"Hey, ladies" Cavin stands elegant in front of us with a beaming smile. What is he smiling for?
I glance at Lou whose face was not so friendly and welcoming. She just stood by my side with her lips pouted. After a stretch of silence. He opened his mouth with a dent of disdain.
"I see, greetings are not your things. Follow me the party is this way" He gestured with his hand and we follow him.
"Where's the ladies room, I want to powder my nose" Lou speak with a small voice.
"You are lucky, there it is" He points on our far right.
She excused herself with her hips dancing left and right dance. I gazed at her, she's petite but holds herself elegantly. She looks friendly, but with her sudden change of composure, I fear that it is true, fear a woman who is petite because they are the most dangerous. Just like a sly fox.
"I want to powder my nose" He releases small chuckles. I give him a reprimanding look, trying to hold back the urge to laugh too. "Come on..so you don't want to laugh because it's your new lover's sister or cousin. When did you get people-pleasing?" He tries to reach for my chin, and I swerve avoiding his touch. He glances at me with a little bit of surprise.
Why is he surprised? We are over and done with, and he is aware of that.
"How do you know that?" I question trying to distract him from staring into my eyes.
" The resemblance" He points the obvious.
"Oh, maybe you are being a stalker. I mean, I never knew you had a friend here" I ask him suspiciously trying to provoke him so I can get a reaction out of him. But he was relaxed and looked at me complacently.
"I guess we don't know each other as we thought. I never knew you were a cheater" He retorts with a dark glaze on his eyes.
"Okay," I shrug my shoulders and shift my gaze to the lavatory. I know he is trying to get some reaction out of me and I won't dare try to entertain him on his terms. I came here for one reason only, to clear something.
She walks out and quickly rushes to where we were standing.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting" She smiles sheepishly while pulling her short dress.
"No stress. Let's go. People may wonder did I disappear to" He leads the way.
In few steps, we walk into the venue of the party. The hall was decorated with balloons and ribbons. In front, There were balloons in the form of Happy 25th shape. I scan the room and it was not packed, it had enough people to form a party. This party is looking very elegant. The music was chilled and people were conversing in groups at the table.
Is this a party or reunion? This is not the situation I was looking forward to. I close my eyes in regret. I should have asked to see before he leaves to avoid this fancy setting I am in.
"Thank you" She picks two wine glasses from the tray from the waiter. She hands over both of them. "Pick"
I take the wine glass on her right hand and quickly patch my dry throat.
"Nice...I thought it would disappoint because it is white " I comment while savouring the aftertaste on my tongue.
She burst a small chuckle and I quickly observe my sentence.
"Oh no, you said nothing wrong. In my head, I had a scenario of mine. You are right it's nice..." She takes another sip with her eyes wandering in the room.
We search for a place to sit since Cavin left us by ourselves to mingle with his acquaintances. We settle for a table with fewer people. It had a couple who were loved up and cooed up to each other. We sat without them even taking a glimpse of us which had pleased Lou who smiled broadly for being in this boring without her identity being discovered. According to her, everything was well.
While we sit and exchange remarks about the party, a guy came over with Cavin to our table. Cavin settled himself next to me and the stranger sat next to Lou who was moving closer to me. I don't whether she was creating space for the manor running away from him. The man was averagely built and heightened so he would have squeezed himself perfectly without her moving closer to me.
"So ladies meet Lebo" He smiles faintly. Ugh! He is trying to be so modest. "Lebo meet the lady who owns my heart, Deya" He beams with his eyes.
I choke at his words.
"Used to, don't give your friend wrong ideas" She gives Cavin a stern gaze. Oh, yea! This is why you are here tonight, to ensure that no funny business takes place. He gazes at her with disdain.
"Meet Musa's little sister" His lip contort into a scoring smirk.
His friend is thrown aback as his jaw drop but immediately gather composure and did not catch the attention of the crowd.
"The famous Princess of Mala house. You look more beautiful in person than in pictures. And you look petite in-person" He remarks at her in whispers. "I feel honoured to be blessed with your presence in my birthday celebration" His lips form a wide smile which gave me chills and seems to be making Lou feel sick as she drowns the remaining of her wine in a big gulp.
"My pleasure" She forms a rocked smile.
"Fantastic, let me get to know you better" His lips still stretching a smile. Wow! Money is the beginning of all wicked plans.
"Let us give you space" Cavin rises and said to me to do the same. I try to get up. I need to talk to him. Lou holds my hand in desperation.
"I won't be long" I assure her with my gaze and she lets my hand go. Uh...We have a sister communication. I feel like dancing, but how can one express joy dancing to classic jams.
"So tell me about yourself" Lebo starts the conversation
"What is there to tell" Lou hails at the waiter who was serving another table wine.
We walk away from that awkward predicament and head outside the hall towards the bungalow. The air was caressing my skin and calming the high temperature that my body has absorbed in the hall. We walk gently and slowly as we lead far away from the hall. We end settling on the bench by the path that leads to the Bungalow.
We sit quietly and gaze at the quiet open space. The air from the river blew towards us making it a little bit chilly on the skin. I rub my arms. I don't know how to start this conversation with him.
"So I am glad to see you" I initiate the conversation testing if the waters aren't too deep.
"I am glad too. We didn't end things on a good note"
I feel his arms put his lumber jacket on my shoulders.
"I do agree...that is why I wanted to see you" I take a glimpse of his faraway image with the rear of my eyes.
"You could not see me out of this space, is your new lover overprotective and obsessive?" His tone was cold and scolding.
"He is rather nice than what you encountered that day" I try to remain neutral, I have a mission.
He scoffs "In your eyes...Malas always have a way of showing their true colours as they grow older"
"What do you mean by that?" I jolt my head and face him with a baffled expression.
"Don't be too gullible that's all I am saying" His voice becoming more distant
"Argh! You know I hate riddles, just say it the way it is" I glance away, he should stop hitting around the bush.
"Don't be mad. You are not entitled to" Now I could feel his face in my direction, his piercing gaze.
"Whatever! I came here to tell you something" I pause. He tries to open his mouth, but I chip in to finish my statement.
"I came to apologize for betraying your trust and hurting you through betrayal. I am sorry. I should have tried my best not to do what I did to you" I glimpse his image a few seconds and go back to the initial stare, staring into the river that I can't see because of the darkness covering it as a blanket.
"So you regret dating Musa," He asks
"No, I don't. I love him. Why should I?" I ask perplexed by his words
"Because you are here with me " He retorts.
I glance at him and observe him.
"Ai Aredzi! Cavin, I don't want your love back, I just want to apologise for hurting you" I try to utter the words slowly as I can so that he can comprehend the message I am trying to relate him to.
"Then you are not apologetic. I don't want your apologies, I want us to fix things. I still love you and I am willing to fight for you because I saw yesterday and today, that our love can be salvaged" His body was facing me. I could see his gaze in the dark, so intense.
"Our relationship is over and I love someone else" I get up from the bench because his intense gaze was making me feel unease.
"Dee, my love is what you deserve...plus, how can you love someone like that quickly, while you were in love with me?" He stares at me daringly.
I move my gaze from him. "I don't know" I answer with a low tone.
"Then what makes you think you love him? I tell you what, I forgive you for getting so tempted, I mean he is tempting. I can take you back. I will let this be buried in the past" He walks towards me.
"How dare you?!! You are insulting me" I am now livid. I wanted to have a decent talk but he is insulting me and cornering me into an awkward conversation. He misinterpreted my intentions.
" Am I? When I say the truth" He moves closer to me.
"Step away. We are grown for this" I step away. He moves closer.
"She said step away" A firm voice speaks between us. The almighty Lou came to my rescue. Whew!