Naledi absent-mindedly pushed the shopping cart down an aisle at Woolworths in Norwood Mall, as Andrew and Andrea ran frantically around her, picking all sorts of treats they were allowed to take. Elizabeth was in the next aisle, trying to decide between the pasta they would use for tonight's dinner. She was torn between having to make a decadent alfredo pasta and a creamy macaroni and cheese dish.
Elizabeth convinced the bunch that she was merely in a great mood and felt like cooking a grand dinner.
Naledi knew why or assumed that she did at least. There were two probable reasons for the sudden burst in joy; either she finally signed off on a lucrative deal she had been hoping to score for some time or Elizabeth's new budding romance was going extremely well.
Naledi was going with the latter.
She'd observed how wide her mother would smile at her phone, which was strange because all the reasons for her to smile would be gathered around the dinner table. Exhibit b, Elizabeth hated phones at the dinner table – yet there she was texting away to a man Naledi knew very little about. Maybe only his name, Hugh. Naledi once managed to get a sneak peek of the "I love you" text Elizabeth received from him, with a plethora of heart emojis that followed.
The cat was out of the bag.
But at least her mother was happy, and that's all that mattered. Naledi was going to avoid raining in on her mother's parade of love, she did not have a reason to, however, things weren't as glamorous on her end.
Apart from the strong feelings she had for Clinton, it was becoming apparent that maybe she was just not over Elijah.
Naledi had mixed feelings regarding the last time they spoke; when news broke that Clinton was not into her. It's not what Elijah said, but it could be inferred. It was also in the way he said it, there was so much concern on his part and Naledi was wholly convinced that Elijah cared very little about her.
Sure, she does not condone the arrogant stalker behaviour, but that was one of the many things that made Elijah, Elijah. Naledi knew him, understood him, and sometimes was outright annoyed by him but there was that charm she simply could not get over.
'So while I was deciding on what we could make tonight, I concluded that maybe eating out would be more fun. What do you think?'
Naledi missed it all because she was consumed by her thoughts.
She had been meaning to bring up the news with Clinton for a while, but how does the fake girlfriend go about expressing how uncomfortable such news would make her. She's just that, a fake girlfriend, and while Clinton was good at pretending that they were a couple, he would remind her at every given chance especially when they were arguing (which was becoming far more frequent).
'Naledi?'
'Huh, yes mom?'
'What's wrong?' Elizabeth asked, furrowing her eyebrows.
'No nothing.'
'Are you sure?'
She nodded and feigned a smile.
'What were you saying?'
'Uh, I was merely suggesting if eating tonight would be fun. I mean it's been a while since we've done it.'
Naledi gave a more genuine smile this time around.
'Eating out sounds great.'
They continued filling the cart with groceries and Naledi's mind continued to wander. This was just too disturbing for her liking. Why were all the guys she liked such terrible people? Was this a sign that she was supposed to be one of those pretty people, destined to be single? Because, if so, she wanted to know now so she could adjust accordingly to the new role bestowed on her.
