BEGUILED

CHAPTER 13

Two hours have passed since we got to this club and I already feel so uncomfortable. I am a socially awkward person. I prefer robots to humans. I don’t know how to interact with humans, especially in a noisy environment like this one. Hunter invited his cousins and their partners to celebrate me. He even booked the whole VIP section, but I can’t seem to relax and enjoy. I have been trying to stay calm and engage in conversation with the guests of my so called farewell. When one of the cousins’ partners ask me to dance, I politely decline and make my way to the restroom. I enter a cubicle and quickly shut the door. I sit on the closed toilet lid and take deep breaths. You can do this, Khethi. Just a few hours and then you head home. No biggie.

“Miss Chosen.” I hear Hunter’s voice call out before he knocks on all the cubicles until he reaches the one I’m in. “Babe, please come out.” He pleads and I just keep quiet. “Okay. I am just going to sit down on this dirty floor in my Tom Ford suit and wait for you to talk to me and tell me what’s bothering you.” I think he is joking until I hear him grunt bit. “Now I have to throw away my favourite suit. Things we do for love.” He whines and I chuckle inwardly. He sounds so adorable. “So what’s up, baby? Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on. I noticed you seemed a little uncomfortable but I was waiting for you to tell me.”

I take a deep breath. “I didn’t wanna sound ungrateful but I am not having a great time. This is not my scene. Loud music, dancing and booze. That’s not me. I feel so out of place.” I talk so fast and I hear him chuckle.

“That was a good start but how about you talk more slowly this time around so that I can hear what you’re saying.” I giggle and repeat what I just said. “Then let’s go home. I am sorry for not asking first if this was your ideal night out kind of thing. My assumptions were wrong. Forgive me, baby.”

“No. You were not wrong. I was genuinely surprised. But fun for me doesn’t mean mingling with strangers. It means chilling with my favourite people and discussing anything that comes into mind. Like European weather or Singapore currency. How much energy electric cars actually consumed or the real reason behind inflation.”

He laughs. “That’s what I get for falling for a nerd. But I like discussing topics like those regularly. The only people who entertain me are my father and my younger sister. So I guess we are adding you to the mix. Now how about you come out and we ditch everyone?” I chuckle and stand up. I open the cubicle door to see him really sitting on the floor. He quickly gets up and dusts his butt.

“You really sat down on a Tom Ford suit for me?”
He shrugs with a smile. “It’s meaningless compared to my love and affection for you.” He has never said “I love you” but when he throws hints like these, I know. He opens his arms and I throw myself at him. I soak in his attention and sniff his cologne. I would definitely stay in the club if sitting on him all the time was an option. I am really falling for this one. You go Khethi.

We exit the toilet and really ditch his cousins. We head to the general area and I nearly trip when my eyes land on Kwanda who is shoving his tongue down some woman’s throat. For once, he is not wearing a hoodie but a long sleeved shirt.

“You know him?” Hunter asks as he looks at Kwanda.
“Yeah. He is Musongaka’s photographer.” He nods and then leads me out.
“You’re sober enough to drive?”
I laugh and nod. “It might just cheer me up. You should stop giving me your car. I might just like it so much that I end up not giving it back.”

He stops walking. “Baby.” I turn to face him. “All you have to do is ask and it will be yours.”
Yeah right. Ain’t no way I am asking for a car worth millions. Well not until I can afford personal guards.

×××

His place is in North Beach Road, Westbrook. It’s really beautiful and neat. Not that I was expecting a pigsty or anything. His driveway has two cars in it. I turn to look at him.

He gives me a childish smile. “Well, they all couldn’t fit in the garage, baby.” There is more in the garage? He laughs at my facial expression. “Come on. Let’s head inside. What do you wanna eat so that we can order in?”

“Anything with juicy meat in it. Pork, beef or lamb. As long as it’s delicious, packed with flavour and very savoury.”
“Love, this is not an episode of MasterChef. Just say what you want.” I laugh and look at him.

“Where are we ordering?” he leads me inside the house and I am simply amazed by its interior beauty. I wanna live here. Can I live here?
“Spurs, Killer Prawns, Gorimas and Nando’s. Pick your poison.” He hands me his phone after opening the Uber Eats app. “Or you want us to go collect our order?” I shake my head. I sit on the counter top and order my meal.

“What are you having?”
“Whatever you’re having, love. As long as it’s hot.” I nod and finish placing my order. “Now how about I take you on a tour as we wait for our food?”
I smile. “I would love that very much.”