We arranged a coffee date, a coffee date turned into lunch, lunch into dinner, dinner to a night at my place. A night turned into a weekend, a weekend turned into us moving in together.

Memories of our first date are still fresh on my mind. She didn’t want me picking her up; she chose the place and the time – showed me assertiveness. We met at a restaurant outside of campus – she said they had the best coffee and the best view overlooking the Indian Ocean. I got there before our agreed time and I enjoyed the view over a glass of water as I waited for my date. When she came in, she stopped the room. She stopped the room. When she smiled, I lost all sense. I couldn’t believe she was coming to me. I stood up, pulled out a chair for her.

“A gentleman I see,” she said still smiling.

“I try,” I said trying to remain modest. “I thought the view was beautiful, until you showed up. You look amazing,”

“That’s so cheesy,” she said, but her smile was getting bigger and I could tell she took the compliment.

“You are really beautiful,” I added.

She ordered a chai latte and I an Americano.

“I hope your assignment went well,” I said.

“Dude! I hope so too, you know uni is a scam bruh. If I had things my way I’d be outta here. But you know, I’m daddy’s daughter and he wants me home with a degree and I’m automatically hired,” she said and held herself back and looked up at me. “I ramble,” she said shyly.

“No, go on this is part of getting to know you. At least now I know if this date goes well, I have a radio,” I teased.

“Keep teasing and you might not have that radio,” she said joining me in laughter.

“What did you mean, ‘automatically hired’?”

“My family owns, Oratile Diamonds. I’m Nomtha Zimba daughter of Sandile Zimba,” she said looking down.

“Oh that’s great! You got a job after this ‘scam’ guaranteed, unlike our peers who’ll step into unemployment and student loan debts.”

“Moving on from me, tell me about you bhut Luphelo,” she said and there was something about her tone that said, “I’m really interested.”

“Well there isn’t much to me than what meets the eye,”

“Then tell me about what doesn’t,” she said leaning closer.

I leaned back because I was convinced she’d hear my heart beat and tell I was nervous. We exchanged stories and jokes, I told her about my love for poetry and she told me she could sing and she wished she could hear me recite one of my poems.

“I’ll give you one if you sing for me,” I said nervously and lowkey wishing she would not agree.

“ I do not negotiate with terrorists,” she said, laughing.

“Then we have a deal, no singing, no poem.”

We had a great time. And that was the start of the best years of my life.

***

Tell us: What do you think of the relationship forming between Luphelo and Nomtha?