When You're Bound To Love

Chapter 2

I struggled to sleep all night until 6am. I got up and brushed my teeth then went to the kitchen. The house was a bit dark, a little bit of light was seeping through the closed curtains. I checked the kettle with my hand and it was steaming hot. Me: "Ouch!!" I blew into my hand. "I thought I'd make you some coffee when you woke up. I'm sorry." I almost fainted. Me: "Can. You. Stop!" Lakhe: "Stop what?" I looked at the cup in his hand. Me: "Being weird! You're freaking me out!" he looked disappointed. I felt bad suddenly. Me: "look, when you wake up you start with good morning. You have a bit of light in the house. You don't loiter in the dark and have hot cups of coffee ready." Lakhe: "Noted." I took a deep breath. Lakhe: "Can I start over?" Me: "How is that possible?" Lakhe: "Go back to bed." his tone confused me so much. Was it an order or a special request. You see, he sounded like he was mad, his voice. But his facial expression was the sweetest smile in Babylon. How? Tell me how? Me: "Ok." I went to my bedroom and sat in bed impatiently waiting for my poison. It was almost 30 minutes later when he came in carrying a tray. It smelled so nice. Did I have this in my fridge? Lakhe: "And breakfast is served. This is for the little one." Me: "Lakhe, this is amazing but you can't be doing this. There is Simphiwe who is jealous of everything even himself." he smiled. Lakhe: "He's asleep, he'll probably be up at midday. Besides, I won't tell if you don't." oh what the heck. A little appreciation did no harm. This was so nice of him. Lakhe: "I'm sorry I scared you. I was just...." Me: "Just what." I nibbled on the food. Lakhe: "Mesmerized. I don't know what came over me. You were making that bed and all I could think of was you sleeping on it, resting. Same as earlier, while dishing up, all I could see was you sitting down and eating. You work too hard." Me: "Lakhe-" Lakhe: "I know it sounds crazy and I know you're with Simphiwe. Its just that sometimes my feelings overpower my pride. It happens rarely, but when it does I express it. That's what my doctor said." Me: "Doctor?" Lakhe: "Yes, my parents took me to a psychologist because I didn't show empathy or emotion for anything when I was growing up." Me: "Why?" Lakhe: "Its just the way I am." Me: "Sounds scary." Lakhe: "It is for me too. I have to watch people walk out of my life and not feel a thing for them. I know it should hurt but it doesn't." Me: "So, do you have a siblings?" Lakhe: "A younger sister. Lives with my parents." Me: "Oh that's lovely." Lakhe: "And you?" Me: "No." Lakhe: "oh..." Me: "So this doctor, he still treats you?" Lakhe: "Yes. once a month I have a session." Me: "Why don't you show emotion?" Lakhe: "Doctors say it could be caused by a continuous case of post traumatic stress I suffered years ago that might have affected part of my brain." Me: "How is that even possible?" Lakhe: "If you can't live down a certain event that happened. Become afraid of certain things. Like attaching yourself to people, pets." Me: "What happened to you?" he looked around. Lakhe: "Simphiwe is waking up. Enjoy your breakfast." he walked out the room when I heard Simphiwe groaning in the other room probably from a headache. I wonder what scarred him so badly that he can't even function his emotions himself? After eating my breakfast Buhle woke up and ate his. Simphiwe came in looking grumpy as usual when he's fucked up. This time I wasn't going to bother to ask. He took out his clothes and went to shower then came back to get dressed. Black shorts, flip flops and a white vest. I bathed Buhle and dressed him in brown short shorts and his white Converse All Star. He refused a shirt since it was hot. I applied sun screen on him and let him play outside with his top off. I made the bed finally going to shower as well. Decided on wearing my green short jumpsuit. I combed my hair, tying it in a pony tail and wore my brown sandal that had laces to my calf. I went to the kitchen to clean up the breakfast dishes. Simphiwe was in the lounge with a cold one probably for a hangover. Simphiwe: "and then? Ngamasimba anton anga uwanxibileyo?" (What is that shit you're wearing?) he wasn't mad, he was just rude like that. I ignored him. Simphiwe: "heeee...ayisandikhwazi indutsu ngeloxesha ufane awandihoya." (Your ass is calling me while you're ignoring me.) he stood behind me holding my waist. Simphiwe: "What you're wearing is turning me on. The way this ass is popping out. I don't know if I'll have another focus today. Why aren't you talking to me, baby?" Me: "I have things to do Simphiwe. No time for your sexual fantasies." Simphiwe: "Just 1 round." Me: "No." I dried my hands finished. He walked away. Lakhe appeared from the bedroom. His cologne made my tummy tremble with butterflies. He was dressed in tight denim shorts, a plain white t shirt and moon rock Yeezy Boosts 350's with a navy Fabiani cap. His Rolex hung on his wrist carelessly while clicked on his IPhone. He was just effortlessly cool. He looked up at me, I looked away. Me: "I have some errands to run." I went to fetch my bag and a top for Buhle. Me: "come honey boo boo, let's go." Simphiwe: "uzomenzi moffie lomntana." (You're going to make him gay.) Me: "That would be a hundred times better than a drunkard." I muttered. Unfortunately he heard me. Simphiwe: "mxiimm." I dressed the boy and we left. It was after 3 when we came home. Me: "What in the world." I turned down Buhle's song which made him sulk. Buhle: "Mama kaloku!" Me: "yima baby." (hold on baby) the yard was parked with 6 cars and I had no space. I stopped my car, taking Buhle out the car to go in. It was a madhouse of laughter, marijuana smoke, hubbly bubbly, cigar, cigarette, alcohol. I was just dumb. Funny enough, the car of the owner of this house was nowhere outside! I looked around and went out back. I didn't know these people, Lakhe wasn't here even. I went to Buhle's room to fetch his changing clothes and left the house. Just as I reached my car, the red Audi parked. But it wasn't Simphiwe driving. Me: "Lakhe what is this?" he got out the car and looked at the cars. Lakhe: "kwenzeka ntoni?" (What's happening?) he looked confused. Me: "You're asking me?" Lakhe: "I left after you did. I went to the bank and had a meeting with an estate agent for my house keys. I left Simpra saying uzondilinda ngeculo. Which I thought would be a couple of beers." (He'll wait for me with a song.) I put Buhle in my car putting his seatbelt on. Lakhe: "Spho, wait. Maybe There's an explanation. Let me find him." Me: "He's not there." I don't know why I was being emotional. Lakhe: "maybe he's asleep, he said he's tired. Wait here. I'm coming." he disappeared in the house. I rolled down my car windows and went after him. He was standing by the bedroom door. Then shut it closed with his head down. Me: "Who's in there? Is there someone in my bedroom?" I didn't even think to check in there because I didn't think someone would be that disrespectful. He almost got a fright. Lakhe: "Maybe we should give him space. He's not doing too well." Me: "What about the people here?!!" Lakhe: "Let's just go." he pushed me out the house. Lakhe: "Let's have some dinner and a movie with Buhle." Me: "No I'll be fine." I got into my car and drove away. I stayed at my friend's house, Zingisa. She was married to Dumisani, top lawyer at his own firm. Zingi owned her own salon. They had two kids one of them being Buhle's age, the other was 2. It was just a 4 year gap, with kids that didn't even count. They all played together. Dumi and Zingi sat with me in their huge lounge sipping wine. Dumi: "Have some wine, enjoy yourself. You're sleeping here tonight. These boys don't have respect for you." I laughed. He was older yes. Too much older when he drank and somehow thought he was part of the girls. Zingisa made him like that, she included him everywhere because he didn't have that many friends. Sometimes I think none at all. But he was a nice man and supportive. Non-judgmental and honest. Zingi: "I want to know more about this new friend." Dumi: "Wooow." I laughed. Me: "There's nothing to tell." Dumi: "Like hell there isn't. Did you see her eyes sparkle baby? Every time he's mentioned. Look at her." Zingi: "I saw it too. Spill. Do you have feelings for him?" Me: "No." Dumi: "You find him attractive?" Me: "Maybe." Zingi: "Do you want him?" Me: "No." Zingi: "We know you haven't had sex in the past 4 months." Me: "Okay. That's good to know." Dumi: "I suggest you don't fall for the trap. Here's what I think. Simphiwe has stopped paying attention to you, goes out late, comes back when he wants, has a password on his phone which is a common sign of cheating." Zingi: "Wait...you also have a password." Dumi: "Babes, you send me the nasty while I'm at work everyday. You know the kids play with my phone. Anyway, this isn't about you. Bhabha, why do you think all of a sudden, Simphiwe brings home a hot friend when you know he's a jealous person but suddenly doesn't even mind this man around you. Its like he doesn't care at all. Think about it. He's jealous of ME. This friend makes moves on you, makes you feel appreciated and fuzzy inside. They're waiting on you to slip. If you fall for the trap, if you go ahead and open your legs to this supermodel, he will go back to his friend and tell him. Next thing, you're known as a slut when he throws you out your house. This is a common man trick. Don't fall for it." I swallowed hard. Is that what they thought of me? Together they are planning me. Zingi: "Don't forget to pray, babe. Don't worry yourself about those idiots." Dumi: "I never liked that Simphiwe to begin with to be honest. But since you were in love and it wasn't my business. You honestly deserve better." Me: "I didn't ever look at it this way. Thanks Dum." Dumi: "No worries. My time has come. Goodnight ladies." he got up and went to bed. I felt like someone punched me in the stomach. To think I felt comfortable with Lakhe. That I began to trust and like him. Now I was just disgusted. Zingi: "Friend. Don't let this get you down okay? Just focus on your work and development. I know its hard but don't you think maybe you should be focused more on yourself. You've been with Simphiwe and supported him all this time. Has he done that with you? No. So don't waste too much of your time again. Focus baby girl." she got up and went to bed.