An Ex?
1045 Words
In Jwaneng, Luna sat properly as Tumelo drove from the tad road into a gravel road. She looked at the bushes on the sides of the road then sighed.
“Is this the part you murder me?”
Tumelo laughed. “No. We are almost there.”
“Where exactly are we going?”
He brightened the car lights. Luna looked at the gate far ahead then leaned back.
“Your house?”
“Family property. It’s an in and out I promise.”
She nodded. He stopped at the gate and hooted. Seconds later the gate slid open then he drove through. Luna looked at the big house and sighed as he parked next to a white Fortuner.
He turned to her. “Lets go In.”
“I can wait in the car.”
Tumelo stepped out then walked round and open the door for her.
“I am not leaving you in the car Luna. Let’s go in.”
She smiled. “Tumelo-“
He clicked the seat belt then carried her out of the car. Luna laughed.
“Tumelo put me down!”
He closed the door and walked inside the house with her then put her down.
“Feel free. They are in the study. There is food in the fridge. Get something to drink or something “
“You do understand that we just met right?”
He smiled. “So? Shout if you need anything. Damn I’m glad the plane wasn’t full today. I long saw you at mug and bean at the airport and it was just my lucky day we were in the same flight.”
Luna laughed. “That wasn’t your seat?”
“No. Mine was behind yours. I took a chance.”
He turned and walked away. Luna turned smiling. She looked around the sitting room then walked over to the picture frames on the wall. She looked closely realizing that they were different pictures of the same woman. She stopped at a picture of him standing behind the woman with his arms around her. Just from their smiles, she was probably the late girlfriend.
She moved back feeling a little weird then sat down waiting patiently wondering if they lived here together before her passing. Minutes slowly passed, Luna yawned exhausted. She laid down and closed her eyes lost in her thoughts.
*
Over an hour later, Tumelo walked from the study room chatting with his cousin.
He looked at Luna sleeping on the couch. His cousin laughed.
“Did you purposely move our meeting to the hotel she was at because I swear this the same woman from earlier on?”
“Mister, gase gore wa tsamaya? (Aren’t you leaving?)”
“Ene o monte. (She is pretty.) haven’t seen you with a pretty one in a minute.”
“Leave. You want to scare her with your ugliness.”
His cousin laughed then walked out. Tumelo walked over to the couch slowly picked her up. Luna opened her eyes at the movement as he walked with her to the car.
“Hi.”
She took a quick glance of their surrounding and it was pitch black everywhere. “You are done?”
“Yes.” He threw her over his shoulder and opened the car door then out her inside. “Are you ok?”
She nodded. “Ng… your meeting took long.”
“I am sorry. Did you eat something?”
“I had already eaten at the hotel.”
“Ok. You can sleep.”
“Tu-
“I didn’t kill you, at least you know I am no serial killer.”
Luna opened her mouth to say something but smiled remaining silent instead.
He walked to the house and minutes later walked back over and jumped in before driving off.
“What were you discussing so late at night?”
“Money laundering business.”
Luna frowned making him smile. “What? You always expect the worst from me akere?”
Luna chuckled. “Ija.”
“I’m thinking of expanding business. I was discussing it with… possible investors.”
“At night?”
“There is no rest in the hustle game Luna. Anytime is tea time.”
“The woman in the picture frames… who’s she?”
He started the engine and drove off.
“No one important.”
“Yet there is wall dedicated to her?”
“She is my late girlfriend. Anything else you noticed?”
“When did she pass on?”
“A year ago.”
“I am sorry for your loss.”
He stepped on the accelerator headed to the gate then slid open from a distance away. He drove out of the yard rolling up all the windows. Minutes went by as he drove in silence.
“Did I offend you?”
“No, why?”
“You are quiet. Is she a-“
“Can she not be the subject please?”
“You still love her?”
“Luna…”
“If you still love this dead woman why can’t you just say so. There is no harm in that. I mean clearly you do because you have the entire wall covered with her pictures. Its as if you don’t want to ever let go of her.”
He stopped the car.
“I was with her for 3 years. I was going to marry her, I loved her. I still do but I also realize she is dead and maybe that I too can try to move on. I have kept her pictures because I loved her and she was a part of my life. You can ask me anything about her and I promise you, I will be honest but just not today… please. I don’t want to think about her, I can’t actually because I’m wondering if I kiss you now, will it be too early.”
“Well I don’t-“
Tumelo leaned over and kissed her. Luna’s breath caught as he pulled her closer kissing her even more. Her heart pounded uncontrollably, he pulled back and smiled.
“I’ve been meaning to do that since I picked you up.”
He smiled then drove off headed back to Gaborone.
- Writer
