51. Walter in Silverton

'Is that really Walter?', I remained frozen in my position stunned by the familiar voice behind me, 'What is Walter doing in Silverton?'. My brain was in a frenzy with questions clocking in at every second.

Walter suddenly pulled a chair to join us, "I am only sitting for 5 minutes, I just want to know how was I jerk when I was the one who was ghosted?", he sneered

While I remained dumbfounded the whole time, Bonga wore a smirk on his face, it was as if he knew Walter was among us, suddenly, it made sense as to why he kept staring behind me.

Bonga adjusted his position to a more authoritative posture, and confidently started counting, "Hmm, let's see, 1. You dragged her along for a nameless relationship for months, 2. You let your exes tarnish her reputation, 3. How dare you get her the wrong flowers? and 4...",

As Bonga continued with his list, I began to wonder just how much my mother told him, and I would have continued to assume that she was the culprit if he had not mentioned number 8.,

"....8. You left her to cry alone in a hotel room in Cape Town...", I never told anyone about my last encounter with Walter, they knew about the fight at the club, but I never mentioned that he left me to cry alone, 'So how did he know?', I was starting to get a little bit anxious, 'Just how much does he know about Walter and I?'

Walter patiently waited for Bonga to finish his list, then turned to me, "Huh? You went all out on your new boyfriend, what is it that you didn't tell-"

I instinctively rejected Walter's claims, I didn't want him to get the wrong idea about Bonga and Me, "He is not my boyfriend and I didn't tell him anything-", but I quickly corrected my actions, "....-You know what? Why should I explain myself to you? Both of you seem like you have a lot to talk about, please excuse me...I need the loo."

I stood up still a bit shaky from the fact that Walter was in front of me. As I staggered to the bathroom, my heart was beating out of control, and my train of thought couldn't stop running, my breathing was getting out of hand. The moment I got inside the bathroom, all the memories of my last night with him began flooding in, and soon I found myself in shortness of breath and tears rolling down my cheeks. 

One of the ladies started patting me, "There, there sweety, take a deep breath in....then another one out", I obediently followed the instructions from the smooth soothing voice that was whispering in my ears, and soon, I found myself breathing normally again, but the tears kept falling. She took out a tissue from her red handbag, "You will be fine, wipe your tears, fix your makeup, and smile. Whatever it is, trust me, you will be okay.", she then gave me a long hug and I sniffled out, "Thank you", she finally released me, smiled and waved as she made her way to the door.

Just as the nice lady said, I wiped off my tears, and took a few more deep breaths, as I inhaled and exhaled, I started to regain a hint of clarity and grasp of the reality I was faced with. I fixed my makeup, practiced a smile, and headed to the door.

To my surprise, I opened the bathroom door to find Walter leaning on the opposite wall handsomely looking stylish in black formal pants and a white T-shirt perfectly hugging his muscles, while neatly tucked in, and paired with white platform sneakers. My heart almost dropped, but I quickly regained my composure, he stepped closer to touch my forehead, "Are you okay?", his face was covered in concern.

His touch almost made me a bit emotional, the man I had spent the past two months missing was suddenly in front of me, looking genuinely worried, 'Was he in town for me?', I wanted so badly to ask him that question, but instead, I slightly moved my head backward creating a distance between my forehead and his palm, kept my serious demeanor, "Why are you in Silverton?", he was about to respond when a voice suddenly spoke out,

"He has a date..", I turned to Bonga who was walking towards us looking irritated, 

I then turned my attention back to Walter, "Is that true?"

He let out a deep sigh, then dropped his face, with a lower voice, he responded "Yes...I-",

Feeling my heart sink and the sudden wave of disappointment, 'Why did I think he was here for me?', I didn't wait for him to finish, I calmly looked at him, "Alright, I think you should go back to her..".

I turned my back from him to feel a familiar sensation emanating from my wrist, I looked down at Walter's cold hand tightly locked onto my wrist, and my heart took an even deeper dive, I then looked up to a pair of glassy brown eyes staring at me, "Thandie I-", He was stopped by Bonga who snapped at him, "I would suggest you let her go or would you like me to call your date to see what you get up to in women's bathrooms while she's waiting for you",

Walter kept his gaze on me for a minute longer, and suddenly his face held a sad expression, he let go of my hand, "Be happy", he said.

I didn't wait to dwell on him, I had to get away before my tears started rolling, I rushed to grab my jacket from the table we were seated at, and then left the restaurant. For a minute, I had even forgotten about Bonga the only thing on my mind was Walter and his date, Walter, and the sudden expression he gave me, 'Was he perhaps missing me just like I was missing him? No way! he was moving on!'. I was stopped by a tight hold on my arm, and I turned to find a panting Bonga, "Thandie, would you please slow down", he said taking out an asthma spray. The moment he let go of my hand, I pleaded as I walked away, "Bonga, I would like to be alone right now", trying to hide my pain and anger, I couldn't wait to get to the car, so I could cry in peace, but Bonga flipped and grabbed me again, "...wait",

I was suddenly engulfed in anger and fury, 'Why would he not just let me be??'. I snapped at him, "Wait? What??!? Why? Did you know Walter was going to be here?", I asked upon remembering his calm and smug behavior throughout this ordeal.