13. I need a cup anyway

Sleep was playing cat and mouse with me and so I found myself replying to his text, I was also curious as to why he was texting me at this time of the night, was he perhaps thinking of me? and or was it simply insomnia?

"Mr Sekulu, no, was just about to, how can I help you?"

"Lucky me! And you responded? I thought maybe you were mad at me because, since my last text, you have been avoiding me..."

I have not spoken to Walter ever since I left him on read. With work and Sipho's shenanigans, I honestly had my plate full.

"Work has been hectic Mr Sekulu, you know the drill. But why did you text me so late, surely it can't be because I left you on read 5 weeks ago?"

He took a bit longer to respond so I assumed that he may have fallen asleep, I turned my night light off, but I saw two text notification popups as I was about to put the phone away 'I guess not', confirming my own assumption:

"So, I needed to talk to someone...", the first text read, and the second one continued where the first one left off:

"You see, I have been struggling to get this girl to notice me, I spent nights thinking of ways to get her to at least talk to me, even if it's just to say hi, so as a woman, I need your opinion"

At first, I was surprised because I was not the only woman he knows, I am sure he had a lot of people to ask, his cousin, for instance, but then I remembered her personality. I kind of felt sorry for him because of how desperate his text sounded, but I am a petty person by nature and I had a score to settle.

"Mr. Sekulu, surely I can't be the only woman you know in your life, why not ask your cousin or that friend of yours from the other day at the hotel?"

"Ms. Thandie Lohan, are you perhaps stalking me, how did you know about that?", I could sense the sarcasm in his text

"Please don't flatter yourself, I am just wondering why you chose to text me when you have so many options", I said playing dumb

"Hmm...okay, well, to answer your question, I can't ask my cuz because she will tell me to stop being a baby. 2. I lost the cellphone numbers of the friend from that day"

It didn't take time for my brain to figure out what he meant, I found myself feeling sleepy again, so I decided to give him my advice and just call it a night.

"So from the limited experience I have, I would say just be direct and ask her out for a drink or something. Sometimes it's hard to take hints and waiting for a person to come to you is a gamble. Rather put your feelings out there and allow the universe to do its job. I hope this helps"

"What if I tried all those options but it did not work?", he replied

"Maybe you need a different approach then or just take the hint as the master hinter, she is not interested"

"Women are soo hard to read..."

"Yeah, but yet, you can't stay away. Goodnight Mr Sekulu"

That was the first time I had a "close to normal conversation with Walter, and it honestly felt nice.

Walter would continue to send texts on random nights asking for my opinion, most of them revolving around women. Honestly, a part of me started looking forward to his texts, they were a good distraction from my disastrous love life, and I didnt have to spend nights thinking of the possibility of dying alone. But I started to wonder why he only texts at night, and so I asked him; 

"Mr Sekulu, why do you text me at night? Do you only need advice at night"

"Ms. Thandie Lohan, I honestly don't know, did I perhaps offend you?"

"No, I just wanted to know, I was just curious"

We texted for a while and then we called it a night.

The next day at work I was shocked by a text from Walter on a busy afternoon,

"Ms Thandie Lohan, how is your afternoon?"

'He must've felt bad about what I said yesterday', I thought,

"Mr Sekulu, You don't have to start texting me during the day because of guilt. I am okay with being your midnight psychologist"

He sent a laughing emoji, followed by a text asking me to join him for coffee...

"Mr Sekulu, there is no need for all of this...", I replied

"Please Ms Thandie Lohan, just one coffee, as a thank you for being my midnight psychologist..."

I took some time to think about it, but then I decided to take him up on his offer, I needed a cup anyway.

Looking back now, maybe I should have turned him down.