Uyangijabulisa

six

"How do you feel about soccer?" It's Friday evening. We're parked outside my gate in Thabo's sixteen seater, AKA quantum.

"I don't understand it, I feel like it's pointless too," I reply honestly. He pulls a face and I hold back a laugh.

"The vlogs you watch are pointless." I burst out laughing. He didn't just come for my vlogs.

"Your face is pointless," I let slip out. His face sours and I kid you not, it's the funniest transition ever. Another laugh escapes my lips.

"If that's what you think then I guess I'll keep this gift to myself," he says enticingly. My laugh stops, eyes widening as I look around curiously.

"What gift?"

"The one you won't be getting because you're rude," he says, actually pouting at the end of the sentence. A moment of questioning passes as I wonder to myself if this man is a big scary taxi driver or a big baby. I think big baby it is.

"Your face may be pointless, but it's one cute face!" I try to butter him up. I'm a sucker for gifts and I know I'm not gonna be able to sleep if he doesn't give me. I'll wonder about it all night until my brain explodes.

"Like that's any better." I see his lips pull at the corners, so I know despite his reply, it's kind of working.

"I could stare at it all day and night," I continue, smiling a little.

"Then do it," he says.

"Do what?"

"Spend the entire day and night with me tomorrow. You could stare at it all you want then," he says. He's serious, I know he is because he said the words simply despite how big the thing he's asking me to do is. He has that thing, like he doesn't understand that things are a big deal. Everything is very plain black and white, yes or no, high or low for him. It's comforting because I'm an over-thinker, but it's also concerning because of the same reasons.

"Okay. What will we do?" A few weeks ago, I was definitely not gonna do this. But after over four weeks of being around him, I've learned to let things go with the flow.

"You'll see," he says and then reaches into the pocket of his door. He brings out a navy blue velvet big square box. The words Swarovski are on the box in a shiny silver colour with the little swan on top.

"What's this?" My hand goes over my lips in awe.

"A gift for you. Preview if you will, of how your life with me in it will be like," he says. I roll my eyes, he's so cocky, I love it.

"You mean getting fed like I'm a baby in group hangouts will be something I have to suffer through?" I exclaim in exaggeration. He laughs.

"I meant being showered with gifts, having quality time, and although I've only hugged you, there'll be a lot of physical touch, that I can promise you. But yeah, the feeding too," he says.

"I'm not mad at it. I enjoy your craziness for whatever reason," I reply truthfully, stomach tingling when his eyes darken at the mention of physical touch.

"You're crazy too. You made someone who isn't your boyfriend pay 5k for your hair!" I laugh. This guy.

"It was so I get to meet your friends! And you offered to pay!" I defended.

"And I'll spend even more if it means you're happy. I know I haven't made my intentions clear to you, but that's because I don't want to scare you off. What I feel for you is strong. One day when you're ready, hopefully it's soon, to receive all that I am, I'm going to make you Mrs. Me." There's a moment where we both stare at each other in the eyes. The emotions that burble inside me almost choke me, and to distract myself from the overwhelming pressure in my throat and chest, I look away and finally open the box.

It steals my breath away.

The three stack watch is blinding under the street lamp. It's the whitest silver in colour, the belt of the watch a bracelet made with a row of clear octagon-cut crystals, with the centrepiece made of sapphire glass. There are two bracelets that come with the watch, one of it is a rhodium plated strand of bezel-set clear square cut crystals and the other matches the bracelet belt of the watch, made with octagon cut crystals.

Jewellery has always been my thing. Every year, I spoil myself with a genuine set from either Sterns, American Swiss and Swarovski as a thank you for my hard-work. It's why I'm so knowledgeable in the kind of cuts and materials that were used. And now I have this beautiful masterpiece to add to my collection.

"Thank you Thabo, this is so beautiful," I croak out, the emotions intensified by the gift. This was a whole lot to deal with.

"Just like you," he says with a soft smile, leans in to wipe the tears that have managed to escape my eyes, looks deep into them and clears his throat. "I want to kiss you," he confesses.

"I want you to, too," I reply honestly. My eyes close before our lips touch, only because I can't hold his intense gaze any longer. His lips, big and soft touch mine delicately, as if he wants to test the waters first. I move my lips first, slow and tentative and he joins me. My entire body becomes alive with just that simple kiss, my heart beats faster and harder against my rib cage. There's a delicious swarm in my stomach and my skin feels electrified. When he deepens the kiss, a low but deep moan escapes my mouth, into his, and that only fuels his movements.

He almost consumes me whole, it feels like I'm about to become one with him, in the best way possible, and then we pull apart, both coming up for air. We're breathing hard, his eyes are low, hooded and red. My panties are wet, and the fact that it came just from a kiss is bewildering.

"Goodnight baby," he says, shocking me. He wants to leave already? I unintentionally pout, realising I don't want him to go. But I figure that since I'll be with him all day and all night tomorrow, I should just go. Plus, if we continued further, we just might cross a line, and I'm not sure yet if I'm ready for that.