My Gift
06
We are now lying in bed looking at each other and it feels like home. I’m not sure what time it is but my mother will soon be home and I don’t want her to find me in this compromising situation with Lwandle.
“I should get going.”
She says getting up and I’m glad I was not the one who had to tell her that my mother will be home soon because I don’t know how to construct sentences that contain sad news inside.
“Okay, then I will see you.”
I say getting up with her.
“Kusasa? I will come to get you from school.”
She says and I think that’s the most perfect idea.
“Yebo that’s fine I don’t mind.”
I say to her and she pulls me into a hug and nibbles on my neck. There is a tingling sensation that is now familiar to me.
“I will see you then.”
She says wearing her shoes and we walk to the door. I want to ki-ss her one more time but I don’t want to come off as being forward and make her lose any form of interest she had in me.
“Bye.”
She says opening the door and we come face to face with my mother.
“Nkosazana.”
She says looking at her and I can feel my heart wanting to pump out behind my rib cage.
“Sawubona mah”
She says and is not showing any signs of being scared that my mother is there standing in front of her and she might have been standing outside and heard every sound I made and every low mo-an that came out of my mouth and she is ready to kill me.
“I didn’t think I would see you here.”
She says still looking at her.
“I came to check up on Lindiwe but it seems like she is doing good.”
She says and my mom nods her head believing the lie that just came out of Lwandle’s mouth.
“Okay then thank you nkosazana.”
She says and enters the house living me accompanying Lwandle out the gate. I know my mother won’t like it if I walk for a long time so I think living her by the gate would do.
“I didn’t know you could lie.”
I tell her while laughing and she joins me and also laughs.
“I had to angisho.”
She says and stops to look at me.
“Yah you had to. Why is your voice de-ep.”
I ask because this has been bothering me since I heard her talk.
“Angazi. It has been de-ep for as long as I can remember.”
She tells me and I nod my head thinking to myself that I will do some research on kids who are born with de-eps voices because this is the first girl I know who has a de-ep voice.
“I hear you bye then.”
I tell her and start walking away and she just stands there looking at me.
“MaLindi!”
She shouts my name but only for me to hear her.
“Yebo?”
I ask turning and looking at her
“Sneak out tonight around 23:00. I promise I will come.”
She says smiling still looking at me and I’m not sure if I should agree and she disappoints me that she did last time.
“I promise.”
Like she is seeing the hesitation on my face and I nod my head because I don’t want to disappoint her since she looks like she is looking forward to it.
“See you then.”
She says and starts walking away. Now it’s my turn to look at her walk away and I’m happy.
I walk back inside the house and my mother is sitting on the bed. She looks tired and since I know I’m about to do something bad I will offer to cook tonight.
“You look tired Mah. Do you want me to cook?”
I ask her and she looks at me laughing and I’m lost as to why she is laughing.
“Ufunani keh wena?”
She asks looking at me and I just shake my head at what she is saying.
“Lutho I just want to help you out that’s all.”
I tell her and she nods her head. I don’t wait for her to chan6her mind I’m already rushing to the kitchen hut and I’m starting with the pots.
I don’t feel the heat from the fire as my kind is still playing the events of today.
“What are you thinking about that’s making you smile so much?”
I hear my mother ask and I don’t know how long she has been standing there looking at me.
“Nothing mah.”
I say to her and she nods her head. The rest of the time I spend cooking I also spend it with my mother catching up about her workplace and how the children there can be little brats.
“I’m happy you not like them.”
She would say every time she comes from work and I would know that she had a bad day.
We are now eating and I don’t think I can eat any fast-er than I’m currently eating right now. I feel like the forces of nature are against me and they don’t want me to meet up with Lwandle. After some time we are don’t eating and I’m now bending down washing the dishes. I’m not sure how I will sneak out without being noticed but I think the fact that my mother is tired might work in my favor.
……………
I’m now walking out of the kitchen going to wait for Lwandle outside. I spend the time waiting for her studying and I go to a lot of things covered for my coming exam. It was easy letting my mother allow me to stay in the kitchen to study but on condition that I lock myself inside and I did not mind that as long as she would not see me walking out at night. I close the door and lock it because I’m not sure how long we will be outside. I’m glad when I spot a figure by the gate and I figure that it’s Lwandle. As I walk closer to her I can now tell that it’s her and you would think since it’s at night and it’s a little cold she would wear a trouser but not her she is in her long skirt and a vest.
“Are you not feeling cold?”
I ask her as soon as I reach her and she does not answer me but pulls me closer to her and we start ki-ssing. The ki-ss feels better than the one we had during the day. This one feels more intense and I’m not scared to express myself throu-ghthe ki-ss.
“Cha I’m not cold.”
She says pulling away and I just laugh a little.
“Let take a walk.”
She says holding my hand and leading the way. I don’t know where we are going and I have never been out this late on the street.
“They let you go out on your own it’s not safe.”
I ask her as we are walking down the road and I’m still not sure where we are going.
“Well I have guards with me mara you won’t see them.”
She says and I’m shocked by what she is saying.
“OMG, you ki-ssed me in front of adults Lwandle it’s disrespectful.”
I say to her looking around and trying to spot the guards she is talking about but I don’t see any.
“I’m joking ebana. You should see your face right now.”
She says laughing and I don’t think it’s funny. I almost peed on myself self-thinking that adults saw us ki-ssing and they could tell my mother but most importantly it would be showing disrespect.
“It’s not funny.”
I say and she can’t stop laughing. We are heading to the river because the paths look familiar.
“I’m sorry mara I’m used to being out in the dark when it gets too much endlini I would just take a walk or when I hs e a message I don’t understand it helps.”
She says as we are walking.
“I see my mother does not allow me to walk out late I think it has to do with the fact that I’m her only child.”
I tell her.
“I’m sure it is a shame but you have to get used to it yazi worked for me with my brothers.”
She says and I don’t think I would ever be able to get used to it.
“I don’t think I would ever get used to it shame aii ngeke. So you ready for the ceremony?”
I ask her trying to make conversation.
“Cha I think it’s unnecessary.”
She says and I think I understand where she is coming from. Having all the attention on you the whole day can be draining even for people who like attention.
“You should be used to the attention since you are the princess.”
I tell her and she laughs. Her laughter is beautiful very beautiful.
“Well, I’m not.”
She says and helps me climb up the rock by the river. It’s now a little bit chilly but not that much. We are lying on the rock and looking at the stars and I think this is the best feeling I have ever felt in my life.
“I like this.”
I tell her and turn my head to look at her.
“This?”
She asks and I’m not sure how to explain it to her because I have never been in a situation where I have to express my feelings.
“Being with you and just lying here looking at the stars. Please don’t hurt me.”
I say to her and she smiles nodding her head.
“I promise I won’t. Please trust me.”
She says and I can’t help but trust her and feel my heart being at ease.
We spend the rest of the night talking and before I know it the sun is coming out and I need to get going I don’t want to find my mother awake and she starts asking me questions about where I have been.
“I should get home Lwandle.”
I tell her and she wakes up and sits on the rock.
“Yeah I should get you home I don’t want you to wt in trouble.”
She says and gets off the rock then helps me to get off. I don’t know why she sees the need to help me get off because I can get off perfectly without anyone’s help.
“Thank you.”
I say just not to be rude. We are now walking to my home and she lives me by the corner and watches me till I enter the gate. I can now feel my heart pounding because I’m not sure if my mother is awake or she is still sleeping. I walk slowly to the kitchen hurt and start the fire for the water I will use to bath. I’m scared to go to the bedroom because she might have woken up and waited for me to come back with the kitchen keys but I have no choice.
I watch as my water boils and I take the bucket next to me and pour it inside then put water for my mother. By the time I’m done bathing her water will be boiling and she will be able to bath. I carry the water bucket to the bedroom and I find her still sleeping which makes me happy. I place the bucket by the door and fetch the washing vase and pour the already mixed water inside.
I stri-p and enter inside as I’m washing I notice a love bite and I feel anger arise inside from me because I begged Lwandle not to give me one but she did. As I’m bathing my mother starts moving and eventually she wakes up.
“Usuyageza MaLindi?”
She asks getting out of bed and wearing her gown.
“Yebo Mah I woke up early.”
I lie and she nods her heading walking to the closet. I’m sure she wants to find something to wear and iron it before she starts bathing.
“Yazi izolo I woke up and you were not in bed ubuphi?”
She asks and I feel my heart pounding. I feel like the water is getting hot like I didn’t mix it with cold water.
“Yeh sisi?”
She asks when I don’t answer and I don’t know which lie to come up with.
.
.
.
Tbc