Salifya- Ser-lee-fee-yer (fya is pronounced a single syllable)

Xo- So but the S has a click sound characteristic of Xhosa and Zulu

Chapter 2

I accessed the video from the milkshake place for the man’s image. Then ran it through police software. I found his name. He had no arrest record. I thought it was someone she arrested but my search disproved that theory. I was about to go through her case files to see if he had been a victim or a person of interest when I stopped myself. This wasn’t right. snooping around her files was intrusive. I closed my computer. I had to wait for her to tell me. did she trust me enough to tell me what was going on. My phone beeped, it was Naledi trying to vibe with me. I answered it and her image appeared in my work room. she was sitting on her bed. she had been crying that much was obvious from her red eyes.

“Hey,” she said. “I am sorry about the way I left.”

“Who was that guy?”

Naledi looked down at her fingers, they were stained with paint. She told me she only painted when sad.

“When I was 16, I was kidnapped at a rave by Waranda goons.” Her voice was drowning in emotion. I wanted to reach through the virtual space and hold her…close. “Taken to a brothel filled with pygmy teens. We all forced to…” She shut her eyes, tears escaped them both. “He was a regular.” She inhaled placing her hand on her face in an attempt to hide her tears. “He had taken a shine to me. Insisted on me being his lass.

‘My! My! Five visits in a week and all to you,” Thuliwe said. “He has taken quite a shine to you lassy.’

I looked at the floor.

‘Says he likes how feisty you are,’ she continued as though it was a compliment. ‘Nangwale is one of my most dedicated customers. You keep him happy like your life depends on it.’ her eyes caught my gaze. ‘Because it does.’

He would come see me or take me out several times a week.’

“I am sorry Naledi,” Was all I could say my mind still processing the horror.

“It’s not your fault.” A small smile clasped her morose face.”

Anger surged through my veins. “I wish you told me right there.”

“Why?”

“Because maybe I could have beat him up.”

Naledi chuckled. “Really?”

“Yeah really. He was 35 at the time. Why was he seeking out girls half his age?”

“How do you know his age?” she asked. “You ran a search on him.”

“Busted,” I grinned. “I was curious.”

“I would have done the same.”

“Thanks for sharing. I am sorry you went through all that.”

“Thanks for listening,” her lips parted into a smile that showed off her dimples. I wish I could we had teleporting technology. I would have gone have liked to kiss her forehead. She had seen so much horror at such a young age.

This was Xo’s idea. I felt foolish doing it. I walked into the station. I was about to turn around and return before naledi saw me when Mwase said.

“Kuleza, what are you doing here?” his eyes glanced down at the milkshake in my hand. How was I to explain? I can’t believe I let Xo talk me into this brazen move. This was Xo’s style and not mine. And it only worked on Salifya because she was already into him. “I am here for Naledi.”

Mwase’s mouth slightly opened. “Oh.”

This was such a bad idea. Now mwase would think, rather know my intentions with Naleid. He ushered me to her desk. He tapped her shoulder, she took off her headphones and turned around from the large screen in front of her.

“Kuleza,” she smiled, her dimples piercing her cheeks. I never noticed how much how uniform flattered her. she stood up and a wave of her perfume filled my senses.

My lips drew out into a smile, “You didn’t finish it.” I passed her the milkshake. Mwase’s eyes darted from her to me. Not that I cared. Xo was right this was worth it. Her beautiful smile grew into a bigger smile fully displaying her dimples.

“Thank you.”

“You are welcome.”

Mwase excused himself. Naledi placed her milkshake on her desk.

“Where is your partner?” I looked at the empty seat next to Naledi’s.

“Ipy has gone to meet a friend for lunch. Have you had lunch already? Do you want to get lunch?”

I nodded. Definitely worth the minor awkwardness I felt coming here. We walked down to a restaurant near the station. I could not tell Xo of my success. He would gloat.

“Thanks so much for coming.” She said when we had reached my pod. “It’s been hard being here after what happened to our DSU.”

“You are welcome.”

“I should win the bot bets more often,” she chuckled as she walked away from me. What did she mean? Did she want me to drop by more often?

“Who is she?” Tawona asked.

I turned away from the TV to face her. “What do you mean?”

“The girl who has got you in such a good mood these last few weeks. The girl who has got you texting with this look.” She mimicked a grin. “On your face like a lovesick teen.”

“Why does it have to be a girl?”

“Kuleza, I know you, the last time you were this happy was when Taurayi was alive.” After Taurayi died, I did not think I would be able to care for anyone the way I did for Naledi. Her sadness was my sadness, her laugh, my smile, her smile, my glee. “Kuleza!”

“Her name is Naledi.”

“Tell me more of this enchantress called Naledi.”

“Enchantress?”

“Any women who can past your walls is an enchantress and a skilled one.” she pointed her finger at me.

I chuckled.

“C’mon Kuleza what’s she like?”

“She is assertive, confident, smart and funny.”

“I like her already. When do I get to meet her?”

“We are not dating.” I lowered my voice. “She doesn’t even know how I feel about her. I am just getting to know her.”

“When do you intend to tell her?”

“When I am certain she returns my affections.”

“Can I still meet her?”

“As what?”

“Your sister. Just bring her over for lunch on Sunday.”

“That is not happening.” I took my dish to the kitchen.

I placed the package on her dinning room table. “I saw how whack your computer was at the station. I know I can’t replace that one but here is one you can use at home.” I said.

She shoved me. “Hey!”

“Its what Xo uses. I know you like his gear.”

“Kuleza!” her eyes beamed with delight. “Pick me up.”

“What?”

“Pick me up, I want to hug you.”

I lowered myself and scooped her up into my arms. She wrapped her arms around my neck. A flush of her cologne attacked my nostrils. I pulled her closer. “Thank you.”

“You are welcome.” I reluctantly placed her down.

“Its such an expensive gift. You did not have to.”

That hug you just gave me paid me back in full, I wanted to say. But instead I said. “I wanted to.” I sat down on her blue leather couch. She smiled at me. my heart filled with bliss. I wanted to pick up again and kiss her. She moved towards me. I was hoping she wanted to give me another hug. The warmth of the previous hug still enveloped me. She sat next to me.

“What are you doing for your birthday?”

“I am going to spend the day with my family. I don’t know what they have planned.”

“No plans with your bestfriend and Ipyana?”

“Ipy has gone to her friend’s funeral in Kaulimi. And Temwa has to present her masters proposal Monday so we will celebrate later.”

“You are coming to the bot match Sunday right?”

She nodded her head. Her perfume was still embracing me. I wanted to scoop up in my arms again. not trusting myself I stood up.

“See you then.”

“You are leaving already?” she frowned her eyes peering into mine. Naledi of course I want to stay, I just don’t trust myself not to do anything stupid, I thought to myself. I sat down despite myself.

“I have a deadline Monday and I am trying to sneak in sometime to do some work Salifya gave me.”

“I still have unfinished Salifya tasks.” She said. “Stay.”

Did she know what a grip she had on me? I sent my sister a message saying I would have dinner out. her reply read ‘Pass the beautiful enchantress my regards.’ Naledi would not let me help with anything not that I could anyway, most of the stuff in her and Ipy’s apartment was tailored to fit their height. I felt like a giant. After a lot of pestering I had shown Tawona a photo of Naledi.

“Are you worried about the height difference?” She asked.

“It doesn’t bother me.”

“What about when you are having children.”

I halted. Yes I had thought about that. The simple solution was not to have children. Naledi had told me she did not want kids anyway. “It will be sorted.” I told my prying sister. What would our house be like if we did get married? How would our house cater for both our heights. She passed me a dish of millet nsima with chambo.

“My favourite meal.”

“I see why,” I said after a few bites. It was around 8pm, that I left. As I walked to my pod, I fought the temptation to embrace her again.

“Thanks for coming.”

“You are welcome.” I reluctantly entered my pod and started to ascend.

After all the progress we made. I blew it. She was at my house, and shared a painful memory about her time in a brothel. I could see she was so upset by it. I didn’t know how to comfort her. she left. I just let her. that night I kept thinking about her. I knew she wasn’t okay. I didn’t know how to reach her and comfort her. I hoped that Ipyana would comfort her. I let out my frustrations in my sparring session with Xo. Why did I not say something soothe her pain? I told Xo about it. he suggested I invite her to have a cold beverage with me. I was nervous about the plan. What if she didn’t want to see me again? I had already shown her that I would not be good at emotional stuff in a relationship. I reminded myself that Xo was more like her than I was. if he said asking her to meet was a good idea. Then it was. I texted her. Xo was right, she did apologise for running off. I told her I regretted not being to comfort her. We sat down on a bench in Ufulu park. The smell of conditioner and her cologne gripped me. I moved closer to her under the guise of wanting to hear her speak. She spotted a bruise on my forehead. Her concern surprised me. she asked me where I got it and I told her sparring with Xo. She placed a salve on it. my face was so close to her. if I moved a little closer, we would kiss. She was so beautiful. I did not even notice my face still lingering. She pulled away and sipped her milkshake. I had to tell her how I felt. I had to. It was apparent she cared for me too. She was so concerned over a small scratch on my face.