6.

6.

AVETHANDWA SISULU

Time travels so fast. Next week, I'll be an official degree holder, and today I'm going out with Tinyeleti to her brother's place. I don't want to admit this, but I'm actually looking forward to going there. He lives in a fancy building. We passed by the mall first for some alcohol. I'm not going to drink this time. I don't want to embarrass myself in front of my crush. Don't mention any of this to Tinyeleti.

“10th floor it is.” Tinyeleti tells no one in particular as she presses the button. I'm busy pulling down my skirt, but it's short already. What am I doing? It's not like I'm going to meet my boyfriend's parents. Tinyeleti is wearing even a shorter dress, and she has no care in the world. It's easier to wear short clothes inside the house than it is to wear them outside.

The elevator opens up, and we walk to his door with the alcohol. Tinyeleti rings the bell, and the door opens up, revealing her shirtless brother. I swear I stop breathing as I take him in. He looks lick-able as usual.

“Hi, you came.” He tries to hug her, but she pushes him away.

“I'm not your girlfriend.” She walks right past him into the house. He then stares at me with that perfect smile of his. Why are his teeth so white? It's like every time I meet him, he gets more handsome. Is that even possible?

“Avethandwa, hi.” He offers a hug, and I willingly hug him back. He smells so nice.

“Hi.” I let him go so as not to be weird about it.

“You look extra pretty today. Is that a new hairstyle?” He noticed? The girl in me is melting as I nod. “Come right in.” I walk in and find two guys sitting on the couch and Tinyeleti right in between them with a bowl of chips.

“Hi.” I seem to find myself in awkward situations, but this one is worth it. I get to be around my crush.

“Hey Miss-squeaky-voice and who may you be?” One guy asks. He's staring at me from my feet to my head with a ridiculous smile plastered on his face, and I just want to roll my eyes, but hey, I'm supposed to act nice.

“Avethandwa, um...where should I put this?” I gesture to the box of packs of Corona in my hands.

“Bring it here. Feel comfortable.” Lunghani, Tinyeleti's brother, takes the two six packs from me. I sit at the other available couch and feel right at home.

“Avethandwa, you say. You got such a beautiful name. I'm Kahlolo.” The guy who greeted me, say. I don't think i can pronounce his name, but before I could even try, a beautiful girl walks in from one of the rooms. She's wearing a dress and some sneakers. She looks so pretty that I feel jealous.

“Hey guys. This is Nompilo, my girlfriend.” Lunghani introduces her, and it feels like someone just stabbed me. His girlfriend? Okay, I'm not dramatic, but I always thought we gonna have a chance, and I would tame the womaniser in him.

“Girlfriend? Wow. I'm Tinyeleti, his sister.” Tinyeleti stood up, and she hugged her.

“I heard so much about you.” The girl says before they let go of each other.

“I find that hard to believe. Where has he been hiding you? You have such beautiful skin. Are you sure you're not a robot?” Tinyeleti is busy staring at her in shock. So am I.

“You're funny. Baby, these are the guys, Kahlolo and Kabelo. They are actually brothers. My boys from back home.” The introduction was boring me. I'm no longer looking forward to the day. I'll rather go back to my apartment and try new dishes, plus I went grocery shopping yesterday. Or I could go to the rehabilitation centre or go to the dance studio to dance the tension away. “And this is Avethandwa. She's like a little sister.” Wow. A little sister?

“Hi Avethandwa. You're just so pretty.” Nompilo complimented me. She's nice, i guess.

“Thank you, although that doesn't feel like a compliment in your presence. You're just too gorgeous.” She is. I'm not gonna be bitter to her like she stole my man. I mean, she could as well have, but she hasn't. What's drama for?

“Oh well, you're so kind. Uhm... I have a few board games prepared for today.” Maybe the day wouldn't be so bad.

—

I lied. The day was bad. Well, maybe not so bad but bad. Nompilo and Lunghani disappeared and left us in the apartment because she had an emergency and he had to drive her. Tinyeleti also had to meet up with her baby daddy. She said she was sorry she had to leave and obviously I couldn't stay alone but she was rushing and took the stairs instead while I took the elevator. I had to wait for it to open, and when it finally did, I got in. There was some guy on a phone, but I was just so uninterested that I didn't even try to listen in or look at him. I just folded my arms and stood there in my uncomfortable heels. I was making an effort for a cuffed man when I wore them. Sneakers are so much better than these demons.

The elevator suddenly stopped, and it went a little dark before the lights came back, but it had entirely stopped working. Great. Just great. I'm not claustrophobic, but I don't last in small spaces for a long time. It start feeling like the walls are closing in on me, but hopefully, they gonna fix this soon.

“Fuck!” The man next to me curse and stares at his phone. I think I've seen in movies that when an elevator stops working so does the phone signal.

Since we are gonna be stuck in here for a long time, I lift up my leg to take off my heels but the strap is just so complicating and I think I start to panic a little bit because it's just starting to be a little hot in here. The AC has stopped working.

The man suddenly gets a hold of my leg and helps unstrap the heel. He's doing it with so much gentleness and patience that it gives me goosebumps. Whose man is he? He does the same with the other leg while completely quiet all this time. He puts down both the heels.

“Thanks.” I mumble. I'm still in shock because I haven't seen that in movies.

“Do you think I could use your phone? Mine's out of battery.” He stares at me and this time I also stare at him to take a good look at him. Okay, he's older than me. I'm 21, I can tell when someone is older than me. His hair is in locs that he has tied up. He got beard. Lots of it. He's dark skinned. He's in a black suit and white unbuttoned shirt. The suit is either small on him or he's too big for it. I mean the man is monstrous. I have to tilt my head to stare at him and he smells so nice. I said a lot haven't I?

“Did you hear me?” He asked out of impatience. And he's got an accent. I don't think he's from South Africa. Nigerian perhaps?

“Uh sure.” I take out my phone and unlocks it before handing it to him. Helping me with my heels doesn't mean I owe him anything but I do it out of the kindness of my heart. I hear him dialing on it before placing it on his ear while staring at me. I don't know why aren't I staring anywhere? And he's also wearing studs on both ears. Did I mention that detail?

“I'm stuck in the lift. Take me out. I borrowed the phone. I give you two minutes.” He hang up and clears the call history before he hand it back to me.

“Thank you.” And he's a polite man but with his sharp jaw that looks like it could slice something, he should smile more but who am I to judge? I'm not the smiling type either.

Exactly two minutes later the elevator start moving and I exhale. He seems to be going to the first floor and when the elevator opens up, he get out first. Probably not wanting to spend a second more. I grab my heels and also get out. I find Tinyeleti waiting for me at the entrance and we walk out together in silence.