After a while Thando turned to look at Mandla and realised that she had been unnecessarily nasty to him.
She faced him and said, “I’m sorry.”
He turned to face her with an expression of shock at first, and then his face eased into a smile.
“I’m the one who’s sorry. I shouldn’t have gone on about you looking angry. And I shouldn’t have spoken about African assets and all that. It was f-f-forward of me.”
He had a slight stutter! She hadn’t expected him to have a speech impediment. For some reason, it endeared him to her. She smiled shyly and started to pedal a little slower.
“Many have claimed that I look angry when I’m focused on something. I guess it’s just my face.”
“You have a pretty face, though. Can I say that? I’m sorry, I’m being f-forward again.”
“No. Thanks for the compliment.”
They both fell silent, just looking at each other and chuckling at the ice finally being broken.
“So what do you do, Thando?”
“I work for the government. I’m a team leader in the communications department, and I’m also working on my doctorate in media.”
“Wow,” he replied as though she had just said something awe-inspiring, “that means you’re supersmart.”
She laughed. “I just love what I do, that’s all. When you love something, you excel in it.”
“That’s true.”
“What do you do?”
“I’m a businessman.”
“That’s not very specific, Mandla. It could mean you’re a drug peddler or a spaza shop owner.”
He laughed, tilting his chin up and revealing pearly white teeth. He is almost perfect, Thando thought.
“I’m in the trading business.”
“What do you trade?”
“My, my! I’ll bet you m-majored in journalism. I feel like I’m being interrogated.”
“Well, once you stop being evasive, I’ll let you off the hook.”
“Okay,” he conceded. “We do things like cement manufacturing, food processing, freight. That sort of thing. We operate in thirteen African countries and we’re spread all over Europe as well, which affords me the opportunity to travel quite a bit. I’m the group finance director at the Angotte Group.”
“Impressive. Also sounds interesting.”
“It is. But enough about me, I want us to talk about you.”
“So what do you want to know?”
“Where are you from?”
“Well, I’m originally from PE. I came to Gauteng for my studies and work. It’s hard finding work in my field down there.”
“I can imagine. So am I going to see you on television soon?”
Thando emitted another laugh, realising that she enjoyed the effect he had on her. It had been a while since she’d laughed for absolutely no reason.
“I love research work. I’m actually thinking of doing my post-doctorate as well, just to remain in academia. But if I were to work in television, I’d probably be behind the scenes doing research on TV show ratings.”
“So that’s what you want to do?”
“Not really. I want to produce a magazine that targets the youth, especially teenage girls.”
“Why?”
“Teenagers are so impressionable. A lot of them struggle with things like peer pressure, self-esteem issues and boyfriends, to name a few. They feel misunderstood by adults and they long to speak out, but there’s no platform for that. I want to provide such a platform for them. A forum where they’ll feel safe, you know?”
“That’s awesome. Why don’t you start this magazine? I think it’s a brilliant idea, especially for the South African youth. There aren’t many local magazines that focus on them.”
Thando’s timer beeped to indicate that her cycling time limit had been reached.
“That’s my cue to go. It was really nice chatting to you.”
“Wait, would you like to go out for coffee or lunch tomorrow?” he asked, ceasing to pedal.
“I’d love to. But I’ll be busy. A friend and I teach drama at the Jacaranda Youth Centre in Sunnyside every Saturday. Why don’t you join us?”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Sounds like fun. What time?”
“One o’clock, 73 Esselen Street. You can’t miss it.”
“I’ll be there at twelve forty-five. I’ll wait for you.”
Thando smiled at his enthusiasm.
“Okay. Well, see you then.”
“All right. Wait, I didn’t get your number.”
Thando smiled. “Do you have your cellphone with you?”
“No. But I’ll remember it.”
“It’s zero eight three, double two three, two four six three.”
“Zero eight three, double two three, two four six three. I’ll remember it, I promise.”
“I hope so,” Thando said as she sashayed over to the leg press machines, feeling Mandla’s eyes on her. She knew that he was watching her and it felt good.
Chapter 3
3
The next day, as he had promised, Mandla was waiting outside the youth centre by the door. He looked stylish in jeans and a green golf shirt.
“That’s him,” Thando said to Zodwa as she found herself a parking spot.
“Not bad, girl. I’d give him nine out of ten for looks,” Zodwa said as they waved at him.
They stepped out of the vehicle and without hesitation Mandla walked over to them. Thando introduced him to her friend. They shook hands while Zodwa ran her eyes over him critically.
“You’re not bad,” she drawled.
“Thank you, I guess.”
Thando slapped Zodwa’s hand away from Mandla’s and
