African Sunset

Chapter Nineteen

Rubadiri's POV

"Man look at her go.", Jeed narrowed his eyes as he ogled Neema bending down to pick up a fruit which had fallen from her basket.

He should have known better, that I didn't have eyes for anyone else but Sadiwe.
Everyone seemed busy, preparing for the Faraman.

" Ugh, useless little imp! ", Samala yelled at Neema for dropping the fruit. She was losing her patience by the minute as almost everything Neema touched went wrong.
It was like her hands never knew work.
She was trying her best, but her best was below mediocre to say the least.

"We aren't serving fruits and sand, you know.", she imitated wiping the fruit on her apron for Neema to emulate.
I caught a swift eye roll from Samala and tapped Jeed to take a look.

Samala was indeed a funny old lady. It ran in the family, the sense of humour.
Sadiwe made me laugh all the time.
I remembered one instance where I tried to give her one of those cheesy pet names and I ended up going to bed with a bruised cheek. What was the name again?
Sweet mango?
My wild honeycomb?
Whatever it was, the look on her face showed her repulsion for dumb pet names.

I smiled to myself.
I missed her, wanted her, needed to be close to her. Just to touch her skin would give me boundless joy.

I spied her from my corner across from her.

Everyone in Sadiwe's family was good looking, especially her. I noticed.
Her mother must have been quite a beauty when she was alive.
And even though the youth had drained from her father's face, it was obvious he was a heartthrob in his day.

I drew circles in the sand with my feet as I was on a short break from carrying loads to and fro the palace.
I intentionally picked a probable spot at which she would see me.
But I bet she could spot me even in a crowd.
I know I would.

I looked up to meet a pair of beautiful brown eyes staring at me from across the busy compound. The most beautiful of them all. Clear honey brown eyes.

My heart jumped in my chest and I had the urge to walk over to her and tell the world she was mine, only mine.

No. My subconscious ordered me.

I had to give her time to calm down after the devil's spawn had a chat with her.
I'm such an idiot.
I shouldn't have let Zénanie near her in the first place.

I still didn't know what zone we were in; whether she had forgiven me or not.

It was all very very confusing.

And after what I pulled yesterday, the way I wasn't able to control myself around her, especially Rubadiri Jnr. down there, I felt a little embarrassed.
Did she take it the wrong way and could that worsen the case?

Or would she see it as a compliment?

I didn't have the slightest clue of what her reaction to be.
And that's what scared me about Sadiwe; she was unpredictable, unlike many girls I knew.

I knew it was inappropriate but I sometimes imagined being with her, like being with her.
The mere thought of it took me to a different place that was hard to escape.
Everything about this girl was out of this world.

I looked around to see if I could catch a glimpse of her again but instead I see Teji running towards me.

"I have a message for you.", she said, completely out of breath.

" Aunt Shahidi is leaving town tomorrow with cousin Lula."

"Uhuh, so?", I said, confused.
I didn't see how I had anything to do with them.
Besides it was odd, people hardly left when the Faraman was so close.

" So meat head, she said she needs you to take care of her hut in the Kedd woods until she gets back.", she folds her skinny arms over her chest.

These annoying relatives!
I'm not being allowed to watch Sadiwe dance all because of a silly hut in the Kedd.

Smile on me Heaven.
I looked up and cursed.

"For how long?", I asked, my voice dry of amusement.

" Just two days, Ruru don't cry about it."

Aunt Shahidi just had to pick the day of the Faraman to travel.

"Don't worry, you'll have a few hours for the Faraman, I begged for you.", she said, punching my arm playfully.

" Okay, I'm going to find Sadiwe, bye Ruru.", she skipped off.

And I was looking forward to watching Sadiwe's lithe body glide to the festival drums.

Just like the first time I saw her dance at the bonfire.
I always knew I'd want to watch her dance again.
It was so captivating, so entrancing.

She in general cast a spell on me that I didn't want broken.

I've met my other half.