I move towards the bed and start to take off the bedding, I hear her groan before she stands up. "We should definitely do that again, but not until you get padded floors." I hear her groan again as she stretches, "uyahlanya" (you're crazy), you think I'm going to get padded floors just so you can wrestle me whenever you feel like it, mxm."
She just chuckles, "I had to ask, like the saying goes - you'll never know until you ask", "no, you knew and you still asked", I tell her as I take the bed sheet and throw it on the bed and she takes the other side to tuck in and we continue making the bed together. I decide to take a quick shower and I'm done I walk back into my room to find that she's assembled an outfit for me to wear. Its nice too, white shirt and grey pencil skirt unfortunately for her its too formal for my sick day, I guess in yesterday's excitement I forgot to tell her I wouldn't be going to work today.
The weather is sunny with a cool breeze but that can change at any moment so I wear a black sleeveless maxi dress and thin grey hoodie. I walk into the kitchen to find Carol and Freddie bonding over what smells like cups of coffee. "You're up", I motion to Carol to go take a shower and she quickly finishes her coffee then heads for the room.
"So... I'm going to the doctor's office today, for a sick note. You wanna get a sick note or you going to work?", I mean I'd understand if he wanted to avoid that building for a while...
He's silent for a few minutes "I-I-I've never r-really called in sick..", he looks like he's not sure, I know I would skip if I were in his shoes but maybe he's tougher than he looks.
"How are you feeling?", he chuckless, " thats the first thing your sister asked me and I-I dont know how to a-answer that", I smile at him "that's ok, at least you know you're with people who care enough to ask."
I move around him and start making breakfast.. "how does toast with avo and omlette sound?", he give me a thumbs up so I start assembling the ingredients..
"How long have you been working at your firm?, " t-three years, I-I worked during the holidays while I was s-studying as well so about 6 years."
I'm impressed, clearly he's dedicated and passionate, I can see his mood lifting just thinking about it. "Well don't take it as a sick day, take it as a mental health day, trust you need a break from the office especially after what happened yesterday"
I can tell he's not convinced, but I'd rather he skip a day than he go into work and mess up because he wasn't mentally ready to go back. I want to accept his decision but I can't help but try to make him see reason.
"Clearly you love your work and I'm sure you give 100% to your work every day, but look me in the eyes and tell me that when you see David today, which if you go to the office is a fact and he's with your ex or he's bragging about how he put you down yesterday, can you honestly say that it won't affect your work today?"
His wounds are still fresh and he's taking it lightly because he can't see them. I break the eggs into the jug, I pour milk and whisk them together. "Just think about taking the day to process your feelings and get yourself straight", I plead.
I can't be playing Bob the builder, trying to fix him everytime his brother breaks him.
He nods and takes the bread to make the toast. We work around each other until Carol comes out of the room looking better and having tamed her hair and put on her make up. "That smells good, what is it eggs ?", "put out the plates please?", then I proceed to slice the avo and put it onto the table, once everything is ready we sit, say grace and dig in.
Fred finishes first and hurries to take a shower, I really hope he listens to me because he land himself in the hospital if he's not careful. "So, aren't you going to work today?", "Nope, got a sick day after my period decided to make itself known at work, its embarrassing really." I see her eyes almost come out of her head, while she's chewing.
"Don't worry, Alka save my butt, literally, she saw the stain and called our supervisor who suggested I take the day off. Have you spoken to uBaba since the incident with uLee?" She huffs and I laugh because I already know the answer, I arch my eyebrow, "so you were bluffing when you threatened to call him yesterday?, mxm." She give me a slick smile, " well it doesn't matter now, in any case, did you really want to kick me out, on a hunch about me bluffing?"
Did I mention how much I hate her!
My phone rings from the bedroom and by the ringtone I can tell its uBaba. Without thinking I rush to my bedroom to get it. I push down the handle and open the door, low and behold Freddie is still in the middle of getting dressed.
In the split second that I opened the door, he stood still as if he was shocked that I had just walked in, this allowed me to ... admire his physique and for that moment I forgot why I barged into my room, all I could see was freckles. His lean abdomen was littered with freckles, come to think of it, he had freckles all over his wide shoulders, his long arms too, how did I miss them?
Before I could finish drooling I heard Chainsmoking by Jacob Banks blaring again and that seemed to break him out of his daze because he began to hurriedly get dressed. He was only in his boxers though, so after I reached for my phone on the dressing table, I answered my phone while catching a final glance at him.
"Sawbona Baba"(Hi Dad), "Why didn't you answer the phone when I called you the first time, ubusy nomfana lapho (were you busy with a boy), its starts with not answering our calls, next you come home married with tattoos and ..." I zone out, I learned not to interupt him during of his rants years ago.
Instead I focus on the white boy who's entire body seems to have turned a light shade of crimson, he quickly pulls his jeans over his thick strong thighs. Damn, I never knew thighs could look so good.
"Uyangizwa?" (Do you hear me), "yebo Baba" (yes dad). I decide that I value my life more than I like having fun making Fred blush. I turn around to see him buckle his belt, " How are you doing at work, are you adjusting well, did you make new friends?"
Fred looks up and I wink at him before I leave the room, "Its going well, its different, more paperwork than I expected and its challenging so I'm enjoying myself .." I carry on to tell him about Alka while walking into the kitchen. "That's good to hear you know your brother nearly gave us a heart attack last week..." he proceeds to vent telling me everything I already know.
I see a note in the table, Carol left apparently she has an early class, which I don't believe. She ditched me so she wouldn't have to talk to uBaba no doubt, sneaky little...
"liphi iwele lakho, kade ngimfonela ucingo akalibambi" (where is your twin, I've been phoning her, she doesn't answer my calls). I roll my eyes, obviously she wouldn't "she just left, we had a sleep over but she has an early class."
He sighs, "I swear your siblings are trying to send me to an early grave, you're the only one that doesn't give me grief", I giggle "I love you too Baba, don't let them win, destress and unwind today, you'll be ok."
As I get off the phone with UBaba I see Fred coming out of my room. His full outfit feels like a nerdy smart casual, he's wearing black jeans with a white shirt tucked in and black tie and a dark grey jersey. I'm guessing he's going to work after all.
Oh well, his funeral.
I turn away from him to start washing the dishes, "Hey sorry about barging in on you earlier, I was sure you'd still be in the shower, regardless sorry if I made you uncomfortable, I should have knocked."
I hear a shuffle behind me then, see a long white hand reach past me to take the dish cloth. "S-sure", I see him start to wipe the wet dishes in the rack. I want to tell him he looks good half naked but I don't want to make it awkward to I keep that comment to myself.
"Looks like you're opting to go to work? Can I catch a lift with you to the doctor's, there's one on the way to the office."
"Sure", not very talkative anymore, figures. Standing next to him while finishing up the dishes, I realise just how tall he is or rather how small he makes me feel. I'm kinda grateful my sister came yesterday, seemingly Fred and I don't mind silence and although its usually ok, having my sister here helped distract him from thinking about everything. I can't wait until Alka comes.
We leave the apartment soon after and he drops me off at the doctor's office. The drive here was silent, I wanted to give him a pep talk but didn't, I have a feeling he's going to give himself a panic attack of he thinks about seeing David today. Instead I insisted that before lunch I'll come to his office and hang out till we leave with Alka.
I'm praying we don't run into his brother but I think David is counting on seeing him today and I'm sure he'll be ready to put the last nail into Fred's coffin.
I shake the thought away as I wait hear my name called in to see the doctor. I get a text from Alka saying she's excited about the sleepover, and I send her a text back explaining that we'll have a guest joining the sleepover. He's her stray so she shouldn't mind too much.
I finally hear my name called out after 20mins in the waiting room. I walk up to the nurse who gives me directions then I go to the 4th door on the left, inside I'm greeted by a female doctor. 15 mins, four hundred rand and an ultrasoumd later, I leave the doctor's office with a sick note.
Honestly, she said what I thought she would, I'm stressed and my hormones are probably haywire. She gave me some medication to take but advised I see a gynecologist if the heavy flow continues. It's not even 10am when I leave the office and take a taxi to the mall. I want to destress and focus on myself today.
I walk into a fruit and veg store and buy a smoothie, then I walk to the book shops. Truthfully the books are expensive, but I like to torture myself and look for new books reading the descriptions at the back and letting my mind run wild with the possiblities of each storyline.
I've long finished my smoothie and I decide to treat myself to something to eat. I go to a food stand I've never eaten at, but the line is kinda long so I have faith that the food tastes good. In front of me is a really tall muscular guy, he is head and shoulders above me. Regardless I tap him and I see his head turn and peer at me behind him.
"Hi, sorry to disturb you, I've never eaten at this stand and I was wandering if you know whether their chips and wings are any good?", he silently stared at me as if contemplating whether I'm serious and I stared right back expectantly. He huffs and turns slightly so his back isn't completely turned away from me.
"It's not the best I've ever eaten but their good escpecially for the price, I suggest buying the R30 deal that's what I'm getting." I blinked a few times, his voice was a smooth tenor, it surprised me since I expected a base, I feel like I could listen to him speak all day, but I quickly shake off the thought "thanks and one more thing, how hot is their hot exactly, I have a health respect for extemely hot food...." I see his bicep move away from me as he turns to his side as if to take a better look at me, and I finally get a good look at his face.
Dark skin never looked so good, I mean the brother had rich dark skin complete with the thick lips and wide nose and I have to crane my neck further to see his eyes, " Extra hot is no joke, their hot just right but thats my personal opinion, if heat isn't your thing take mild."
"Mxm I'm not scared, I just don't want to be crying and have a runny noise because of hot wings", I say folding my arms they call for the next customer and he walks up to the counter. I check my phone while waiting for to get called up, I see Alka's text saying she's soo bored and can't wait until the day is over and I smile. Somehow I feel relieved knowing she's still coming tonight.
I hear next customer and I walk up and order hot wings and chips, in less than 10mins my number is called and I fetch my order. I sit at one of the tables and dig in, darkskinstranger was right - hot is perfect especially since I use the sauce as dip for the spicy chips. I look around and don't see him at any of the tables, too bad I was going fo thank him.
After polishing off the meal, I leave the mall and take a taxi that leaves me in front of the office building. I decide to take the stairs to his floor since their firm is closer to ground floor plus I don't want to risk running into anyone from the office.
By the time I reach his floor, I regret eating the wings and chips, I'm out of breathe and my side hurts. Regardless I forge ahead and go to the reception desk and ask for Fred, I look at my phone and see that the time is 12:45, I really cut it close. He calls him and I give him my name which he repeats to him, and then he puts the phone down. "He says you can go through, do you know where his office is?" I nod thanking her and walking to his office.
As I walk through the office, I get a few curious looks from what I see is a predominately white male staff. I see a few indian, black and coloured guys scattered around, but I haven't seen a single woman yet, even the receptionist is a guy, odd.
I ignore them, making sure to keep my head straight and walk like I'm a runway model, if they want to stare then I'll give them a show. I walk until I see a door with Fred's name on it, I knock twice and open the door walking in.
He remains seated behind his desk, typing, seemingly undisturbed by my intrusion. So I don't say anything, frankly he knew I was coming so I don't see the need to. I close the door gently behind me and walk towards a bean bag I saw last time I was here. I take off my shoes, and sit down crossing legs facing him and sit the table.
He looks different in his office, he's clearly made it his safe space, I get why he wanted to come to work today. "Are you going to sit there staring at me until its time to go?", he speaks, not lifting his eyes to look in my direction. I wasn't even sure he was going to acknowledge my presence, he seems very focused on what he's doing so I ignore him and lie down on the bean bag closing my eyes and before long I've drifted off to sleep.