Chapter 11

Leona:

Oh gosh! Who has the nerve to call me so late at night? I was enjoying my sleep. I don't even want to answer this call.

"The person you are trying to call is currently sleeping right now, please call again later", I answer without looking at who is calling me.

"Happy birthday Aphile"

Mum?

It's my birthday today? Gosh! It's my birthday!

"Mum, thank you", did I just forget my birthday?

"Happy birthday Aphile", whose voice sounds like my friends, they are singing for me.

"Hey guys, is Blessing with you?" I know Blessing hates singing so if he is with them then he is also singing for me. Progress!

"Yes sister, he is here and he was also singing", that voice belongs to my darling sister

"That's progress, guys. Thank you, guys. Are you all together?"

"Yes, we are crashing at your mum's house today", my mum is a neat freak and they are a mess. Disaster, but I'm sure they will clean up.

"That is wonderful. Thank you guys"

"Aphile, you should come back home. We want to plan a party for you. And it's been a long since we saw you. Come home", oh Lovell!

"Don't worry Lovell, I'll come home soon. I miss you guys"

"We miss you Aphile"

Stella?

They are all together?

I miss my friends now.

"I'll try to come back at the end of the month"

"Okay. Go to sleep now", yes I'm still sleepy

"Yes I'm tired, today will be a long day. Thank you guys", she ends the call after they said they love her.

I miss my people, my family, my friends, my hood. I grew up with those people, they know me in and out.

A yawn escapes my mouth.

"I'm tired"

"You can't be tired?"

Landell?

I look up, they are all here in the room, with a cupcake in V's hands.

"Guys, it was a long day"

"Shut up and eat this cupcake. I baked it myself, V helped a little"

Landell baked this?

Wow! I can't disappoint him, I should eat this cupcake, he made it with love.

God, please don't let me have a stomach ache, after eating this cake.

"Happy birthday Leona", they all say and they say on the bed.

"Thank you, guys. Now give me, I have to eat this cupcake. Landell baked it with all his efforts", I take the cake from V and blew the candle. I give V the candle and then started eating the cupcake.

Wow!

"I'll be wrong if I don't compliment you. Damn! Landell this is wonderful, please bake me some more. It's tastes wonderful", I said with a mouthful

"Finish eating, so that you will get some sleep"

"I'm done now, Tristan. I'll go and wash my mouth then go to sleep. Thank you guys"

"Lee now you are grown"

"Yes I know Eric, I'm 26 now", I am old, I'll be thirty soon.

I wonder why he didn't come here and wish me a happy birthday?

Forget about him! Stop getting your hopes high.

"We'll leave you, now go and brush your teeth then go to sleep"

I love mother Violetta.

"Okay V, I'll just do that", they all kissed my forehead and then walked out.

"He doesn't care about me", I sigh and went to the bathroom, I brushed my teeth and face then went back to my room.

"You thought I forgot your birthday", he is leaning on my door and he is smirking?

Bastard!

"I have a surprise for you", he takes a step toward me.

I love surprises, but not from someone's husband.

"Please close your eyes", I'm happy he didn't forget my birthday and he has a surprise for me.

I close my eyes and he picks me up in bridal style.

My heart is racing, I can't wait to see his surprise. He starts walking out my from, towards the stairs.

Where is he taking me? It's either he is taking me to the garden or the pool.

Nope! He is taking his left, so that means we are going to the pool.

He gently put me down. He pulls a chair and helped me sit.

I opened my eyes.

"Wow!" It's so beautiful.

"I know you like it simple and nice. I tried my best", he smiles and sat down.

"Thanks, Jeremiah, I love it", it's beautiful.

This is the best surprise I have ever had from a boyfriend.

Boyfriend? A boyfriend?

Damn Leona! Jeremiah is not your boyfriend, he is married.

"Please blow out the candles and make a wish", I lean forward and blew them

God, I wish for my arranged marriage to be called off, and for mum not to be sad about it.

"Please cut the cake", I took the knife and cut the cake. I leaned forward to feed him but he stopped me

"I don't eat cake. It has too much sugar."

What? Lame excuse, of course, the cake has sugar, there is no less sugar cake? But this small amount of sugar won't kill him.

"Please open your mouth, for my sake", he looks at me for a long thirty seconds and opened his mouth. I gently fed him the cake, and he did the same.

I like what is happening here. Me and him, together, he is making me feel special.

"So Leona what do you want as a present?"

I want to be with you.

No, stop it, Leona!

Come back to reality. He is a married man.

"I want something memorable, I want something that will always make me remember this day and you."

Really?

Yes stupid!

Hey, don't call me stupid!

Just enjoy this moment.

"I'm not good at buying presents, especially buying a woman a present", didn't he buy his sisters' presents when they were small?

"It's okay then, just give me anything"

"Anything?"

Why do I sense mischief in his voice?

"Yes anything", what is he planning?

"Come let's go"

Go? Where?

What is he planning?

"As for your present, I'll give you something that will distract you as you will keep thinking about it"

I wonder what that will be?

We both stand up at the same time.

Will he ask me to be his girlfriend? Will he ask me to be his friend? Will he ask me to stop loving him?

I'm confused now! What could be his present?

The next thing I know is that my back is against the wall, and his lips are on mine. No! They are moving against mine!

Jeremiah is kissing me? And I'm kissing him back?

Gosh!

He is kissing me slowly, this kiss is pure and passionate. It's like we are both pouring out all our emotions into this kiss.

He pulls out and I groan, I don't want to stop kissing him. He laughs and kisses my cheek.

"That was the best kiss and happy birthday", he walks away with a big smile on his face.

Aphile you just kissed your best friend's husband.

Did he kiss me? Jeremiah kissed me? That means he likes me.

Does Jeremiah like me?

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Best birthday present ever. I love it!

~

Today it's my birthday! Happy!

I threw the covers off me and head to the bathroom, I did my business then went downstairs. I wore my black knee-length umbrella skirt with a yellow blouse and V's yellow high heels.

No one was there so I sat down and started eating my breakfast.

I was still enjoying my breakfast when someone mumbled a good morning, not wanting to answer him, I carried on eating.

"Good morning", that is Jeremiah's voice?

God, I want to forget what happened this morning.

He kissed me, and I like it. We kissed and it shouldn't have happened.

It was so long and pure. If given the chance I will kiss him. I have to forget about this kiss and I have to tell Jessy what I did. I betrayed her.

¥

Love Nqobile Aphile