On WhatsApp later that day he greeted me. It went something like this:

Lonwabo: Hey

Me: Hey

Lonwabo: How are you?

Me: I’m good, thank you. How are you?

That’s where it ended. I kid you not.

By the time I forgot about the little conversation (If I can call it that), he replied. Two hours later.

I was already over the conversation so I didn’t bother to reply. I generally find it rude when people don’t excuse themselves when they’re not going to be able to reply for a long time. I continued with my day, the first bit of it a complete blur by the time I went to sleep.

***

Lonwabo became nothing but a memory, one that didn’t weigh heavily enough for me to want to start a conversation on WhatsApp or even call. Life carried on as normal. About a week after, I received a phone call from him.

“Hey.” He greeted

“Hey.”

“How are you doing?” he asked, or at least I assumed that’s what he was asking. I couldn’t hear him because the wind in the background was piercing.

“I’m good.” I had to address this wind issue, “Listen, I can’t really hear you and this wind is so real so would you mind going somewhere a bit calmer?”

“Sure, hold up.”

I moved the phone away from my ear until he got to a place where it was better.

“Hello?”

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“Where were we?” he asked. How cliché.

“Nowhere.” I brushed it off

“Let’s start again. How about you tell me where you live.”

“Why would I tell you that?” I became a bit defensive

“I would like to know, you’re practically my neighbour.”

I told him. He could have been a stalker or even a rapist but I told him anyway.

“Okay, I will call you in five.” He said and hung up.

It didn’t make much sense to me but I calmed down and decided not to freak out. Not freaking out is a decision, a smart one.

He called again. I took a deep breath.

“Which chocolate do you like?”

So much for ‘Hello again’.

“How do you know I’m not allergic?” I teased

“Are you?” He laughed.

“No, but I don’t want chocolate. Thank you for offering.”

“So you won’t mind if I eat chocolate, right?”

Hold up, hold up, hold up, he wasn’t actually hinting that he was on his way to my house, was he? I wasn’t sure but I answered him anyway, “No.”

I didn’t know whether to say anything after that and neither was he so I hung up. Like I said, not freaking out is a decision, a smart one but I forgot to be ‘smart’ and started hyperventilating. The audacity this Lonwabo has, to rape me in my own home. Yho.

He called again. I could hear the wind which meant he was definitely on the move…on the move to my house. He told me that he was in my street and that me actually being outside would help him know where it is that I live. I walked out, he couldn’t do much with me if I was outside.

For about three hours I spoke to this stranger and enjoyed it.

I remembered why I gave him my number in the first place. He was funny, he knew the people I knew and we had way too much in common. He told me that he grew up as an only child and that he didn’t really get out much. I told him about my family and how much easier it was for me to put others before myself.

In those three hours, he got to know more about me than anyone else. He made it so easy for me to open up. We could have spoken about insects and we would have made it interesting. I walked him halfway but he wouldn’t let me walk the rest of the way. We hugged and went our separate ways.

Just as we were walking I shouted, “Next time I’m inviting myself to yours!”

All I heard back was a loud chortle. Well, that’s never going to happen.

That night we spoke on WhatsApp. There were no two hour breaks in between each text, just random conversations about anything and everything under the sun.

Somewhere between still getting to know each other and me realising that he knew more about than I did about him, I called and asked him to join me for a walk around his neighbourhood the next day. It would give me an idea of who he was and where he lived.

“Uhm…” he started but it seemed as if he was searching for words. “Tomorrow I can’t.”

“Why not?” I asked

“I have something I have to take care of here at home.”

“I could help.”

“No, It’s kind of personal. I wouldn’t want to burden you with my chores at home.”

“I don’t mind, I could do anything as long as it’s with you.”

Okay, that sounded desperate. It wasn’t as desperate as Lonwabo wanting me to drop the subject though so I stopped.

“What about the day after?” I suggested.

“It pretty much depends on the time.”

“It’s okay if you’re busy. Maybe another time.”

I was bummed. I didn’t know why he didn’t want me at his house.

He texted me on WhatsApp. It was an explanation of some sort but the texting seemed more confident and thought out than the phone call.

Lonwabo: I’m sorry about the way I reacted, it was uncalled for. I would like to see you tomorrow but not at mine. My parents are kinda strict about girls in the house. The walk sounds like a great idea. Just say when.

I didn’t reply but I felt a bit more at ease.

***

What do you think Asanda should do?