Finding You.

CHAPTER 37

TLHOGI

On the night Sam and I found Aya moping around on the couch, we had just come from an art Gallery opening. He had asked me over the phone after the whole incident with Somila and Mpumalanga, and I gladly accepted.

I did have a crush on him from the first time we met, but I always thought he saw me as a kid, a minor. On the night after the opening, he took me on an Italian dinner date.

He asked about my aspirations, my hopes and my dreams for the future. He asked me about school and my future career endeavours, he asked about my friends and about my family.

After dinner, we both agreed to go back to their place and have some champagne, while he gets to know me better.

He called plenty of times after that night, and we talked and texted almost every day. I don’t want to say he’s the love of my life because I know there are many issues with our relationship – age being the first of all the challenges - but I’ve grown to like Sam a lot, he’s great in every way possible.

He’s sweet and sensitive, he listens with enthusiasm when I speak, and in all honesty – I love that he’s older than me, making him more mature. He’s unlike these typical boys from school, who think of nothing but getting into your pants.

On Friday when Aya and Somila left, he called me, asking me to come over for the night but I couldn’t, since it was too late to make up a lie. I promised I’d spend Saturday night with him, that’s when I lied to mum and dad – telling them that I was going to a study sleepover with a group of classmates, all girls of course. They believed me instantly, since I’m not a wild child who usually does “Horrible things” to her parents.

Sam requested me an Uber and paid for it via his credit card. When I got to their place yesterday afternoon, he told me we were going bowling –which I had never done before. He must’ve been checking the app to see how further away I was because he opened the gate as soon as the driver parked, coming out to meet me.

I was dressed in my denim jumpsuit pants, a yellow sports bra and Black Doctor Martens with yellow polka dots. He was in a blue golf t-shirt, blue Guess denim jeans, and pure white Chuck Taylors. His curly blond hair, a beautiful mess, his t-shirt made his blue eyes more vivid.

"You’re pale, you should get a tan.” I teased him, avoiding the bowling idea he had in his mind. “You’re not getting out of this Tlhogi.” He said with a lope-sided smile that made him look so cute. I giggled, and he asked what I found so amusing.

“The way you say my name.” I replied, “And how exactly do I say your name?”
     “Tee-lo-chi” (“Chi” pronounced how Jewish people would say “Simcha”). I burst out in laughter and he rolled his eyes, opening the door so I could get into the car.

We went to a bowling club and he bought tickets for two. When we got to the bowling alley, he picked up the ball and hit every pin on the other end. “Wow, you’re good at this!” I exclaimed, and he took a bow with much exaggeration, which caused us both to laugh.

When it was my turn, the ball went to the railing and I managed to hit… ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! He laughed at me which caused me to pout playfully, gaining me an apology and an offer to teach me.

His hands were on my waist, moving me slightly to be in the correct position. He then put the ball on my hand, inserting my fingers in the correct holes for stability. “Okay so you’ll jog bending down for your headstart, swinging your arm from the back and slowly letting go when it swings frontwards. Got it?” .