Married To An Assassin

More lies...

Can I have your work address?

What is he going to do with my work address?

Why?

In case I want to send you a gift during the day.

Send gifts to my house, you have the address.

Oh okay.

I must've come across as rude or harsh. But I need to make sure he doesn't find out.

Until when? The stupid conscious asks me. I don't want to think about that now. I fired back. I prepare for bed. It's been a long day. It's going to be an even longer week.

Before I know it's Saturday, I need to prepare for my date. I haven't slept more than 5 hours. During the week I was busy with research. Then from yesterday morning, I was preparing my speech. Practicing answers in case Zizwe asks me about my 'civil engineering' job. Stupid right? I know. But a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. On top of that my family has been asking me if I told him the truth. Annoying me further. My brothers, partners in crime, refused to help. Cairo even threatened to tell Zizwe the truth. But I know it's just a threat. My brother would never do that to me. Today I'm wearing jeans, a blouse and Cairo's black sneakers. He didn't even want to lend me the sneakers. When the cab stops. Zizwe is already waiting for me at the entrance. I look at the time thinking I'm late. I'm 5 minutes early. Sometimes I waited for Themba. He was always late, but I waited.

He smiles and stops talking to some girls when he spots me. He walks towards me with a huge basket. So it's a picnic. I wondered all week what he had planned. He hugs me and then takes my hand. My heart melts. Stupid heart. I thought we discussed not falling in love with this guy. He might not be who he says he is. Or maybe I'm trying to cover up my lies.

We walked for almost 5 minutes, looking for a perfect spot. We end up under a tree. It's a beautiful park. And more couples are arriving. The weather is also perfect for a picnic. It's not cold or hot. It's a bit warm. Zizwe lays the blanket and we both sit. We make small talks about the weather and the park.

"How was your week?" He asks me, taking out 2 glasses. I look at him before I answer. Oh no, I'm not planning to lie. It's just that no one has asked me that question. Themba didn't even ask me about my day. Even if I asked about his day, he never asked about mine. It's probably not a big deal, but it means so much to me.

"It's been a crazy week, we had so many gue…" I realise my mistake. He doesn't say anything because he's rummaging the basket, so I assumed he wasn't listening.

"You had many?" he asks, still not looking at me.

"I thought you weren't listening."

He stops rummaging and he looks at me, "Why would I ask you something and not listen to your answer?" He asks me, looking confused. That warms my heart.

"We had many projects. So it was hectic."

"Do you like doing your job?"

I think about my real job. Even though I help my dad put food on the table and be able to do things for myself and my family, I don't like the job. I always wanted to be a teacher. But I don't have money to study. And whatever everyone says about studying hard and getting a bursary, it's not always the case. I studied my butt off landing 5 distinctions in English, Maths, Economics, Business Studies and Accounting. I still struggle to get a bursary.

"You don't like being asked about your job. Why?" I didn't answer him. I always do that. Sometimes I come across as rude but it's not that. I end up thinking about other things.

"Sorry, it's not that. I just got lost thinking about something else."

"Am I boring you?"

"Oh God. No. Why would you think that?" I ask him, shocked. As much as I hate those questions, I like it when he asks me.

So I just told him all the stuff I could remember from the research I did all week.

"That sounds a little practiced." He replies frowning. My heart skips a bit. I think about coming clean. But then I've already lied about so many things including my favourite colour. So there's no going back.

"Can we talk about something else? Do you have siblings?" I know the answers to that. My brothers filled me in. I know about his family. I know their full names, ages, likes, dislikes and occupations. But I still listen to his answers. I realise I like his voice, I could listen to him all day. He knows about my family. That's the only thing I didn't lie about. I just didn't tell him my dad is actually my step-dad. That's not lying. I just thought it's not something you talk about on a first date. As much as I keep lying to myself thinking this will end soon, deep down I want him to stick around. Because lately I feel like there's something wrong with me. We talk for some time.

I must've been really tired because I fell asleep. I woke up and found Zizwe lying next to me playing subway surf on his phone. Who would have thought. A whole millionaire playing a game? I always thought these people worked day and night. Apparently not this millionaire. I'm so embarrassed by the fact that I fell asleep. The drool on my cheeks embarrasses me even more.

"Hey you." He greets me with a smile. I just smile back. Super embarrassed.

"It's late. Cairo kept calling. You didn't even hear the phone. So I answered when he called for the 5th time. I realised my mistake once I hung up. I'm sorry." I would have been pissed, but I know how much the call meant to Cairo so I tell him it's okay. We pack and head towards the entrance. He offered to drop me off, but I refused. Even though my parents and the rest of the country knows about our picnic. I'm still not comfortable with him dropping me off. He tells me to tell him when I get home. And this time I tell him as soon as I close the door behind me. My phone pings. Before I can read the text, Cairo folds me into a hug. He's speaking but I can't tell what he's trying to tell me. Just when my mom shouts from the sitting room.

"Cairo behave, we have guests." My mom shouts from the kitchen. Okay something huge must have happened. No one comes to our house unannounced.

I walk into the sitting room and I see a man I never thought I'd see.