A grey car passed by while I was crossing the road in town and a guy shouted, “Sisi omuhle!” I continued walking, I didn’t think he was calling me because he was driving in the opposite direction. Before I could think about the car again it was right next to me.

Inside the car was a dark skinned guy, not just dark, but a charcoal black, with big eyes and a cute smile. As I was looking at him I just smiled.

“Sisi, can I have your number please. I couldn’t hold myself back. I had to make a u-turn just for your number. You’re too beautiful and just my type with those big eyes,” he said.

I couldn’t help but smile.

“Oh you are smiling. I just didn’t think I can make someone as beautiful as you smile. So can I take you home please?” he asked.

I said no and that I would take a taxi. I walked away without even giving him a chance to continue talking.

“I actually expected that,” he said laughing, “but please give me your number because if you don’t, then I will park my car at the garage and take a taxi with you and beg for your number until you give it to me.”

“OK fine I will give you my number because I’m rushing anyway.”

I gave him my number while walking towards the taxi.

“You can go inside the taxi, but if you gave me the wrong number then I will follow this taxi to where you live.”

I smiled and walked towards the taxi without another word.

My phone started ringing and I knew it was him. I thought of ignoring it but then again I remembered that he said he’d just follow the taxi, so I pick up the call.

“Hey,” I said smiling.

“Sis Omuhle,” (beautiful lady) “I am Thulani Vilakazi from Osindisweni and I’m an Uber driver. I will tell you my age some other time,” he said.

I didn’t know what to say. “Well, it’s nice to have met you Thulani. Can we talk when I get home?” I asked.

“No problem, I will call after 20 minutes. I’m sure the taxi will be back from eringini by then.”

“Oh wait how do you know that?” I asked out of curiosity.

He laughed, “I’m an Uber driver remember.”

I chuckled, “Oh OK, we will talk soon.”

The way you so beautiful I couldn’t help myself
thank you so much for your number Omuhle

I read his WhatsApp message and I smiled even bigger than before, but I didn’t reply.

When I got home, and had just stepped into the house, he called. I spent more than an hour on the call with him. He was busy telling me about how he grew up, his baby mama leaving their three week son on his door step with a note. He had no one to take care of the child and was forced to drive around with him for a month until his mom came back from Jozi. He took the little one to live with his mom, where she was working as a domestic worker. He kept on telling me how grateful he was to still have his mom around.

We talked about him building his own house, which he had already started. Our conversation flowed, it was like we knew each other for a while.

“Well enough about me,” he said, “let’s talk about you now.”

I didn’t know where to start.

“OK, fine let’s leave it then, we will talk some other time,” he said.

We said our goodbyes. My older sister immediately asked me who I was on the phone with for so long. I usually avoided calls and preferred texts and she knew that. I ignored her question.

I knew if I told her who I was talking to then I’d have to explain everything, which was something I wasn’t in the mood to do. I just wanted to be alone and get to think about that smile of his. I found it so weird because I didn’t even know this guy, but then again so what, he just made me smile, and that doesn’t hurt anyone.

***

Tell us: Have you ever given your number to a stranger? Why or why not?