AMAHLE
We headed to Jack Rabbits and ordered some delicious food. For the first time, I decided to try wine, a sweet rosé, and surprisingly, I found it to my liking. Damon's girlfriend, Jade, was the one who ordered the wine. As she poured me a glass, Damon gave me an intimidating look. I couldn't figure out why he was eyeing me like that.
"How is it?" Jade asked.
"It's actually nice," I replied.
"I told you so. Never doubt me," she said confidently.
"I never will. Never again," I assured her.
"We'll get along just fine. So, how did you and this one meet?" she inquired, nodding toward Damon.
"He bumped into me at Ushaka last year at Spur," I explained.
"Oh, so you're the typical stubborn Xhosa girl," she teased.
"Is that what he calls me?" I asked with a smirk.
"No offense," she added.
"None taken. My friends call him the white jerk from Spur," I confessed.
"Touché," she said, and we clicked our glasses together.
"What are we toasting to?" Damon asked.
"Nothing, guys, chill," Jade replied, and we laughed, clicking our glasses again.
"So, what are you doing here in KZN?" Jade asked.
"I'm going to be doing my first year at UKZN Howard campus, Bsc in Land Surveying," I informed her.
"Oh, wow. Damon did his law there; now he tutors there part-time," she shared.
"Really?" I responded.
"He can always give you a lift, or better yet, he can take you to register. Monday, he's free," she suggested.
"I don't want to impose on his free time," I hesitated.
"I'm sure he won't mind, babe," Jade said, calling Damon over.
"Yes?" he responded.
"Amahle needs a lift to Howard tomorrow," Jade explained.
"Okay?" Damon agreed.
"So, you'll take her, right?" Jade asked.
"Fine. Be ready at 8 am," Damon agreed.
"Okay, thanks," I replied.
Jen chimed in, "I'll catch a lift with you guys tomorrow."
"Anyone else needs a lift?" Damon asked, looking around.
They laughed at him.
"I guess no one does then," Meg commented.
"Let's just eat and go home," Damon suggested.
We enjoyed our meal and engaged in the ongoing conversation at the table. When the waitress brought the bill, Andrew took care of it, explaining that they took turns covering the expenses each time they went out. It seemed like a fair arrangement for them.
.
.
SANDISO
The atmosphere between the two girls beside me carried an undeniable tension, and I couldn't help but derive some amusement from the situation.
Sisa contemplated, "I should go already."
I questioned, "So soon?"
Entle echoed, "Yeah, so soon?"
Sisa explained, "Yeah, I don't know my way around here yet, so yeah."
Offering a solution, I volunteered, "I'll drive you to your place, stay a bit."
Intrigued, Entle sought confirmation, "Really?"
Assuring her, I added, "Only if you'll direct me."
Expressing uncertainty, Entle confessed, "I don't really know the directions well."
Comforting her, I suggested, "It's okay; I'm sure Entle will know where your place is, right M?"
Caught off guard, Entle queried, "Excuse me, what?"
I clarified, "You'll drive us to Sisa's place?"
Understanding the situation, Entle simply responded, "Oh."
Sisa, feeling independent, declared, "It's okay; I can go on my own."
With a parting word, Entle bid her farewell, "Bye."
Refusing to let her go alone, I asserted, "I can't let you do that. We'll Google the place or ask Siri for directions."
Thanking me, she excused herself, saying, "Oh, thank you, Sands. You're the best. I need to use the ladies; please excuse me."
As she departed, leaving me alone with Entle, she playfully mimicked Sisa's gratitude, "Oh, thank you, Sands. You're the best." I couldn't help but chuckle at the imitation.
Teasing her, I remarked, "You're totally jealous."
Defending herself, she insisted, "No, I'm not. That girl creeps me out, that's all."
Encouraging understanding, I countered, "She's super nice if you get to know her."
Remaining firm, she stated, "I don't plan to. I just don't like her, that's all. Hey, there's Ash and Sbu."
Curious, I inquired, "Where?"
Pointing, she directed my attention, "By the door," and they joined us.
Sbu & Ash greeted, "Hey, guys."
We reciprocated with a friendly, "Hey."
Sharing interesting news, I divulged, "Dude, did you know Sisa is studying here?"
Sbu expressed surprise, "No ways."
Making plans, Entle suggested, "Buddy, let's go get you a drink."
Ash agreed, "Uh-huh, cool."
Sbu made a request, "Get me a glass of Hennessy, please, babe."
With affection, she responded, "Okay, boo," and they left us.
Observing the dynamics, I commented, "She's in the ladies as we speak."
Issuing a friendly warning, Sbu advised, "Dude, don't do anything I wouldn't do."
Curious, I asked, "That being?"
Concerned for our relationship, Sbu emphasized, "You and Mahle have something good going on. Don't ruin it."
Assuring him, I responded, "Relax, dude. We won't do anything."
Seeking reassurance, Sbu pleaded, "Dude, please. Don't hurt her."
Committing to my intentions, I asserted, "I won't, okay."
.
.
ENTLE
Ash and I walked towards the bar, my unease evident regarding this Sisanda character. It felt as though she was deliberately throwing herself at Sands, or perhaps I was simply succumbing to a pang of jealousy, realizing he wasn't paying much attention to me.
She inquired, "Hey, you okay?"
I admitted, "I think I'm falling for Sandiso."
Her excitement erupted, "I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!"
I hushed her, urging, "Quit it, Ash."
Curious, she asked, "So what's the problem?"
My concerns spilled out, "He has a girlfriend, and then there's this ex of his, Sisa-something, who clearly still has feelings for him."
She teased, "And you don't think you can take her?"
I sighed, "She has him by the balls, friend."
Doubting the severity, she commented, "Surely it can't be that bad."
I insisted, "Trust me, it is. They have history, and he and I only share memories. Today, I saw him in his briefs, and he saw me in my underwear."
Amused, she inquired, "And you didn't attack him?"
I confessed, "I wanted to so badly, but I didn't want to be that forward girl, you know?"
Understanding, she nodded, "I hear you. And this girlfriend of his?"
I shared, "She's in Durban."
After ordering drinks, we headed back to the table.
She reassured, "If you really wanted him, babe, you would have him."
I pondered, "You think?"
She complimented, "You're irresistible, babe."
As we approached the table, Sbu's drink in hand, they were engrossed in conversation with Sisa. Sbu greeted, "Thanks. Ash, have you met Sisanda? We went to high school together."
Ash greeted, "Oh hi, nice to meet you."
We took our seats.
Sisa complimented, "Nice to meet you too, Ash. I love your shoes."
Ash expressed her gratitude, "Thanks."
Sands inquired, "Are you still going to perform?"
I confirmed, "One last song."
He suggested, "Let's do it together."
Surprised, I asked, "Really?"
He affirmed, "Yeah. How about 'Beyoncé and Jamie Foxx, When I First Saw You'?"
I smiled, "Perfect choice. I love that song."
He teased, "You love any song I mention."
I challenged, "I bet you can't even sing."
He confidently claimed, "Baby girl, I will school you."
Sisa chimed in, "And he really will. He was the school's Chris Brown because he did it all."
Sands playfully protested, "Oh, come on, Sisa. Entle didn't need to know that."
Ash joined the conversation, "You two are going to sing together?"
I confirmed, "Yeah."
Sbu predicted, "You two are going to kill it."
I suggested, "We should go rehearse."
Sisa inquired, "Already?"
I took his hand and led him backstage.