65. Easy like Sunday Morning 2

I recalled the plans Angela mentioned to Walter and I instantly felt a pang of panic, so I braced myself expecting her to be with him or her parents, but my face dropped when I was met by this gorgeous dark-skinned woman. It was like her skin was dipped in a smooth dark chocolate sauce, and in contrast to Angela, her demeanor was calmer, more collected and she had a soft voice, "Wassup?", she waved. 

She was wearing an all-black outfit, perfectly reflecting her mysterious personality, and she had locks that were neatly tied up with just two strands falling in her face. I found myself staring far longer than I should, I was charmed, no, more intrigued than charmed actually, her mysterious aura was unmatched. 

She turned to Angela her eyes harboring so much love for her, "I will be back babe, let me go place our order", and just like that, she disappeared to the counter, and I was left choking on my mumbles, 'Babe?'

"Charming huh?", Angela asked as she sat in front of me, "And surprised I am sure."

"Well...uhm-", I was speechless, taken aback, I just stared at Angela with so many questions but I didn't know how to ask,

As if knowing exactly what I was thinking, she dropped her face, all excitement disappearing from her eyes, "It's okay. She's my girlfriend, we have been together for 5 years-"

"But Walter, aren't you guys married? Why did you guys get married?"

Angela chuckled, "I can't believe that is the first thing you decided to ask. Well, yeah, but we are not together like that-"

I felt shy, but to be honest, I didn't care about her sexuality, not once at that moment did it occur to ask about it, my concern was Walter because based on our conversation, it didn't sound like he knew anything. I took a deep breath to regulate my beating heart, "Does he know about your relationship with-"

"Lira", a soft voice spoke as it approached us, "Hi Thandie, my name is Lerato, but you can call me Lira. Everyone calls me that, I have heard so much about you. To answer your question, no he doesn't because someone thinks it's not a good idea to tell him", both of us turned to Angela. Me, wondering what she told her about me and Lira probably expecting some form of response to her remark. 

Angela looked at Lira, and with a stern tone, she muttered, "Not now babe-"

Lira mumbled something back to her, "Why? I am worried, you are married to a guy with an obsessed stalker crazy ex-girlfriend-", I couldn't hear the rest because I decided to tune them out, but I knew that the crazy ex-girlfriend they were talking about was most likely Khalinda, and my suspicions were confirmed by the fear in Lira's eyes. I instantly had a feeling that she knew something I didn't because that was not just fear, that was panic and desperation. Her mysterious demeanor melted away, all I saw was a scared and vulnerable Lira afraid for her woman.

"It's okay, babe, I told you, Khalinda is in a psychiatric clinic in a different city, 1000 miles from here. My father made sure.", I heard Angela reply by accident, but I didn't ask anything. I was beginning to feel awkward because their conversation sounded a bit too personal for me, "Uhm, I am not sure if it's eavesdropping since you guys came to my table but I don't think I should be hearing this-"

Angela turned to me, "Sorry Thandie, our mistake, I am hoping we never discuss this again.", she said as she turned to Lira, sounding irritated, "Let me use the loo. I will get the takeout after".

Lira sighed heavily as she watched her disappear from our sight, "I love her deeply Thandie, I know she thinks I am being paranoid and overreacting, but I have known all of them since college. Khalinda is crazy, and there's no stopping her obsession with Walter. "

I knew she was worried because of the sadness carried by her voice, but still, I refused to be included in their business, Khalinda was not my problem anymore, "I-I am sorry Lira, but I don't think me, being involved will help. I am-", ignoring my statement, Lira continued lamenting her story, "I once saw her chopping a girl's hair because she didn't like the way she looked at Walter, mind you, she was not even a student, but she managed to break into what was supposed to be a highly secured campus residence.", I gasped upon hearing this and I now completely understood her panic. She made her sister miscarry, ruined a career, and almost ruined mine, I began to wonder if there were any other victims. Lira had every right to worry and I could see that she was dying for someone to understand her fears. Despite the news that Khalinda was at a psychiatric facility, the woman still looked shaken, so we decided to exchange numbers. She made me promise to call her should I spot her, honestly, at that point, if I didn't know Khalinda, I also probably would've thought that Lira was being overbearing and paranoid, but I knew better and I felt sorry. 

Angela finally came back with a big brown bag and sipping a pink milkshake, her mood seemed to have improved because she was smiling and goofing around again, "Geez, what is with this intense energy between you?",

"Nothing.", Lira said as she forced a smile and made space for Angela to sit

Angela turned to me, "Please don't tell Walter you saw me, I am supposed to be on my way to Pretoria for a business trip."

"Why?", I asked confused

She sighed, "I might as well tell you; the reason I agreed to marry Walter was to hide my sexuality. Instead of having my father marry me off to some stranger, I made a deal with Walter. At least, that way, my father gets what he wants, Walter gets what he wants and my life is not disrupted- I get to keep the love of my life..."

I looked at her, "For how long though? Why not tell him? I am sure he-"

"Not yet, I am not brave and I can't afford to have Walter look at me differently and I-"

I understood her concerns, but I knew Walter, and so I tried to convince her, "But it's the 21st century, maybe your parents won't understand you but I know W-"

She rushed to cut me off, as if not wanting to hear anymore of what I had to say, "Okay, you know what, I will think about it". I saw Lira's eyes lit up as Angela said that, they stayed for a few more minutes before leaving.

Just as they appeared, they disappeared and I was left wondering what just happened, but I quickly waved it off. I went back to my easy-going Sunday, my coffee had gone cold so I had to order another cup. I breathed in the peace and tranquility that replaced the chaos at my table, and finally, the waitress brought my food, I loved the aroma, it was indescribable, I found my stomach growling even more violently, and I salivated as I prepared for my first bite, and I moaned silently at the taste of the food in my mouth, best Chicken Curry in town. All the chaos from earlier was quickly forgotten, and I was very content with my solo date. But that was also short-lived because as I was about to take a third bite, I was haunted by a familiar voice calling my name,

"Thandie Lohan-", and I lifted my face to find Rachel staring down at me.

Frustratingly, I began to think that maybe I should've just ordered takeout because my Sunday afternoon was turning into a day filled with unpleasant surprises and unnecessary reunions. I was beginning to lose touch with my inner peace, at that point, I was truly being tested.