The Besotted

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"Are you sure you're okay?" Rea checks again, "I can take you back home if you want."

I just shake my head and run my hand over my hair. She gave me some aspirin with some Redbull to wash it down as soon as we got on the main road.

She's been throwing me nervous glances ever since I took four of those pills even though she's the one who said I look like I need to take three.

"I can't go home, Mam'Ntombi is right I'm going to drive myself crazy being this fucking useless," I rationalize the best I can, "I already feel fireants eating at my skin."

She frowns at me and nods. I wish she'd focus more on the road, especially since she likes driving this fast.

"Alright, but I'm sure everyone would understand if you took a rain check," She suggests again, "We can go to mine, order some food, watch something American? Madea?... Diary of a Mad Black Woman?"

I can't help but laugh at that, "Tsek wena," I sigh and shake my head as I sober up, "No, Zayn invited me, and I told him I'd show up."

Can't let him down on the eve of getting that job that's looming on the horizon, I can't afford to screw up any more than I already have.

"And Zayn is...?"

"My boss's brother."

She nods along, "Oh yeah, so does that mean your boss is going to be there as well?"

I try to give a casual shrug, "Most probably." But my guts are twisting at the thought.

"Alright, well, I don't know what weird thing is going on with you guys, but Juice said you invited him along as well?"

I nod along with the throbbing in my skull, "We've been talking..."

There's a small pause.

"He's a good guy," Her voice takes a somber tone, "Don't let that rap persona fool you underneath all that.. he's a marshmallow to the core."

I find myself relaxed in the car seat now, "We've been talking Reamogetse, we're not making babies."

"I'm just saying. And he likes you," She pauses for effect, "Anyway, if you insist on going and all your people are going to be there, then we need you more relaxed than this. I need to loosen you up."

There's some tightness in my shoulders, but I don't have the banging in my head anymore.

"My cousin gave me some money, and we are going to spend it," She continues, "Fresh nails, fresh toes. Scrubbed down? You in?".

"Didn't you just lose a job? Shouldn't you be saving?"

"I didn't lose my pretty face and good tits with it, did I? And trust me, money from my family is not money I want to use for important things. I was planning to blow it anyway."

I mean... If she insists..

I'm not going to turn down a spa treat or the chance to look fresh. Especially in front of Mr Sin. I need to show him I'm not his cleaner tonight.