THANDEKA
Oh, my God!
I could live like this every day of my life. It is just a dream I know won’t happen but this place is remarkable. Gundo cashed his voucher at the Melrose Arch hotel Fire & Ice. I always passed Melrose Arch when going to work on the bus and I imagined it must be beautiful inside, but I never thought it would be as beautiful as this. The hotel is just as stunning. I admired it from the first minute I walked in. Those tall chairs at reception? Just stunning.
I was not bothered by everyone staring at me when I walked beside Gundo. He is wearing this perfectly fitted suit and I look dull with my relaxed hair. I need to get braids or something. I never wanted to leave the flat this past week. I thought shutting myself away would be much better.
I tried looking for a job after I was fired. I went back to the filling station to ask for the job. But I was discouraged by the petrol attendants who kept asking me if I was sure. When I asked why, I was told that a week doesn’t pass without them witnessing a hijacking just outside the station. This means the gunshots I hear almost every second night are coming from there. I couldn’t take the job when those old men told me that they fear for their lives every night.
Now I am in this beautiful hotel room and Gundo has left to go to the office.
Gundo.
I couldn’t tell him that I thought he was Rudzani. I was so sure he was his womaniser brother. All the signs that he is not him were there but I never seemed to care. I cannot wait to tell Maria all about it. I am just waiting for my phone to charge a little more.
Everything in this room is white and black, including the chair by the window. I’ve never been in any place like it. Wow!
I sit back on the bed. I was so overwhelmed when Gundo booked me into the hotel that I forgot to thank him! And he had to leave directly to go sort out some things at the office. Now I don’t even have his number to thank him for allowing me to use his vouchers. But he promised to come back so that we can have dinner, so I’ll thank him then. I wanted to refuse dinner, but when he said we needed to talk about the things I accused him of last time we spoke, I felt so ashamed, I couldn’t get a word out.
My phone pings a lot of messages, including texts from MTN indicating to me who tried calling me when my phone was off. I notice Maria and Thulani’s numbers. I know them by heart. I also received a few calls from a number that I don’t know. What if it is someone from the office trying to get hold of me? Maybe Ms Diana changed her mind. Maybe she was told that Gundo and I never did anything more than just a kiss which lasted only a second.
That kiss.
I can easily recall it whenever I close my eyes. It was perfect. Too perfect!
I dial the number and wait.
‘Hey,’ a deep, inviting voice answers.
‘Hi.’
‘Are you missing me already?’ It’s Gundo’s voice, creating a smile on my face.
‘What?’
‘Are you missing me already? Or did you need me to get you anything?’
‘No. Not at all,’ I quickly say. What more can I need from him? He has done more than enough. For the first time in the whole week, I will sleep peacefully. It has been hectic since Maria left. I couldn’t sleep, knowing that men were in the next room. It didn’t matter that the door was always locked, I just couldn’t sleep.
‘What’s up?’
‘I was just returning the calls I missed during the week.’
‘Oh yeah, I tried calling you on Thursday. That is my number. Keep it and use it whenever you need to,’ he says. I can sense a smile from his sexy voice.
Sexy voice? Thandeka, really?
What is wrong with me? This man has a child with Diana. That little girl will want her mommy and daddy to be together. I’m not going to try to come between them.
‘Thank you.’
‘So, are you settled? Do you like the room?’
‘Do I like the room? Are you kidding me? I love this room. It feels like they gave me the best,’ I say.
‘They did. I asked for the best.’
‘Thank you. I really appreciate it,’ I say.
‘It is only my pleasure. Okay, let me get these documents out of the way and then I will see you tonight, six o’clock?’ he says.
‘Six o’clock, it is.’ I still want to thank him in person for organising this hotel stay for me. Why is this guy so good to me?
As soon as I hang up, doubts start to creep in again. Am I even supposed to be having this dinner with him? I mean, Diana is going to flip when she hears about it. Do I really want her as an enemy? Do I want to cause trouble between them? What about their daughter?
I groan and lie down on the bed.
Well, there’s really no turning back now. Diana can’t be mad if it is just a friendly dinner, right? We’re going to clear up misunderstandings between us and I’ll thank him for the voucher, that’s all.
I get up, put my shoes on, pick up my sling bag and walk out of the hotel. I saw an Edgars just down the street and I’m in desperate need of something to wear tonight.
Yes! The shop is right here. It is enormous with more fashion collections than any of the branches I have been to. I just need a stylish dress, with a stylish pair of shoes. Ms Diana paid me and I deserve to spoil myself now and again. This will make me feel so much better after this awful week.
We only live once.
I pick a short red dress. But not too short – I don’t want to give anyone the wrong idea! And I love the sandals I pick out. As long as the heels are not as high as stilettos, I can handle them. These are just right. And they are on sale – what a bonus. I select a pair of dramatic earrings to make up for my pulled-back hairstyle.
I pay a price high enough to threaten my wallet, but it is worth it: I won’t feel out of place in the hotel’s fancy restaurant.
I’ve pushed aside the idea that this dinner might be wrong or a mistake. Gundo has only been good to me and I am not trying to compete with Diana. I just want to feel good tonight – that is all.
By five-thirty he calls to tell me that he is at the restaurant already waiting for me. He seems very eager to dine with me. Or he is just the punctual type, silly.
I put on my dress and fix my hair again. I would have been looking like a million dollars if I had my braids on. I fix the little make-up that I had put on before getting dressed. Perfect! Except that I don’t have a matching bag or even a clutch bag to complement my dress. So I take the room’s keycard and slide it into the little envelope that came with it and head to the restaurant. Gundo is sitting where I can easily see him. I smile as I stride to him. He is staring at me as if shocked. His eyebrows are raised and his mouth is slightly open. My last few steps to the table are a rush, as I shy away from his stare. He stands up and pulls out the chair for me. I take a seat, placing the keycard on the table.
‘Wow. You look amazing,’ he says softly as he sits down across from me.
I stunned him.
‘Thank you, I wanted to look the part.’ I turn my gaze to the glass in front of him. ‘What are you having?’
‘Whiskey. It is a Friday and I am not babysitting.’
I raise my eyebrows at him.
‘My daughter is not around, so I can stay out as late as I want.’
‘Oh, okay.’ I don’t want to think about his daughter now or who’s looking after her. Probably Diana!
‘What are you having?’ He shifts the drinks menu towards