CHAPTER 6 THE UNDECIDED MEETING

It's very hard to find someone whose mind doesn't fall silent while traversing through the untouched beauty of a forest or listening to the soft wind as they sit by a lake.

Something just happens to us beyond our conscious awareness. It's as if a switch gets flicked and we suddenly remember a part of who we are. A part that has been long forgotten.

We are nature itself, nature that has settled for less than we deserve. Evolving with nature, humankind has the cries of natural elements deep within the soul, begging to be brought forth and lived, rather than ignored and shunned to the side in favour of safer, more comforting modalities that stifle instinctual and intuitive knowing, an aspect of the truth of what it is to be human.

Nature's way also has the effect of slowing us down in a positive sense. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: "Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience." 

Modern life has a way of making us speedy and aggressive, hyperactive and over-competitive.

As we rush through life, jumping from one thing to another, as if it were a race to see who can collect the most experiences first, we forget that life is not a race to be won, but an experience that can be truly lived only if we slow down enough to be present for it.

Speediness almost always comes with stress. We might ask ourselves, "Is the stress we put ourselves under actually worth it?" 

At what cost are we so caught up in our endless activities that we have forgotten to notice our breathing. In many ways, we're lucky that our breath happens by itself because if we had to actually remember to breathe, we might be so busy that we would forget.

Nature's calming effect brings us back to our breath and to our body, which can be called meditation.

These three made a plan on how to get money to do the tattoos, there wasn't any luck, but Teddy had changed her mind that she wasn't going to do it before they all got the cash, she was sorted of course... They just needed E1600.00 only. 

"You know what guys... Isha, let's think of all the guys who have been courting us all along, corporate guys, guys with money, I just hope you haven't been giving your contacts to losers, because if you have been then you'll sort yourself out.

Let's work on it tonight, we flirt tonight, we flirt till we get the money Isha understood "? Nicole said. 

"We can't be certain we will get it, at least from our parents we can be sure you know.. Don't you think?  The trip  thing was easy an".. She never ended her phrase because Nicole cut her tongue. 

"Excuse me Miss!  Easy? What was easy?  Stealing stamps and typing fake letters?  What was easy"?

She almost dropped her phone, she got interrupted by something she had seen from one last waiting at the bus station.

She had been there for quite some because transport was scarce, I mean everyone had a car, cars, not just normal, usual cars, those roads and streets  would get filled with Jaguars, rovers, audis, Bmw's, rolls Royce wasn't much, kinda scarce, just like jaguars, but their numbers were better than the royce's. 

Nicole saw the lady naked, she really saw the woman on a black top, it took her minutes to realize it was a shopping bag😂😂 Actually the paper bag had leaned by her thighs, that's when she screamed at them. 

"What the fuck!  Guys!!!  Check that lady" she pointed. 

They did, they saw what she meant but as soon as she moved it to the other side, that's when they learnt to mind their own business, they laughed their lungs out but made sure that she never saw them, otherwise all hell would break loose. 

"Ohh yes!  Yes!  I have an idea... Ahhmm how about we become tutors of what we do best"? 

Anaisha waved her eyeballs towards them waiting for an answer. 

"Really Isha? You kidding me right? We don't even have that time for goodness sake! Time!  Time!  I've been yearning this all my life, I want the money now!  Like yesterday!  I don't have time to be busy screwdriving pupil's minds like a mechanic, no"!.

  Nicole folded her arms having a lollipop, crushing down her mind, cracking for a plan. 

"Ahh Hmm!!!  How about we make a lie that one of our parents is no more"?  Teddy suggested. 

"Wow!  Teddy!  Wow!  That's so super - lame, giantly lamely awkward... Well that's if there's something like that in a English vocabulary"!  She said. 

"Wow!  Wow!  Nicole... since you are the mastermind here... Do you mind giving us an idea?  Tell us what you think since we dumpasses.. Your turn!  See?  Your skull is info empty... Let's just work on what we have". Teddy said. 

"I currently need a smoke"! 

Nicole said whilst unlocking her sling bag, she just took a few steps to some tree where it was cool and private, she lit a cigar and the rest joined. 

They chill-smoked without a word from anyone. Teddy was kind of keen that they get the money so they can do it all together and get the same feeling as friends, she didn't want to do it first alone, she wanted them to go together and get it done at the same time. 

"You know what?...  We are not resting tomorrow, you hear me?  We work extra hours, our energy, our time, our sweat, we will work with everything we have, every last thread we have, we sweat on it!  We go class by class, from grade eighth-grade 10...  They have this essay competition coming right up next week right? 

 I'm the best in essays and articles right? Anyways I don't need you to answer that😃, so you'll be helping me market myself, all of us actually, we tell them that whoever wants to go away with a price and trophy and make their parents proud, get those latest Nike air force 1's if ever one's interested in them... 

We were there to help. We tell them we can help them write the very best essays, at a fee😛, nothing's for free of course.

We write the essays from scratch, and edit it for them, but editing comes at a plus fee... We'll see about the price though". Teddy exhaled and hanged out her arms as a way  of asking if it was a great idea. 

"Shit!  Damn!  Teddy you the best! 😲how did you think of that"?  Anaisha asked. 

"When you sleep on novels... Your mind gets to think faster than normal honey"! 

She stood up preparing to leave. She responded. 

"Guys! We can't leave just yet!  I've got some blunt here... Nicole took it out from her bag. 

"You sandbagging son of a bitch!  Where did you get it"?  😲Teddy asked. 

"I stole it from Jaden's bag"...she said. 

"Oww!  So you are hanging out with Jaden now? I didn't know that " Anaisha exclaimed. 

"It was  a quarter chat, nothing much"....Nicole said.....

There was that silence which was never even backed up by breaths out or something till they prepared to leave. 

They had planned to bring out their past essay marked samples just as evidence that they've and they are really the best in the school, they might even be the best in town, kingdom at large. 

Teddy knew her parents were going to scold her, they were strict Christian parents, but all of that didn't matter because all she wanted was a tatoo, and adding of piercings here and there. 

The school didn't want piercings too, one was punishable and bearable, but a whole bunch! That was requesting for a hard knocking detention or more. 

She had heard that Tattoo pain will usually be most severe during the first few minutes, after which your body should begin to adjust.

If your tattoo is particularly large or detailed, the pain can become intense again toward the end, when pain- and stress-dulling hormones called endorphins may begin to fade.

She read on Chrome  that According to a recent study, having a tattoo affects the way your body sweats. That ink on your skin can actually block sweat, so choose where to place it very wisely. 

Our bodies need to sweat to avoid overheating, so it's especially important to never block your sweat glands with a tattoo.

She forwarded the text to her friends but hahahahaha! Who cared! For as long as they got what they've been yearning for. 

Normally, the pain starts off quite bad for several minutes at the beginning of the session, but once your body starts to react by releasing various pain-dulling hormones as a response to the needles pumping in and out of your skin, the affected area usually begins to go slightly numb, and the pain often goes away for a while, before coming back again in waves of varying length and intensity throughout the process.

Usually (especially with longer sessions), the pain is normally worse towards the end. This is when you're most likely beginning to get fed up and tired, and the pain-dulling hormones begin to run out and fade away... But it's all worth at the end of the day! 

Teddy just wanted to be more famous and have this scary character which says "don't bitch me"!  Teddy just wanted to be this sarcastic social outcast girl at Sifundzani High School , to be bitchy, to be scary, look like a "no mess up "girl.

She knew she wouldn't hurt a fly.She wants to look more like Willow Smith but that was an underrated...  Quite a number of piercings can make one look devilish... That's what she wanted! 

As for Nicole... She just wanted a tattoo because she felt like it drew necessary attention anywhere and everywhere, it gets you noticed.

As for Anaisha... She was kind of unsure of what her parents were going to say but she felt like it was a worth a risk because permanent tattoos are forbidden in Islam The majority of Muslims consider permanent tattoos to be haram (forbidden), based on hadith (oral traditions) of their prophet Muhammad.

The details provided in hadith help to understand the traditions relevant to tattoos as well as other forms of body art. 

Non Permanent tattoos, such as henna stains or stick-on tattoos, are generally permitted provided they do not contain inappropriate images.

Additionally, all of your prior actions are forgiven once you have converted and fully embraced Islam.

Therefore, if you had a tattoo before becoming a Muslim, you are not required to remove it, that's their belief and Isha was really willing to cross the bridge once she gets there, she wouldn't miss it for the world. 

"Yazan! we have to talk! It's a super agent"! Anaisha said when they met in their passage house. 

"Ahh damn! What have I done now? You just love bossing me around... Are you that blind that you can't figure out I'm watching a movie"?

He rolled his eyes and went to their meeting point. 

"I'm watching a movie called Isha... Make it snap"! He said. 

"Agh!  Spare me! It's a movie not a series! Geez"!  Isha rolled her eyes at him. 

"I'm going to ask you once... Okay? Judging from the world we breathe in right now... Would you do a tattoo"? She asked whilst looking at him straight in his eyes. 

"Yeahhhh... I would but 😬 our religion is considering it as haram you know that dont you? My bras have tattoos, and I want one, I've always but damn! I can't, you can't, and we cannot" he brushed her shoulders. 

"Unless.... " he had his hands in his pockets and started swaying around her like one who was about to be ready to confess. 

"Unless what"? She shouted. 

"I'm going to keep my information and advice if you going to be this rude"! 😩

She kept quiet, folded her arms and eyeballed his eyes till they both laughed. 

"Okay! Remember that the Qur'an says if you have done it before, you can't be forced to remove it because it's permanent, but God can forgive you and life goes on"! He said. 

"Yes! Yes! Yes" she kissed him and almost hugged him so tight that they almost fell together as one. 

"Yes! You so fucking smart! Wow!  I love you honey...I'm so glad you don't judge me you know,I  seriously thought you were going to be like 'what the hell is wrong with you, you wanna bitch around '😂😂. 

I'm really glad to have you as my brother, wouldn't ask for more you know "?  She said... 

"I know  sis... Thank you very much, I'm so honored... So when do we do this "?  He asked. 

"Wait!  You really think it would be wise to do it together at the same time "?  She asked out of curiosity. 

"Of course... Let them punch, smash and kill us together, where you did, I die! At least it you won't be grounded alone sis! But we would have got what we wanted" he said. 

"Speak about grounding! Dammit!  What if they take our phones"?  She asked him. 

"We do the worst! 😂 we don't come back home... where will  they call us? Nowhere? But you know what?  Let's cross the bridge once we get there honey" he said. 

They went to Yazan's room, sat down and checked out  tattoo designs. 

"What type do you wanna make? Tribal, Realism, New school, biomechanical, American Traditional.. Which one"? 

"Before I answer that, how do you know the variety "? She asked. 

"I'm younger than you but hey! I stay locked up in my room for reasons😂" he said whilst scrolling down looking for other designs.. 

"Well... I think I would love the American Traditional 🤐" she grinned. 

"I know you just heard the word "America" that's all... They both laughed till they hit each other. 

Anaisha  couldn't easily decide, it felt like being between the thorns of a dilemma, and hell it was!  More like being caught fucking a girl when you are and having a cock again (bisexual) and then getting to be asked to choose right away, you can relate...

You like a cock but it keeps on breaking your heart again and again and again. You probably need to read this twice to get it, yes!  It demands your attention🤓. 

Ever examined yourself why and how gays and lesbians came around and about?  I have sat on the desk and bitten my pen on thoughts... The only answer I've managed to come up so far is a "damn fucking heartbreak".

Well if a heartbreak is more than capable of taking a stand in one's mind, rapturing one's soul and flesh, then what's stopping it from changing one into a guy or a lesbian or maybe a bisexual?  Nothing isn't it? 

In this current decade... Gays seem to have taken a toll in the best sphere of sexuality, compared to lesbians... Meaning what? Guys are being more heartbroken compared to girls?

No one knows the answer yet but hey! The statistics of gays this year are so high compared to the previous years and it happens that gays are more rich and richer than lesbians and straight people, but still! Nobody knows how and why. 

Quite a number of people or i'll rather say youngsters, dont know how gays or lesbians fuck! Giving sexual pleasure) you know, but it's not everything that's meant to be understood!

As much as more people are forced to understand things and how they work. Most people usually want to force comprehensions yet no! Hell no! Some things are made, invented not to be understood! 

Simple as that! Just like "some words can be lost behind words  you could never find... Same as inventions, it can be an oral theoretical invention or practical invention but some things are made to not to be understood at all, for so long as you can use it without any complications and misinterprets full of errors and side effects! 

Yes! I said it! You Probably didn't understand my point, but you can go through it twice or thrice till you pin it in  your skull, you Probably won't even figure it out at all, 😀 but like i said, some things aren't meant to be understood. 

Yazaan was given a challenge of coming up with a way to get the money to do tattoos, Anaisha only thought of making an outing, as a class, for Geography lessons.

Teddy couldn't stop cracking her skull on how they were going to get the money. She thought of getting a toy gun which was in her house and looked real, she thought of doing the "ATM ROBBERY", more like a heist. Nicole thought of hooking with the owner to get it, she had already started sending him  a D. M on Instagram. 

They were against the clock, they needed to do it that upcoming Saturday, it was a Wednesday already. They were working against time.

Anaisha told them that her brother already knows, she spilled the beans, and she told them that he said he's been yearning for it too, they are going to have to do it together so the side effects would feel lighter.

They never had a problem. Teddy liked Yazaan, she really did, but it wasn't a crush, she knew that. 

They planned to meet at 15:00 pm as soon as sports were done. They had to meet in town because Yazaan's school ride was dropping him at 14:30 pm. They took a kombi to town, they weren't even used to such a mode. They found him strolling around the corporate place. 

He hugged each of them except for his sister, he kissed her on the cheeks, they all exclaimed like "mhhh"! It was too sweet, he looked wonderful.

He was on the AIR JORDAN 12 OVO(DRAKE EDITION) They costed 100000 US DOLLARS, he had a friend in New York who got them for him as a gift,surely  he was the only one who had them in the country, with his redbad hoodie and simple uzzi sweatpants. 

"Yo! You are not serious right? Where can we chill? Ah Hmm let's try Spur since there is a smoking zone, I know you guys are shit"! 

They all laughed but then they told him they weren't interested because they were in uniform, so they all went inside without a second thought. 

"You can order anything you want but remember we here to discuss money... So don't swipe all my shit"! He said and they all laughed their lungs out.

They were all waiting to see what Teddy was going to order because they knew she was a foodie😀, yet she was now confused too. 

"Teddy"!  He was folding his arms eyeballing her through her eyeballs, that got her a lil bit terrified but she toughened up and responded. 

"Wassup"!?

"What you wanna eat"? He wasn't even smiling. 

"I'll have a drink... Thank you "!  She said and pretended to be busy with her phone. 

"Jesus!  What do you want to eat "? He asked again. 

"Bacon and cheese would do" she rolled her eyes at him. 

He snapped his hands in the air asking for the waiter to come and take orders. They all ordered milkshakes except for Teddy of course. 😀

"So... I guess we all came up with ideas... We've got two days left. Wait! There's the guy over there! Shit!  Let's talk to him guys! Nicole got terrified and she went like "Fuck! " she almost hid under the table, Yazaan couldn't understand why but he gave her a wide berth.

"Should I approach him? '' he asked them but they murmured, ``They were going and froing. Which made him head straight up.

They talked, for quite some time, the tattooist had asked which girl is his on that table, but he just laughed and said none. 

"Bra! Come on!  You've got it all there, you're full of jokes right? he said. 

"I can get you one dude, not a problem"  Yazaan said. 

"I like the black one... She's beautiful, looks like she's full of shit though? Like she's a.. " 

Yazaan stopped him right there...........

No!  No!  Ahhmm she's not available, she's ahhmm, she's ahhm she's my girlfriend!  Yeah, she's mine"! He said. 

"Ow!  Okay!  My bad!  Then the one who's in the middle "? That was Anaisha. 

"That's!  No! That's my sister so no"! He said.

"Oww!  Seems like they all restricted".. He looked at him. 

"Actually I came to talk to you about something, as you see that table that i'm from, including me, we wanna do tattoos this weekend!  So what's your  best price"? 

He firmly waited for an answer. 😩He looked at him from head to toe, "bra!  You are wearing a 100000 US DOLLAR sneaker which the King would even think twice on before buying it for his sons". 😀

"Bra! I'm just a student but my parents paid through their fucking noses for this",  he was getting pissed. 

"Okay... Make it E600.00 each... Okay'! 

"thank you!  Thank you so much... Thank you!  We will be there". 

He said his goodbyes and left back to his table. 

They breathed a sigh of relief all  when he made his way through, they couldn't wait but he threw the bones on the table after a minute of a depressed face😜. 

"You sandbagging son of a bitch"!  Teddy said while she banged the table of which she hit it hard that she had something red on top of her hand but she ignored it. 

"Yes guys! We are minimizing the budget now by E200.00 each, not much but it's a lot of difference when you know we are in a poorhouse yet our parents can bring home the bacon... You know what I mean"?

He bit his lips staring at Teddy, she blushed. 

"Didn't your parents teach you that it's rude to stare" she asked him with a serious frowny face. 

"Well... It's not rude if I'm staring at something that's worth staring at, it's not what my parents taught me but it's what I taught myself".

  He proceeded with the stare till she said "Stop it Yazaan okay"! 

"Okay!  Geez! I'll stop"! 

They went on and discussed on other platforms.

"Loan Shark!  Loan shark you prats"!  He smiled whilst looking at them. 

"What's that?  What are prats? Nicole asked.

"Bra!  That's for you to find out "!  He rolled his eyes. 

"Where do we get loan sharks"? Anaisha asked. 

"Twit!  What the fuck is wrong with you sis!  Of course I know some ladies. Let me call her ". 

He made a phone call, fortunately she agreed but she said max is E1500.00, it would be 300 short but hey, better than nothing, he bounced off the walls when he ended the call.

The skivers held their cheeks with their hands as if they were seeing a ghost or something 😂.

"Why didn't you just tell me I'll be the one running this whole whack ass shit of a mission because clearly you all chilled "!

He hung his hands out in the air. They all eyeballed his face and he ignored it till he got pissed.  

"Okay fine! We covered E1500.00 which means E300.00 is short! Which is E100.00 each. I'm sure you have that in your fucking bank accounts"! 🙄

"Nicole stood up to hug and kiss Yazaan for all the hard work but he just sent her back as soon as she hugged him.

"Teddy!  Pick up your bag... Let's hit the road"

He said whilst finishing his drink, he never even looked back. They were all confused, nobody understood what was going on between the two, not even Teddy but she just decided to go in with the flow, so the rest of the squad tailed them.