The dark circles around his eyes were the first things Linda saw the moment he looked into the mirror. The way he was scowling at his reflection made his dissatisfaction with himself apparent. The dark circles around his eyes had become prominent, which also emphasized how deep his eyes were sunken. The prominent red veins in said eyes were not helping either.
He still had his mostly unblimished brown skin that he was so proud of - being one of those lucky teens who never got pimples. His facial features were trailing behind his age by quite a few years, giving him a more cute look than a handsome one.
Is school really worth the price I'm paying? He asked himself that question more often than not.
It was going to be the start of the final exams of his final year in high school in two weeks. It was a time where diligent students were wrapping up their preparations, while the more daring students, like Linda, had just started taking their studies seriously. Albeit, Linda was not studying because he wanted to. If he had it his way, he wouldn't even bother opening his books to study.
He ran his index finger up his brown cheek. His skin was soft and supple, it was a plump texture, the index finger delighted to receive the gentle sensation of the warm stimulus.
Then the finger reached under his left eye.
Dry, it was the first sensation he got.
The darkened area around his eyes was stretched out leaving the skin tight and prone to dryness. The darkened area was hard to ignore, demanding the gaze of the eyes. He wondered, yet again, if the price he was paying was worth it.
Couldn't studying take less time and effort? He found himself groaning the more the pandemonium of school weighed on his mind. If he had had it his way, he would not be working so hard.
But Amanda would kill me if I called it quits. Linda was of the firm belief that he had already given more than enough of himself to life, but Amanda still demanded one last lap out of him despite his clear indication that he did not want to do it. Troublesome woman.
He pulled down his lower eyelid to reveal even more of the red veins in his eyes before he let go, and went to check something even more important.
It was something he had in common with the rest of the people of the world.
It was the life expectancy code that was encoded on the left wrist of all humans in the world.
“Not there.” he said while looking at his left wrist, then let a smile grace his face for the first time that day.
It had become a norm for every human being around the world to check the code every morning after waking up, and every night before they slept. It was suggested by the government
as the numbers manifested around those times of the day. Of course, humans being the way they were, some checked the code more than necessary; their caution having gone well beyond the line of paranoia.
Knock, knock, knock!
“Big brother! Come out already, I also want to use the bathroom!” a voice came from behind the door, the high-pitch of the articulation indicating that it was a child no older than seven who had shouted.
In the society that raised their generation, there was strict judgement of a younger person referring to someone older than them in such a rude way, but - contrary to what norms dictated - Linda’s smile dipped on the side of amusement, indicating that he was more amused than put off by the crude call. Still though, he stepped out of the room, per the voice's orders.
“Finally.” Ziphezinhle, Linda's second youngest cousin, was pouting when the door opened. "What took you so long?" the six year old asked, and despite her voice being sassy, the defiance didn’t quite reach her eyes.
The annoyance was forced, and Linda found it cute how the child made such a child-like reaction, befitting of her age.
Ziphezinhle was in the passage with Melokuhle, Linda's youngest cousin. Where Ziphezinhle went, you could always trust Melokuhle to be close behind.
Linda crouched before his younger cousins and placed a hand over each of their heads.
“Forgive me?”
“Hmph!” Ziphezinhle stared off to the side, folding her arms under her chest defiantly, though the pink hue on her cheeks gave her away.
Melokuhle's eyes, that always seemed to be stuck in permanent wonder, sparkled as he smiled.
“Always!” he beamed.
Their reactions brought more warmth to the smile tugging at the corners of Linda's lips.
Retracting his hands away, Linda stood up and let Ziphezinhle use the bathroom while Melokuhle waited outside for her.
As he walked down the passage of his home, his ears twitched, alerting him of the chaos he was going to come up to.
The loud voices, the laughs, the scolding that came from their grandma, and their grandfather shouting murder from his bedroom so that the kids would quiet down enough for him to sleep; it never worked, of course, yet he did it every morning.
Linda did not know whether to laugh or feel sorry for his grandfather. In the end Linda just giggled.
Coming out of the passageway, the light illuminated his form allowing the rest of the household to bask in his presence. Their activity had halted as they stared expectantly, waiting for him to either make them happy or break their hearts. The looks in their eyes depicted a complicated mixture of fear, anxiety and trepidation that he was not fond of seeing on their faces.
Which was why Linda was happy to lift up his left wrist that had nothing on it.
Smiles were all he saw from everyone the next moment. Though they still lay mostly in the dark of what life had in store for them, they could spend their day with the relief that they would see each other when they all came back. They probably would have celebrated too, but they did not want to test their grandfather's patience. So it was only a brief moment of comfortable silence and then everyone went back to their devices.
Linda took his breakfast from the table and he perched himself where he usually sat, at the far left corner of the coal stove that was adhered to the kitchen's floor, since it allowed him the best view of the chaotic morning routine his family partook in each and every morning.
He chuckled internally. Yes, I wouldn't have it any other way.
When Linda was done eating he put the dishes into the sink and grabbed his school bag.
“I’ll see you when I get back.” He waved as he stepped out of the house, coming into the vast azure of the the blue sky.
It was bright and vibrant outside. The lights - the reds, the oranges, the yellows, the greens, the blues, the indigos, and the violets - melded together in a calm contrast that set his heart at ease. The sky was a bright azure which dripped with opportunity for the taking.
“Yes,” Linda nodded to himself, “this is the life humanity was meant to live.” Except where we have to work hard at school.
“Linda!”
Linda's ears perked up when a familiar voice called out to him. He turned, and there Khwezi was, like he had always been there, smiling.
Khwezi had his (usual) goofy smile on his face – the annoying smile that Linda had grown to miss - his fiery brown eyes shining even brighter underneath the morning sun. His peach skin absorbed the ultraviolet rays, bringing life to the color of his being like the morning sun that day was made for him as he approached.
Still, considering the fact that he was literally ghosted by Khwezi the whole weekend, Linda should have been angry at Khwezi, but seeing Khwezi's smile set Linda's raging heart to a mellow calm as the cloud of worry parted for the warmth that was relief.
Linda allowed a small smile to grace his lips. He had tried to stop himself from smiling, but it ended up happening anyway. It happened to the best of us.
Khwezi got closer, still smiling, and Linda waited patiently. Khwezi was at arm's length when Linda punched him on the shoulder. It wasn't the best Linda could do but it still hurt, and he knew it conveyed his displeasure.
“Ow!” mock cried Khwezi while rubbing his shoulder, and still smiling from ear-to-ear, “Sorry, okay?” He stuck his tongue out, which made his apology unconvincing.
“Selfish idiot.” Linda ignored the antics of his friend and started walking away. As much as most of Linda forgave the transgression, a part of of him was still a little annoyed.
"Tch." Okay, a lot annoyed.
Khwezi fell into step next to his friend, draping his arm around Linda's shoulder quite easily since Khwezi was taller.
"Come ooooon! I had a really good reason, okay?" placated Khwezi.
The nonchalance in his voice made Linda want to strangle him though.
Khwezi went on, "I mean, I'm finally going to kick your ass in God of Fighters!"
Okay, you know what? "It's too early in the morning for you to be spouting such nonsense!" This time Linda did strangle him.
Linda did not even care that they were in public, and that people were looking at them like they we were insane for brawling in the middle of the street so early in the morning.
Who the hell does he think he is? Linda thought, 'I am the God of God of Fighters! Hmph!
Even if Khwezi was his best friend, Linda could not bring himself to allow the insolence
to pass.
Khwezi tried to break free from the choke hold but Linda tightened the grip and shifted his body closer, which made escaping impossible.
"U-uncle." Khwezi croaked out his surrender, further signalling his defeat by tapping on Linda's arm repeatedly.
Linda squeezed tighter for a moment, just for good measure, before he let go. He watched with a proud smirk on his face as Khwezi coughed. It served him right.
"What have you been smoking over the weekend anyway?" Linda asked. Then he placed a hand on Khwezi's forehead, "Or do you have a fever or something?" That would have explained the delusions at least.
Khwezi swatted the hand away, "I'm not sick."
Linda could tell by the look in his eyes that Khwezi was serious. Profoundly dumb, but serious. Well, not like there was anything they could have done at that moment. They were headed to school after all.
"We'll play after classes then?" Linda proposed.
It was a logical proposal too.
"No," Khwezi shook his head grabbing Linda's hand, "we're going now." Linda was pulled along.
He sighed. And enters the stubbornness.
"You do realise that we are in Grade 12 now, and we have finals next month, right?"
Linda presented a good argument on the table. Surely he'd listen to me now. Wait... this is Khwezi I'm talking about. He isn't going to listen to me. Instead, he'll find another way around it.
Linda knew all too well about his friend's stubborness that went well beyond being pig-headed. Though that may have been a case, but Khwezi's stubbornness was made worse by Linda's own indulgence in it.
Khwezi grinned in a way that said; "I knew you would say that," the smile making Linda groan.
"We are still going." said Khwezi. "We both have perfect attendance records so I doubt that will impede on any of our benefits. And we're teenagers, so we're allowed to be reckless. Plus we only turn eighteen once dude."
It was a really simple, yet convincing argument.
Not convincing, I'm just a pushover when he gets like this. Linda was disappointed in himself.
Though he found it funny how Khwezi made it sound like they were going to do something exceedingly inappropriate like skipping school to do drugs or drink alcohol. But what was funnier was that Linda was not questioning the fact that they would be skipping school just like that.
I definitely called it though.
In the recent developments of South Africa, that were largely thanks to the Life Expectancy Code being sold to other countries as South Africa owning the sole rights to the selling of the code, certain benefits were set out for students to boost moral and also increase the pass rate. That included, but was not limited to, a basic amount for pocket money, and when a student got over 70% for a subject, the amount also increased by 70% at the end of a term.
It was the skillful bribery that increased the pass rate and kept the competition amongst students high,
with South Africa now being at its pinnacle of academic performance.
There were conditions of course, like 80% attendance rate for each term, and passing all of your allocated subjects with a minimum of 50%, to name some.
"Okay then," Might as well. I do deserve a break from school, after all. Linda smirked, allowing himself to be pulled along. "I won't hold back, just so you know."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Oh and if Amanda kills us, it's on you."
Khwezi shuddered at the thought but he still nodded. "That's fine with me."
■■■
Khwezi finally let go of Linda's hand when they reached the arcade they usually played at.
The arcade was a spacious ten by six meter room lined with polished oak beneath their feet, with a large rectangular beam at the center. It had a row of tables lined at the right side, next to windows that allowed the sunlight to wander into the establishment. There was a row of three pool tables at the center and a group of eight gameboxes adhered to the left wall, lined up next to each other. The walls were an assortment of bright colors, giving a youthful vibe to the establishment.
It was still early in the morning - a school morning no less - so they were not surprised that the place was empty.
"Aren't you boys supposed to be at school?" A girl asked from behind the counter. She held an aloof, almost distant, look portrayed on her face, her steel-grey eyes half-lidded as if she was a second a way from passing out from sleep. The tone the question came in was distant, which made it obvious that she did not really care that they skipped.
The way Khwezi and Linda saw Amanda did not do justice for her looks.
Her hair resembled the char left behind at the aftermath of a great fire. It was allowed to flow freely, framing her face, with steel-grey eyes that gleamed brighter at the behest of her pearl white skin, and the contrast of her jet black hair whose color could rival the abyss. Her eyelashes reached out to caress just below her lashes every time she opened her eyes from blinking, her dainty nose so perfect that it seemed unfair, and her naturally pink lips sparkling at the lances of sunlight that reached out to them tenderly.
Her beauty was unreal. It was the type of beauty that inspired fear to anyone who laid their eyes on her.
We should be asking you the same thing though. a thought ran through Linda's mind and he made the wise decision of keeping the wisecrack to himself.
"We should be asking you the same thing." Khwezi did not possess the same survival instincts as Linda.
Linda and Khwezi were immune to that ethereal beauty though.
Still, Linda found the situation odd. From the moment they stepped into the establishment, Linda expected Amanda's mother to be the one to ask them why they were not at school, then promptly throw them out when she found out they were skipping. But, instead, they found Amanda manning the counter. She was dressed casually too, which indicated that she had no interest in going to school.
Let it be known that Amanda was strict on herself and as well as Linda and Khwezi - being the one responsible for the study sessions that left Linda with bags under his eyes - and the fact that they were having a civil conversation with her right now, instead of being murdered by her, was nothing short of a miracle.
"And if you asked more enthusiastically, we might have believed you cared." Khwezi went on, of course, making it a point to call her out on the lethargy of her voice when their fates were in her hands.
Idiot. Linda was tempted to kick his idiot friend.
"That apron is still ridiculous by the way." Khwezi shot yet another shot.
"..." Amanda gave no reply to the taunting, like she was not even hearing it.
"Son of a- Ow!" cried Khwezi, "What was that for?!"
In the end, Linda did kick Khwezi, in the shin, and when asked why, he just gave a pointed look that said, "you asked for it."
Khwezi, not tearing his gaze away from Linda, placed a fifty rand note on the counter. "O-one rand coins please." He was rubbing his aching shin, with his right foot subtended in the air and his back arched so that he would get to the spot easier, while giving Linda a dirty look that promised revenge.
Amanda took the note and she returned fifty, one rand coins in a small bag at Khwezi.
"Do you guys plan on playing the whole day?" she asked.
"Yeah." Khwezi nodded enthusiastically without getting consent from Linda. Then he frowned, apparently now noticing that the question needed more than just his answer. He placed his foot back on the ground and stood properly. "Is there going to be a problem?"
Amanda pointed to the side. Khwezi and Linda followed her thumb to the poster that was planted on the wall.
Can I really call it a poster though? It looked more like a document that would make up paperwork to Linda. Though since it's Amanda, it's pretty impressive. I can tell she put her all in it. he involuntarily smiled.
"I'm hosting the qualifiers for the late applicants of the God of Fighters tournament today so you guys have until three pm. Unless..." She gave the two boys a rather uncharacteristic hesitant gaze. "... You guys plan on joining the tournament. It's free entry and the cash prize is ten thousand rands."
"So much money? Did you guys win the lottery or something?" Khwezi sounded sceptical.
Rightly so, it sounded too good to be true. Especially since entry was free.
"My parents just wanted to show their gratitude for all the profit they are making with the game boxes, so I figured a tournament for you guys would be wise," Amanda spoke in a more gentle voice, "hence why I'm not at school, to oversee the proceedings of the tournament while my parents are away on some business."
Odd. Linda thought, frowning.
He could not make sense of how Amanda's parents would suddenly take time away at such an important chapter of their daughter's life - which was the final exams of her last year in high school that would start the following month - and leave her to man the frontlines of the arcade. Not only that, but the tournament would start at FOUR PM, when they would have been back from school a while ago, so there was no need for Amanda to skip school at all.
And why even host the tournament now of all times? It all felt so sudden.
Amanda, being as perceptive as she was, did not miss Linda's calculating gaze that just could not seem to accept the unfolding set of events.
Khwezi, completely oblivious to the cogs spinning in Linda's head, turned towards his anxious best friend all of a sudden. Khwezi was smiling, and a palpable layer of hope was illuminating his chocolate colored orbs to unsettling proportions. The look said it before the words even left his mouth, like every time he got said best friend in trouble. Those were not good times for Linda, mind you.
But rather than throw caution to the wind like someone who had learnt through history, Linda smiled. "Let's do this." I'm hopeless.
"I'll get the chance to show everyone that I'm still the best." he went on, turning and walking to the game boxes. "This is going to be fun!"
The ego. It was the cause for downfall of many figures in history. It was a quality society wanted in moderation, but Linda wore it on his shoulders like an ornament of great value.
"Wait until he finds out he doesn't have the money." Whispered Khwezi, to which Amanda giggled. "Think he found us out?"
"No." Amand shook her head left and right. It was a simple gesture, but she made it look elegant.
"Okay, good. Let me go save the helpless idiot."
"Yeah." Amanda said between giggles as Khwezi walked away.
Linda was already behind the joysticks of the game box when he remembered that Khwezi had the money.
Ah. his face went red in embarrassment.
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"A rand for your thoughts?" Khwezi's voice cut in.
"!" Linda jumped, not even trying to stop the gasp that escaped his mouth. "What the Hell man?! Don't sneak up on me like that!" He pushed his shoulder against Khwezi.
"What?" Khwezi pushed back, "You love it."
"No, I don't. I hate surprises." Linda was adamant. He really hated them, and Khwezi knew that.
"Good then." Khwezi placed two coins into the machine and they got two credits to play. "Now stop wandering in your ego and come and get your ass whooped." He held a rather condescending smile on his face when he said that.
Linda held his breath, tempted to argue the "ass whooping" statement, but then he sighed, smiling.
This idiot.
In the end Linda brushed it off because it was simply how Khwezi was.
"There's no way you can stop me today!" Khwezi proclaimed.
■■■
"I can't believe it." Khwezi's eyes were wide.
Linda held a deeply frustrated look on his face, his brows furrowed in a deep scowl, "Me too."
"What are you guys..." Amanda's voice died down when she saw the screen, her eyes also widening. "I-Is t-this for r-real?" She struggled to believe what she was seeing.
"Yeah..." Khwezi nodded dumbly, "out of 20 games played..." He had to take in a breath before he said it. "... I won no game."
Linda blinked once, twice, shook his head, then sighed. "What did you think would happen?" He stared at his best friend, exasperated.
Seriously, this guy. Was he really practicing the whole weekend?
"You are weaker than before." Linda did not hesitate to say.
After his harsh statement, he turned towards Khwezi with the most condescending smirk he could muster; he just had to rub it in. But when Linda saw Khwezi's face, the smirk fell from his face.
Khwezi's facial features had contorted in a very unfamiliar, and very complicated way that did not quite suit his face.
Then something hit Linda at the top of the head before he had the time to decipher the expression. It was hard, thin, and bony.
"Ow!" Linda turned towards the culprit that the knuckle belonged to. "What was that for?!"
"Play nice." chided an unimpressed Amanda.
Well... that was her resting face so it made it hard for him to actually feel sorry for what he had said.
He rubbed his head with a small pout on his face. And by the time he went back to stare at Khwezi, the contortion had faded, like it was never even there in the first place.
Or maybe I imagined it? It was hard for Linda to tell.
"Oh? Are these for us?" Khwezi asked the question he deemed most important, jabbing a thumb at the tray of sandwiches and juice that was set on the pool table that was behind them.
Amanda just nodded, smiling. It was a small smile, but it made her beauty that more radiant.
"Don't mind if I do!" Khwezi went to grab a sandwich but Amanda smacked his hand away.
"Hey!" he protested. "Ow!" He emphasized his protest in a comical way, which did not impress Amanda.
"Hygiene." Amanda admonished, eyeing the sanitizer that was next to the tray.
Khwezi sanitized his hands while mumbling something along the lines of strict women being a bore, and Amanda being the way she was, it was hard to tell whether she heard him or was just ignoring him.
Linda bet it was the latter since he had heard it clearly, and he was farther from Khwezi.
Seriously, this guy does not have the instincts for self-preservation. thought Linda.
Now with his hands clean, Khwezi set the sanitizer down and went to grab a sandwich while eyeing Amanda - who did nothing this time around. He took a sandwich and bit into it, his eyes sparkling when the food touched his tongue, tickling his taste buds.
He swallowed before he spoke, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "Hmmm... So tell me, do all customers get this privilege or is it because you have an ulterior motive?" Khwezi stared at Amanda, then at Linda, then he stared back at Amanda, all the while wiggling his eyebrows.
I do not even want to know what he is talking about. The last thing I want is to be stuck in the middle of an argument between them, again. The less I know, the better. Linda sanitized his hands before he grabbed a sandwich, "Thank you for the food." and started to eat.
He swallowed the bit in his mouth. "This is really good."
His softly murmured praise made Amanda beam.
"See?! That's how someone shows gratitude, Khwezi!" Amanda was smiling brightly as she ruffled Linda's hair. Her voice had a peculiar calming sound to it, like a bell, and her smile had a certain aesthetic purity to it, like a flower at full bloom.
Why is she doing this? Linda frowned but remained quiet and just kept eating. And why am I even allowing her to do it in the first place?
It was a known fact that no male liked having their head messed with, yet he allowed her to do it. Why?
"Yeah yeah." Khwezi just waved her off and continued to eat.
Amanda was always scowling, mostly because of them. Whether she was happy, sad, angry or content, she had a scowl for every emotion, and Linda could tell by the scowl on her face that she was not happy with being waved off like that. For safety purposes, Linda shuffled away and kept quiet, as usual.
Amanda took in a deep breath...
Hell's about to break loose, I just know it. Linda could feel his anxiety churning.
... but then she smiled.
Odd. Linda thought, the reaction too anticlimactic for his tastes.
Normally, she would have given Khwezi an earful, and a few bruises here and there.
"So how do you guys plan on winning a spot in the competition?" Then, instead, she changed the topic? She was looking expectantly at Linda for his reply.
Linda released a breath he did not even realise he was holding before he replied. "We'll just win."
Khwezi could tell by the uncharacteristic widening of her eyes that Amanda was shocked by the flippant reply. It was as if Linda didn't care.
"T-that's all?" she stammered out; the flower closed.
"Yes." Linda shrugged, "Why would there need to be more?"
Khwezi frowned. Of course this idiot is clueless. Though he just kept the thought to himself and observed the interaction of his two friends. But most importantly, he never stopped eating.
Linda noticed how Amanda's resting face returned, but her eyes now held an unfamiliar twinge in them. It made him feel like he said something he should not have, or was it how he said it? Khwezi always told him that at times, Linda could be cold without realizing it.
But is this one of those moments? Linda wondered to himself..
"I see... Well let me leave you guys to it." It was all she said, smiling awkwardly, then
she left them to eat.
Left Linda before he could realise whether he screwed up or not.
Hmm... Linda's hand reached out for a sandwich only for it to touch the cold plate, and not the softness of bread.
He ran his hand on the porcelain ware but he got nothing, nothing but cold emptiness. He side-eyed the tray. The plates were empty, then he turned towards Khwezi, who was smiling.
He was all shrugs. "Hey I wasn't going to wait for you guys to finish talking, just so I could eat."
Linda fume. He is so going to get it now.
"Hey can't you be even a little welcoming?" Khwezi asked, having closed his eyes and brought his arms up in defence of the onslaught he anticipated from Linda.
The question stopped Linda on his way to maul Khwezi, and Linda could tell that Khwezi was not pleased by something he (Linda) did, if the prominent frown on Khwezi's face was anything to go by.
"..." Linda frowned, not saying anything.
Khwezi just shook his head, sighing. "Forget it, let's just go back to playing when I get back, okay?"
The moment Khwezi took the empty tray back to Amanda, Linda realized that he did, indeed, do something wrong.
"It will have to wait though, I have games to win." He went back to playing the game box, preparing himself for the qualifiers.
Not that they are going to be much of a challenge anyway.
■■■
"Hey," Khwezi placed the tray on the counter.
"Hey," Amanda forced a smile. "Thanks for bringing the tray over."
"No biggie," Khwezi leaned on the counter, holding himself over it with his elbows. "You know, you should tell him."
The statement came suddenly.
"Tell him what?" Amanda acted oblivous.
"That you like him." said Khwezi, and he chuckled when he saw Amanda clam up. "Or better yet, tell him that you really looove him."
Amanda turned red at that, the embarrassment making her swing an arm at the grinning Khwezi. The move was sloppy at best so Khwezi dodged easily by pulling his face back.
Amanda proceeded to cover her rosy face with her hands, the embarrassment too much for her to handle. It was futile, however, because the reddened tips of her ears, that poked out from the darkness of her hair, were still giving her away as she pondered digging a hole and going to live in it forever.
Khwezi was comfortable watching her shake her head as she trembled behind the counter until she was able to ward off the embarrassment.
"You play dirty." she said, now having gotten complete control of her bearings.
"I play fair!" whispered an indignant Khwezi, "Do you know how long I've waited for you guys?! You're both hopeless!"
"Hey!" Amanda whissed back, "I'm not the idiot here!"
Khwezi paused, then nodded, "True." he had to agree with that. Linda was not the sharpest tool in the box. "But still-"
Amanda cut in. "What about you?"
"Hm? What about me?"
"When are you telling him?"
The question robbed Khwezi of his smile in an instant. He took a fleeting glance behind to see Linda frowning at the gamebox before he turned back to Amanda to give his answer.
"When it happens."
"Khwezi!"
He sighed. "I know it's important, okay?!" The conversation went back to harsh whispers, "Did you miss the part where I didn't even tell you?! You were lucky to find out on your own because of your mysterious female powers!"
"Intuition." corrected Amanda.
"Yeah, that! Point is, I don't know how to do it. I can't just walk up to him and go, 'Hey, I'll be dying after the next five days.'" Khwezi muttered the last part sarcastically. "So please, be patient with me, okay? This is hard, and it hurts. As I said before, I'll try telling him after he wins today, okay?"
The weak smile from Khwezi made Amanda relent. "Okay fine."
"Now then, you should bathe." in an instant, he was back to his goofy and annoying self
Amanda flinched at Khwezi's words, taking a reflexive step back and coughing like she had been stabbed, then took an unreserved whiff of herself.
"You don't stink. Just go make yourself look pretty for me."
"I'll ignore how wrong that sounded, and have you know that I'm pretty even when wearing this ridiculous apron." she tugged at the garment for emphasis.
"She finally admits that the apron is ridiculous!" that was what Khwezi picked up from all that she had said.
"Shut up you!" Amanda threw the washcloth, that she had been wiping the counter with, in his face.
Khwezi chuckled at her antics as he watched her walk away with a huff.
"Love you too buddy."
■■■
When Khwezi returned, he stood next to his best friend and said nothing, issuing a challenge. Linda said nothing either and kept playing. They were stuck in an awkward silence that both of them were too proud to break.
"GAME OVER!" came from the gamebox.
It was Khwezi's first win of the day.
Linda issued a challenge.
A few minutes passed then, "GAME OVER!" came from the gamebox.
It was Khwezi's second win of the day.
Linda released a heavy breath, banging on the joysticks.
"Sucks, doesn't it?" Khwezi spoke, breaking the silence with a tactless remark.
"Thanks for that not-so-subtle pointer." Linda muttered dryly.
"You're welcome." Khwezi held a thumb up, grinning from ear-to-ear.
"You have a unique talent for annoying people, you know that, right?"
"Oh I know. That's why I'm so easy to miss." Khwezi winked, then he turned a knowing smile at his friend. "So? What are you going to do about it?"
"Apologize, obviously."
"!" Khwezi gasped, much to Linda's annoyance.
"I'm not that much of an idiot, ya know."
"Well..." Khwezi wasn't convinced.
"Okay, I am that much of an idiot." admitted Linda. "But I'm trying, okay? It's just that sometimes I don't get what Amanda wants me to be, okay?"
"!" Another gasp came from Khwezi.
"Quit doing that!"
"Okay okay, he-he. Jokes aside though," Khwezi's lips settled down to a sincere, gentle smile. "If you are aware of that much, then you're not completely dumb. Besides, you're about the only person I know whose egotistical enough to stand by her side."
"What's that supposed to mea-"
"Sooo... how do I look?" Amanda chose that moment to make her entrance, cutting into their conversation.
Khwezi turned to face her.
He lifted up both his thumbs, grinning like a cheshire. "Like a million dollars."
Linda side-eyed Amanda, then he frowned. He sighed as he made his way behind her.
It was a familiar sight, and Khwezi could not help but chuckle as Amanda blushed. They both knew what Linda was going to say next, word-for-word. And Khwezi, being the way that he was, held his right hand in a speaking gesture and mouthed off in sync with Linda.
Linda unfastened her ponytail. "You're lucky your hair is so strong, but you need to be more careful with it." He ran his thin fingers though her hair gently, as if he was afraid the strands would fall apart, removing the curls that had been made by the rookie tier ponytail that Amanda had somehow managed to scrape together. "And I've told you countless times; I'll tie your hair for you so you don't have to do it yourself since you don't know how to." With practiced grace, he weaved her hair together, then put the scrunchy for the perfect ponytail. He then turned her gently, and placed his hands on her shoulders. "There you have it. Now you look absolutely breathtaking."
"T-thanks." said a meek Amanda, the directness of the complement rendering her speechless.
Smooth. Khwezi had to admit.
"And, uh, um," Linda stammered, looking away. "I-I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you earlier. I-I s-should've been more c-considerate."
Not smooth. Khwezi was tempted to palm his face at how horrible the apology sounded.
The apology was robust at best, and downright sloppy at worst. But the sincerity in it was not lost.
Amanda smiled. "You're forgiven."
That's about all you can expect from a woman in love I guess. Khwezi nodded sagely to himself like he held the secrets to the workings of the world. He then wiped away a fake tear, "They grow up so fast."
"Huuuh?!" Linda released Amanda to attend to Khwezi's statement.
"What? Want to say something, Mr. Youngest?" Khwezi was grinning cheekily behind the palm that was over his mouth.
"It's one month and twenty-eight days, not like it's an entire year or something!" argued Linda.
"I'm still older."
"And I'm older than both of you, so cut it out." Amanda said, joining in the fray.
The statement robbed Khwezi of his composer, making him splatter, "I-it's only o-one day!"
"Don't talk back at me young man, I have lived a thousand of your lifetimes!" chided Amanda, her index finger poking at Linda's forehead.
"Again, it's just one! day!" cried Khwezi
"She's still older." Linda said, now spotting a cheeky grin behind the palm that was over his mouth, much like Khwezi was a few seconds ago.
■■■
Noon came, a veil of orange stretching over the sky as the sun set the western skies ablaze.
"Good evening everyone and welcome to The Arc arcade. Today we have our qualifiers for the four-day God of Fighters tournament where the victor will walk away with the cash prize of R10 000. Are you all excited?" Amanda spoke in her usual, monotone, voice.
The crowd was silent. At some point during the silence they could've sworn they heard a cricket. It was to be expected though, because Amanda wasn't giving off that atmosphere of excitement.
"All right then, here is the competition bracket for today." She pointed to the screen and there were eight teams on the screen. "If anyone has any questions, you can ask them now, and state the name of your team first before you ask your question."
Khwezi raised his hand and she pointed at him. "You my speak."
"Team Raioru asking if it would be possible for us to play all seven teams so that we can at least feel like this was a challenge?" Khwezi said, then he jabbed a thumb at Linda. "His question, not mine."
A flame was ignited. Murmurs echoed around the arcade after Khwezi asked his question.
"He-" Linda tried.
"So you think you are better than we are?" his effort was thwarted by a burly kid who had pushed through the crowd to stand in front of him.
"I-" Linda tried again.
"Oh, not only that, he also said that to him, you guys are even less significant than ants." Khwezi thwarted the effort this time, fanning the flames and adding a touch of gasoline.
"I-"
- didn't say any of that! Linda would have said, but the burly kid cut in this time, taking a step into Linda's personal space.
"Is that so?" The kid gave Linda a once over, then concluded. "You don't look like much to me."
Linda felt his temparature rise as he stared down at the kid.
"Isn't it embarrassing, declaring to everyone what you usually say to yourself in the mirror?" the words left Linda's lips smoothly, like they had been oiled.
And there it is! The maniac, egotistic, I-don't-give-a-fuck energy makes its grand entrance! Muahahahahaha! Khwezi grinned evilly.
"Tehe." The burly kid chuckled. "Then I guess we'll see if your bite is as big as your bark. I accept Team Raioru's challenge."
And the idiot falls for it. Khwezi's smile widened to sickened propotions. "Hehehe..." those around him took a few steps back at his creepy laugh.
"Are the other teams also in agreement?" Amanda spoke in an even, clear voice, like she was a commander presiding over her cadets, "If you are, let the captains please raise their hands."
The rest of the team captains all raised their hands, each captain giving Linda a dirty look.
Idiots, all of them! Khwezi was rubbing his hands together like a cliche witch cooking an evil potion, as the pieces of his evil master plan fell into place.
Linda spoils him too much. Amanda complained to herself. "Then it is decided. Team Raioru will play all teams. To give them the challenge they want, if team Raioru loses even one match, they forfeit their spot in the qualifiers." Then Amanda turned her eyes back to her friend, Khwezi. "Do you accept?" she asked.
Her question was of the rhetorical variety because Team Raioru had no choice but to accept the terms since they, Khwezi, had talked a big game.
More murmurs erupted at what Amanda said.
"Wait what?" Khwezi's petrified murmur was lost in the sea of voices. His lost of composer satisfied Amanda.
All that was happening only served to make Linda even more excited.
"Bring them all." Linda replied instead.
It was a reply everyone took as Linda being proud, when he was actually excited about how fun the challenge would be.
"I'll go first." The burly kid announced, walking to the game box that was set up in front of the stage like a brave knight entering the battlefield. Well it was a battlefield. "Though it's my first time seeing a pig volunteer itself for slaughter."
Linda chuckled at the words, "You surprise me as well." was his reply.
They occupied the controls. Linda took the player one controls and the opposing team took the player two controls.
The burly kid could not hold back the smirk that was on his face. In God of Fighters, the player two side had an advantage of their attacks dealing two times more damage than the player one side after all.
They will need every advantage they can get. Khwezi thought.
The red gear, accompanied by red buttons, made Linda's heart skip a beat. He made his usual selection: Ralph, Iori Nagami and Rugal Frankenstein. Hence, Team Raioru; from the first two alphabets of each of his character's given names.
The captain of the opposing team noticed the selection.
"Oh, we're so scared of you copycat. Don't think you'll be lucky." He taunted, and the other two, his subordinates, laughed.
It was quite common to see three people play together since God of Fighters offered three fighters per team, and each person would control a fighter. It was a classic divide and conquer tactic.
But that's what makes them weak. Khwezi looked on with a pitying gaze.
Linda was a genius. He often tried things out out of curiosity, then he would complain about how quickly he was starting to learn them, then quit after mastering them. He always spoke of the journey being more fun than the destination, then sulked when the journey became too short for his liking. He often came off as lazy because he never tried anything he was not curious about; but he was someone who actually enjoyed the struggle that came with mastering a craft: a rarity in their generation. And when the struggle ended, he gripped and moaned.
The only thing he had ever stuck with after mastering was God of Fighters. Khwezi did not know why Linda kept with it - never even asked - but it was enough for Khwezi that Linda was keeping up with something.
Now if he could stick with school. that was their everyday struggle.
The best Amanda and Khwezi could do was asking him to do it for them since they knew he wouldn't want to disappoint them. It worked for the most part.
The selection that Linda had chosen was his own original selection that he used to master the game. And after mastering the game, he branched off to master other characters, but his main trio was still his favourite. The selection had been made famous by Linda to the point that it was mythical and mainstream at the Arc Arcade.
And the fact that he made the selection means he's taking things seriously. Khwezi felt a surge of warmth overcome him when staring at his smiling best friend. Then a yawn came, Khwezi closing his eyes for a bit. No use watching something I know he'll win.
Linda glanced at the selection of the opposing team, and it was exactly the same as his. Glancing to the side, he could see Amanda looking at him, concern dancing in her eyes for some reason. Glancing to the other side, he could see Khwezi -
Wait, A vein pulsated at the side of Linda's temple, is that idiot sleeping? He could not believe it, completely cowed by the sight to admonish the idiot who started the mess he was in.
Linda shook his head and sighed, getting a semblance of calm back. It would not do for him to get rattled during times of war, I'll get him back for this, so he stored his anger at the back of his mind to use for later.
"Are both players ready?" Amanda asked.
"Of course." The burly kid replied, and Linda just nodded.
"Start."
The moment the match began, Linda made sure that the execution was as swift, and as embarrassing as possible. He wasn't playing for fun, he was playing for his pride as the best player of God of Fighters. Every move the opposition made, he either countered or dodged. Every strategy they used, he foiled.
It was a one-sided battle that when it finally ended, the opposition let out relieved sighs. Linda had also noticed that somewhere near the end, their last player had let go of the controls, and somewhere during the match, the crowd had also grown quiet.
Yes, quiet, and it was just how Linda liked it.
The anxiety rolling off those who came to scope the competition was so palpable that he could taste it at the back of his throat. It was bitter, a bitterness that he caused, and he couldn't be more proud of himself.
A slaughter. Khwezi smirked. He had woken up somewhere around the match - at the second round to be more specific. "Who's next?"
No one moved, so Khwezi took the liberty of pointing for a team.
"You guys are next."
They flinched when Khwezi pointed at them, like his index finger had fired an unseen bullet at them, and it only served to make his smile widen.
At least it's not me out there. Khwezi took solice in that fact. He found it scary how good Linda's game was that day.
The second team wasn't much of a competition either. And that's how six of Linda's other matches went. His opponents were so anxious that their playing styles were muddled, making it easy for Linda to pick them off, and he was not so kind as to let them off easily.
With every game Linda played and every victory he claimed, Khwezi could tell that the crowd was switching more and more away from Linda's side.
From the way Linda played, tormenting other players, it was easy to see that they saw him as a tyrant, and no one liked when the tyrant was winning. They wanted a hero.
Then the last match came.
The captain of the team occupied the controls.
"I'll take this one." He said, and his teammates just nodded at him.
Khwezi could see it in their eyes that it was not out of fear of Linda. It was faith in their leader. It was hope. It was the belief that no matter what, their captain could do it; even if it was impossible for others, their captain would be the one to shatter those odds and claim victory.
Linda could also tell that the crowd was behind his opponent.
Their hero has arrived on the battlefield. Khwezi eyed his friend. What will you do now Linda? He stole a glance to see the anxiety on Amanda's face; she was also aware of Linda's circumstances. Yeesh, looking like that when you're the one who put him in this mess. Khwezi had enough tact to not blurt out his remark, but no self awareness to see that everything was his fault.
"Are both players ready?" asked Amanda.
Both players nodded at her.
"Start."
The moment their match started, it was solidified that the opposition's captain played like Linda.
Well... almost, thought Khwezi.
And it was just enough for their first match to end in a draw.
"Did you see that? He almost beat Team Raioru."
"So close, I hope he wins this."
Various murmurs passed in the crowd as the near victory of the hero was starting to get them hyped.
The second match came. It was a struggle just like the first one, each player showing their best skills as they gunned for the win.
To the delight of the crowd, the previously thrashed opponents, and the competition who did not want to play Linda at the actual tournament, Linda lost a character for the first time in the qualifiers.
It was something they shared universally, as if releasing a huge breath of relief.
Finally.
The unnerving waves of negative energy, coming from behind, made Linda shiver.
"...... Yeah!" The crowd was quiet for a moment, then they broke into loud cheers, the opposition's captain smiling at the support. It was a genuine smile too, unlike Linda's condescending smirks.
For the first time that day, Linda grit his teeth. He didn't want to lose. As much as they all must have thought that he was waving his superiority in their faces, which he was, it was more him rising to Khwezi's expectations.
I'm not going to lose. Not in front of Khwezi. Not in front of Amanda.
The third match begun and Linda won the scuffle easily since the fighter had dealt a lot of damage in its previous fight. He could tell that the crowd wasn't delighted by his victory, if the subdued "tsks" and yelps of "aw maan!" he got were anything to go by.
"You can do it!"
"Come on man!"
"""Do your best!"""
The crowd shouted encouragements, and none of them were for Linda.
Linda now felt the pressure as he played, his body now suddenly registering the fatigue that his adrenaline had kept at bay. He was sluggish with his gear control and was missing combos while receiving more hits.
At least, that's what everyone thought. Everyone except Khwezi, who could see the predatory gaze hiding behind the panic.
Even if the pressure is on me and I'm tired, I can still see it, Linda thought.
He landed a small punch in, and the light at the end of the tunnel got brighter.
Then he saw the screen turn blue and the cheering of the crowd was deafening as the other player beat into him.
It would only take one last hit and Linda would lose.
He was going to lose.
The hit came, Linda's Rugal falling down.
It was over.
Linda let go of the controls as he gave himself a moment to stare at the ceiling. Ah, yes, this is it.
The last attack had landed and the crowd was going wild with cheers, their hero also smiling. His teammates were pulling on him. He had won.
He had won. That's what they told themselves, but the light at the end of the tunnel only got brighter for Linda.
Why? Because "K.O." had yet to be displayed on the screen.
It not game over yet. Linda grabbed the controls and pulled it off. He hadn't played in a while but he was still able to pull it off, even if just barely. It was the signature combo of boss Rugal that drained the entire life gauge of the opponent.
The crowd had gone silent again, and his opponent was no longer smiling. As a bold "K.O." was displayed on the screen, it appeared on the left side of the screen meaning that Linda was the winner.
Linda smiled. "I won."
Then he giggled. "Haha! I won!"
He turned towards Khwezi, his arms wide open and a big smile on his face. "I won!"
Khwezi turned towards the crowd, arms raised in the air and screamed, "Yeah!"
The crowd in the arcade followed, clapping their hands, and some even whistling.
"So cool!"
"Man, did you see that?!"
"I thought only the computer could pull off that combo!"
The crowd had turned to support Linda.
"Great match man, name's Luzuko." The opposing captain introduced himself.
"Linda, and thank you for the great match. I hope you take the spot because I enjoyed playing with you."
They shook hands, then Luzuko took his leave.
Linda looked up to see Amanda smiling at him. He rubbed the back of my neck and mouthed, Thank you.
She just nodded at him.
He turned back towards the crowd. Khwezi was still hyping them up.
"Raioru!" Khwezi shouted.
""""""""""Raioru!!"""""""""" The crowd shouted after him.
"Raioru!" Khwezi shouted again
""""""""""Raioru!!"""""""""" The crowd shouted after him.
""""""""""Raioru!!""""""""""
The crowd kept shouting even when Khwezi had turned towards Linda, smiling with his arms still raised in the air triumphantly. Linda couldn't help but smile back.
""""""""""Raioru!!"""""""""" The crowd was roaring for their winner.
Linda didn't know why he did it,
""""""""""Raioru!!""""""""""
but his eyes trailed up Khwezi's left arm as Khwezi's arms were still raised in the air.
""""""""""Raioru!!""""""""""
Linda's eyes stopped at Khwezi's left wrist, where Khwezi's shirt had been pulled down to reveal his wrist.
""""""""""Raioru!!""""""""""
It was like someone had ripped Linda's chest open and punched his heart.
""""""""""Raioru!!""""""""""
It hurt.
""""""""""Raioru!!""""""""""
His heart sank to the pit of his stomach along with the warmth that was coursing through his veins.
""""""""""Raioru!!""""""""""
All that was left was a cold emptiness, and his smile had grown fake.
""""""""""Raioru!!""""""""""
The shouting had grown to be a cacophony at the back of his mind; a poor choice of background music to his world falling apart.
""""""""""Raioru!!""""""""""
5. Was on Khwezi's left wrist.
""""""""""Raioru!!""""""""""
Linda'd seen it.
""""""""""Raioru!!""""""""""
His best friend only had five days left to live.