Chapter 1
Chapter One
PABALLO
The schools are finally closed for the summer.
My friends insist we celebrate, which is exactly why I'm standing in the middle of a packed nightclub instead of sleeping peacefully in my bed.
The music is loud enough to shake the floor. People are dancing like tomorrow doesn't exist.
And me?
I'm arguing with my mother.
"Mom," I say, pressing a finger into my free ear to block out the music. "How many times must I tell you? Stop arranging husbands for me without asking what I want."
My friends exchange amused glances before bursting into laughter.
I roll my eyes.
"I told you already. I have a boyfriend."
My mother's dramatic sigh crackles through the speaker.
"Oh? This mysterious boyfriend again? Tell me, Paballo, what kind of man is so afraid of me that he can't even greet me on the phone? I've been asking to speak to him for two weeks."
I force out a laugh.
"Mom, I'm out celebrating with my friends. He's out with his friends too."
"Liar."
"Mom..."
"You are lying, Paballo Mokoena, and you know it."
I groan.
Honestly, I should have lied about owning a pet giraffe instead. That would've been easier to maintain.
My eyes wander around the club, hoping for divine intervention.
Instead, they land on a man sitting alone at the bar.
Black leather jacket. Dark jeans. A glass of whiskey in one hand.
He looks like the kind of man who either hates people... or has already had enough of them tonight. Perfect.
Before common sense can tackle me to the ground, I march straight toward him.
Just as he lifts his whiskey to his lips, I snatch the glass from his hand.
He freezes.
I shove my phone into his other hand.
"There you are, babe!" I say loudly, forcing the brightest smile I can manage. "My mom has been dying to talk to you." He blinks.
"Babe?"
Oh no. Not one of the slow ones.
I flash him a desperate smile and widen my eyes, silently begging him to understand.
Please.
Please get the hint.
Instead, he looks at me as if he's trying to decide whether I escaped from a hospital or simply enjoy ruining strangers' evenings.
I quickly end the call before my mother starts interrogating the poor man.
"Okay..." I say, taking a deep breath. "Let's start over." He folds his arms. "My name is Paballo Mokoena."
"I didn't ask."
"My mother thinks I have a boyfriend."
"I still didn't ask."
"I don't actually have one."
"I definitely didn't ask." I ignore him.
"She's been arranging men for me for months. I got tired of saying no, so I lied and told her I was dating someone." His expression remains completely blank. "So now she wants proof."
Silence.
"I've tried everything to avoid this conversation." More silence. "So..." I give him my sweetest smile. "Could you please pretend to be my boyfriend for just one phone call?"
He stares at me for a long moment.
Then he slowly reaches for his whiskey.
Except... I'm still holding it. His eyes narrow.
"My drink."
"Oh."
I hand it back with an awkward smile.
He takes the glass, downs the remaining whiskey in one gulp, places it on the counter, and looks me dead in the eye.
"Are you insane?"
"Maybe a little."
"You walk up to a complete stranger, steal his whiskey, shove your phone on his face, call him 'babe' and want him to lie to your mother?"
"When you put it like that... It sounds exactly as crazy as it is."
My phone rings again. Mom Calling... I stare at the screen. Then at him. Then back at the screen.
"Please?"
"No."
"Pretty please?"
"No."
"I'll buy you another whiskey." He raises an eyebrow. "And dinner." He says nothing. "For a week."
Now I have his attention. He throws his head back and laughs.
A deep, genuine laugh.
For a moment, I simply stare at him.
Well... at least I've managed to make someone's night.
Then reality comes crashing back.
Mom.
If I don't convince this man to help me, she'll have another "suitable husband" waiting for me before sunrise.
He wipes the corner of his eye.
"I really needed that laugh," he says. "Thank you." I smile proudly.
"So... is that a yes?" He chuckles.
"No."
My shoulders slump. The barman places another glass of whiskey in front of him.
Before he can touch it, I grab the glass.
"Hey!" I raise it in the air.
"If you help me, I'll buy you ten of these." He folds his arms.
"If I don't?"
"I'll..." I glance at the drink. " I will drink this one."
"You don't even know what's..."
Too late. I pour the entire glass down my throat.
The burning sensation hits me instantly.
"Oh..." My eyes widen.
"Oh, my goodness..."
I double over, coughing so hard that tears stream down my cheeks.
My chest feels as though someone has poured fire straight into it.
The barman laughs.
Even Mr. Leather Jacket has the audacity to laugh.
He shakes his head.
"Next time," he says between chuckles, "learn to keep your hands off my things." I reach for a glass of water and gulp it down.
"I hate whiskey."
"I could've told you that."
My phone starts vibrating again.
Mom Calling...
I stare at the screen like it's a ticking bomb.
"Oh no..."
He notices the panic on my face.
Without warning, he takes the phone from my hand.
"Wha..." He answers.
"Good evening, Ma."
My jaw drops.
His voice...
It's calm... Respectful... Smooth.
Nothing like the grumpy man who's been rejecting me for the last ten minutes.
"My name?" he says with a smile. "I'm the man who's been stealing your daughter's attention."
I nearly choke on my water.
What is he doing?
He listens for a few seconds before laughing softly.
"No, Ma. I promise I'm not hiding from you. Paballo has simply been enjoying her holiday with her friends." I frantically wave my hands at him.
"Loudspeaker!"
I whisper.
He raises an eyebrow before pressing the speaker button.
My mother's voice fills the air.
"So... you're finally the famous boyfriend."
He smiles.
"Yes, Ma."
I blink. Wait... Since when are we doing this?
I gawk at him.
This man has spent the last five minutes looking at me as if I'm the reason the world is falling apart.
Now he's smiling into my phone like he's campaigning for Son-in-Law of the Year.
"There is a lot of noise where you are, are you able to hear me?"
"Yes, I can hear you perfectly..."
"Okay. My daughter says you don't like talking on the phone," Mom says. He chuckles.
"I don't, Ma. But I couldn't keep ignoring my future mother-in-law forever."
I almost swallow my tongue.
Future... what?
Mom giggles.
My mother never giggles.
"Oh, you're funny," she says.
"I try."
"No wonder Paballo likes you."
I silently mouth, I don't!
He catches me glaring at him and has the nerve to wink.
Wink. At. Me.
I need to stop stealing this man's whiskey before I end up in prison.
"So," Mom continues, "what do you do for a living?" He doesn't even hesitate.
"I work."
I slap my forehead. Great. It's over. We're finished.
Mom is going to expose us.
She laughs instead.
"Good answer. As long as you work honestly."
"I was raised that way, Ma."
I squint at him.
Why does every answer sound so... believable?
Mom clears her throat.
"So when are you bringing my daughter home?"
He looks at me.
I shake my head so hard my earrings nearly fly off.
He smiles.
"I was actually hoping to surprise you." I stop breathing.
"What surprise?" Mom asks excitedly.
"I'll bring Dintle home for the holidays."
Silence. My heart stops. Mom squeals.
Actually squeals.
"Oh, Modimo! Your father will be so happy! We've been praying to meet you." He smiles again. "We're looking forward to meeting both of you."
We?
Since when is there a "we"?
Mom spends another five minutes telling him what food she'll prepare, how the guest room is already clean, and how she can't wait to tell the neighbours that her daughter is finally bringing a man home.
Traitor.
Complete traitor.
At last, he ends the call.
He hands me my phone.
"There." I snatch it from him.
"There?" I repeat. "THERE?" He nods. "You've just volunteered to spend a week with my family!"
"I know."
"My mother already loves you!"
"I noticed."
"My father is going to expect lobola negotiations!" He shrugs.
"That's your problem."
"My problem?" I point at him. "You called my mother 'future mother-in-law!'"
"It made her happy." I let out the longest sigh of my life.
"I don't even know your name."
He smiles for the first time.
A proper smile.
The kind that softens his face and makes him look... ridiculously handsome.
"I'm Kabelo."
"Paballo."
"I know." I narrow my eyes.
"You're enjoying this."
"A little." I fold my arms.
"So... are you really coming home with me?"
Kabelo picks up his whiskey and takes a slow sip.
"That depends."
"On what?" He places the glass on the counter.
"Convince me." I blink.
"Excuse me?"
"You need a boyfriend for a week." He leans back in his chair. "I need a reason to give up a week of my life."
He studies me for a moment before a mischievous smile tugs at his lips.
"So... Make me an offer." I swallow hard.
"So..." I clear my throat. "How many drinks do you want?"
Kabelo looks at me over the rim of his glass.
"Really?"
"Yes." I straighten my shoulders. "Name your price. I'll pay." A slow smile spreads across his face.
"Three glasses of whiskey." I nod.
"Done."
"For now." My smile falters.
"For now?"
"You did ask me to give up a whole week of my life." I sigh dramatically.
"My salary is that of a primary school teacher, not a billionaire." He lets out a quiet chuckle.
"I'll keep that in mind."
I signal the barman, who pours him three glasses of whiskey.
There goes half my December budget.
I pay the bill before slipping my phone back into my handbag.
"Thank you," I say sincerely. He gives me a puzzled look.
"For what?"
"For... answering my mom's call." He nods once.
"You're welcome."
An awkward silence settles between us.
I fiddle with the chain of my handbag.
"But..." He raises an eyebrow. "Were you serious about going home with me?"
He doesn't answer immediately.
Instead, he picks up his whiskey and takes a slow sip.
His face is impossible to read.
Finally, he places the glass on the counter.
"I think..." he says calmly, "...you should go back to where you were."
"My friends?"
"I believe so." I blink.
"That's it?"
"That's it."
"So you're saying no?"
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't say yes either." He smiles into his glass.
"I know." I stare at him in disbelief.
"You enjoy confusing people, don't you?"
"Only the interesting ones." I narrow my eyes.
"So I'm interesting?"
"I didn't say that either."
"Oh, you're impossible."
"So I've been told." I let out an exaggerated groan.
"You know what, you were right," I mutter. "I should go back to my friends."
Kabelo simply nods before taking another sip of his whiskey.
"Have a good night." I force a smile.
"You too."
I turn and weave my way through the crowd until I reach our table.
"There she is!" Lindiwe exclaims. "Miss 'I'll be right back.'"
The girls laugh.
"So?" Naledi asks. "Did he give you his number?" I sink into my chair.
" Who"
"The hunk you were with just a few minutes ago"
"I'm honestly not in the mood to narrate everything that just happened."
The smiles disappear from their faces.
"That bad?" Zinhle asks. I let out a long sigh.
"I've officially embarrassed myself enough for one night."
"What happened?"
"I drank his whiskey."
"You what?"
"I shoved my phone into his hand."
"What?"
"I called him 'babe' in front of half the club." Their eyes grow wider with every sentence.
"And..." I hesitate.
"My mom spoke to him." The table falls silent.
"She... what?" Lindiwe asks.
"She spoke to him."
"And?" I cover my face with both hands.
"She invited him home for the holidays."
For a second, no one says a word.
Then all three of them burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"Oh, this isn't funny," I complain.
"It is!" Naledi says, wiping tears from her eyes. "Only you, Paballo. Only you could accidentally introduce a complete stranger to your mother."
"My life is over." Lindiwe shakes her head.
"No." She grins mischievously.
"It's just getting interesting. At least for once your mother's game of playing a match maker, has landed you with a hunk."
I lean back in my chair and stare at the ceiling.
If only she knew. My mother will be expecting me to arrive home with a boyfriend who doesn't even know whether he wants to help me.
