Serene, my husband’s wife

Cassandra’s POV

Grocery shopping is honestly the worst thing I've ever had to do. It's the same as washing dishes for me. My aunt has always said that she doesn't understand the kind of child I am. I mean I always have to whine and grumble every time I have to complete my chores but I know I'm a neat freak at the same time. According to me, these type of things should just find a way to do themselves. Anyway, today is a Saturday meaning it's laundry day. So I put the laundry in the machine and prepare myself to take a shower because I'm starting to feel irritated by this honey mask on my face. It's 37°C in Polokwane so you can imagine how I feel. After I take my shower, I put on my orange and short jumpsuit with my gold Kelso sandles. I don't feel like a wig today so I opt for a light brown straw hat with no make-up. I'm not a big fan of make-up anyway. I requested an uber before I lotioned so it should be here any moment from now, which gives me some time to lazy and scroll around on Instagram. The car arrives when I was starting to get comfortable, making me question if I really need these groceries anymore. I hurry downstairs after I'm done being silly and get driven to the mall.

I was listening to some classic RnB when a random thought tiptoed into my daydreams to remind me how unsafe requested cars are. I removed my earphones so I can 'see' quite clearly where we were headed and I'm pretty sure I'm not the one person who does this. I even take them out or lower the volume of speakers should I need to smell something. It might sound crazy but I've actually read somewhere that the 5 senses actually work together as a team. Believe or not. Anyway, we eventually get to Savannah mall and I do what needs to be done. I'm not the kind to zigzag and draw cross bows with my movements in a grocery store. I was in the dairy aisle when it hit me that my steam iron is slowing handing in its resignation letter. After getting the cheddar cheese, I made way to the aisle with appliances. I got there and scouted around and eventually found the one I liked. Only, my height kept doing me injustice. I looked around looking for anybody who works in the shop to help me out. After a good and ripe 3 minutes, I turned my head and was met by a box of iron and a panty-dropping smile. But I'm not for relationships. I've never been. So I quickly get the thought out of my head. I compose myself and I finally(after about 9 decades) say thank you. He widens the smile and says "You're welcome". And boy do I not melt? I quickly take the iron and turn away. He hastens to come stand in front of me and puts his hands on my shoulders.

Him: Hawu, Ka njalo nje sekuphelile?(just like that and we’re done?) I blush

Me: You can go charm somebody else cause I'm really in a rush

Him: Princess my day is really going well. In fact it just got better. You're too pretty to be a demon so please.

Me: Well this is not my real face oh!!

That just involuntarily came out and I actually acted like that Emanuella kid. I know I'm not a funny person in general so I did not expect him to laugh that much so I figured he has seen the video somewhere. When he finally pulled himself together he looked at me with his pure and beaming eyes. He's beautiful. Father God was really just showing off here.

Him: Okay... I'd really like to 'meet' you properly. Can we start with your name and please... for the love of the country of KZN can we not argue over that cause I can feel it coming?

Me: Are you a prophet?

Him: Part time.

I laughed and saw that he's not about to give up soon so I gave in.

Me: Well you're lucky you found me in a good mood today but first, what's a Zulu guy like you doing in Limpopo there's not many of y'all floating around

Him: Y'all?

He raised his eyebrow and looked down on me, trying to intimidate me I'm guessing.

Me: Arg you know what I mean.

Him:I am joking. Well I'm here on business and I'm actually 10 minutes late to a meeting.

Me: And you're still here because??

Him: Something more important came up.

He flashes his beautiful smile and takes out his phone, unlocks it, takes my hand and puts it in it. I look at it and back at him.

Me: You're too trusting. What if I'm one of these nyaope people who rip people off?

Him: I’ve never seen an nyaope smoker that looks as beautiful as you.Anyway, you don't look like you'd outrun me so it's chilled.

Me:You undermine me hey.

I say this as I dial my numbers and save them as Cassandra.He looks at me as I type.

Me: Yours?

Him: What? Digits?

I roll my eyes and he laughs

Him: Call me Bash, for Sebastian .

Me: I like Seb best.

I give the phone back to him and push my trolly forward. He holds my arm with his left hand and dials the number I just gave to him. My phone rings from my side bag and we both hear "Baby shark" and then I remember my nephew had my phone this past weekend. If he's not changing my wallpapers, or depleting my data on Playstore then he's setting new ringtones. Seb tries to hold in a laughter while facing the floor and turns to me with a look that says "Explain?"

Me: Don't even.

I take out my phone from my bag and I exit that aisle pushing the trolley with one hand, leaving him there with that silly smug on his face!

A brief.

Before we get carried away, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Cassandra Summers. We are originally from the Northern Cape but I grew up(mostly) in Limpopo because my mom got married to her now late Pedi man. This means I speak both pedi and tswana. My "mom" is not my biological mother. My mother died in 1996 while giving birth to me. My mom is actually, by tradition and technicality, my aunt. She's my mom's identical twin sister. I've long concluded that this is where the ease of comfort and friendship stems from so I'm not really an orphan, if you look at it carefully. I have a sibling Camilla. She's 4 years older than me and I'd say our relationship is fine but it's not exactly on fire. My dad is not what you'd call a deadbeat but I doubt anybody would soberly nominate him in 'Father of the year' awards should they exist. He has other kids but none of us live with him. I've been getting an allowance from him since I finished high school but I never really spend time with him. He once called and asked that we go for ice cream years back but I ended up being sent back home because he had met a lady during our date. I still find solace in the fact that he cared enough to accompany me to the taxi rank but I no longer waste my breath trying to build a proper relationship with him. Not all of us can have that. Him and mom don't get along. She says she has never liked him, even at first sight. "I'm not for relationships. I've never been." What I meant by this is, I've never been in a proper, stable relationship. And no I'm not your typical "7 Bs" kinda Betty but the guys I like are always either too young or taken. I've fooled around and wasted time in a few interactions that ended with just kissing but that's about it. Not having a lot of friends helped so I've never been in any kind of pressure. I'm a self- proclaimed and certified loner. But I do have a bestfriend. Michael. He has multiple personalities. An entire squad in one so I never really feel the need to supplement our friendship with other people. I recently moved to town because of my job and he went to go study medicine in Cape town but contrary to common expectations, we get closer by the minute cause we text all day every day like we're in a relationship, of which we have been accused of a phethora of times until everybody actually found out that he's anything but straight. Him and I first met in grade 9. Let me give you a description of myself. I'm not light skinned and neither am I exactly dark. Not tall nor short, average height, I’ve got an hour glass body with bums and curves in the right places, small boobs and legs for days. People always compliment my hairline and say I have a nice, beautiful and long black afro. I'm not responsible for the good health of my hair. My mom deserves all the accolades for that but I've recently been feeling like it has to go since I live alone now. I've always undermined how much of a full time job it is taking care of hair. She's the one who did the washing, moisturizing and protective plating. The only thing I'm good at is tying it up in a bun. I've once had short hair when I was in primary school but looking at all my old pictures I see how it accentuates and exaggerates my big eyes. My sister always mocks me and says I sleep while my eyes are awake because sometimes they don't fully shut, especially when I sleep without intention while seated or something of that sort. I didn't like them while growing up because I always got teased about them but now, they're my favourite facial feature and they're actually very beautiful and white. The long lashes also work overtime to make sure of this. I believe you now have a picture of what I might look like right? Right!