THE ONE

Chapter Ten: Familiar II

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[Tendo had dropped the name Ukasha for his mother's maiden name. A new life in Cape Town meant leaving behind everything he once was. His father had done his best to erase his online presence, including the video that had exposed him to the world.

All the way down, he'd sworn off dating but Elliott had changed that, sooner than he'd expected. They'd met on his connecting flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Elliott was in the aisle seat next to Tendo's on the window.

Tendo was reluctant to make conversation, nonchalantly listening to Elliott prattle on about himself, his recent guitar tour, his family, & his plans for college. Tendo had been more than relieved when they touched down, Elliott realizing he wasn't interested but nonetheless bidding him farewell.

They'd crossed paths again in the evening, Elliott was playing guitar in the restaurant were Tendo was having dinner with his parents. Elliott had introduced himself once more, offering to show them around the city as he lived close by.

Tendo kept a low profile at his new school, his parents later encouraging him to loosen up a bit with Elliott. The two gradually grew closer, Elliott eventually asking Tendo's parent's permission before propositioning him]
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He'd stepped out to buy some fast food for a movie night with his boyfriend, leaving his phone at the apartment.

Elliott was blending apple juice in the kitchen when Dejen's call came through. He ignored the first & second, deciding to pick the third..

"Hello?"
"Hello...Kash?", Dejen greeted eagerly.
"No one here by that name", Elliott replied.
"I need to talk to the owner of this phone", Dejen frowned.
"Tendo? He's stepped out a bit. Would you like to leave a message?"
"Yes. Tell him..", Dejen glanced at Alvin. "Tell him his brother wants to talk to him"
"Brother?" Elliott was perplexed.
"Yes", Dejen hang up.

"Heyy", Tendo came through the door holding a white pizza box. "Margerita was done so I got macaroni.."
"Okay", Elliott hang up, turning to face him.
"What's wrong?" Tendo rested the box on the living room table.
"Your brother? I didn't know you had a brother"
"I don't!", Tendo shrugged.
"Someone just called saying your brother needs to talk to you?"
"Maybe it's a wrong number", Tendo walked over to check.

A call from Sherise came through & he slowly perched down in the sofa to listen to her..

"...then he sent me these pictures", Sherise explained. "You still there?"
"Yeah", Tendo stared at Alvin's photos. "Thanks I'll call you later", he hang up.
"You have a twin babe!", Elliott beamed.
"How is this possible? My parents have never told me anything"
"You want to call them?"
"No, no I want to meet him first"
"Okay I'll help you", Elliott added.

Dejen wanted to travel by air but that wasn't an option for everyone else. They had to drive. He hired a seven seater nissan as none of Alvin's friends wanted to miss out on his big day.

They departed Johannesburg shortly after midnight, Dejen deciding to take the wheel first. Every couple of hours, he switched with Alvin who sat with him in the front, Zintle, Ayana, & Palesa were in the middle, with Polo & Menzi at the back.

They reached Colesberg at sunrise, having breakfast before refuelling the car for the journey to Cape Town.

Elliott chose a restaurant, reserving a table on the ground floor, & another for two upstairs were he & Tendo sat. Tendo threw on a black hoodie & black sheds for added stealth, patiently waiting for their arrival.

"I think they're here", Elliott noticed the hexad, Zintle, Palesa, & Ayana with their phones up.

Tendo recognized a familiar light brown physique with a blue cap on as the group came through the entrance directly below their table upstairs. He watched impatiently as they approached the reserved rectangular table, gasping a little when he spotted Alvin from the sides.