In my apartment I take a quick shower, change my clothes, wash the dress and clean up just before I get a message from Fred saying he is downstairs. I send a message back telling him the floor and room number and he says he is on his way up. I sit on the couch, with a hotwater bottle on my back and I am eating my second banana when I hear him knock on my door, "its open!", I hear the door open and then close.
I look up and see him wearing a white vest, and navy blue sweats, he looks good, "wamkelekile eKhaya (Welcome to my Home)" I don't get up but motion for him to come towards me, "Ok quick tour" and I proceed to point out everything around the apartment. "My apologies for not standing up and being a graceful host, my periods cramps are a nightmare", he blushes and just nods. There he is.
After he puts his bag down,we leave the apartment and go to the store, now, I am inquistive and curious by nature but when we arrive at the store he seems to be unsure of where to go and what to do, so I have to ask, "do you even know how to do grocery shopping?"
I see his skin turn red from his neck and ears all the way to the tip of his nose, that's so adorable! He mumbles something along the lines of David's mother does most of their shopping and I just shake my head in disbelief. If this is going to go anywhere clearly, I am going to have to take the reigns. So I tell him to take a trolley. "Can you cook?", he nods.
"Do you want to cook us dinner tonight?",I'm praying he says yes since I don't feel like cooking at all... "sure", I could kiss him I'm so relieved " ok, so I don't eat pork, weird seafood and reptiles and Alka doesn't eat anything I don't eat so if we can stay away from those..." he gives me a confused look, "weird seafoods?", "yeah you know like prawns, shrimp, sushi stuff like that." His facial expression doesn't change, he just stops and looks at me like I'm from another galaxy, eventually he just shakes his head and continues pushing the trolley.
" You know what! let's just stick with chicken, mutton and hake, sound good?", I am smiling from ear to ear... in my head, in reality I just nod "perfect!" He takes a few trays of meat and I give him a disapproving look, " don't be shy now, I might be woman but I have a very healthy relationship with meat so...." I hear him chuckle but I think he gets the message because he takes bigger trays in addition to the other ones, I nod in approval and take spices and sauces.
We continue through the store and as we pass by the pastries I stop the trolley and take a deep breathe and release a loving sigh, "I Love the smell of freshly baked goodies." The cake slices are a bit pricey but I want one of each, I laugh as I see Fred's face stare in shock as I tell the lady over the counter to give me four cake slices. "Want anything?", I turn and ask Fred. His eyes go wide in disbelief, sure on any regular day I wouldn't but I need extra dopamine in my system to make me forget my period cramps "Yes! Those are all mine and I don't share my cake with nobody so speak now or forever hold your peace!", he turns red and points to a donut, we get it and we move on.
As we push the trolley I hear the short and sweet by sauti sol over the store's speakers and I can't help it, I start moving my hips slowly with the beat and singing along, I'm in my own world when music comes on. Fred just takes the trolley and continues walking looking around as if checking to see if anyone is looking at us. The way I could not care less, I dance in front of the trolley making Fred blush as he looks at me, the song comes to an end far too soon and, I hear him whisper "finally".
I glare at him, "Mxm, you wish you had rhythm like me" I say with an eyebrow raise, "I bet you have two left feet!", he looks away as he turns starts to blush again, he looks so cute when he is embarressed he just shakes his head, "ncwah, don't worry Alka and I will teach you how to dance, promise".
We go through the snacks section and I sigh dramatically, "I'm HOME" I say throwing my hands in the air, "By the way, I hope you know we're going fifty-fifty on the groceries so buy what you want, I'm not leaving the house till Monday." I say as I take seven bags of crisps, four large lindt choclate slabs, fizzers, wine gums and oreos.
He looks at me, seemingly bewildered, I think he wasn't expecting this behaviour from me but we are having a sleepover, what is sleepover with no snacks? He shakes his head and replies "No problem" and then he begins taking peanuts and raisins and biscuits and four boxes of fruit juice. "Last stop Ice cream", I say excitedly, he looks at me with wide eyes, he opens then closes his mouth, seemingly deciding not to comment, good boy and continue walking making my way to the fridges.
After the fridges, we were done so we paid, got into the car and started heading back to my apartment. On the way we stopped at a MacDonalds drive thru since I was hungry and couldn't wait for him to cook. I also got a chocolate mcflurry which I also refused to share, he just sighed.
As soon as we got back we quickly unpacked the groceries and then finally sat down to eat. "So...I kinda feel weird since I basically invited a complete stranger to my place, I'm gonna need a quick bio", he looks up from eating his burger and he has sauce all over his lips, I'm tempted to lick it off but I have a feeling this boy would bolt for the door ... so I just smile. He chews and swallows before he speaks, " Ok, my name is Fredrick...." Before he can even finish his sentence I hear the door burst open with so much force it bangs against the wall.
"Honey! I'm home!", I roll my eyes as I hear my sister's voice calling from the door. Of course she just had to make a dramatic entrance.
I hear her footsteps coming in and the bang of the door as she swings it shut, I look at Fred and he seems a bit alarmed and confused. "Oh, you're entertaining that's a first, hi, I am Carol, this one's older sister and you are?", she looks at him expectantly. "By five minutes", I mumble. I think he is trying to adjust at the fact that he is seeing double because it takes him a minute to respond.
He clears his throat and replies "Fredrick van der Merwe." With that he goes back to eating his food.
And just like that, I become a spectator in my own apartment, Carol starts grilling him and the unfortunate soul can barely keep up. I want to intervene but at the same time, I know she'll ask me questions about him, I simply don't know the answers to. So I settle for finishing my meal and then interrupt her.
"What are you doing here?", Fred seems shocked by my question but takes it as an opportunity to polish off the last of his food. My sister however, remains unbothered, by now she knows that with those closest to me, I don't beat around the bush.
"I missed you?!"
I scoff, "is that a question or a statement?"
"Both, I missed you and came to see if I could drag my hobbit of a sister out of the shire for a night out." "The same way you dragged Lindani into sneaking out, I imagine!"
"HEY! that wasn't my fault he would have done it regardless. At least when he got caught they knew where to find him!" I cannot believe she is trying to defend their nonsense. "Awusho ke Dadewethu, usaphila umacina noma uselele nokhokho?" ( Tell me dear sister, is the last born still alive or has he joined our ancestors on the other side?)
She laughs, " he's alive, barely, apparently uBaba was livid, nearly skinned him alive with his whip." I saw Fred stiffen and I knew she mentioned that on purpose, so I decided to let this argument go, for now.
"Well, first of all Gandalf, as you can see I have a guest, secondly you know I do books not nightclubs and thirdly I am not in the mood for another uninvited guest so please Leave Me Alone!"
"That time of the month?", I nod rolling my eyes at the fact the she ignored everything else I said, "ncese (sorry) luv, but I cannot in good conscience leave you alone with a strange man in your apartment, imagine the scandal if uBaba were to hear of this and umlungu (white person) at that, he would have a heart attack!" She gives me a smug look.
I see Fred watching our exchange and clearly becoming uncomfortable, "you wouldn't!"
"Oh, but I would as soon as you kick me out I will speed dial uBaba, I wander how long it would take him to get here?" At this point she is smiling from ear to ear, and this ladies and gentlemen is my evil twin.
"Argh, I hate you!" As I walk into my room I hear her say "love you too sis", and there goes my quiet night. It's not all bad, I do actually miss her... sometimes, I just prefer her to visit me when I am alone. I don't know, something about her being with people just reminds me of how different we are, I lie down on my bed with my hot water bottle and a blanket. As I look for something to watch on my laptop I hear Fred laugh, I feel myself become dejected, this is why I don't like being around her, she brings out this envious side of me.
I leave the bedroom to go to the fridge to get a cake slice, I walk passed them as they cook together. They seem to have become fast friends and I swallow the bitterness that rises like bile, burning my throat. Sometimes, I wish I was more like her, the worst part is she has done nothing to deserve my resentment. My insecurities are the main reasons why I don't hang out with her or like to have her around my friends.
I hate these stupid hormones, they just make everything worse. "Bilbo, don't be rude to your guest hawu, come sit here with us", I know she's trying to be nice and include me but now I feel like a charity case.
"No its cool, I'm going to catch up on vikings and I'll come out once the food is ready."
"At least sit in the lounge and watch your series, don't lock yourself in your room", she gives me a pointed look and I'm pissed because I know she's right.
I proceed to my room and get my laptop and blanket, I take the cake slice and pour a glass of coca cola (coke), "anybody want some?", I offer as a gracious host should, they both accept a glass of coke so I pour. They continue talking and I can't help but feel jealous at how Fred like everyone else seemingly forgets that I exist whenever my sister is around. He has barely spoken to me all day, I should be used to it by now, my sister has a way of capturing her audience. I hand them their drinks and quickly move away with my drink and cake in hand.
Soon my cake is finished and I am basically drooling over Ivar and Bjorn, I pause the show and I quickly login and start to update my fanfiction book while I still feel inspired. It isn't a great book but it helps me express myself and live though this fantasy world. A tap on my shoulder interrupts my train of thought and I look up to see Fred blushing, I take off my headphone,
" the food is ready."
I give him a thumbs up and I save my work, and then head to the kitchen. Carol has just finished dishing up for me, its just stir fry but the aroma is mouth watering and I suddenly feel bad for hating on her. She can't help who she is, and so I walk around to her, hug her from behind and kiss her cheek, "thank you." Fred looks surprised, " what do you want one to?" I say opening my arms out to him, he just blushes and shakes his head, I shrugg and take my plate from her and take my seat.
"See, what did I tell you, the way to her heart is through her stomach", she winks at Fred who turns an even deeper shade of red, I'm intrigued but too hungry to care, so I say grace and dig in.
"So how long are you planning to crash here Freddie?", Carol and her nosey self, I roll my eyes and wait for his response. "Well I was invited to the sleepover so I'm guessing till Sunday". I moan as I taste the food, "as long as you cook like this, you can stay as long as you like!", I say savouring the flavour, and THIS is why I need a man who can cook!
He chuckles and blushes saying it was a team effort, and trust I know my sister can throw down in the kitchen but she has never made this for me."Thanks for the shout out Freddie, but this is all you and I agree sis, if you don't take him I will!"
"Mxm, zitholele owakho umlungu (find your own white person)", she laughs and just like that my mood has lifted. I love her and dispise her at the same time,its a messed up cycle that begins and ends with me, all I know is I wouldn't be complete without her.