IS IT DESPERATION OR LOVE Novel Chapter 9

I laugh at her shaking my head,she’s been at it for 45 minutes.

Naomi : your lasagna is now cold, should I warm it up?

Nothando: yes please,and thank you for being my table until I finish up my homework.

I giggled.

Naomi : I won’t hold things for you anymore if you call me that.

Nothando : sorry

I went to the kitchen and warmed the lasagna and went back to my room.

Nothando : your phone was ringing,I didn’t want to get on your bad side so i just looked at it. Can we go to the mall now?

Naomi : so late ? A lot of stores are closed by now.

Nothando : oh,yeah (sulks)can I sleep over?

Naomi : i dont mind at all. You can but I just don’t want your mom to be mad…

Nothando : I just talked to her,she doesn’t mind(smiles)

Naomi : well.. I’m sure my mom won’t mind too,she’s hardly here anyway so she won’t notice you’re here.

Nothando : THANK YOU BOO!!!

Naomi : yooh,uyarasa. (you’re making noise)

Nothando : ngiyaxolisa ke.(I’m sorry)

She says and giggles then digs on her lasagna,she went to her house after eating saying she’s going to fetch her school uniform. I’m done cooking so I’ll just watch TV. Before I could exit my room.. my phone rings,I answer.

Naomi : hello?

“its Qhawelethu”

Naomi : Mr Q,hi. You called, just as you said you will.

Mr Q :I keep my promises.

Naomi : why do you always call with different numbers?

Mr Q : I can’t risk using my phone,you need to be in that school and I still need my job. If it happens that we get caught…it won’t be easy this way. And you blocked my mother’s tens so…

His mother’s tens? Oh,I called her mom the other day. Damn!! I thought it’s his girlfriend.

Naomi : makes sense.

Mr Q : can I see you now?

Naomi : I’m really not sure

Mr Q : pleaseNaomi : A teacher seen at his student’s house or on the streets roaming around with his student? I’m so not sure about that.

Mr Q : okay,I’ll ask someone to come fetch you there.

Now ?

Naomi : wait.. now?

Mr Q : yes. I’ll see you now.

Naomi : oh okay.

He ends the call and I start panicking. I wear my shoes and went to Nothando’s house. Her mother let me in and I went to her room.

Nothando : miss me already? I was about to make my way back.

Naomi : he’s coming.

Nothando : who?

Naomi : the guy I was telling you about,he’s coming to see me. He wants us to talk.

Nothando : (screams and instantly covers her mouth)okay.. uhm.. go change that

Naomi : I don’t want to charm him, we’re just going to talk. I’m sure he won’t notice what I’m wearing

Nothando : a onesie? Seriously? Go change!!

Naomi : what’s the use? He’ll be here soon. Here’s the key,I’ll be back okay. I’ll find you home

Nothando : of course you’ll find me at your house,what will I say to your mom when she gets back home?

Naomi : tell her we ran out of our favorite snacks so I went to grab them ASAP

Nothando : oh no. Okay I’ll tell her a better lie(phone beeps)that’s your phone, it must be him,he’s here. Go get your man you bunny!

Naomi : don’t call me that

Nothando : well, you look like one in that onesie,go!!

I quickly ran out and went to the car,I greeted and there he was,at the backseat. He asked me to get in at the back and I did. Okay I’m nervous about this chat. It hasn’t started yet but yooh. Okay let me calm myself down.

Mr Q : hi

Naomi : (clears throat) hi

Mr Q : should we go somewhere?

Naomi : no. You said you wanted to talk

Driver : I’ll give you guys space

He said getting out of the car.

Mr Q : ngyabonga Stix

He looks back at me.

Mr Q : straight to the point,why do you want to stay away from me?

Naomi : because it feels wrong

Mr Q: how so?Naomi : you’re my teacher! You are also older than me

Mr Q : is 23 too old for you?

He’s 23 years old? No ways. I cleared my throat.

Mr Q : look,I just want to know if we can do this or not…

Naomi : who said I wanna do whatever ‘this’ is.

Mr Q : you’re not attracted to me.

Naomi : no sir! Please stop this okay,I didn’t come here for boys and…

Mr Q : uzibonela umfana wena uma ungibhekile?(Do you see a boy when you look at me?)

Naomi : you have a d¡ck so…

He laughs a little and looks down for a while before looking at me.

Mr Q : so… what should I do with the love I have for you?

Naomi : I don’t know. I don’t want us to be in trouble one day because of…well,some attraction. it’ll pass. I have to go now. Bye Mr Q.

He nods slowly like he’s trying to take in my words slowly.

Mr Q : I hear you and I respect your decision. Bye Naomi.

He says looking straight in my eyes. I got out and went back home. I sighed as i leaned on the door after getting inside.

“how did it go?”

Naomi : he said he’ll stay away from me

Nothando : what?

Naomi : yeah

Nothando : what Happened kanti?

Naomi : he’s my physical sciences teacher.

Nothando : so your crush is kind of your teacher?

Naomi : yes and I can’t risk it. We just can’t be in a relationship. He needs his job and I need to focus on my studies at that school. I really don’t want a bad reputation too, so I asked him to stay away from me

Nothando : I understand (sigh)you love him though?

Love? Is it love? No it’s not love.

Naomi : no I…

Nothando : then why did you get broken yesterday when his girlfriend answered the call? Speaking of the girlfriend.. Did he say anything about her?

Naomi : it was his mom

Nothando : oh,okay. Now answer my question

Naomi : I just feel attracted to him

Nothando : that’s love,or is it lust?

Naomi :none of that. Let’s go to bed please.

Nothando : oksalayo it’s love,lento yakho yabo attraction ayikho. You’re in love.

I rolled my eyes and we went to the bedroom.

.

QHAWELETHU MTHEMBU

.

She really asked me to stay away from her? I don’t think I can. Naomi has that thing… That attracts you and it got me. I’m attracted to her,i feel her, what will I do with those feelings now that I won’t get a chance from her?

Maybe it’s for the best. Maybe she wouldnt accept my home now. Maybe she can’t accept me and my background. I might just lay low until I’m done with building a new house for my mom,then maybe… She won’t see me as “a guy who doesn’t deserve love because of how their home looks like” like all the other girls I have been with. I’ve brought two girls home and already on the very same day I got dumped. So my home situation is the reason why I can’t get myself a decent girlfriend. Because we’re poor… We were poor,I’ve found a job now so I’ll make sure I make it up to my mom for raising us and sacrificing for us.When I got home… I gave Stix his R200 for being my transport for the day. I went straight to my room and threw myself on the bed,I sighed. A knock comes through.

“bhuti?”I looked at the door,my little sister is standing there peeping her head on the door.

Mr Q : come in Patjutju

Thembelihle : hey ! Stop that

We laughed at her childhood nickname and she sat next to me

Lihle : you didn’t see me by the gate. I was sitting outside and you passed me like I’m invisible. Is everything okay?

Mr Q : (sigh)argh,it’s just work, nothing much.