Thulile explained all the events to her gran, from her encounter with Lars to Elije's engagement. Her grandmother listened and empathized with her granddaughter's trampled feelings. The young woman held in so much, her gran was almost ashamed to interrogate her.

Now, another issue intrigued the elder. Thulile spoke of a tall European customer. The woman had the vague memory of one queuing for coffee. If she had not been behind him, the man would have left the line.

Could the jacket belong to him?

Her grandmother almost felt responsible for their encounter. Then again, perhaps it was a twist of fate. Nevertheless, the man slipped into the same sequence of episodes as Thulile.

The woman let Thulile go, refusing to inflict more guilt on the woman who held their foyer single handly.

Monday fell like a raindrop, never had ever Lars or Thulile who woke up respectively at the same hour longed for the day to start as on that particular Monday.

For Thulile, it represented a new start, and for Lars, it was a new beginning with her, as a business partner, of course.

"Why are you always hiding?"

Why?

The woman always felt her presence was illegitimate. Even when she shone while dancing, Thulile shied away from the attention. She didn't consider herself an introvert, but she wasn't an extrovert like Nandi, nor was she an in-between.

Thulile defined herself as a let-me-live-in -peace type of person. All she ever desired was to have enough funds to live a quiet and pleasant life.

Lars offered her hope. In his presence, she felt capable of living in the limelight. Again images of his house surfaced. The place blessed by the sun's rays marked the woman. She only spent a few hours, but she was so at ease on its premises and appeased when with him.

"Howzit, Palesa."

The woman barely acknowledged her.

"Palesa, I'm sorry."

Though Thulile called to explain her departure from the party, Palesa remained vexed. The woman worked alone in an environment she found hostile until the coffee ran out. Senara didn't hold her back when she asked to leave, and Morris paid her due. Despite this, Palesa didn't appreciate Thulile's behavior which she found childish.

Palesa began to unpack the snacks she had already made in silence.

"Please forgive me, Palesa," Thulile pleaded while placing her hands on the older woman's. "I accepted Lars' offer. We might work elsewhere soon, in a place with toilets."

Palesa tried to hold it in, but a smile sketched itself without consent, "you better keep your word," she huffed.

Thulile nudged her, "ahh, Palesa, trust me. There are going to be a lot of changes around here."

Palesa looked at Thulile, changes already operated. The young woman wasn't the same sinceㅡ.

"Good morning, ladies."

"Lars, what are you doing here? It's way too early."

"The early bird catches the worm."

Thulile let her eyes slide to one side. How old was this man? His expressions were prehistoric.

"Alright, I couldn't sleep, happy?"

Palesa observed how the corner smile appeared on Thulile's lips and how Lars' eyes shimmered in the morning rays.

They weren't there yet, but they were well on their way to the cascade of emotions for the older woman.

Between the man who knew love but refused it and the woman who believed she was a veteran but a novice, the scenario promised to be at the height of the Nollywood series Palesa affectioned.

Thulile began to heat the water.

"I thought of a few names for the brand."

"Ah yeah."

"Haven't you?" Lars asked. He had the impression he was the only one thrilled. The man was disappointed.

Thulile shrugged," I thought you handled that."

"True, but we're partners Thulile, I think something as important as that should have both our approval. Do you want to hear them?"

The woman came to the front, "okay, I'm listening," Thulile placed her hands on her hips and waited.

"Alright, I thought we'd avoid all the Ma's, Pa's, uncle's, and aunt's that sounds colonial."

"Makes sense."

"Agreed, I've got something against uncle Ben's, but it just sounds wrong," Palesa added.

"Also, no mascots, it's hard to make one follow trends."

Thulile nodded.

"So here it goes, Smile Beans," Lars said with a wide grin while spreading his arms as though he said ta-da.

"Pardon."

"Sounds like a drug," Palesa added.

"Alright, Coffee O Lai, it's a play on café au lait."

Thulile sighed, "we won't have milk in all of them. It's sort of restrictive."

"That one isn't bad, though," Palesa said.

"How about Dark Brew?"

Thulile giggled," sounds like a drink for Darth Vader," seeing the man's desperate expression, she added, "It could be a drink's name, though."

"Okay, how about True Blend."

"Oh, I like that one," Palesa said.

Thulile smiled, "Yeah that one sounds okay."

"I also have Renegade."

Thulile raised a brow and crossed her arms, "we're still talking about coffee, right?"

Palesa laughed, "Eish, are your beans on the run?"

Thulile laughed, "sorry, Lars can we see this later? The customers are waiting."

The queue grew fast. Lars stepped aside, and the women began to serve.

"Hey," Lars turned, "here's your coffee. Snacks are on the house."

The woman's smile made Lars lower his head like a scolded child, "thank you."

It was one of those moments one never thought would see the day. Yet Palesa gave him a freebie. The event made Lars wonder what other surprise the day held.

As usual, he squatted the coffee shop further down the street. This time the man took time to observe the environment.

He preferred for them to start their business online for cost reasons, but their beans would need a window where people could taste the blend's potential.

The coffee shop he sat in was too vast. Lars imagined their project as a stop-off, narrow, 430ft2 max, with a mural table with five stools maybe.

People could order from a customized tactical terminal, the type one finds at McDonald's.

It would reduce the waiting time. Lars noted his idea; then he remembered the electrical shortage. Perhaps they could have a backup generator. The man began to calculate what it could add up two by looking at the rental ads for commercial real estate.

His brother launched his website before opening stores, but he had already established his brand name.

Lars wondered if he could launch both. Again, Jonas had a Swedish furniture mastodon distribute his products first.

What was more pertinent?

While the man reflected, a luxury sedan pulled up in front of Thulile's truck. Palesa and the remaining customers all turned to see who would come out.

A man in a cream suit stepped out with his shades. Palesa looked straight at his feet where Weston loafers shone as if they were polished for Sunday Service.

"Wow, look at this, mister."

Thulile spun around; her face became bleak.

"Tulip, we need to talk."

The woman cocked a brow, tied her hair in a low ponytail. She stepped out, leaving Palesa, who tried to remember where she had seen him.

"Tulip."

"Don't Tulip me."

"Can we go somewhere to talk?" Elije asked, looking around.

The offices were open. Thus only three passersby were finishing off their drinks.

"Ngeke ngiyendawo nawe [No, I won't go anywhere with you]."

"Thulile."

"Khuluma noma uhambe [Speak here or be gone]."

This woman wasn't his Tulip. Her cold stare and stern tone were unknown to Elije, who only knew her sweetness.

"Yin ula? [Why are you here], Elije? Wasn't the humiliation you and your family inflicted on me enough.

"Thulile."

In the meantime time, Lars finished his coffee and spun the cup to see the words. It was his favorite moment.

There he saw Rebel and Grains, two words that had nothing to do with one another. They didn't define his mood nor an event. They were just there like he and Thulile, two separate entities.

Lars stared at the cup for a minute.

What was he to distill from them?

Everything Thulile wrote on the cups finished by making sense.

"Rebel, grains."

"Grains and rebels."

Coffee beans were hard, gritty, and bitter, yet the trees and the plants that grew the beans were evergreen and beautiful like her.

Suddenly Thulile's facial traits began to sketch themselves in his mind's portraits hall. Her nose followed by her eyes, and finally her lips.

The man shook his head, "focus, Lars."

Rebel and grains, what could one do with these terms? Still, lars thought they could combine.

Why did he wish to blend them again? He didn't know, but he continued to mumble, "Rebel Grains, Rebel Grained,' the man smiled, packed up, and hurried back to the truck just in time for Thulile's show.

"Ngibuyisele iminyaka yami [give me back my years].

Give me back my virginity.

Wonke umuntu ucabanga ukuthi ngiyisifebe ngenxa yakho. Abantu bacabanga ukuthi ngine-STD ngenxa yakho. [Everyone thinks I'm a prostitute because of you. People think I have STDs because of you.] You're sorry, you say, go to my house and tell my gran you are the man who slept with me for seven years."

"Thulile, come on, this isn't you people are watching."

Lars slid closer to the truck's window, "what's going on?" He asked Palesa.

"Someone is going to die today."

"Shouldn't we do something?" The man asked.

"Yes, call the police once he's dead."

"Isn't that something we should do before?"

Palsea crossed her arms, sneered, and returned her gaze on Thulile.

"I have no shame after what you did, Elije. I have no rep to protect. You destroyed it. People can watch the shameless me. I don't care anymore."

"Ngaphantsi kwakho lento, Thulile[ this is beneath you]."

Thulile stepped forward, "no, this is."

Hi guys,

What just happened?

Things are getting messy.

I was so proud of myself when I imagined Thulile, and I was like a drama-free chick that's great. Now, look what I've got her into in this chapter.

I hope you had an excellent start to the week.

I'm back at work; you know the drill.

This means I'll probably publish less, but if the chapters are there, I will post.

I want to give a special thanks to @KaoriKali she did all the translations in Zulu. I usually work my way around with translating apps, but I wanted something authentic. I'm glad she accepted.

Language is one of the best ways to share culture. I try to incorporate as much language and traditions that I can in my stories because it's a richness one can't step over when writing diverse lit. For me, it's not just about throwing people in the mix. It's learning about one another and appreciating each culture to their value.

So big thanks to @KaoriKali

I might ask some of you for your help sometime :)

Take care