Colourful reputations

“My home is an hour away!” she exclaimed

“I know. Get in, I will take you there” he said

“I’m sorry you can’t take me home” she said turning down his offer

“Ouch” he responded with his putting his hand over his heart pretending to be hurt. Most just would not miss the opportunity to get into his car or spend time with him but it was different with her. Fortunately he was prepared for this.

“What have I done to offend you?” he asked sounding hurt.

Thandi suddenly felt guilty. This was her best friends brother and he had never offended her in any way but she could not let him take her home. She tried to speak but could not find words. In the end she just opened and closed her mouth.

“At least tell me why you won’t let me take you home?”

“I’m from a village and no one has a car like your or anything close to it and you have a colourful reputation. If you take me home it will attract unnecessary attention for me. I’m sorry” she added. She said all this with a low but decisive voice with her head down trying very hard not to offend him.

“Honesty, I appreciate that. Can you get in so we can talk then?” he asked with pleading eyes.

Thandi could not turn him down again so she agreed and got in the car. He drove to the nearby park, turned off the engine and looked at her.

S’bu started his speech that he had been preparing since the day she bumped to him. “Mandy speaks a lot about you. Before I met you I was impressed by the way you helped my sister turn her life around. Very few people can do that. After I met you I could not get you off my mind and that was the first for me. No woman has ever given me sleepless night before but here I am and it’s been 14 days! I like you, I would like to spend more time with you, I’d like to know you better. I want you to be my woman. What do you say?” he said all of this looking at her eyes.

Thandi looked down, the moment she got into his car she knew this was coming. It’s a sixth sense women have, they can tell when someone is about to confess their feelings. It might be unexpected but every woman knows at least few minutes before a man confesses. She took a deep breath, if she wanted to go home on time she had to give him an answer.

“I’m currently just focusing on my studies, I’m just not ready for any relationship at the moment” Thandie said looking at him. This was true but also a nice way turning him down. This has worked for her a multiple times, in fact she used this same line on Sthe few day ago. Unfortunately for her S’bu was more experienced in this department and would not let her off that easy.

“I understand you want the best grades in order to be accepted to do quantum physics and I know how important that is because I was in your shoes few years ago.” S’bu had just completed his first year in bachelor of commerce, so Thandi could not dispute what he said. “Knowing how important this is, I would never distract you but will help you achieve that goal. You could even learn from my mistakes.” he said charmingly.

“Thandi please look at me” he pleaded. “If you woke up tomorrow and decide that you ready for a relationship, would you give me a chance?” he asked her looking at her eyes.

Thandi realised that she had to be honest with him. She shook her head “I’m afraid I would not. We are too different, like fire and ice.”

S’bu smiled, he was prepared for her response. “I’m sorry I can’t accept that. Your conclusion is based on what you’ve heard about me which might not necessarily be true and if it’s true you do not know the reasoning behind my actions. Therefore your conclusion that we different and like fire and ice is baseless and biased. I cannot accept it” S’bu said sounding like a university professor.

Thandi was speechless, no suitor has ever said that to her before.

“Please give me your number, this evening I will send you a list of our similarities and differences. I would like you to do the same” he said looking at her waiting for her to give him her phone number. Thandi gave him her number realising that she’s lost this round and was thinking of a way to end this conversation and leave him as quickly as she can. However he saw through her and suddenly took her hand and put it on top of his left and started caressing it with his right hand.

“MaDlamini” he said still caressing her hand. Dlamini was her surname, add an prefix Ma in front of african women’s surname had a deeper meaning. Showed understanding of the culture acknowledgement of her tradition and worth. For the first time since she met S’bu, Thandi blushed. He noticed her blushing and went for the jugular. He named her clan names one by one even the ones she’s only heard the old man of her family mention. When he finally stopped Thandi was still blushing, her heart was racing and would not dare look at him in the face.

Satisfied that he achieved his goal for today he looked at her still smiling and said “I’m going to take you to the taxi now, I don’t want you getting in trouble with the elders for getting home late”. This showed that he cared about her. He could get back home even at early hours of the morning with no problem but in most homes girls had to be home as early as possible or they would be in trouble and even get punished for it.