One day, my mom sent me to get some vegetables and household goods from a nearby supermarket. On my way home, I dropped a tomato on the path. I bent down to pick it up. Another hand touched mine. As he touched me, I felt a rush of electricity running through my veins.

“Let me help you,” he said.

I looked at him and we stood up slowly. I kept staring at him. He looked familiar. He was very handsome and all I could say was, “your face…” I stuttered.

It was déjà vu.

Your face, seriously Akhona, I thought to myself.

I kept staring at him. This gorgeous man was standing right in front of me. What was I to do, say that I married him in my dream, or claim that I knew him from somewhere? I’d never felt so tongue-tied in my life before. This guy is real, no way. Did he dream about me too, and if yes then was it the same dream? I kept asking myself all these questions, with a snap of his fingers he brought me back to reality.

“Are you okay?” he softly said.

“I…I…I am…I know you.”

It was clear from his facial expression that he was surprised by that.

“Forgive my manners, but I don’t recognise you. I’m sorry.”

I became as white as a ghost. I was at a loss for words, this person who made me love him without saying anything was standing right in front of me. Maybe I was afraid to speak, just so that he didn’t leave, or maybe I wanted him to claim that he knew me after a while, whatever the reason was, I was sure of one thing, he had the cutest smile.

“Are you sure you’re okay, you look pale. Bring that let me take you home,” he said, taking my bags.

“Where do you stay exactly?” he asked.

“St…raight ahead,” I stuttered.

I didn’t know why I was stuttering but all I knew was that the words didn’t come out of my mouth.

“Oh, straight ahead. Well let’s go,” he said.

While walking, he told me about his family, which was weird, he felt rather comfortable with someone he just met. He noticed that I must have thought of that, that’s why he said, “You must think I’m weird right?” he said, smiling.

In a strange way, I warmed up to him after he opened up to me.

“You are not being weird at all, you are just open with me, it shows that you are someone who’s honest,” I smiled.

He chuckled, “Thanks.”

“We are here.”

“Oh, I guess I should leave now.”

“You should come in and meet my mom.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, very.”

“If you say so.”

“Mom!” I called out to her as we entered the house.

“Akhona, you’re back. And you brought a friend?” My mom said, with a quizzical expression on her face.

The end or the beginning?

“Mom this is…”

It was at that moment that I realized I didn’t even know his name.

“Wena, Uyithathe phi lo? (You, where did you get this one?)”

That question was obviously directed at me. But, I had no idea what she was asking.

“Molo ma, Igama lam ndingu Chris. Bendinceda ukuphatha ezinye zeengxowa zakhe. (Hi ma, my name is Chris. I was helping to carry some of her bags.)”

“You speak Xhosa?”

“Yes.”

Then my mom leaned over to him and whispered, “Maybe you can teach her.”

They both laughed and that made me uncomfortable, they were talking about me as if I wasn’t there.

“Alright gossip gods break it up already.”

I stopped their gossip trend before it became annoying.

“I was about to serve lunch, Chris. Join us.”

“Huh, so that’s his name. He introduced himself to her, that’s a relief.”

“Did you say something, Akhona?” my mother asked.

“Akhona, that’s an adorable name.”

“Thanks.”

An eerie silence followed after that, someone had to break the ice.

“So mom, uhm, what’s for lunch?”

“Oh, right, where are my manners. Chris come and sit over here, it’s time for lunch.” He looked at me and I nodded.

We sat down to eat, it was only the three of us for lunch. Themba had gone to our uncle’s place. I couldn’t stop staring at the man across the table. He noticed and then he gave me a warm smile. That same smile that made me weak in my dream did the same thing this time around, I couldn’t help it, I kept staring at him while grinning from ear to ear. We became oblivious to our environment.

“Ahem!” Mom cleared her throat and that brought us back to earth.

“Akhona, I think it’s time you escorted your friend before it gets any late.”

“Yes, mom.”

“Thank you, ma’am, the food was lovely.”

“You’re welcome.”

That was good, at least they were nice to each other.

I escorted him and quickly went back. He started coming to meet me frequently at our house. He got along well my mom and little brother. We became friends, as time went by, he became a regular part of my day.

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