Chapter 28

"Ever since that day, he left work, he never came back. Is he going to come back?" Ayanda asks out of concern, "I miss him" She sulks, "It is boring without him" She continues. "Well, it is not the first when somebody has left and never come back" Mrs Grey pointed out.

Ever since he took his bag and left that day, Mrs. Grey and Ayanda have made it their mission to ensure that I miss him more by talking about him at every chance they have. I look at his occupied table, his belongings are still in the position that he left them. He left so kidding, just him and his bag, like he was just going for a moment and he would come back. Month and going, his chair remains occupied by young Miss Windhoek.

"Maybe he will come back..." They continue their conversation.

I miss taking a sneak peek of him at work but I compensate for it by sleeping next to him every night. My lips retort with a smirk. "Why are you smiling? Are you not sad?"Ayanda asked in disbelief. "Why would she be? " Mrs Grey winks at me. As it turns out, this workplace is turning into a group of people who are in the same circle. Mrs Grey lives in the same neighborhood as Lucas does. We drive past her all the time and she always makes sure to wave at us even when we try to avoid her gaze.

"Do you know something that I don't? " Ayanda stares at her intensely. "Yes I do, but why are you acting like you don't" She tilts her head. "Is it about me dating Lucas? " I ask them. "Obviously!" They reply simultaneously. "Yes, we are dating" I rise from my chair, "I will see you guys tomorrow, Bye!" I carry my bag. "Or that is him picking you up? Such a romantic" she squirms.

I am glad the day is over. I wave at Ntshuxeko and he waves back. Our relationship has been sour, due to his disapproval of my relationship. I seem like a fool in his eyes. Maybe I am but doesn't love make all fools? It plays us and makes us do things that we wouldn't do in our sane minds. It is like a drug, giving you a high, your mind for a moment stops functioning with logic, and you behave impulsively. You seek to do things that feed that high. That is love. Once you sniff it out of someone, it doesn't matter the circumstance, your status, your origin, or your skin color, you will become a fool for it. So yes, I have come to peace that accepting his love will hurt me. I want to see who is right, you or me?

"Hey love" He places a peck on my cheek as I settle on the seat. "Come on, they will see us" I try to pull back. "You should know by now, I don't care but I guess you do. I will try to behave next time" He ignites the engine and it comes alive and roars its way out of the streets of this village to Winding Down estate.

***

"So..." I try to start the conversation. I stir the tea waking up the ginger fragrance from slumber and let it touch my nose as I sniff its aroma. "This tea smells nice," I take a slow sip. "I love the taste of ginger, the bitterness and hotness that it leaves when you eat or drink. It makes me feel like I am benefiting from its properties instantly" He replies.

"I... prefer to drink it. I should try eating it," I pause, "So...are you gone, gone? " I take another sip avoiding his gaze. "Yes," he answers briefly. "Resigned?" I raise my gaze so I can see if he is joking. "I submitted it a few weeks back" He places his empty cup on his table. "Are you worried about how I will survive? Maintain this house? Marry you?" He smirks. "Huh, yes to the first two questions and I never thought of our relationship as that much", I place my cup on the table and snuggle myself into the corner of the sofa. "I have, because why would I become rebellious for fun? " He picks up the cups and heads to the kitchen.

I look at him from a distance as he quietly washes the cups with the saucers in the sink. His face looks a little bit gloomy. I can see his forehead forming little lines showing his discontent with the words I spoke to him. I get up and head to the kitchen in my silky shorts. I hug him from the back, "Are you angry with me?" I whisper. "No, no, I am not upset" he clears his throat. I can feel all the tension in his body. He is upset. "I did not mean I don't see a future with you. I do, I just try not to put too many high expectations to avoid heartbreak" I bite his t-shirt. "Why are you thinking about bad things already? Can't you see my intentions with you? Ugh! I am getting a bit worked up. " He closes the sink tap. He holds my hands. "You can not love with doubts. You can't be half assing my love. " He rubs them."I am sorry if I made you feel that way but I love you. If I recall I said it first. Isn't that bold enough? " I let him out of my embrace so that he can face me. "I recall saying dibs on that" He lets a soft chuckle. " You may think we are on different pages but we are on the same page. I am in it for a long time with you" I reassure him as I embrace him tightly. " It is a forever thing. But is it like marriage or just partnership?" He runs his fingers on my afro. "Isn't marriage a partnership too?" I look up to meet his mesmerising eyes. "It is but there are many different concepts of relationship these days, so I want to know if we are both having the same picture about it. If indeed you feel that way because I do too. Can you sit on the sofa while I get something? " He peers into my eyes with a sweet gaze. "Okay," I part from his body and go back to the lounge area while he rushes to the bedroom.

I sit on the sofa and cover myself with the deep blue fluffy fleece that is by the armrest of the sofa. " I am back!" He gasps as he brushes his arms. He sits next to me and holds my hands. I can feel his hands trembling softly. His nervous grin and happy eyes. "Paris I knew we would be here if you gave me a chance. When you walked in the first time in the staff room looking nervous and offered you my favorite coffee and accepted it with a nervous smile my heart went ba dump, ba dump. I was like who is this beautiful thief? My heart was stolen right on the spot. This is why I would be jealous when you seemed to be close with Marvin because I was scared my chances of being with you would get slimmer. But I would forget all about it when you speak to me when you step into my car. I know you said it first but I want to say something first to you too. Paris can you be my wife?" He takes out a black tiny jewelry box and flips it open.