BONDED FOREVER.
23. ANOTHER FAVOR.
BONUS chapter sponsored by Dinny M
SHAMISO
It’s the toilet dream that has me jolting my eyes open, thank goodness I didn’t fall for it, especially now that I can feel just how pressed I am. It doesn’t take long for me to remember that I’m not in my bedroom, on my bed. Sarai is still cuddled up against me and I try to remember the exact moment that I dosed off, I thought I’d let her sleep then leave because I didn’t want to ruin her night by making her sad but it seems I’m the one that got played. This little girl set a trap for me and I fell right into it.
I slowly pry her arm off my neck and she stirs a little but doesn’t wake, she just turns to face the other direction. I wait until I’m sure that she’s gone back to sleep before I get up from the mattress and find my way to their guest restroom. I check the time on my watch and find that it’s 06:45, it’s still a little early considering that I’m not goin to work but I should probably be getting ready to leave. I remember Andziso saying that I should tell Enelo when I want to leave but I don’t want to wake her up this early. I could request a ride but if it’s locked I’ll need to fiddle my way out of here. I wonder if Andziso is back from his night out, maybe he’s sleeping.
I shut down my thoughts after flushing and washing my hands. This is a little awkward and after that interaction that we had before we left my thoughts and feelings are all over the place. I want to pretend that his standing close to me does nothing to me but that would be a blatant lie, Andziso’s presence alone still knows how to set my heart racing and right now, I’m not liking it very much. I don’t want to be stuck living in the past, especially when I’m very much aware that he has moved on. We are trying to establish a good parenting relationship here and the last thing I want of need is to dread finding myself in the same room as him. I can’t mess up, for Sarai’s sake because she will definitely be the one caught in the middle when I can no longer stand being in the same room as her father because he’s unknowingly setting loose all these feelings that I’ve tied up and pushed back, only for him to not even reciprocate when everything comes undone.
I stare at my face for a few seconds on the mirror before making my way. Deciding that I’ll just wait for either Enelo or Andziso to wake up before I leave, I stop by the kitchen to tens to my dry throat. My restrictions don’t allow me to open the fridge so I find a glass and fill it with tap water.
“You’re up already.” Andziso says from behind me and I close the tap.
“Yes, it hasn’t been that long.” I take a long sip of my water and remain standing in that same position, not turning to look at him. “I didn’t mean to sleep over…” I begin when he says nothing.
“There you go again, I told you that there won’t be a time when you’re not welcome in my house, didn’t I?” I feel him move closer to me and he stops right next to me “Didn’t I, Shamiso?” someone please tell me why the firmness of his tone has me gripping onto the glass. I do remember Andziso having such an effect on my but not like this, it feels like it had intensified and it’s nothing like all those years ago.
“You did.” I breathe out.
“Then you know that I have no problem with finding you here, at whatever time of the day, I don’t mind at all.” He lowers his voice.
“You’re not being fair…” i match his low tone.
“I’m what way?”
“You know what way.”
“I don’t know and I won’t know unless you use your words to educate me, you know that.” he gets even closer and I feel his hot breath on my neck.
“You do this thing where you act protective, possessive… Too welcoming…”
“I’m not acting.” he says and I draw in breath again. Lord, I need all the strength that I can get right now.
“You know what I mean, Andziso.” I feel my frustration settle. Only he could make me feel a lot of things at once.
“Use your words.” he demands.
“Use yours too.”
“You know I communicate best with my actions, I haven’t changed.”
“But you have, you’ve grown and you’re in a relationship with Pearl” I stop and clear my throat. ” the way you are with me sometimes gives me these thoughts… That maybe we aren’t completely over but then I know that we are, it messes with me and I don’t like that. I don’t want to ruin things and at the same time I don’t know how not to when you still look at me the way that you do-“
“Shamiso-“
“No, please… Let me finish before I get too nervous and can’t find my words. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not over you, but I don’t expect you to drop everything for me and I truly understand that so much time had passed. I broke our hearts when I left and Pearl managed to restore yours, I’m not going to overlook that and I’ll respect that. I’m just going to ask that you also try not to make it so hard for me accept the present for what it is. “
” I don’t know how to do that. “he confesses.
” You need to find a way. I can’t be in a love triangle, I don’t want to be and it’s not fair on Pearl either. I don’t know, maybe suggesting that we be friends was a mistake, maybe-“
“Maybe what? You want us to be strangers? We have a child together so how does that work?”
“Maybe talk when there is a need for us to talk?”
“We do talk when there is a need, that’s what we’ve been doing.” he is sits and it only pushes my frustrations so I decide to turn and look at him. Big mistake because my eyes come into contact with his bare chest. The sweat suggests that he was in his gym and I’m stuck looking at his amazing physique. His broad shoulders, the tones muscles, the abs then I look up to his face… Gosh… Get it together Shamiso, I scold myself.
“I… I don’t know, is there no manual for co-parenting peacefully?
” I thought we were co-parenting peacefully. “The teasing in his tone is what has me rolling my eyes.
” You know exactly what I mean. I can’t keep feeling like this about a man that’s not mine. That’s not fair on me or my heart, I can’t fall deeper in love with you and still have to watch you love another woman, that is torture.” I remember when I was adamant and told Anaishe that I only came back for Sarai and she’s all that matters. Oh, what a lie.
” Sham-“
A soft yawn stops his and we both look in the direction where it came from.”Good morning.” Sarai says while rubbing her eyes.
“Good morning, sweety.” I create some distance between him and I by walking over to where she is. “How did you sleep?”
“I sleept well, mommy. I thought you left me.”
“No, I just came in here to get water.”
“Will you have breakfast with us?” there goes that hopeful tone.
Enelo joins us before I can answer and she looks at me and Andziso like she knows something, her smile also says that “Good morning rents.”
“Morning.” Andziso and I say at the same time.
“Can I get waffles today, aunty?” Sarai asks.
“Aren’t you going to greet aunty first?” her father asks.
“I’ve already greeted aunty.” she says then. Andziso and I turn to look at each other.
“You’ve been up?” Andziso asks.
“Yeap.” she pops the P, still smiling. “What would you like for breakfast?” she asks me.
“I’ll have whatever you guys are having.”
“Great. Boti, there aren’t any unused toiletries in the bathroom.”
“Oh, I’ll get them. Come with me.” be says and I reluctantly follow him. When we stop at his bedroom door I just lean against the wall, he turns to look at me, smirks then goes in. He comes out later with a new face cloth and toothbrush. He stretches his hand out and when I’m about to take them he also doesn’t let go “I don’t bite, you know.”
This time he does see me roll my eyes at him “Your actions do. Give me that.” I pull and he let’s go.
“You’re welcome.” he calls out from behind.
“I know.” gosh, if this man doesn’t drive me crazy before Sarai turns eighteen…
*****
ANDZISO
Monday hits and the first thing I do when I reach the office is to go through my emails, there’s quite a few but the one that quickly catches my attention is the one from NovaReach Marketing. I’m due to for a presentation next week Friday and I’ve been working tirelessly on it when I’m not swimming in my feelings. I immediately click on it and read, they are requesting to move my presentation a week closer. Normally this is a good sign because it means they’ve done their research and they are testing me to see what I can come up with, with limited time.
I don’t mind one bit because this is quite a big company and I’m looking to sway things during the presentation. I don’t just want to sell software to them, I want to work long term. Selling software brings in a lot of money but creating a working relationship as a service provider brings in even more money.
I call my assistant and ask her to live around my commitments for Thursday afternoon and the whole of Friday. When that’s done I respond to their email and confirm that I can work with the change. I had already spoken to Pearl about the trip to Stellenbosch and this was we agreed that she would be tagging along, that’s when I had decided that I could introduce her as a friend to Khanyisa.
Speaking of Pearl, there’s a knock on my office door and I know that of my assistant didn’t notify me then it can only be Pearl.
“Hey baby.” she says with a wide smile. Her sight just brings back memories of Friday night and Saturday morning when I was alone in the kitchen with Shamiso. I’m quick to push those thoughts away and embrace the one that’s looking at me right now.
“This is a nice surprise.” I push my chair back and beckon for her to come sit on my lap. Which she does after giving me a quick kiss on the lips.
“I wasn’t too busy and needed a bit of air from the office.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask and the frown on her face answers for her.
“Not really. Mika is being a bitch.”
“When has she not been?”I mumble and she gives me a look but quickly gets rid of it.
” You know what, you’re right. She’s always been a bitch and I don’t want to stick up for her anymore. “
” But you do know that you must find a way to work in the same space as her? You two are still co-workers.”
“I know, I just wish I didn’t have to. Anyway, I’ll get my wish this Wednesday.” her smile returns.
“Whats happening this Wednesday?”
“I just got an invitation to a Finance fest in joburg and I’ve asked to be one of the spearkers.”
“Wow, that’s wonderful, babe.”
“Right? I’ve only been there as an attendee and now it feels like my work is being noticed, I can’t wait but I’m nervous at the same time. I have to work on my presentation and here I am still relaxed about it.”
“You’re relaxed because you know that this is your area of expertise. You can speak finance even if someone wakes you up from you’re sleep in the early hours of the morning.”
“You’re not just saying this because you’re my man, right?”
“Of course not. You’re very much capable and you know that.” I kiss her cheek “How long will it be for?”
“It ends on Friday.”
“Oh.”
“What is it?” she asks.
“Remember our trip to Stellenbosch?”
“Yes, next week Thursday evening. Your pitch is on Friday, right?”
“Not anymore, they’ve moved up the date and I have to head out this Thursday.”
“This one? The same one where I have to be in Joburg?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“Damn… I really want to go and also meet Khanyisa but this is a big thing for me, babe.”
“I understand, and I don’t expect you to change your plans, I would never expect you to. Maybe we can go away together some other time.”
“Can I still meet her when you guys return?”
“Of course, babe. I’ll arrange something.”
“I’m sorry I can’t tag along anymore. I’m sure you guys will have fun though.”
“Khanyisa and Enelo, sure. I’ll be about the work.”
“Take some time off to enjoy, bring me something nice too.” She says and i I tell her that I will.
.
.
.
Later I get home and when Enelo is done cooking supper we sit with Khanyisa to eat. Khanyisa is going on and on about school and her mother and everything else in between, there’s never a dull moment when she’s around.
“Our trip to the Western Cape has been pushed closer.” I tell Enelo so she has enough time to prepare. The plan was to let Khanyisa skip the Friday of school since we will be traveling on Thursday evening.
“We have to leave this Thursday and we return on Sunday.”
“This Thursday, boti?” she asks like I’m supposed to remember something.
“You have plans?”
“Remember I told you that I have to go to Soweto this Friday because my cousin is getting married?”
“Oh, damn. That completely crossed my mind.”
“So you can’t gk with us, aunty?” Khanyisa asks. I don’t think she realizes that if Enelo can’t go then I now have a problem with taking her with me because there will be no one to look after her when I’m working.
“I’m sorry baby girl but I already confirmed that I’ll be there to even help with the peeling this Friday.” she looks at me remorsfully.
“I understand, you can still go.”
“Are you sure?” she doesn’t finish her question but when she looks at Khanyisa I know that she’s asking what I’ll do about her. Do I disappoint her and take her to one of my brothers after I told her about this trip weeks ago? She’s been excited about it.
” I’ll think of something, maybe I’ll call ses’Voni.” I also don’t finish my sentence but she understands.
“I don’t think that will be good, we’ve been counting down.”
“I know.”
Now we are just gossiping about Khanyisa and it’s flying through her head, or she’s getting it and waiting for me to disappoint her.
“But it was the four of us, right?” she asks about Pearl.
“Short notice.” I say and she mouths a ‘oh’. “It’s fine, I’ll think of something.” I say and supper continuous.
Later when I’m in my bedroom I scroll over to Bakang’s contacts and text “There’s no waiting period for being sick in your company right?”
“That would be crazy because people don’t plan to get sick.” he replies then I see the three dots appear and he sends “or do they?” this time is accompanied by a winking emoji.
“No, they just get sick.”
“What are you up to, A?”
“I’m just asking.”
“Don’t bullshit me.”
“Fine. I need another favour.”
“I knew it!”