EVERYTHING SHE NEVER HAD

17

Maya left the room when Ntate'Tomas was getting in, she figured that they were done talking and she can now go see him, when she left the room she saw Tumo under the Mango tree dancing, she couldn't help the smile on hers, and his as well.

"I didn't know you could dance" she said, startling him, even still. The smile on his face remained permanent. He steped closer to her and lifted her off she feet, spinning her on the air.

"yoh, God is massive neh" he said, still spinning her, she couldn't help the but giggle, she's never seen him this happy ever before.

It must mean whatever Ntate'Tomas was telling him must have been good news.

"I suppose, what happened" he stopped spinning her and put her on her feet and hugged her, she hugged him back and just as she was thinking that he's shaking from excitement. She felt her shoulder getting wet.

Instead of asking him what's wrong, she brushed his back and allowed him this moment, clearly everything is going fine right? He was just happy, literally a second ago, now this.

"should I be worried?" she asked him with a small smile, whipping his tears away.

He shook his head no, and chuckled a little bit out of embarrassment, "no. I'm fine, just happy"

She looked at him, smiled and embraced him in a hug, one that he needed. "I'm happy if you happy… are you?"

"yeah, just overwhelmed that's all"

They decided to seat under the tree since Mme was sleeping inside, he told Maya about Ntate'Tomas' offer, and like a great friend she is, she seemed more happy than Tumo. Was, not because she felt like she won't have to do anything for him anymore, but because of the terms of the agreement. She wanted Tumo to get an education, not that people who don't have don't matter, but because they had a deal, they both want to bring their fathers down, and what better way to do it than how they originally planned.

They spent half the day together sitting under the tree and eat the delicious food cooked by Ntate'Tomas' wife, who she learnt her name was Malita, after eating, she and Tumo offered to do the dishes, siemthing she's not used to doing because of where she comes from and she seemed to enjoy it.

She's used to having people serve and wash dishes, of course when she just wants a snack, she goes and do it herself then rinse whatever it was she was using. But it's not the same as washing dishes, she likes cleaning after herself.

It was getting dark so Ntate'Tomas gave Tumo his car to drive Maya back to school. She's I'm matric now, she needs to pay more attention to her school work, but of course she's never been fazed by it. She trusts herself that much.

When they got to the school gate, Tumo park the car and turned to look at Maya, who seems to be miles away, he kept questioning Mayas' presence in his life, what exactly is it that she wants, she's rich and he has nothing.

And without thinking twice, he blurted it out, catching both of them off guard.

"askies?" she asked, scrunching up her face.

"no I'm sorry it's just?"

"just what?" she snapped.

"no please don't get mad okay" he quickly covered her hands. "I'm sorry, it came out totally wrong? I just… I don't understand okay?"

"what is it that you don't understand Tumo?" she was on the verge of tears now. She hates feeling unwanted, and right now, with Tumo questioning her like this, that's exactly how she feels.

"I help because I like you okay, and I have a feeling that if I were in the same situation, you would help me also, so I'm sorry if me helping a friend out seems too much, I'll back off" she opened her door and walked to the gate, but not before Tumo caught up with her.

"I'm sorry okay, I didn't mean it like that, just that, I've never had anyone for me okay, and with everything happening, it's overwhelming" he confessed.

"and you thought of questioning my help?" you could feel the hurt laced on her voice, choking on a sob.

"no of course…. I'm sorry" he said, sincerely so. "I shouldn't have, and yes, if the roles were reversed, I would help without thinking twice. I'm sorry okay" he said, with their forehead touching, "I'm sorry" he wiped her tears away, she closed her eyes to take a deep breath and when she opend her eyes, her words got stuck in her thought and taking both by supprice, or rather not much of a suprise, their lips locked and she stood on her toes and held onto his shirt for balance.