FINDERS KEEPERS

12

FINDERS KEEPERS

TWELVE

I regret the moment I opened it, in sitting on thge floor, two glasses of wine down and I still can't bring myself to believe what's in front of my eyes. Now I know why she takes long to come back, heck! That's why she never returned my calls, I pick up my phone and keys and request an uber, to her hotel room, I need answers.

I get to the elevator and press G. Somehow, the elevator stooped of the executive floor, it's after dawn. I wonder if anyone is in the office. I find myself staggering a bit to my desk. How did my life get like this?

I can see the lights in Kagiso office open. It's Sunday, what's he doing here. I open the door and find him sitting in his chair. Looking right outside the glass wall to the city.

Midrand is a really cool place.

"hey... What are you doing here" When did he turn around.

"I don't know" I answer and then giggle. That's the truth, I don't know why I'm here.

He looks at me amused. "are you drunk?"

"no" I answer, still giggling. He stands up and walks up to me.

"come sit" he puts me on his chair and walks up to the little bar in the corner of his office.

"Here" he hands me a glass of brandy.

"are you trying to get me drunk mr Mahlangu sir" I giggle. What the hell is wrong with me?

"maybe" he says, and then smirks at me. He stands next to the table and we both look out to the city.

"you lying" I tipped my head back and let out a laugh.

"ah, I'm telling you, that woman is Savage" he also laughes.

"and then what did you do?" my chair has turned. He has his Foot on the tip of the chair, right between my legs and is swinging the chair with his leg, while he settled on the table.

He ordered Chinese for us, the office is littered.

"I begged and pleaded with her to not tell my father. Heck! That's how I learnt to cook. She stopped cooking for a month and said I should take over"

Now I'm laughing, I feel like I will pee myself. "I'm gonna pee myself" I say in between laughs.

He shakes his head amused "use the one in my office" I didn't know there was a toilet in here. I stagger all the way there with him laughing at me.

_________________________________

I wake up feeling disoriented. I lift my head and it feels like I've been run over. f**k! How much did I drink last night.

"morning" I look up and I'm met by Kagiso, his head on my... Ohh lord, he quickly stands up groaning at the effect. What the hell happened last night?

Then I remember, the almost kiss that happened last night, the unusual feeling I had when his thumb brushed my hand. How is it that I never felt like that before.

"are you okay?" He ask after a few moments of silence.

"uhm... Yes" I find the strength to pull myself off of the bed and walk to the bathroom. f**k! It's Monday, we going to the office, I swear to God I'm not ready for the ups and downs with a hangover.

I strip down naked and step into the shower. The hot water cascade down my body. It feels good. I rest My head on the glass and leg the water do its things, when I step out. I find Kagiso next to the basin, brushing his teeth and he only has a towel on.

I say nothing as I step next to him, grabbing my brush and the toothpaste. I see him looking at me via the mirror but I keep my focus on what I'm doing.

"we have a shoot today, we not going to the office" he says, still looking at me. You know know when someone looks at you but not the normal 'look at you'? He's looking at me likje his trying to disepher something.

"okay" I say still not looking at him.

I finish with my teeth, I rinse my mouth and walked out. I look at my clothes but I can't find anything fitting for my mood, I want to feel comfortable yet look stylish. I dont know what the shoot is about.

I sit on the bed, in only just my gown on. I've given up the search for proper clothes. I don't even know when he got out, but he's here, next to me.

"talk to me" i look at him. I bite my bottom lip to suppress my tears.

"what's wrong?" I shake my head no.

He attempts to grab my hand and I flich. From the mirror, I can see his face changing. "who was it?"

I feel tears well up in my eyes. "who was it Ora" his face shows no emotion and his voice holds no confort. I shake my head countless times before tears fall out.

He sighs and tries to hold me to him. "no please" I stand up. tears now streaming out of my eyes.

"I won't do anything I promise" he raises his hands up. "I'm not gonna hurt you, ever"

For some reason. I believe him. He pulls in into his embrace, as reluctant as I was, he was having none of it. He held me until I stopped crying.

I wake up, for the second time today with Kagiso next to me, this time, it's my head on his chest. I turn and rub my nose using chest. I feel him chuckle, When I look up, he's already looking at me.

"hey" he says, I flash him a smile and stand up. My eyes, and head hurt. That's what you get for crying yourself to sleep.

"I ordered some soup, hope you don't mind" I stop and look at him. I nod my head and stand up and go to the bathroom. When I get there.... f**k! I hate how i long. I splash water on my face, once I finish, I release a sigh. It's been so long and yet this thing still haunts me. Three years now and I'm still not over it.

But how could I? It's that time of the year, the day always haunts me. Every year this time of the year I become rentless, I loose sleep and-

"Ora, the foods here" I look at myself one last time and walk out.

"I'll be in the kitchen" he looks at me before walking out. I guess to give me some space or something.

I go to the dresser and pull out my leggings and a hoodie. Slip on socks and slippers.

When i get to the kitchen. I can already smell kitchen noodles soup. My stomach grumbles. When was the last time I had food Mara?

When I sit on the kitchen chair, he passes me a cup of steaming hot coffee and a blueberry muffins. He has a stupid ass smile on his face.

He joins me and we sit in silence.

Once the soup is done, he puts a bowl in front of me. "thanks" I say, I take the spoon, first spoon and already I'm having a foodgasm.

He nods his head and endulge in his soup, we keep quite throughout the entire meal, with him busy on his phone and me lost in my train of thoughts, the silence is welcomed.

"we need to pack up your things, we moving in together" I stop eating and look at him, but he's not looking at me, his focus is still on his phone.

Maybe I'm imagining all this so I resume eating.

"you heard what I said angithi" he said looking at me. With a sigh, I stood up and went to the bedroom to go pack..

****

I get thrown with a baby the moment I walk. Khante what's her job vele? Is she not the nanny?

Well... Thank her lucky starts I'm in no mood to do or say anything so I just take baby Cavin with me and go lie down.

MY body feels tired, like I have been running all day long, my joints hurt, and I know why when I feel the stinging feeling in my eyes, I cried again last night, I cried myself to sleep. I'm sprawled over the bed, my right leg on top of the pillow, my

Left hand langing. Lord...

I walk downstairs and I'm welcomed by a fit of laughter. Kagiso is rolling on the floor and cavin is trying to copy him. He will be a year old in a few weeks. I just hope I can get over all this in time to celebrate his first birthday. I have to take up the mother role in his life since Geet is no longer here.

"morning" he says in between laughs.

"morning." cavin raises his hands so I pick him up. So I bend and pick him up.

"your breakfast is in the microwave"

Its afternoon already but okay. I walk and pour a glass of juice. I take a sip and this child decides to help me drink it. I choke on it, some of it land on my shirt and his while the other goes through my nose, I cough and the little monster finds it funny so he laughs. Like really laugh.

"Kagios!" I shout, he comes running and stand on the kitchen door and looks amused bu how cavin is laughing "you child wants to kill me"

He takes him from me and he continues to laugh. Mxm. This child.

I walk out and go take a shower, the water is so soothing, I feel like I can't stay here for ever.

I log has been happening in my life, everyone did as they please with my life, it's time I take charge, it's time I live my life the way I want. If it takes me giving Kagiso a child to have my freedom back, it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make, plus, having a mini version of me who will love me unconditionally won't hurt now will it?