HOPE

CHAPTER 4

HOPE’S POV

I have already planned it in my mind how I will explain to my sister why I want to go back to res. Besides the guy being the main reason, I just think I need to study and revise my work from the first half of the semester, if I want to pass my modules with distinctions this semester. Just finished watching Notebook, which ended quite awful with the couple dying holding hands. Love is just sad. I don’t want love. No way. In just a few minutes as I was already on my way to the kitchen to nurse my anxieties with delicious food, my sister came back. It’s half past 6. She brought takeaways because boy, with me in the house, you can’t really be sure you will find dinner ready to be served.

“Hey sis, you look tired,” that’s me turning back to take the takeaways from her and lay her legs on the table contour. “Had a rough day?” asking as she took off her court and just thrown it on the sofa across us. “Yeah actually, we went to this orphanage that is about to close down and had to find other places for the children and blah blah blah, the owner is devastated because she believes the orphanage is her calling but she cannot maintain it anymore since she has no funding and all that. So sad. You can’t help but weep your eyes out in that situation without actually showing that you are crying. Urgh. Can you please make coffee for me, my dearest sister?” poor thing even looks devastated, “Coming right away,” yeah, I rushed to the kitchen with the takeaways to make her coffee, and starting to have a fresh idea on how I am going to tell my sister that I want to leave, after only I have been here for 5 days and not even a week, while I was actually supposed to stay for 2 weeks.

“So sis… I have something to tell you,” 10 minutes later with the coffee on my hands. “Alright, what is it?” Lucy asking as she took the coffee. “I want to go back to Jo’burg. Tomorrow,” she just looked at me and took a sip of her coffee, “Like sis, I’ve got so many assignments to do and I don’t think I will have enough time to do them all when we reopen, so I want to go back and start on them.” That should be convincing enough because really, staying here will drive me nuts with that next door guy already coming here. “But we haven’t even had our girl’s night Hope, and once you leave, you will only be able to come in June. Really?” she got me there, “Well sis, I will come on weekends if I am not busy or uhm… I will come back if I have finished my assignments, I mean if I have finished one assignment at least…” How I wish she believed that, “I am going to take a shower,” she got up, and picked up her shoes and went to her room. I always ruin the fun.

LUCY’S POV

I had a long day seriously. If only I had millions of rands or just enough money to help, I was going to help that woman save her orphanage, but oh well, it is what it is. Was actually having a nice coffee until Hope ruined the mood of it, that rat wants to go back to school. I miss spending time with my sister and I love her company, but if she leaves, I will have trouble with Sarah coming here unannounced to ruin my night with her whack match-making skills and bad influence to hit clubs even on Mondays. Who does that? Just as I was about to charge my phone, that number that called the other day called again, “Maxwell,” pissed as f**k because I really thought I told him not to call me again, “Jason,” with a little giggle or whatever that was. Oh my God. That’s uhm… “Oh hi, I’m sorry. I thought it was someone else… how are you, Jason?” I am literally out of breath. It’s not happening. “I’m good, Lucy. How are you?” Yeah, he’s from my past. “I am very good. What a surprise, huh?” We had terrible ending. Jesus. “I am good as well. Just thought of checking up on you, and I am quite hurt you no longer have my numbers,” he is actually sounding quite hurt or disappointed, “I got a new phone and didn’t get your numbers back… anyways, wow yeah.”

“Can I see you tomorrow, as I assume you will not be at work on a Saturday?” Jason, the guy I had a one night stand with last year, when I left the hotel I wrote my numbers on the paper towel and left it on the bed, but he did not call back until the day he called asking who I am saying he just got the paper towel on his shirt. Like seriously? “Uhm… sorry Jason, I will be working tomorrow. Had a day off on Monday and have to go in tomorrow. Sorry,” “Okay, Sunday?” that Jason of a bustard wants my cat. Never. “Why you calling me now, Jason?” “Because I never got time to know you better, and I just want to know you better, Lucy.” “Yeah Jason, Like I actually give a f**k right now. How many one night stands have you had already after me, huh?” Boy, I feel recharged to give him a peace of me, “Lucy, please. Can I see you on Sunday?” “I don’t know. Will see. I have to go now Jason, Bye…” “Lucy I…” Yeah, I cut the call. I met Jason last year in this party I went to with Sarah and Rae. We were both tipsy. After a few lustful glances at each other, we went to his hotel. I mean, the guy was fire; he had the bod I wanted to hold and scratch. I just wanted to feel it against me, with no strings attached after.

We got to his hotel room. Got more wine. He took off my bra slowly while kissing me. Pushed me on the bed and got on top. Took off his shirt, and Lord I felt blessed. I was dreaming. I touched his abs and caressed his chest as he went for my neck and shoulders, kissing them like they had melted chocolate. We eventually got naked; he got condoms out of his pocket, and went in. He had all the energy in the world, made love to my body like he owned it. I loved every minute of it. I was finally relieved from all the stress, the burdens and all that emotional junk I carried around. I felt light when I eventually fell asleep on his chest. Boy, I felt good. I got up first, found paper towel on the table, wrote my number so that we can have more of that some days, and left a happy woman ready to face the world. But he didn’t call, only called after 4 months or so asking who I am, that kind of ruined everything because it felt as if many women left paper towels with their numbers on that he barely got time to call earlier. So that’s how it ended. I’m good with men.

“Hope!” calling from my room, “I’m coming!” responding from the living room. She was here in a few seconds, “Okay, I will let you go to do your assignments. And study. Study,” with an emphasis because I’d hate if my little is going back there to other than for school. “Of course sis, I will study,” she came closer and gave me a hug. “Can we go and eat now?” “Go and dish up and I will be right there in a minute,” she left my room and closed the door behind her. And I reached for my phone and blocked Jason’s number.

SIHLE’S POV

 I really can’t stop thinking about the way she looked at me when I just came to her house. She must think I’m a freak. Wow. “Thank you for the food Auntie, I am going to sleep,” getting up from the dinner table, “But you barely ate your food…” “I guess I am still full from lunch,” smiling at my loving Auntie, “Boy, you didn’t even have lunch, what’s up with you?” my mom, “Mom, I really am full. I just want to go to sleep. See you guys in the morning,” I left and got into my room. I just feel like an i***t right now, I really don’t know what I was thinking. I went and locked my door and locked into f*******:, I love just watching their videos until I finally feel sleepy. Here I am on the third video and she crosses my mind again, Hope. At some point I don’t feel bad about going to her house but I just freak out when I remember how strangely she looked at me, like ahhhh…