Chapter 3

"It's getting late." He whispered in my ear. My eyes flew open and I sat up while he passed me my clothes. I put them on and he escorted me to the bus stop. The sun was setting and the orange sky grew darker as we walked side by side down the street.

" Why you so quiet?" He asked.

" Oh nothing, just thinking." I replied but honestly, my heart felt heavy. I knew coming here was a bad idea. He pulled me out of the road by my waist as a speeding car zoomed past.

" Get your head out of the clouds Thandie, I didn't screw you that hard did I?" He said smirking and I slipped out of he's grip.

" Oh please." I scoffed.

" I know you won't admit it, I know." He laughed as we finally reached the bus stop and fortunately the bus appeared.

" See you." He smiled as he helped me on to the bus.

"Bye." I smiled back. The bus was mostly empty with a handful of people. I sat down at a window seat and leaned against the glass. The steam from my breathe blurring my vision as I stared out the window and regretted why I had come in the first place.

Finally reached my apartment and decided to be productive, I took a shower, wore my favourite pink pyjamas and sat at my study desk. My assignment luckily wasn't as hard as I thought and it only took me an hour to finish, after that I was so exhausted that I just crawled into bed and slept.

I woke up early in the morning at four. I wonder why I had woken up so early on a Saturday morning and I suddenly Felt homesick because I only woke up that early at home so I decided to call my mother.

" Eh Thandiwe, uli bwa?" My mother's warm smile filled the screen. She was greeting me through my mother tongue, Chichewa and just the sound of her voice warmed my heart.

" Ma, could you please adjust your screen a bit, I can't fully see you."

"Pepa." She apologized and adjusted her phone to a proper angle. " You haven't responded to my greeting, have you stayed so long abroad that you forgot your native tongue."

" Oh no Ma." I laughed. "Ndili bwino kaya inu." I replied to her greeting meaning I am fine and you.

" I'm fine, my child. How's it going, how's school?"

"It's going great ma, I just miss home a lot."

" I don't understand why you would miss this place though." My little sister, Takondwa said as her face appeared on the screen. " You are out of the country! Isn't it fun in the US?"

" Is it wrong to be home sick? Get off my back." I laughed. My mother pushed her off camera.

" Takondwa, Aren't you supposed to be doing the dishes? Can you go back to the kitchen."

" But Ma, I just wanted to talk to Thandie." My little sister complained.

" You've talked to her, now go."

I laughed at Takondwa's grunting as she left my mother's room.

" Finally that troublemaker is gone. Have you eaten? It must be early in the morning there."

" Ma, it's 4 in the morning. I can't start eating at four."

" Why not? I always tell you, you don't eat enough that's why you're skinny. Look at how fat Takondwa is getting, she's starting to look older than you."

" Not this again." I said rolling my eyes and I instantly regretted it.

" Did you just roll your eyes at me young lady, hmm you think you've grown?"

" Ma, I'm sorry." I laughed but she continued to fake disappointment.

" But it's okay, Miss "I'm in the U.S". You'll find us back here in Malawi soon." She laughed. " I have to go, Takondwa seems to have dropped a plate. Let me go shout at her, I'll talk to you later Thandie and remember...."

" I am beautiful inside and out, don't ever let anyone lie to you." We said in unison, she gave me a reassuring smile and cut the call. I sighed, I wish I felt beautiful, I wish I could believe her words but if I was beautiful why didn't Dante want me? There was a loud knock on my front door and I wondered who would be knocking as I reluctantly got out of bed. I opened the door and a drunk guy passed out and fell into my arms. I was dumbstruck, I didn't know what to do. He groaned in my arms as I dragged him inside with the smell of alcohol filling my nostrils, he was really heavy and it took every strength that I had to get him to my couch. Breathing heavily, I looked at him annoyed, out of all the rooms in the apartment complex, he decides to knock on mine? That's it, I'm not staying on the ground floor next semester. I thought making a mental note. He looked pretty decent for a drunk guy, he was actually kind of cute too with he's dark hair and a jawline that looked like it was carved by the gods. Out of all the things to do on the weekend, I'd be babysitting a drunk stranger. Yay.

Late in the afternoon and he still wasn't awake, I had finished all my chores, studied and even cooked while he lay there snoring on the couch. I didn't want to leave him in my living room alone, mostly because I was scared he'd rob me, or jump me when I least expected it. I sat on the carpet next to the couch watching anime on my laptop with the combat knife my father gave me by my side, you know just in case.

"This anime has a sad ending....and man do I have the worst hangover."

I nearly jumped out of my skin, instinctively, I grabbed the knife and pointed it at him.

" Whoa, whoa, chill. I'm not going to hurt you." He said sitting up.

I lowered my knife and he chuckled.

" You're a crazy one, aren't you?" He said looking me over with he's grey eyes, he ran he's hand through he's hair and sinked deeper into the couch.

" Why did you come here?" I asked, ignoring he's comment.

" What? What do you mean why? I thought we hooked up at the bar or something?" He asked looking confused.

" What? No eww. You just came here all drunk and knocked at my door then passed out."

" Oh so we didn't...?"

" No we did not."

" Oh, damn, must have had too much to drink." He said looking slightly embarrassed.

" You think? Go take a shower, have some food, then you can leave."

"Actually, I feel really bad for disturbing you. I think it's best if I leave now." He said standing up and grabbing he's jacket.

" I said shower, now." I said pointing the knife back at him. He put he's hands up.

" Okay, okay, I get it. You have some really scary hospitality, you know that?"

" Just come." I said leading him to the bathroom. He took a shower and I gave him some food to eat and we sat in silence while he slowly ate. There was something familiar about this guy but I couldn't put my finger on it, no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't remember where I saw him. When he was done eating, I escorted him to the door.

" Thank you for everything...uhh what's your name?" He asked turning back at me.

" Thandiwe. Friends call me Thandie."

" Beautiful name, can I call you Thandie?"

" I said friends call me that."

" My name's Jason. Now you know my name and now we're no longer strangers."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Just leave already."

" I'm going. Can I get your number or something?"

" Don't push your luck." I said slamming the door in he's face. I could hear him laugh through the door.

" Okay Thandie, I'll see you around."