Love, the unconventional way

chapter 4

I went to bed feeling really terrible, I am hurting the people I love the most because of Sphamandla and all he does is thank me by continously cheating on me, it's worse now that it's the same girl twice. Before I slept last night, I sent him a long break up message, I am done being this man's walkover, I can not keep hurting the people I love because of him.

It's Friday today, and I'm sitting at my desk in my bedroom finalizing a working paper. I've realized my job really helps me escape my reality, I even forgot I just went through a break up. There's a light knock on my door before the door opens, and my dad walks in. He sits on my bed which is close to my workstation, he places a plate of food next to me "it's 13h45, you have to eat something" I heave a sigh and glance at my screen only to realize that he's actually right.

"Ngiyabonga baba." I close my laptop and dig into the delicious club sandwich. He just sits there, glancing at me, "have you spoken to Aphe?" He asks, which reminds me, I need to speak to him about that. "Yes, baba, i spoke to her, and I think she needs therapy, I believe you both need therapy..." I narrate to him how my conversation with her went. His face is immediately masked with disappointment when he learns that he is part of the reason why she has been so distant.

My 15 minutes ends and I'm back to work again, in no time I'm done for the day and before I could even close my laptop, my phone rings and my heart betrays me by hoping it's Spha, I'm disappointed to see it's a group call with my girls "zithandwa zam" I answer "it's Friday Bitches!" The amount of vulgar that Ntombi uses really surprises me, I'd like to believe that her whole vocabulary is built on vulgar words. "Close that laptop wena Lungi!" Siwe echoes, "guys, why are we all loud and noisy? It's only 5pm. " Ntombi laughs loudly,"Melville, at 18h30?" Siwe chips in, "sure no problem, let me get ready, ngizonibona bantu bam" I respond "I'll see you guys in a bit, by the way Mandla will drop me off" Mandla is Ntombi's husband, they're married traditionally, they've been together for quite a while now, he's such a calm man, I wonder how these two ended up together.

Siwe on the other hand is lesbian, she currently doesn't have a stable partner, her reasons are that women are as complicated as her career so she's currently choosing to focus on one of the two.

I hang up the call, grab my towel, and head to my ensuit for a shower. After my shower, I dry myself up thoroughly before lotioning. As a big girl, you know drying up is very important.

I settle for charcoal grey skinny jeans, a black polar neck, place ankle-length boots, and a cream white knee-length coat. I remove my bonnet to be met by my unkept wig lines. I really need to do something about this. I just throw on a 16-inch curly glueless frontal wig, I've completed doing a natural facebeat look, I'm fairly new in the make up scene so please bare with my door handle shaped eyebrows, I will get it right eventually.

By 18h20, I'm done getting ready, so I request my ride. As I walk out of my room, I find Aphe watching TV and dad cooking in the kitchen, "Aphe wam..." I imitate mom's voice. She looks at me and smiles. That's something, right? "Are you going back to your place?" Her face drops a bit, I really need to consider moving back home for a bit "no, I'm going out with aboNtombi" she nods and I see slight relieve on her face, "enjoy, responsibly" she responds with a light smile on her face.

My ride is finally here, so I head out, I'm about 15 minutes, and I make it to the pub-restaurant. This place is very nostalgic, we used to come here very often during my varsity days, and it would get really lit, but I don't drink, by the way.

"You're late," Ntombi shouts, "as usual," Siwe adds, "at least I look gorgeous?" They stare at me blankly."I'm sorry, guys, soweto is far, you know. " I grab a seat. "Whatever bruh, you look pale what's going on" I'm a dark skinned babe, so if someone comments on my skin it gets me worked up, Ntombi knows this so I stare at her, "maybe it's the make up" I respond, "baby even your boobs are fuller and there's some weight gain" she adds, I glance over at Siwe and she just takes a sip of her drink, he's usually the logical one in the group so I'm guessing she's agreeing to this. "Enough about my body, pleased!" I snap.

We ordered some food and because of the comments from earlier I opt for a light meal, we catch up on how everything is going in everyone's life, Siwe has apparently met someone at work whose a bit older than her but she's considering pursuing a relationship while Ntombi and Mandla are trying for a little one now since Mandla just got a promotion.

After our young catch-up, they decide to go to a nearby club, but I'm still under my dad's roof. It's 9 pm. I need to head home before the old man fetches me here. I say my goodbyes. Grab my bag and walk to my Uber.

My trip home leaves me wondering if any of what Ntombi was saying about my body is true, I mean I cannot Blame this on the heartbreak, I've only been single for about 2 days now there's no way that could be taking a toll on me.

I arrive home and head straight to my room, not that anyone was up in the living room anyway. I walk into my ensuite and wash off my make up, I strip naked and glance at myself on the full length mirror, my boobs actually do look more busty and fuller, my skin looks much lighter. Maybe I'm just really stressed out by work.

I get into bed and scroll through my phone, I'm hurt that Sphamandla has not reached out or called me since the message that I've sent, it really breaks my heart but maybe it's for the best. I should email my landlord to put my lease on hold or cancel it for the remainder of the year, it's August right now so I can stay with my family until the beginning of next year, it's not like I have any man to sneak out to and I also think Aphe really needs me here...