She's my darling little princess, who isn't so little anymore, we get along so well with Aphe, and i pray every day that our relationship never changes.

I am a God girl, I go to church as often as all the girls my age go to groove. I find solace and so much belonging in church.

After successfully packing my bags, I make my way outside the building so that I can request a ride back home. I casually wave at everyone I bump into on my way out, and then when I finally reach the drop-off area outside, I place my laptop bag on the floor and then open my app to request a ride home.

As I am waiting for my driver to arrive, my phone rings, immediately my heart leaps for joy, "Mapholoba wam" I answer while literally smiling from ear to ear "maMvelase wam, uyaphila kodwa?" OH my word! I could faint right now! This man still makes my heart melt even after 2 solid years of dating.

I forgot to tell you, I'm sorry! I am in a relationship with Sphamandla Ngcobo, he is 29 years old, and is a Taxi driver, well not really a taxi driver because it's technically his Dad's business, so let's just say he works for his dad.

Spha and I have been together since my final year of my undergraduate degree, we met while I have on a taxi from campus to soweto, I was on my way to visit my family and because I had a lot of bags I was made to sit in front. He tried to get my number from the moment I sat on that chair until he dropped me off at home. Yes, he dropped me off at the gate, and honestly, the rest is history! We have been inseparable to date. Although, my dad does not approve of my relationship with him, for obvious reasons, he feels like I deserve better, he always shows me men that he thinks I would look good with, "mntanam, ufundile wena, you deserve a learned man" those are his words whenever the relationship topic comes up.

To be quite honest, I love Spha, he might not ideally be the type of  man my family assumed I would end up with, but he completes me, he makes me happy and that's all that matters to me.

Anyway, after a good 3 minutes of talking to my man, my Uber arrives, and I make my way in. Once I am settled, I scroll through whatsapp and decide to video call my old man.

"Baba ka Lu" that's what I call him, since childhood, my dad has always referred to himself like that to each one of us, he is uBaba ka Aphe to my little sis and uBaba kaHlehle to my older sister.

"Hawu ntomb'ka Baba," he smiles while seemingly preoccupied by whatever it is that he is doing. He is in the kitchen, so I am assuming that he is cooking. He tilts the phone in an attempt to show me what he is doing, and wow, he is baking my favorite banana muffins. "Baba!" He shoots me a proud smile, "ngizoza on Friday, please leave some of these for me!". He laughs and then goes on to update me about his day while I do the same, too

So I moved from home this year and the transition has been hectic, I miss being around my dad and my younger sister everyday but I also needed to grow a bit and be my own person, also, living alone means I don't have to sneak out whenever I want to visit uSpha.

I've just arrived at my 1 bedroom apartment, located in Sandton, and I know you probably think it's a boogie place, but it is surprisingly affordable for someone who is just starting off. I take off my shoes and change into comfortable clothes. I slip into an old, worn-out dress of mine. Is it just me or old clothes are so comfortable? This actually used to belong to my mother.

I throw myself on the couch and scroll through my phone while also trying to switch on the TV. There's a message from my friendship group. I have two best friends, Ntombi and Andisiwe. Andisiwe and I went to the same primary school while Ntombi and I went to the same high school, so there's always this competition of who somehow knows me better and it is soo annoying, but at times we get along hey.

"I am working with the worst client. This man is a liar. How will I defend him!" That's Siwe, she's an attorney of the high Court, Ntombi is a nail tech, so she has the most chilled schedule of us all, hence why she always wants to hang out. We chat a bit while I try to defrost some Mince to cook for dinner.

While I am busy in the kitchen, i decide to blast some music. Today, I felt like listening to some Maskandi music, yes! There is absolutely no way you can date a zulu man and not find yourself obsessed with this kind of music.

Well, another reason why I am listening to this is because I miss him so much, I last saw him two weekends ago, and today is Wednesday, I work in a hybrid firm, we only go to the office Monday- Wednesday then the last two days we work from home.

A crazy idea pops up in my head, I place the half-cooked mince into a container and pop it in the fridge before I rush to my bedroom to take my toiletries and go for a quick show

After my shower I pack an overnight bag, don't look at me like that, I haven't seen my man for sometime now, I want to surprise him, I need me some cuddles, I'll spend two days with him then on Friday I'll go home to visit my family, you see... everyone wins!