The Perfect Copy
#6
Later that day, Quinton glanced over at Neo while holding the steering wheel as she slept. He smiled and looked ahead as it slowly got dark, maneuvering through the Gaborone streets. He drove for a while until he entered an estate. He slowed down and finally parked his car in front of a house.
He gently shook Neo.
“Neo…”
She opened her eyes and blinked, then turned to him, yawning. Quinton smiled.
“We have arrived.”
“We are in Gaborone?”
“Mhmm. Let’s go in.”
She looked around and laughed. “Are you serious? Are we really in-”
“Yes. Let’s go in. I am tired.”
He got out of the car and walked to the boot where he got their bags while Neo stepped out of the car. She looked around, her heart leaping with excitement, so much excitement she couldn’t control her smile.
Quinton laughed. “You look cute.”
Neo giggled, feeling silly. “It’s beautiful here. What is this place called?”
“We are in the Loui Ville Estate. Come…”
She followed behind him to the door. Quinton put one of the bags down and unlocked it then finally stepped inside the house. Neo followed him in smiling even more.
“Is this your house?”
“Yeah…”
He walked toward a bedroom while she looked around. Somehow everything just seemed nicer.
“Neo! Come this side.”
She hurried to where he had disappeared and stepped inside the bedroom.
“You will be using this room. You can shower and freshen up while I sort us out with food.”
“Why do you have this house if you don’t stay here?”
He took off his T-shirt. “I live here. I was in Maun on a temporary basis, but that’s over now meaning I will be moving back here.”
Neo’s smile disappeared.
“You are moving here for good?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
“Oh…”
He put his T-shirt down and reached for her hand.
“I came with you here because I wanted you to be part of your first experience here. I think you are very bright and that you will be schooling here next year, but I didn’t want your first time here to be when you come for school.”
She blinked.
“I like you. Very much. And I have liked you since the first day I saw you. It felt a little immoral, seeing that you are still young, and I couldn’t really do much because you and I were working in the same branch, and it’s against company policies to have a relationship.”
She stared at him silently. He pulled her closer.
“I am actually lying. I more than like you. The times we have spent together studying, as you want to call it, have drawn me closer to you. I am not trying to pressure you into anything, but… we don’t have restrictions anymore. I more than just want you. But I would understand if you don’t feel the same.”
“Even if I did…” Her voice got fainter. “You are here now. I stay in Maun-”
“You can move here. You are not underage Neo. You can decide for yourself what you want. We can find you a house and a job. I have friends. You can work front desk. We will find you a house, and if it makes you feel better, I will pay the lease a year ahead. Or you can stay here. Nothing has to happen unless you want it to.”
Neo swallowed. “I have never been in a relationship before. I wouldn’t know what’s expected of me. You will get bored of me, and then I will be back to zero-”
“All you are saying doesn’t matter. You are perfect as you are. If there is anything you don’t know, I will teach you though I promise you, it’s not rocket science.”
He tilted her chin and looked into her eyes, then leaned over and kissed her.
Neo froze.
Her hands hovered awkwardly at her sides, her heart beating so loudly she was sure he could hear it. Quinton pulled back slightly, his thumb brushing gently along her jaw.
“Relax…” He whispered. “You don’t have to be afraid of me.”
“I don’t know how to kiss.”
He smiled softly. “Then just feel.”
He leaned in again, slower this time giving her space to meet him halfway. His lips brushed hers, barely there at first then gently, Quinton parted her lips with his drawing her bottom lip between his and sucking on it softly taking his time.
Neo’s fingers moved and she gripped his other arm needing something to anchor herself with.
Quinton slid up his free hand from her waist to her neck. Warm fingers spread around her neck tilting her head slightly allowing him full ownership of her mouth. Neo’s breath caught as he kissed her again even slower.
He moved from her top lip to her bottom lip, tracing them with careful attention, and like they were suddenly in sync, Neo found herself responding. She pressed back, adjusting and following the rhythm he set without even realizing it.
Quinton slowly slid his tongue in her mouth, stroking hers with his. A quiet sound slipped from her lips and he swallowed it pulling her even closer pressing her body against his.
Her panty moistened as heat spread through her chest, down her spine and pooled down low in her stomach in a way that made her knees feel unsteady. She leaned into him instinctively and he tightened his hold at her waist.
Quinton angled his head deepening the kiss further. Neo pressed her thighs against each other feeling a throbbing sensation between her legs.
He slightly moved back, their lips still intact. Neo moved closer chasing his mouth without even thinking.
He smiled and chuckled softy pulling back just enough to look at her.
He stared at her swollen lips and gently brushed them with his thumb.
“You see? Not rocket science.”
Neo stared at him breathlessly. He baby kissed her and sighed.
“The shower is there. Freshen up.”
She blinked as he walked out then touched her own lips. Her phone rang from her pocket and she quickly took it out.
“Aunty..”
“Neo, is everything ok there?”
“Eemma.”
“Good. And your mother?”
“I haven’t seen her.”
“Are you with your granny?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Let me speak to her.”
“Uh… I went to fetch water.”
“Ok. Don’t overwork yourself too much.”
“Eemma.”
“Bye.”
Tsona hung up and Neo threw herself on the bed. She smiled and put her hands on her face giggling.
***
That evening, Neelo stopped at a filling station. She looked at the black Audi beside her car and the door opened. She took a deep breath as the thug got inside her car. He looked at her face and sighed at her teary eyes.
“I am not going to hurt you.”
She silently reached for his bag on the back seat and handed it to him.
“I didn’t take anything.”
He took the bag. “I know.”
She sniffed. “Goodbye.”
He stared at her. “All this crying can’t be because of me.”
A tear rolled down her cheek. She looked away, rubbing it off.
“I am not the bad guy in this story. I know I had a gun and… it was a toy gun. It belongs to my brother. This money… it’s his. He was part of the robbery and saw that he was going to get caught, so he called me to get the money so that at least after serving jail time he has something to his name. I am not proud of scaring you, but I couldn’t risk taking the money with me. The police had surrounded the entire building.”
She turned to him. “So you thought it was better to leave me with the money? What if I was caught with it?”
“I am sorry. I truly am. I can give you some of the money, but that would make you an accomplice to the crime.”
She shook her head. “You can go. It doesn’t even matter.”
“Are you okay?”
She paused in disbelief. “Am I okay? I had a man point a fake g.un at me and threaten to come after my family. He gave me part of robbery money and I had to find ways to take it out of the mall, risking being arrested. I find out that my ex infected me with HIV just to finish it off. So no! I am not okay. I will be though once I am de.ad tonight.”
“You want to kill yourself because you have HIV?”
“I am not going to live with HIV!”
“So rather you d.ie?” He burst out laughing. “That is the craziest reason I have ever heard of someone trying to delete themselves. I know people who were born with it and yet they are not trying to hurt themselves.”
“You wouldn’t understand-”
“I understand you are in shock. Yes, it’s painful, but that can’t be the reason you would want to die for. Out of all the reasons one can have, that should be the least of your reasons. Do you know how many people are living with the virus? Imagine if they all had the same mindset as you. And yes, you may be the victim, but the moment you find yourself sleeping with someone without protection, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions that you might or might not catch diseases..”
“He said he wasn’t sleeping with anyone else besides me and his wife.”
“Ebile o ra married man? Chances are that him and his wife already have it. I am sorry, but that can’t be the reason you want to hurt yourself. Go find another reason, think it through, then text me. I will tell you if it’s worth it. Actually, I know a tree that can handle any weight.”
She frowned watching him step out with the bag of money. He got into his car and drove off.
.
Apologies family. Its been a busy week.