Tainted

Chapter 5

"I don't believe that. I am Aaron Langa, I'm 21 years old and I'll be graduating this year top of my class Sound Engineering. My father is Sanele and my mother is Adriene Langa, my father is a businessman and my mother is a doctor with her own surgery. I have 2 siblings younger than I am, Sienna being the last born and Songezo. I don't have many friends outside family, the last time I was in a relationship was when I was 18. We broke up for reasons I will not get into just yet. What about you?"
I ask her, we are having our lunch and conversing with Asante is not easy because she is too closed off
"I am Asante Makula, I am turning 18 years this year. My father died when I was 6 and my mother followed when I was 12"
She says poking her food
"I'm sorry to hear that"
She looks up at me and forces a smile then returns her attention to her food
"I don't have any siblings either than the children I grew up with at the orphanage home. I also don't have many friends. I came to Joburg to study Psychology at Wits but that doesn't look possible and yeah, that's me"
She says and then quickly gulps down her drink
"Why do you think it won't happen? Did you get accepted?"
I ask with a frown of confusion
"I did but now I'm waiting on NSFAS to respond"
I nod
"and have you thought of getting a bursary?"
She nods
"I applied but there's still nothing. Can we talk about something else please?"

After our lunch we drive the girls to their place and then I drive to my parents house while talking to Sandi on the phone telling her about our lunch date
"I told you not to get her that dress"
I roll my eyes
"yeah now I know what she's more into"
I say and she laughs
"You need to start listening to me more Squash. Let me send you something I wrote, ok? You be the judge"
she says
"Music or Books?"
I ask because she used to write music before she started writing books, tells me she hit a major writers block and she never wrote music again
"Books idiot. I stopped writing music"
She says and I can already imagine her shoving me
"Fine, I'll read it later"
I tell her
"I will call you and remind you to read it!"
She threatens and knowing her she's not lying
"I know you will. Do this, I'll send you a sing and I need you to lay a chorus for me ok? I'm begging you to do this one favour for your friend"
I plead
"Bye Aaron, talk later"
She says and drops the call on me leaving me laughing to myself as I park the car in front of the garage. I take my phone and car keys then walk to the front door, I knock and then let myself in.
"Mr Aaron"
Our housekeeper says when I walk in, I smile
"Hello Nami. Where's everyone?"
I ask
"hey brother. Long time"
My sister says walking down the stairs
"Hello little sister"
I say and we share a brief hug while Nami disappears
"How are you? Where have you been hiding yourself?"
She says breaking the hug
"I've been busy with the music. How's school?"
I ask as she hooks her arm into mine and leads me to the lounge
"With school, hockey and music practise, I literally have no time for a social life"
She complains and I chuckle, our parents made sure that we all take music as an extramural activity seeing that our grandfather was a great musician and producer of his time. Unlike my siblings I enjoyed the music to an extent that mom took me to an art school instead of your usual school and from there I went on to study Sound Engineering just to have something to fall back on. My sister Sienna is more into sports than she is into music
"And when is your next game?"
I ask as we settle on the couch
"Next week Friday. I don't want you to come"
She says quickly, I frown
"Aaron when you come to my games everyone focuses on you. I love you but I really don't want you there"
She tells me
"Ouch. Ok, I guess I'll stay away from your games then. Where's Songezo?"
She shrugs
"No idea, probably with his friends or girlfriend"
I nod
"Where are the parents?"
She shrugs while channel hopping
"I have no idea. Mom is supposed to be back already and dad is at work"
I look at my watch
"You going somewhere?"
She asks and I shake my head
"No but we were supposed to discuss me getting my own place"
She raises an eyebrow
"Why? I thought you enjoyed living with Lumi"
I nod
"I do enjoy it but I need my own space now. It's about time"
She shakes her head
"I'll never understand it so whatever"
She says returning her attention to the music video playing on tv.
"Siblings"
Songezo says walking in, I turn my head
"Hey bro"
I hold out a fist, he bumps his on mine and then walks around asking us how we've been and how our day has been
"where were you?"
I ask him as he settles on the single couch
"around"
He says, I can't help notice how small his eyes look. I shake my head
"if I can tell you been smoking then it won't be hard for mom or dad to miss it"
I warn and he chuckles
"you gotta relax bro. I got this"
He says leaning back on the couch, I shake my head and return my attention to whatever Sienna is watching, she's watching sports highlights
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To Be Continued