I am so glad Lebo is not uptight, I thought she was going to be those prudish first year girls. No, I don't like her in that sense I just admire her persona. From the distance, she seems like those type of ladies who have a strong sense of character. Those ones who you don't mess with. I saw this when I stepped closer hoping I would get a hug from her, but no she just said "goodnight" and closed the door on me. Now I know that with her I need to respect her boundaries, of which I am cool with that. I think we are going to make great friends.
My encounter with Lebo was different with Sindi. With Sindi, I admired her the first time I saw her and immediately wanted her. On the other hand, Lebo was just that kind of girl who you want to be friends with. From the little time I spent with her I could see that she was driven, focussed and you could tell she was good at giving advices. Well, with Sindi there's this other side I refrain talking about because it's almost extreme. She is a go getter, whatever she wanted she always made sure to get. It might sound like it's something good, but it could be toxic especially when she was extreme.
I have told you about how we met in Durban, but I never explained about how things were between us after the meeting. In my second year a few months after settling in she texted me that we could hook up. It has been a while without seeing or even talking to her, Jen had been keeping me busy, it was either us having to go out or accompanying her to her modelling gigs. She was a great model, always had work to do and always requested by designers to model for them I remember we once went to Paris for a week to do one of her gigs. Sindi knew that I had a girlfriend, so it was not a problem for her. I also did tell Jen about Sindi, she always had a problem with her, but I thought it was just her jealousy over nothing.
So, the day I got a chance, Sindi and I went on a date. Well…it's not a date-date but it was a date. I took her out on her favourite restaurant-another branch of the restaurant where we met. We had food, lots of it because we were both foodies. When eating, I don't like talking and Sindi knew it. So, we ate silently and after the amazing meal we had, we took one deep breath and looked at each other. This was a way of saying: "what a meal" without saying much or saying anything at all.
"Sindi," I said while wiping my hands and mouth and taking a sip.
"Yes," she said sipping her juice slowly.
"You texted me and said we should hook up, what did you have in mind?" I asked.
"I missed my friend is there anything wrong with that?" she said rolling her eyes at me.
There was just something the way she said it that was giving me chills down the spine, but I could put my finger into it.
"Okay then, we had a nice meal, this restaurant is the best when it comes to quality and taste, they know what they are doing," I said looking at her and smiling.
"The food tastes great, I would eat it every day all day," she said her voice was changing and it was probably due to the pleasure of food.
As we were still talking, she was filling me in with schoolwork and her family. Then a text came in, it was Josh asking me my whereabouts, I had forgotten that I promised we would chill together at his place.
"This is lovely, but I have to go, I forgot that I was supposed to be chilling with my best friend today at his place," I said standing up and sorting the bill.
"Then let me go with you, after all, your friend should be my friend don't you think?" she said.
I was reluctant to agree into this, I knew how my friend was and Sindi at that time had never met him. Knowing her, she wouldn't agree me to leave her behind, so I agreed to tagging her along.
On our way as I was driving my car, she was the one doing the talking. Saying that her family actually wants to see me because I inspired their daughter. I don't know if that was a great idea, I mean when I met her I wanted her to be my girlfriend, I think she was hot, and happening-I still think she is. Sindi has a great body, fit and yet fresh. We also went to the gym together from time to time-if I found a chance to.
Most of my time I was either studying, reading, or spending with my girlfriend. So, I would gym at least 3 times in a week. Sindi offered to be my gym partner so we would gym together, all the time. To be quite honest, I would crave her body from time to time, after all it was an African body, who can resist? Even though I felt like that, I still told myself that I wouldn't ruin our friendship or my relationship. Okay, I admit being a jerk in a sense because whenever I was with my girlfriend, I never was attracted to her body compared to Sindi.
Outwards I was playing along as if all was well, but I knew at the back of my mind that Josh was going to react, one way or the other. The fact that I allowed a lady to be a part of our plans without even informing him, let alone her race. The problem was I didn't know whether it was going to be bad in a sense that he was only going to say something nasty or do something nasty. I was between a rock and a hard place and I didn't even know how to prepare Sindi for all this.
"Um Sindi," I called her out.
"Yes," she turned and smiled.
"Don't you want me to accompany at your res instead? I mean my friend will not like it if I came along with…" I trailed off and my eyes became more fixed on the road.
"a black friend?" she said.
"I didn't say that," I replied.
"You didn't have to, your reaction gave it away before you could say anything," she shouted.
"Come on Sindi don't be like this, I am only trying to protect you," he said.
"Don't protect me, I can protect myself no worries. I can handle him, you'll see," she said.
"Okay…" I said and continued driving.
I became silent up until we arrived and so did she, not sure if it was the nerves or she was just preparing herself. I knocked and he instantly opened.
"It's about time you came, I have been waiting for almost 2 hours," Josh said as he opened the door.
"Hey, man I came with someone a friend of mine…" I said pointing at Sindi as she stepped in.
"So, you mean to tell me that you were delayed by a black woman? Unbelievable!" said Josh.
"O-kay, Josh this is my friend Sindi. Sindi, this is my friend Josh," I said trying to calm the situation.
"Hey Josh…Pleased to meet you," she replied stretching out her hand.
Josh looked at Sindi with disgusted eyes not willing to shake her hand.
"Come on man…Just give this a try, Please, do it for me. Okay, if you do I will wipe out the debts you owed me," I said.
"Even the R1500 that you always reminded me?" he asked.
"Yes, I mean everything," I replied.
He was reluctant, but after some time he shook her hand.
"Ugh, now I have to wash my hands at least twice," he said.
"Don't worry my skin colour will not pass onto you," said Sindi with a spiteful smile.
She did say that she would handle him, okay-and it seems like she was. We were playing videogames and waiting for a pizza delivery. Sindi was beating us throughout the game, I had no idea she was good at this, but I was impressed. We paused the game when there was a knock at Josh's door-it was the pizza guy.
"Excuse me, please go and fetch the pizza on a door for us," Josh said looking at Sindi.
"Hey wena! Take a good look at me…Do you see your maid? What makes you think I will let you walk over me like that. Let me tell you something wena…My parents are rich, and I don't even know what it is to do my laundry. Just because I am black it doesn't mean I come from a poor background. Don't patronise me, Tsk! Tell me what is this? Huh? What is it?" shouted Sindi as she took notes of R200s (I am not sure how many they were) and threw them on his face.
"Sindi, please calm down," I begged, and she just kept quiet folding her arms and tapping her right feet.
Josh just stood up quietly, he didn't expect Sindi would stand up for herself and so did I, frankly. After a few seconds he was back with 3 boxes of pizza and placed them on the coffee table. I wasn't sure if Sindi was going to eat or even pick her money that was still on the floor. There was an awkward silence and I wasn't sure what to do to lighten the mood. Sindi opened the boxes to check the flavours.
"Oh, here's my pizza," she said, and we were still shocked at how she changed from being angry to this.
Josh and I were still shocked and didn't know what to say or do next.
"Aren't you going to eat? Otherwise your pizza will be cold. Besides, we have a game to finish," she said as she took the first slice and shoved it in her mouth.
I made an icebreaker by being the first one to take my box and Josh shortly followed. Ever since I knew my friend Josh, I have never seen him like this. Normally he used to intimidate people, but today he was the one intimidated. We continued playing like nothing happened or should I say Sindi was the one who was acting like nothing happened. Josh just felt out of place in his own home, even I sensed that.
"Um…excuse me, at least can you go throw these boxes away and make us something to drink," he said.
I have no clue what she was saying because she was cursing in Zulu, probably calling Josh names for being a jerk. Oh, and he was a jerk, who would insult such a person after what happened earlier on. I am pretty sure that he couldn't even swallow the pizza after the stunt Sindi pulled, yet he continued…
"…You know what I can't do this, Matt please take me home. Unless you have also become racist as well. I can always call an Uber for myself," she was talking to me yet facing Josh.
Josh was also yelling but Sindi's words were louder than Josh's and I am sure he was just saying nasty racist things. I carried Sindi out of the house and placed her inside the car. She was still angry, but at least now she was quiet. Then I drove her back to school. Then I accompanied her to her room and out of nowhere she started crying. Not knowing what to do, I consoled her with a hug. Somehow I felt and understood the source of her pain. The hug lasted for about 20 minutes because she couldn't stop crying. I wonder why this was affecting her so much.
When she was quiet, I picked her up and laid her on the bed. I turned away and I felt her hand holding me.
"Please don't go, I need you," she said.
"Okay I will stay, as long as you want me to," I said.
Then she immediately pulled me towards her, I fell on top of her and I knew what she wanted.
"What are you doing Sindi?" I asked though I knew exactly what was happening.
"You said you will stay, as long as I wanted to, and I want you to stay longer and entertain me. I know you've been checking me out and I know that you want me. Don't worry because I want you too," she said as she moved her lips closer to mine.
"No, Sindi we are friends; besides, I have a girlfriend, Remember?" I said pushing her away.
"I know that, and I am not asking to be your girlfriend, I am just saying we can be friends and have side benefits. Come on, your white girlfriend will never give you this better than I can," she said as she was unbuttoning her shirt.
I saw her black bra and the next thing I knew we did it. She was right, I have never felt so good after sex, she was good… No scratch that, she was great. All I knew is I wanted this, I wanted her even though I had a girlfriend. So, from that day onwards, we've been friends with benefits…
I don't know how Josh saw this, but he wasn't impressed with the fact that I slept with a black girl. He insulted her and then me and I lost it. We started fighting and all I can say is I gave him few good punches and he was knocked out. It would have been something else if he were attacking me for cheating on Jen, but no it was yet again about racism and I hated that.
"So, what if I am attracted to people different from my race? Is that a crime?" I asked him whilst he was still landing on the floor.
It took weeks for me and Josh to be okay. Although, till today I always make sure that I keep Sindi and Josh apart from each other. After all we didn't have a choice, he was my friend. I know I was a horrible person for doing this to Jen, and I was always sad. Even though I was sad about it, I have to admit whenever I spent nights at Sindi's place I used to feel great. Maybe, just maybe I was attracted to a different kind of race instead.