When You're Bound To Love

Chapter 10

My day was spent resting on the sofa and going to the toilet. Something was distracting him. He was awfully quiet and that made me uncomfortable. Me: "Will you be honest with me?" Lakhe: "Of course, my love." Me: "What's wrong, you look worried." Lakhe: "Everything is fine. I'm glad I didn't lose you too." he hugged me. Me: "Too?" Lakhe: "You're the only person I have in my life. Please don't scare me like that ever again." he let go of me and walked down the passage. I ought to give him some breathing space so I went outside to the garden. There were 3 cute little ducks in a pond. They quacked and swam in the water. I sat right beside their pond. What could he have meant when he said he was glad he didn't lose me too? Who else did he lose? I didn't have the energy actually I don't know why I'm even bothering myself with these questions. I got up to go fetch a camera. These ducks were too cute. I went inside the house going to his bedroom. Before I went in, I peeped. He was leaning on his arm by the window. He looked like he was crying. I knocked on the door. Me: "Lakhe?" he wiped his face. Lakhe: "Love." he avoids eye contact. Me: "Please talk to me. Please. It hurts enough that I'm in this new environment and I trust you to guide me through it. I also need to know what is wrong. I don't like seeing you like this." Lakhe: "Baby, I'll be fine. I just need time." Me: "Lakhe. Talk to me." he sat on the bed. Lakhe: "I can't." the room fell awfully quiet with each of us deep in our own worlds. He was sitting on the bed, I was staring out the window. I don't know for how long we were in that phase but a phone rang finally. He looked as if he didn't hear a thing. Me: "Your phone." Lakhe: "hm?" Me: "Your phone is ringing." he looked around and found it with his eyes. Lakhe: "I can't stop thinking. Its like my whole life has crashed and spilled all over now I can't stop thinking." Me: "What are you thinking?" he looked up me. Lakhe: "That I love you more than I've ever loved myself." these past 6 weeks he had been in and out of my hospital room but I've never not even once heard him say this. Lakhe: "You couldn't stop bleeding. It hurt me so bad Sphosenkosi. I can't imagine how it must have felt like to you." I could not say a word. I didn't want to disturb him. He just said he loved me. A man that didn't even talk about his feelings? It was a big step for him, I think. Was he expressive before my accident? It doesn't seem like he was. Lakhe: "it was too early, but it still hurts so bad." he stood up and I saw the strong man I have started to know again. He looked lost and seemingly didn't want to be found. Me: "I feel a bit tired." Lakhe: "Of course. Come here." he got me into bed and slipped in after me. He held me in his arms. We laid there quietly. Me: "How long have we been together?" Lakhe: "About 3 weeks before the accident and now its just over 2 months." Me: "Please tell me how we met." Lakhe: "uhm...its quite funny actually. At the mall. I was new to the city. I was asking for directions but we both established that was a lie to get to talk to you." I smiled. Me: "What was I wearing?" Lakhe: "a long navy dress. You had longer hair." he kissed my head. Me: "and then what happened?" Lakhe: "well, our first date was you coming over for breakfast then we went shopping. We had pizza for dinner and each other." Me: "hmm..." Lakhe: "I enjoyed it so much." he smiled. Me: "the pizza?" Lakhe: "No. You. That day. Then it kept getting better. You work for a company called Golden-cell, I've just been appointed CEO. Its difficult without you. Harold offered to take your place until you're fit and proper again." Me: "Harold? The white man that came to the hospital a few times?" Lakhe: "Yes." Me: "What made you stay? If it were only 3 weeks, why didn't you just turn and walk away." Lakhe: "I promised you I wouldn't leave you but its much more than that. Something draws me to you Spho. I just couldn't let you go. It wasn't even a thought, more an understanding that you're mine forever." Me: "I don't know what I'd do without you." Lakhe: "baby.." Me: "hm." Lakhe: "Why don't you want to see your mother?" Me: "If you tell me why you were crying I'll tell you." he kept quiet. Me: "I know all you want to do is protect me. Don't you realize I want to protect you too? I feel the exact same way about you." Lakhe: "I know babe." I was really feeling tired now. I closed my eyes for a few seconds whiffing his cologne. God, did he smell so damn goooood. I kissed his lips he kissed me back. Lakhe: "What are you doing?" Me: "I'm just kissing my boyfriend." he kissed me again. Holding my head. I sucked on his soft lips, my hand brushing on the soft beard on his face. Lakhe: "You said you're sleepy." Me: "I was." Lakhe: "Then sleep." Me: "No baby." Lakhe: "Yes, sleep." I closed my eyes, succumbing to my sleep.