CHAPTER 12

FALLING IN LOVE WITH EVIL

We enter and just a few people have arrived as we sit.

In minutes the church is packed and the worshippers have started worshipping.

I look at him and I realize that he is at ease. I have never seen him this relaxed in my life. He smiles and soon he starts singing along as the lyrics are projected on the projector in front.

The sermon goes on. Pastor Thuso preaches about Mercy and Forgiveness. He tells us that we should forgive as we were forgiven and learn to love others. He says that some people just need us to be the bigger person so that the Love of Christ can be seen in us and maybe it might just change someone else for the better.” Pastor Thuso says and Timothy looks at me and I can see that he is really thinking about what is being said to him.

After church we greet everyone and leave. “So how did you find my church?” I ask him and he smiles. “It was actually a good experience, might just return some other Sunday.” He says and I smile.

My phone rings and it’s my mom.

“Hello Mama.” I say and Tim looks at me then back at the road.

“Hey Sthandwa Sami. I am on my way back I just landed at the airport. I'll be there in an hour or so.” She says.

“You should have told me I would have fetched you from the airport.” I say and she laughs.

“I forget sometimes that you can actually drive but don’t worry I’m with Samuel and Cynthia.” She says and I smile. Uncle Samuel has really been “helpful” these days.

“Okay , please get dinner.” I say and she laughs.

“You such a lazy bug! Okay I’ll get it. I'll see you at home.” She says then hangs up.

“I think uncle Samuel has a crush on my mom.” I tell Timothy laughing and he chuckles.

“How do you know that and who is he?” he asks and I laugh.

“My mom’s friend for years now. I just know it. He always wants to be her hero in a way. He is a father figure to me in a way.” I say and Timothy nods.

“I think your mom should just go for it if that’s true. She’s young and really deserves another chance at love.” He says as we drive into the driveway.

“Yeah I want that for her too. I want her to have someone cause I won’t say with her forever unfortunately.” I say and he nods.

“Want to enter for a few minutes?” I ask him and he nods.

We both get into the house and he follows me to the living room.

“This is our heaven. Just my mom and I.”

I say and he smiles as he looks around. He looks at our pictures and there is a huge picture of my dad on the wall. And pictures of my mom and him around the picture.

“Your dad?” he says pointing at him and I nod.

“You really look like your dad. You actually look like both of them it’s creepy.” He says laughing and I pinch him.

“Want to see my room?” I ask him and he nods.

We walk up to my room and I open the door.

“This is my room.” I say and he looks around at the huge picture of myself on the wall right above my bed.

“You have a beautiful room. It’s not a ridiculously pink girlie room. It has class.” He says and I laugh.

“After all I am unique.” I say winking and he laughs.

“Okay I think it’s time for me to go. I have a few errands to run and a few scores to settle. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning for class.” He says and I nod. We share a brief kiss and hug. And he looks at me for a while.

“I love you.” He says as he walks out. I watch his car as he drives off.

I get into the house and head to my room where I change into sweat pants and an oversized t-shirt which is Timothy’s t-shirt.

I stop and inhale his scent. I miss him already. Being with him was just amazing I must say I am falling in love with him way more than I thought and it scares me. It feels as though one day this high that I am on might just come crashing down on me.

I go to the living room and throw myself on the couch where I turn on the television and the news channel is on. There have been no murders lately they assume that maybe the killer is still laying low for a while. However, they are still looking for a clue but it’s quite hard cause no one has ever seen him and the victims are all dead and he has left no evidence. He just murders them and they don’t have any traces of DNA because he doesn’t sexually assault them nor do they seem to have any DNA on their nails or anything. It’s just frustrating how a person can kill so many people and still leave no trace of himself.

I make myself a sandwich while closely following this case on the news. Minutes later I hear a car outside so I peep through the sliding door and it’s my mom. I rush outside and run to her.

“Mama, you back! “ I say and she laughs as we share a hug I also hug uncle Sam and we all enter the house.

“So how was the workshop?” I ask as I make tea for them.

“it was amazing. Meeting other people in our field of work and seeing the young generation. Their passion and zeal it was refreshing.” Mom says and I smile as I serve them tea and biscuits.

“Where is Lumko Ta'Sam? I haven’t seen him in a while now.” I ask him and he smiles.

“He has recently joined a rugby team so all he does is study and go for practice I barely get time to spend with him lately. “ he says and I smile.

“I'll call him and schedule a lunch date with him. I miss him so much.” I say and he laughs.

“Don’t worry I’ll tell him too. How are your studies going? A birdy tells me you have been pulling straight A's for tests.” He says and I smile.

“School is amazing Ta'Sam. I am really doing well and I’m happy there.” I say and he raises an eyebrow.

“I hear you have a boyfriend as well. Tell me about him.” He says and my mom laughs.

“What can she say. She sleeps late talking to this boy at night, she suddenly is interested in working out. She’s glowing. This English boy has got her whipped.” She says laughing.

“Mama! “ I say in defense. “Mom is just exaggerating. Yes I am dating Timothy Wickham , he is a boy I met in school and we just figuring this out and enjoy each other’s company .” I say and he laughs.

“I want to meet this boy. Someday.” He says and I raise an eyebrow.

“I also want to meet him pretty soon” my mom says and I laugh.

“You will meet him but just give us time to be sure of this whole thing and you will meet him.” I say and they nod and have tea and biscuits as we all talk.

The following morning I am already dressed in a black short dress and sandals. I let my braids loose and put on gloss and earrings.

I pack my school bag and head to the kitchen.

I have breakfast and Tim fetches me.

We arrive at school and attend our classes as usual. After our English class we go to the cafeteria to have lunch.

“You don’t look okay today what’s up?” I ask him and he doesn’t say anything but continues eating so I just shut my mouth and continue eating.

Just as we get up a middle aged brunette comes our way and he frowns so much, his hand forms a fist and he puts his other hand on the other and digs deep into his skin with his nails.

I hold his hand and remove it from the other.

“What’s wrong?” I whisper and tears just stream down his face.

The brunette wearing a blue lady suit finally appears before us.

“Timothy.” She says in an English accent and I look at her.

“Hey” she says smiling at me and I greet back.

“Timothy are you all grown up that you don’t even want to hug your aunt.” She says and I look at Tim who is fuming with anger.

“Tim, your aunt is talking to you.” I tell him and he turns to me and gives me the scariest look ever.

“Just stop it Azande! Fuck! Azande Just stop it! I can hear her she’s right in front of me. Stop interfering so much!” He snaps at me yelling and I just take a step back. Goodness! I have never seen him like this and he really scared me.

So I just take my bag and start walking away as fast as I can. My cheeks are wet with tears and I just don’t want to talk to him or anyone else for that matter. He shouldn’t have spoken to me like that!

I go to my criminology class which is my last class then after that I don’t bother to wait for him or call him instead I request for an Uber and leave.

When I get home I throw myself on my bed and look up at the ceiling. How rude! I understand that he has issues but talking to me with a little respect wouldn’t hurt him at all.

I start crying . Why the hell was he yelling at me as if I said anything wrong? I get up and change into sweat pants and a vest and head to the kitchen where I have doughnuts and eat in the living room in front of the television.

I don’t know why I am angry but I am angry. My phone rings and it’s him but I just choose to ignore it. Now he wants to talk to me!? Well I don’t want to talk to him.

He calls and calls but I ignore all his calls and switch off my phone.

I decide to start cooking dinner. My mom calls on the landline informing me that we will be having Lumko and Ta'Sam for dinner.

So I cook dinner. She returns from work and I make her tea and a sandwich.

“Why do you look grumpy today? What happened, why are you angry? “ She asks me and I look at her.

“Nothing Ma, I am just having one of those days.” I tell her as I rush to the kitchen cause I don’t want to explain or tell her anything.

I continue cooking but then the door bell rings. It must be Ta'Sam and Lumko.