Becoming

Chapter 5

My day at the office is not going as smooth as I want it to. I guess I'm stressed out about what's happening in my apartment. This morning Kevin assured me that everything will be fine, but I guess it's normal to feel a bit tense when there are people around your place and you are not even present to observe what's happening.

"You are awfully quiet today" Seun looks at me. "I'm just thinking about my apartment" I honestly say. "Come down Annalise, the guy said he will fix it now trust he will do just that will ya" he cheerfully says. "You are always in a good mood how do you do it?" I lightly laugh and even more surprised that he called me by my full name.

"it's because I like you. I'm not like this to everyone so be grateful" he laughs. I shake my head. "So... Tell me more about this Kevin character" he makes that spill out everything look. "Oh Gosh, he just moved to my complex and so happens to live in my floor, there's nothing more" I playfully roll my eyes.

"oh and he magically appeared to fix the mess?" he further questions. "Okay you can stop with the questions I feel like I'm in a courtroom" I bite my bottom lip. "hmmmm okay, speaking of court, we need to go to that Politician's hearing" he picks up his files and I do the same.

*****

The week goes pretty fast and it's already Friday. Kevin and his team have been at it since Tuesday and I'm happy that they have started putting up a new ceiling. By the look of things this will be all over by nextweek, speaking of nextweek my parents are coming and I miss hearing their voices.

After the third ring my dad picks up "My princess!" Dad beams into the phone. "Hi Dad how are you?" I hear mom asking if it's me in the background and telling him to say "hi". I laugh "Hi mom!" I smile. My parents put me on loud speaker and I hadn't realised we have spoken for close to an hour. There's a knock on the door which interrupts my call, but I had said everything I needed to say and hangup after telling my parents I love them.

"Who is it?" I ask walking towards the door. "Open up girl!" I smile recognizing the voice and as I had expected its Thando. "Oh my Word what, how, when did you get here??" I ask pulling her in for a hug. "I arrived this morning, I wanted to surprise you so hey" she smiles.

I let her in and tell her about my apartment situation. She tells me she is staying at a hotel which is ridiculous she could have stayed here for the weekend, but I guess with how my place is at the moment its for the best.

We last saw eachother 3 months ago when she came to check my place out. "How have you been like really really been?" she asks sipping on her drink.
I look at her and I begin to cry. I didn't know I would be in this position again, but I guess I needed to rant to someone about how I have been trying to hang in there ever since that day. "I just focus on my career and moving on you know" I look at her. "Yes I understand love, listen I am always going to be here for you" she hugs me tighter. How I've missed my friend...

After a few moments of sitting like that I finally break the silence. "So...how are things with you and Xolani?" I smile as I reminisce about the first time she told me she was inlove. "That is part of why I came to visit!" she claps her hands. I look in confusion. "He proposed on Wednesday!" she says and finally shows me her ring which I hadn't noticed. "This is Amazing I'm so happy for you guys!" I hug her.

"You could've called on the day and shared the news, I'm probably the last to know" I jokingly make a sad face. "No, you are the first I didn't even post anything about it, I just don't want bad energy around it you know" she adds.

She tells me that she wants to tell her parents formally so that he can send cows for the lobola negotiations. As she is telling me all of this I smile at how happy she is. I remember when she fell pregnant with Xolani's baby during her Grade 12; her parents were so devastated she came to sleep over at my house when they found out. They have been together since then and now that they are getting married is just amazing.

"I am happy for you Thando" I say once more. "Thank you girl. I have something for you check in that cute pink bag" she points. I stand from the couch and kneel next to the bag. I open the bag and inside there is a nicely framed picture of Sam, myself and her.

I hold back tears as I remember those days when everything was just a breeze. "we were the real deal weren't we?" I laugh. I continue to open another wrapped small box. It's a beautiful nacklace with a heart that changes colour. It's so beautiful I can't find the words to thank her.

"What is the occasion?" I laugh looking at her. "Can't a friend just do something nice for her friend" she smirks. "I love it. The nacklace and the picture. Thank you". After more catching up we decide to order pizza. "I better get going, let me call an uber" she stretches.

"Urg too bad I'm already sleeping on the couch, what made you book a hotel if you were coming to visit?" I ask. "I didn't want to intrude, remember last time I did the same thing" she reminds me. " You are not intruding!" I tell her.

"Okay let me drive you" I ask. "Babe, it's late dont worry you can pick me up tomorrow I will send you the location and besides Im staying like 15 minutes away" she picks up her bag and hugs me. I follow her outside until she gets safely into the uber. "Text me once you've arrived" I wave. I make my way back to apartment and I scream when I notice I have locked myself outside.

Great.