A Journey Of Two Lovers

Chapter 4: The New Year Celebration

It was the 31st of December, 2025, a bright morning in Ulundi. Everywhere, families prepared for the New Year celebrations. Colorful decorations hung in every home, and laughter filled the air. Yet, in the quiet corner of his porch, Yenzo felt a storm of thoughts brewing inside him. His heart was heavy as he thought about Ngawo, his soulmate. They lived next door to each other, but their hearts seemed miles apart.

Yenzo enjoyed being with his family, sharing smiles and stories. However, despite the joy around him, something deep inside felt wrong. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Ngawo was still confused about their relationship. They had shared so much, but now everything felt uncertain. Every time Ngawo walked by, Yenzo would watch her, his heart racing, hoping she would notice him too. But she always seemed lost in her thoughts.

As the evening approached, excitement filled the air. People rushed to gather with their loved ones. Children ran barefoot on the grass, chasing each other, while older folks prepared food for the celebrations. Yenzo watched it all from his porch, feeling the warmth of family yet longing for Ngawo.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed, breaking through his thoughts. He looked down to see a message from Ngawo" Don't forget about today's meeting up, ". His heart skipped a beat. Could it be that she really meant it? Was she unsure just like him? His fingers hovered over the screen as he searched for the right words. After a moment of hesitation, he typed back," No I won't forget, ".

At that moment, Yenzo felt a shift inside him. The worries that clouded his heart began to lift, he hoped that this meet up can be something else. A beginning of a new year, and maybe a new chance for love. He stepped off the porch and took a deep breath, filled with hope. He would talk to Ngawo soon, and together they could rewrite their story.

9pm was approaching, everyone was busy preparing, braaing and dancing when yenzo was watching sunset 🌇 his mind deepened in the mistery of deeply searching words he'll utter to ngawo.

As the sun began to set, the sky painted itself with shades of orange and purple. Yenzo looked at the clock hanging on the wall of his small living room. It was almost nine o'clock. He felt a rush of excitement bubbling inside him because tonight was special. At midnight, it would be a new year, and he was planning to meet Ngawo, the girl who had stolen his heart.

Yenzo helped his family prepare for the New Year celebration. They were busy garlanding the house with colorful lights while his mother cooked a delicious feast in the kitchen. But despite the joyful atmosphere at home, his mind kept wandering back to Ngawo. He wondered if she was thinking about him too. Would she be waiting anxiously for his arrival? The thought made him smile.

Suddenly, a familiar voice broke his daydream. "Yenzo! Yenzo!," It was Samkelo, Ngawo’s cousin, standing near the steel fence that separated their homes. Beside Samkelo stood Ziyanda, who was giggling as she watched their banter. Yenzo loved spending time with them, but right now, his heart was racing thinking about Ngawo.

Yenzo approached the fence, trying to hide his excitement. "Hey, Samkelo! What's up?,"

With a broad grin, Samkelo said, "I was wondering if you could lend me a brush. I need it for the decorations at our house," .

Yenzo was about to reply when he caught a glimpse of Ngawo walking down the path behind Samkelo and Ziyanda. She looked beautiful, her long hair flowing like a river, and her smile brightened the evening even more. For a moment, Yenzo forgot about the brush and just stared.

As he mumbled," O.. ohh oh, you were saying a broom, you wanted a broom," he realized how confused he sounded. Samkelo raised his eyebrows but continued with the conversation. Ziyanda, noticing the awkwardness, stifled a laugh.

"Yes, I meant a brush!," Samkelo replied, a grin still plastered on his face. He seemed unaware that Yenzo was lost in his thoughts about Ngawo. Ziyanda nudged Samkelo and whispered something in his ear, which made them both laugh even harder.

“Okay, I'll be right back!” Yenzo said, ducking into the house to search for a brush. As he rummaged through the closet, he couldn't help but think about how he wanted to ask Ngawo if she would go to the new year’s celebration with him. It felt like a dream to be able to hold her hand as the clock struck midnight.

He quickly found a brush and hurried back outside, his heart racing. As he handed the brush to Samkelo, he caught a glimpse of Ngawo again. This time she was smiling directly at him. His stomach did a flip.

"Hey, Ngawo!," he called out, trying to sound casual, though his voice cracked a little.

"Hey, Yenzo!," she replied, her eyes sparkling. “Are you excited for new year's celebration, "

" Definitely! I can’t wait, "he said, feeling slightly more confident.

Ziyanda nudged Ngawo and said, “ I see my brother in law he's scared for today's meet up,"

As the minutes passed, more people began gathering in the neighborhood. Laughter and chatter filled the air, and the smell of food wafted from every house. Yenzo could see kids preparing off fireworks in the distance. The excitement grew, and so did his courage.

The clock struck 9 PM, and fear crept into Yenzo's feet. It was a chilly night, and he could feel the tension in his stomach. He quickly typed a text to Ngawo, asking her to come out. Yenzo was sitting in the porch while his uncles and other relatives danced and drank. They were lost in their own world, and no one noticed that Yenzo was waiting for someone special.

As families nearby began firing crickets, a local custom that symbolized good luck, Yenzo started to feel more anxious. Every pop and crackle made his heart race. Then, he saw the light of a phone blinking near the fence. It was Ziyanda, Ngawo's sister. She whispered, "Brother-in-law, come" . Yenzo felt a thrill run through him at the words. He had always dreamed of being part of their family.

Their homes were separated by a thin wire fence. Yenzo remembered how he and Samkelo had once cut a small gap in the wire, just big enough for him to sneak through. He looked back at his relatives, who were still dancing, and slipped quietly to the fence.

Carefully, he crawled through the space, feeling the cold wire against his skin. On the other side, Ngawo stood under the moonlight, her beauty glowing in the dark. Yenzo felt a rush of joy as he whispered her name. “Ngawo,” he said, soft and sweet.

Ziyanda had excused herself, leaving them alone in the soft glow of the night. They stood there for a moment, looking at each other. The world around them faded away as Yenzo reached for Ngawo's hand. They held on tightly, fingers intertwining like the branches of a tree. Ngawo's head resting on Yenzo's chest. She could feel Yenzo's heartbeat, beating fast just because he's around his soulmate.

“I wanted to see you,” he said. Ngawo smiled, her eyes sparkling. “I was hoping you would.” The fear within him melted away, replaced by warm feelings of love and excitement. Ngawo is shorter than Yenzo, when they hug, Ngawo fits perfectly in Yenzo's arms. " you know when you told me about your boyfriend I thought I would not get this chance" he said, Ngawo smiled, looking him at an upper angle 📐. "I loved you since we were kids, I still love you even today, I will always assure you that because I don't want to lose you again, I've lost you countless times but this time I want the best version of ourselves," Yenzo gently feeling the texture of ngawo's skin." I love you more Yenzo, whenever I'm with you, I feel complete and comfortable,"she replied leaning on Yenzo's chest. It was an extravagant moment for yenzo, to physically feel Ngawo, ngawo's scent stucked on Yenzo's nostrils .

The night was alive with laughter and sounds from the party, but they felt like the only two people in the world. Yenzo and Ngawo stayed there together, under the stars, holding hands and sharing secrets. Each moment brought them closer. They knew in their hearts that this was just the beginning of something special.

All this is happening ngawo is dating someone else in the Eastern Cape, but yenzo only focused on what was a major deal, love. Yenzo did something no other living boy will do on earth but he always hoped for the best.