07
1135 Words
The next few days pass in a blur , Maya has been doing totally fine and Tumo has been there like he promised, March holidays are just around the corner, kids are happy to go home, some can't stop talking about it, why are they so excited to go home all of a sudden, some literally go home on weekends, what's the difference now?
Or maybe the the fact that her father told her not to come that's weighing her down, phela everyone is so excited about going home, but it's not like she expected anything different from her father, Vusi Mahlangu is just as evil as they come, it's just by luck that the school allows them to stay over during March and September holidays, otherwise she would have been screwed.
It's a lazy Saturday afternoon, with nothing to do she decides to take a walk around the school, clear her head a little bit. She's on her phone talking to her brother when she sees a brown cottege from afar, then she rembers what Candice and her friends once said, they said Tumo lives in a cottage in the school premises next to the lake, could this be the cottage reffered to? She asks. But then again, there is no other cottage aside from this one, so this must be it, without thinking further, her legs take her to the direction of the cottage.
She can see an old woman sitting outside on the stoop knitting with wool.
"lotjhani" she saying, bending a little showing respect.
The old woman stops knitting and looks at her with a bright smile.
"Dumela ngwanake" she old woman said, putting her knitting wool down.
"Agee, eh! Ukhona Tumahole?"
"Tumo, Tumo tloo" she old woman called out.
"keatla mme" he shouted back.
A smile automatically formed on her lips just hearing his voice. The old woman looked at her and smiled shaking his head.
"ona le Matlho a mantle jaang, ngwanake" catching Maya off guard as she was lost in her trance.
"ke a leboga mme" she said, she lives In a Ndebele speaking household but she lives in a diverse place, E-Nkangala is a place with different language speaking people, plus Tshegofatso spoke Setswana, she can't really say she's good at it, but she's okay, she understands and can respond in it.
She has been told that she has beautiful eyes so many times, they are honey brown, of all her siblings, she's the only one with these kind of eyes, she used to wonder why that it, but Kagiso would just tell her that it's because she's a precious girl and she's is God sent. His angle and she would find confort in that.
Tumo makes his way out and immediately when he sees her, the smile that was on Mayas face is incomparable to his, he pulls her in a hug, suprised, shocked yet happy to see her here.
"what are you doing here?" He asked.
"I was just taking a walk and decided to come here" smiles still there.
The old woman looked at her son and the beautiful eyes girl and couldn't contain her own smile, so this young girl is the one responsible for the happy mood Tumahole has been in. Ever since they got here, Tumo felt left out for for the past few weeks now, he has been all smiles and nothing less. Seeing him like this melts her heart. Tumo used to be a happy child, a bright student, okay, he still is a bright student, but not a happy child, it all change within a day, and their lives took drastic turn for the worse.
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Walking towards the riverbank, the pair remained silent, Tumo with his hands inside his pockets and Maya busy fiddling with her fingers, they approached a fallen tree and settle on it.
"it's much nicer when your fit are inside the water, come" Tumo held her hand and helped her turn so her fit touch the flowing river water, because she is short only the tip of her foot touched the water, grabbing both their shoes, Tumo placed them next to him and sat down next to Maya.
"this place is really nice" she said, nit looking at him, but enjoying the quiteness of the place.
"mmmh" Tumo replied.
Minutes passed by in silence, not an awkward one. But a nice silence. Both enjoying the sound of the flowing water, the quiteness surrounding the place with the sound of the birds chipping.
What I would give to have this quiteness at home, Maya thought to herself. The thought of going home has been at the back of her mind. As hard as she would try not to think about it, she couldn't help it.
"do you come here often?"Tumo turned his head and nodded yes.
" this is my solace "he said, seemingly lost in thought, without thinking, Maya placed her hand on his, Tumo turned to look at their hands and locked them together. That made Maya smile. She then placed her head on his shoulder, he did nothing to object to the action so Maya closed her eyes to enjoy the comfort the place brought, and release an exesperated sigh.
No one said anything and the silence was welcomed with opened arms, each one lost in their own thoughts.
Maya thinking about her home situation and Tumo thinking why he suddenly feels weird emotionz when Maya is around. She makes her happy and nevours at the same time, what feeling is this? Wha is happening to him?
The sun was setting so the pair decided to walk back home, if you can call it that, Tumo being the gentleman that he is, offered to walk her back to her residence.
"thank you for taking me there, I needed that" Maya said turning to look at Tumo, they have reached the girls residence building. As much as they want to continue hanging out, they both have things to do.
"it's nothing" he responded. Before turning and heading back to their condo, Maya wrapped her arms around his arm and mumbled another thank you.
Heart beating fast. Tumo brushed her back and tried to put a smile on. Truth is. He's in a battle. He doesn't know what has suddenly happened to him. Having Maya in his arms is bitter sweet think, bitter because he doesn't know what is going on with him and he hates it. Sweet because he can't stop himself from liking it.
"see you" she said and pulled out. He offered her a smile and watched her turn and go inside.
Releasing an exesperated sigh and tuned and kicked a rock and walked back to their condo, head bowed down and hands inside his pockets.
- Writer
