Deciding to change tact, Paul said, “My Caramello Bear, can we talk?” The use of the pet name, also her favourite chocolatey treat, normally invoked memories of when they first fell in love. Paul would buy her the Cadbury’s delight every time they went on a date. Claire knew that tone, and she wasn’t in the mood. She decided to ignore the question and in her most cheerful voice said, “Did I tell you what Kopano said about Megan’s family portrait painting?” But again silence filled the room.

She turned to repeat the question, but the flash of anger that shadowed Paul’s face was enough to deter her. “Do you know that you talk more about this f-” he was about to drop an F-bomb, but he had promised that he would never use profanities if Megan was even within earshot, so he bit his lip instead.
“Damn you, Kopano!” he exploded as he slammed the table with his fist. He then stormed past his stunned partner and slammed the kitchen door closed behind him.

That night he chose to sleep on the couch and Claire cried deep into the night.

“O kenwi ke eng mara!” Kopano yelled at the face staring back at him in the mirror one morning. “You acting like a love-sick puppy, and lonely and pathetic is not a good look on you.” He decided to work up a sweat until his body hurt so much that the only thing on his mind would be aching muscles. When his shoulders burned and arms trembled from all the push-ups, he grabbed an ice-cold plastic bottle of water out of the fridge while trying to catch his breath, chest heaving. Thirst gulped the water so fast that some of it trickled down his bare sweat-glistening chest. “Time to hit the shower!” he announced to no one in particular.

Feeling refreshed and sober minded, Kopano decided to go and buy a few things from the mall. He had a great new recipe that he wanted to try and was running low on toiletries. With his mind preoccupied with trying to remember the ingredients he would require, he somehow, unconsciously, took the route that went straight past Future Leaders Nursery School. It was not the shortest and most direct route either. Parked outside the gate, he wondered how he had gotten there. He tilted his head back for a moment, as people all around him went about their daily business, and tried some deep breathing techniques to help still his mind.

“So o hlanya kea bona,” he whispered to himself. He shook his head, partly in disbelief re-engaging his mind with reality. “Okay…” he said to himself quietly, as he leaned forward to reach for the car keys, still dangling in the ignition. Just as he lifted his head, left hand on the gearstick, he saw a familiar little red car parked in the nursery school’s brick-laid parking lot. “She’s here!” he bubbled with excitement. “What are the chances?” In his mother tongue “Ka ‘nete ke yena!” All common sense and rational thinking went out the window, along with plans to try a new recipe. He excitedly rolled down his window and rang the bell without a second thought.

The classroom had become Claire’s happy place. The eager little faces that looked to her, for fun (primarily) and knowledge subconsciously, during their crucial foundation phase didn’t allow her to wallow about in the growing rift between herself and Paul. They demanded her full attention, and their anecdotes and ability to say the most ingenious things were a welcome and healthy distraction. With schools closed and things increasingly tense at home, Paul had decided to take Megan to his mother’s house for a visit. Claire, on the other hand, decided she would go and do some prep work for her little ones, and perhaps rearrange a few things while she was at it, ahead of schools reopening.

Tell us: Do you think it’s okay for Kopano to be falling for Claire?