Nolwazi is hanging out with Gee, Dipuo, Fire, Menzi and Wandile are together at the table. But Wandile’s eyes are searching the club to locate Nolwazi. He wants to talk to her.

He excuses himself and goes to the bar, saying, “Hi Nolwazi. Can I talk to you?”

“Uhhmm … OK … sure,” Nolwazi agrees.

“Can we go outside?”

Nolwazi nods and they make their way across the floor and out into the warm night air.

“So. How do you know Menzi?” asks Wandile, trying to sound casual.

“That’s a bit forward, don’t you think,” says Nolwazi.

“Hey. It’s just a question,” Wandile responds.

“We just met actually.”

“Oh … so is kissing strangers a habit for you?” says Wandile.

“Worse things have happened. How about sneaking out of the club to talk to a girl your friend was kissing. Is that a habit for you?” Nolwazi fires back.

“Hey, I didn’t sneak out!”

Nolwazi rolls her eyes.

“Are we fighting?” Wandile enquires.

Nolwazi raises her eyebrows, creasing her forehead. “What do you want?”

He is silent, just looks deep into her eyes. She feels naked in front of him, but safe, like he can protect her.

“I saw you one morning,” he starts, but Nolwazi interjects, “I saw you too.”

“I felt someth–”

“Me too.”

There is silence yet again. Wandile takes in a deep breath. Nolwazi’s heart is about to rip through her clothing, the way it is beating so fast, so hard.

“I knew I would see you again. I just didn’t think it would be here, under these circumstances, with Menzi.”

“He doesn’t mean anything,” says Nolwazi. She wants to say more but the words get stuck.

“Look. I don’t know what is going on between us but I just want to be honest with you. I’m married.”

Nolwazi can’t believe her ears. She feels betrayed. How could the universe play her like that? Her heart sinks. She feels light-headed and her legs feel weak. She starts to collapse and Wandile catches her before she falls.

“Nolwazi! Are you OK?” Wandile is panicking.

“Yeah yeah, I’m alright.” She tries getting her balance back. Wandile is still holding her. To feel him so close to her is amazing. “This must be what flying feels like,” she whispers.

“What? Are you OK?” says Wandile.

“Married? But … what does this all mean then?” Nolwazi is confused.

“I don’t know,” responds Wandile.

“I need to go.”

“No. Please don’t.”

“Wandile, let go of me! I am not going to be ‘the other woman’! I can’t.”

“I am not asking you to,” says Wandile. “I’ll fix this.”

“What are you talking about? You don’t even know me. Wandile, you need to stay away from me.”

“And if I don’t?”

Nolwazi doesn’t have an answer.

“Look me in the eye and tell me that you never want to see me again,” Wandile dares her.

She looks into his eyes and instead melts. Wandile leans in and kisses her, she kisses him back. There were no words to explain the pleasure.

They kiss and kiss, and kiss again – paying no mind to other people around them. When they finally stop they look into each other’s eyes and still want more.

“Wooooo bathong … batho ba modimo.” It’s the sound of Lady Gee’s voice as he walks past them. Nolwazi and Wandile stop kissing. Gee claps once and continues passed with his group.

Just then Wandile’s phone rings; its Precious.

“Is it her?” asks Nolwazi.

“Yes. It’s her.”

“Well, answer it.”

“Nah. I’ll call her back.” Wandile puts the phone back in his pocket.

“This is never going to work. I don’t want to do this.”

Wandile sighs. His phone rings again. He answers. Precious is on the line, crying. She says she is not feeling well and that her nose is bleeding non-stop.

“Presh, should I call an ambulance?” Wandile is worried.

“No. just come home Wandi,” begs Precious.

“OK I’m coming,” he says and hangs up.

“Is everything OK?”

“I’m not sure. I have to go. I am really, really sorry about this.”

“Don’t be sorry. She’s your wife. And there is nothing between us,” says Nolwazi.

“You know that is not true. How are you getting home? Where do you live?” says Wandile. He wants to take Nolwazi home. He doesn’t want to leave her at the club, with Menzi.

“In Block C. I have transport; I’m going home with Gee and Dipuo.”

“What? I also live in Block C. Let me take you home.”

“I’m not ready to go home.” Nolwazi is upset. She is mostly upset with herself. Kissing strangers, falling for a married man, all of this is way out of character for her! Things are moving so fast.

“OK, but please give me your number.”

Nolwazi has to think fast. Does she want to give him her number? She can stop all of this by saying no and walking away … but she honestly doesn’t want to walk away. Her head and her heart are at war.

She takes Wandile’s phone and saves her number on it. Wandile calls her right there and then, and she pulls her phone out of her purse and saves his number. Then he kisses her one last time and leaves. The sensation of his lips dancing with hers lingers.

Wandile is gone and Nolwazi regrets not taking up his offer. She doesn’t want to go back inside. For one, Menzi will expect that they pick up where they left off. Two, she will have to pretend she is having fun when her heart is no longer there – it left with Wandile. He has stolen it.

She walks around outside looking for Gee and quickly finds him. Of course he makes a big deal of what he has seen, but Nolwazi just brushes it off.

“Gee, do you know when we’re leaving?”

“It is way too early to be thinking that. Go kiss your boy. Menzi also has a thing for you hey. Did you notice?”

Gee had obviously not seen Nolwazi kiss Menzi. He would have freaked – Nolwazi would have never heard the end of it. She walks a few steps away to make a call.

“Hi Wandile. It’s Nolwazi. Is it too late for me to take you up on your offer? I … I can’t stay here.”

In ten minutes Wandile is back to pick her up. “Gee. I’m going home. I have really had fun with you, but I’m not feeling well.”

“Hawu, skaatie. How are you getting home? Dipuo and I were going to drop you off when taking Sasha.”

“No no, I will be OK. I’ve made a call and arranged a ride.”

“With who?”

Nolwazi thinks he is being nosy but then realises it’s a good thing for friends to know in such situations. After all, she does not know Wandile. How safe is she? She decides to tell Gee, just in case anything happens to her.

When Wandile arrives Gee walks Nolwazi to the car.

“Gee, tell Dipuo I said sorry I had to go. And please don’t mention to anyone else that I left with Wandile, especially Menzi. OK?” Nolwazi has to cover her bases.

“OK girl. Shap.”

Nolwazi and Wandile drive away from Diphaleng, towards Block C. They don’t say much on the way, just keep glancing at each other. It is not a long drive, and soon they are outside Nolwazi’s place. They kiss one last time. Once again the world stops.

She gets out and opens the gate, let’s herself in, and Wandile drives off.

Nolwazi throws herself onto her bed and stares at the ceiling. It has been a hectic day and night. She gets up to look in the mirror. Will she still recognise herself after everything that has unfolded? It seems surreal; like she is going to wake and it will have all been a dream. She isn’t sure whether she should call it a ‘sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare’.

*****

Wandile arrives home to find Precious in a state. She is weak, the nose bleed has stopped, but there is evidence of it on the carpet, on the bed and the tissue pieces that lie around the bedroom.

“Presh, what is wrong? Should I call an ambulance?” It’s terrible seeing her so ill.

“No. I have been feeling tired the last few days. That is why I did not want to go to the event, but I felt bad so I came anyway. I was just trying to be strong. My nose bled a little yesterday as well.”

“What could it be?” asks Wandile anxiously.

“I should just rest. Let’s see how I feel in the morning, then maybe I can go to the doctor.”

“OK. I’m sorry … sorry I wasn’t here.”

Guiltily, Wandile holds Precious in his arms until she falls asleep.

***

Tell us what you think: Has Wandile cheated on Precious by kissing Nolwazi?