Chapter Three

“I painted it myself.” She said giving me a rectangular object. I unwrapped it revealing a painting of me using water colours.

I put the painting down. “I am picking you up.” With that, I scooped her in my arms. She giggled pulling me into an embrace. “Thank you.”

“You are welcome.”

Why did smell so good? She had come from work yet her perfume still overpowered my senses. I placed her down. “What are you doing for your birthday?”

“Tawona is taking me out. Me and Xo will prolly do something tomorrow since you are rescuing Yanjanani tonight.”

“Let me buy you a milkshake tomorrow.”

“I have a better idea. Come here for lunch.”

“But it’s your birthday.”

“You cooked for me on your birthday.”

Her lips softened into a smile. “Okay.”

I wanted to scoop her up again, but I stopped myself. “All the best with the raid tonight.”

“Thank you.”

We walked outside to where her pod was parked. Tawona was just getting off a taxi. I could see tawona’s eyes dancing. She was excited to meet naledi.

“This is Tawona my sister. Tawo, this is her.”

Naledi smiled, “Nice to meet you.”

I was scared Tawo would say something about her being an enchantress but instead she just said “Nice to meet you too.”

Naledi got into her pod and ascended into the sky.

“Thanks for not saying anything like I have heard so much about you.”

“I didn’t have to. You already did.”

I gave a confused look.

“Kule, you introduced as her. now she knows we have had many conversations about her and that she is special to you.”

I ran my hand across my face. what had I just done?

“She painted this herself?” Tawo asked.

I nodded my head.

“She is talented.” She scrutinised the painting. “You know what this means right? This is how she sees you.”

I held one of the edges of the painting trying to see what Tawo was seeing. “How does she me?”

“Handsome, reflective and intelligent.”

I let go of the painting. “You are getting all that from a painting?”

“She is so into you.” She was still starring at the painting.

“I am not seeing it.”

“That’s because you are not the one with a psychology degree.” She titled the painting. “She must have spent so many hours on this. I did not realise that she had such ardent affections for you.”

Was that true? Did she have ardent feelings for me? she had spent many hours painting a portrait of me. I was dozing on my couch when Xo walked in.

“The raid went okay, Yanja is in hospital.” Xo croaked. Why was he so upset? And why was here instead of home. it was 930pm. He sat down beside me. “Sali…she almost had a miscarriage tonight.”

“Is she okay? Is the baby okay?”

“They are both okay. She called Khetiwe and they got to the hospital in time.” Xo told me he returned from the rescue mission and found that Sali was gone. “I thought Sanudi took her again. I thought I lost them.”

“You know your eyes won’t work in Utawaleza.” I chastened. “Why do this?”

“You know why.” Xo replied. I gave him a glare. “Sali needs me.”

I was annoyed with Salifya for asking him to accompany her to this tech-free zone. Didn’t she know about his cybernetic eyes?

“She doesn’t know. I never told her about my eyes.” He said like he had read my thoughts.

“If she knew, she would not let do this.” I pointed out. “What if your sight doesn’t return? What if the electromagnetic pulsanator damages your eyes forever?”

“I have researched. My sight will return as soon as I leave Utawaleza.”

I looked at him. he was a man in love. I would have done the same for Taurayi. Sali needed him and that’s all that mattered to him.

“Be safe bro.”

He nodded and vibed out.

“I was so scared,” Xo’s eyes reflected his horror. “I just thank God they are okay.”

“Me too.”

“The nurse would not let me stay the night. and I can’t be alone tonight.”

I put my hand on his shoulder. In the past we would have drowned his sorrows in the strongest moonshines we could find. I could see Xo was not ready to sleep. We played virtual games till around 2am. in the morning, Xo cooked breakfast for Sali and we took it to her. Sali looked feeble.

“Hey,” He kissed her forehead.

“Hey,” she smiled.

Xo placed his hand on her belly. “I think the baby senses I am worried. I can feel a lot of kicks.” I wanted this with Naledi this closeness and love Sali and Xo shared. I wanted it.

I had been over this a thousand times in my mind. after lunch , I exhaled and I told Naledi how I felt. “I see wife material in you.”

She starred at me silently.

“I know the six year gap is a lot and you haven’t started thinking seriously about marriage. I won’t pressure you into it we will do it when you are ready.”

She finally spoke. “I am surprised. This is a lot to think about.”

“I will give your space.”

She left with an awkward wave.

Xo and Tawo laughed at me for saying “Wife material.” But they both commended me for making a move. I buried myself in my search for the weapons of mass distraction that Ulalo had acquired. It was around 7 pm when I heard my phone buzz. It was Naledi. I checked my phone. She had requested to vibe four times. I answered, an image of her in a grety top and blue shorts appeared.

“Hey.” She smiled. A wave of emotions swept over me. I had missed her. yes we had met at Xo’s a couple of times but all we exchanged were generic greetings.

“Hey.”

“I am sorry I have been mia.”

“Its okay. I understand.”

She looked down at her fingers, they were coloured blue, green and red. Why was she upset?

“I didn’t think I would let anyone in this much after the brothel. Or feel the way I do for you, after being treated like a rag doll. I like you Kuleza and I do want to court you…but I have all these thorns that my clients placed in me. I think they will hurt you if you try to get close to me.”

“I don’t mind. I just want you.”

She smiled, this time with her dimples. “That’s sweet but I don’t want to hurt you. Give me time to remove them and I will be yours.”

“Okay, I will wait.”

“Are you doing anything right now? I really want to see you.”

When we met, I wanted to scoop her up in my arms and holdher close but I reminded myself that she was not mine…yet.

“Doesn’t bother you that I was a prostitute?”

“It wasn’t by choice. No it doesn’t. it just makes me appreciate your strength and resilience.”

“When we start dating, will I meet your parents?”

Naledi knew me and my parents were not so close. “When we get serious, yeah.”

She glanced up at me. “I look forward to that.”

It was nine, we both had to get home. I walked upto her pod.

“I missed you so much.” She said. I could not hold myself anymore. I lowered myself and lifted her into an embrace.

“Me too.” I whispered. “It was painful to be apart from you.”

“Very painful.”

“I am scared too,” Naledi whispered. I clasped her closer.

“Don’t go.”

“Kuleza, you know I have to. We need to stop Ulalo.” She said. “You know we are greatly outnumbered. Me and Xo can even out the odds.”

“I know. I just wish it wasn’t you going.”

I just wanted her to stay and never leave. Her hands caressed my back and I hers. I banished the thoughts of the war and focused on the feeling of closeness.

“Kuleza,” she whispered. “Its time. I need to go.”

I didn’t release her.

She let out a low chuckle. “You need to let me go.”

“Never.” I held her close.

She laughed. A pang clenched my heart.

“I will miss you.” I released her.

“I will miss Kuleza,” Her eyes glanced up at mine. She detangled herself from me and stood up.

“You wont come to the departure base and see me off.”

“No, the temptation to grab you and lock you up till this is over will be too great.”

She leaned in and planted a kiss on my cheek.

I walked her to her pod. I scooped her up into an embrace. This could be the last time, my mind said to me. painfully, I released her and watched as she flew away.

After Naledi left, I went to meet Salifya. She had instructed us never to discuss anything Ulalo related on the phone. Her caution, was justified after all she was kindapped the day Mwase and his partner were supposed to undercover into an illegal auction that had ties to Ulalo.

After I brief her, I ventured to ask. “How are you?”

Her face said it before her words did. “Sad and angry.”

“I get,” I glanced down at her belly. She was eight now and Xo had left of a war we could lose.

“You love her?”

“Very much,” I choked. “I didn’t know how much till I felt my heart disintergrate a few hours ago when she told she was leaving.”

“She is a brave girl.”

“And Xo is a brave man.”

“I thought of sedating him till it was all over so he does not leave.”

I laughed. “So did I, Sali, so did I.”

She chuckled then said. “I am happy for you Kule, you found someone special.”

I smiled. “I didn’t think I would get this lucky twice. Her going away…its awoken all those fears of being alone.” Salifya’s face reflected pity. I knew she did not know what to say. “I will keep you posted on my search.”

She nodded, her hand resting on her belly.