Noma and Kea

CHAPTER 3

Today is my off day. Oh I have definitely earned one of these. I am gonna stay in here and just sleep. I lay on my bed dammit, I am hungry and Ntokozo went to work, that means it’s me, myself and I. Those boys haven’t been back since last week Thursday, but I bumped into that friend of theirs Mandla, he’s brown skin a bit lanky handsome too can’t lie. I stand up and walk into the kitchen with my doek on my head. I look in the bread bin, no bread. HAIBO. There’s only one solution Magwinya and looking at this weather, it’s perfect solution. I mean clouds rolling in and I’m not going to work today ah bona it’s time. THANK YOU JESUS. Slippers on, we are on a mission now, Doek tied properly and Pink gown on, ja we are moving now. I step out and head downstairs. I should buy bread as well while I am out. I enter Spar and head to the bakery, “Aus’Gloria kopela 8”(Gloria can I please have 8) I say and she hands them too me, they are hot. Fuck yeah. Grab a loaf of white bread. I get to the till and pay, “Hai man, hai man. Mara Noma joh”(But Noma bruh) says the till lady Karabo. “What” I reply. “Aowah bafana you can’t be dressed like this Imagine A gent tries to shela and now wena you look like bo aunty bako kasi joh”(No dawg you can’t be dressed like this, Imagine A gent tries to approach and you look like those Aunties from the hood) she says. “mxm” I pay and walk away.
I am walking home shuffling my slippers, this air is either gonna make me enjoy this Fat cakes or give me the flu, either way; I am not heading into work tomorrow so it’s all good. As I make the last turn. It’s those boys again, and this time they driving a red Citi Golf and the one that’s usually in the back is in the driver seat. There is the loud one again this time he isn’t shouting he is just standing there talking with the one in driver’s seat, he’s laughing. And Yes they are parked in the middle of the road. As I walk down the path the door opens and there he is; I thought he was Light skin he is actually Brown skin. I look at him, silver bracelet, low fade a mustache and, wearing a white Hoodie, Tan trousers and white air forces. I swear the guy from Cake Zone was wearing the exact same thing. He walks past me holding a black Nike Duffle bag, he’s on his phone and there’s Mandla, he’s wearing some jeans, a shirt and a jersey. He’s also smoking a cigarette. I walk inside and place all the food down and quickly look through the window and see them get in the car and speed off. Why do I keep watching them leave? No man. I walk to the fridge. OH MY GOD, Karabo was right. I can’t believe he saw me like this Oh my days Noma. Why do I even care that’s the most Important part, because it’s not like I like him or anything, Right?
You know what it’s probably just the Hunger, let me make tea and eat. I end up sitting on my couch and watch a K-Drama. Once I was done eating, I am just like fuck this and went back to bed. I woke up at around 12 and decided to make Lunch, which was Magwinya and tea again and then bed again. I really needed those naps, I have been over worked, and I have reached my breaking point. I am so glad I called in sick hore(Whether) I am lying hai that’s a story for another day. I should really choose what painting I wanna send to the Art Gallery in Johannesburg. I have narrowed it down to 2, one is a self-portrait of me, but you can’t really see it’s me, because of the Angle and the other is a painting of a child playing with rocks. It was inspired by my little sister the time I came home from school and found her playing Diketo, at the time she was still in Primary, I can’t believe I kept it for so long. I should probably give this one to her. So I guess it’s you Noma, I should call Stephen and set up a pick up, “Hi Stephen, it's Noma. Listen, I was wondering if you have space in the art show two weeks from now. I think I have something that goes with the theme of 'Self Love’. Great, awesome, just send someone over, and that should be that. Yeah, same place as last time. Friday works; what time? That works perfectly, thank you so much.”
Ntokozo comes back from work and is bubbling, usually when she comes back she is down and tired, wondering what’s for dinner. Well for tonight nothing special just Spaghetti and Chicken. “You’re happy, what’s going on?” I ask. “What are you doing on Saturday?” she asks. “Well let me, look at my schedule. OK so at 6pm wallow in self-pity, uhm then there’s also Solve World Hunger at 7pm and then, uhg there’s dinner with myself at 7:30pm. I am fully booked, and I can’t keep missing the 7:30 one.” I am only saying this because I know what comes next. “Come out with me and Simphiwe” she says. AND THERE IT IS, “What so I can 3rd wheel, no thanks”. “Oh come on, we never go out. PWEEEAASSEE” she says as she leans into me and hugging me and swaying side to side. “Fine, Fine. I will go out with you” I say. “So what we having for dinner” she asks and goes to the kitchen, “AH AH AH” she shouts. “What” I jolt up. “Ore kele Magwinya waseng pale”(You bought fat cakes and didn’t count me in) she asks with a hint of betrayal while she holds the plastic in the air. “You were at work though” I reply. “Friendship over”
“What” I reply.
“FRIENDSHIP OVER” she shouts and makes food. “Nchoo come on baby don’t be like that” I say and grab her waist, kiss her cheek and smack her bum. I walk to my room and look at the ‘LOVE’ painting. This is me, this is Nomakhosi Khoza a 27-year-old turning 28, Single, Artist, Accountant. A painting of a quarter of my face with a tiny scar on my jaw, I got when I fought with my older brother. Well it was more rough housing than it was fighting and one thing led to another and Noma found herself with a Bleeding jaw.