''I'm sorry if I did something wrong. Don't punish me for my ignorance about it!''

''What? No! It's not that I..I'm just not in the right head space you know.''

''Are you sure? You haven't said anything to me since we left. Look I'm sorry about my response earlier. I mean I have never done that before and I apologize if I gave you the wrong impression. I'm j..just-. Please talk to me,'' she said begging him to say at least something to her.

He was not kind with her anymore unless it was all an act . It was not the type of reaction she expected after he had held her like no one ever did. After all, it was her first step to admitting to herself that maybe she was suppose to feel something despite the risk of ending in an empty dungeon somewhere where he would have dumped her after breaking her stupid and pushy heart.

''Shit are you crying?'' He felt guilty for instilling pain on her unnecessarily. He would shun people away so he could have more of their attention. It was more of a ludicrous mechanism really. He longed to be selfless for her. The girl sited sluggishly by his side was caring enough to know what was pestering his mind.

Olivia's inexperience in sharing intimacy and chemistry-based relationships is what intrigued Toby the most. It was not due to the excitement that it would bring if he were her first. She fascinated him despite her lack of good looks according to societal standards. He found her attractive from her hair down to her Tommy's that he teased her about when he got a turn to. Her small feet complimented and completed the true definition of cute. Above all he admired her brilliant mind. It was wise and full of affairs to comprehend.

''No I'm not I just want to know what's eating you up?''

''Fine,'' he replied trying to sound less annoyed than he already was.

''You don't have to hide your true emotions to me. Just talk.'' A leap of faith she said consoling her confused soul. She wanted to be accommodative for him but did not know what to label him. A friend perhaps?

''My father, no Uncle Gerald and Mary called before we left,'' His voice dropped from bold to brittle in a weakened and shattered tone. He was in hurt more than Olivia had anticipated.

''I really wanted to tell them about Carrie but I couldn't because they were so excited about the news they meant to unfold. My real parents are with them and apparently they await for our arrival to our sister's wedding.'' He cursed right after the dreadful pause and hit his hands so hard on the steering-wheel.

''Fuck!'' he growled in pain.

''Stop the car!'' shouted Olivia noticing blood clot in his skin quicker than expected. At halt, she rushed out the car through her front seat door to his and opened it carefully. It was one of the lavishing cars. She pressed the 'open trunk' button and hurriedly took the first aid kit.

''Breathe Toby, breathe,'' she commanded gently attending to the wounds. She was just doing her job nothing personal.

''I don't understand!'' he yelped right at her face. His anger was increasing with each second. The veins on his face fought their way up the forehead within a blink of an eye.

''People like that man do not deserve to live Olivia! Why on earth do they think we would want to see them after all they have done?'' he complained somewhat searching and seeking the answer from the one who has it.

''They are your parents Toby,'' she sweetly responded avoiding any form of fuel that could ignite the raging inferno.

''There is nothing they want from us unless its money. They must have seen the magazines or the internet. I make too much money. Way beyond my pay grade or age and they saw a jackpot

''Love that hurts!'' he grunted in pain pushing his teeth together, applying more pressure whilst Olivia dressed the wounds.

''Just listen to what they have to say, maybe they are different people now. Life has a way of teaching the players of the game.''

If not comforted maybe he was amused. He had never heard those words before. It was not like Tedtalk kind of inspiration. Her simplicity continued to excite him. Unfortunately this was more than just a bunch of words. This concerned his life.

''Fuck this! Damn!'' he shouted again yanking his hand from Olivia's. At that moment she loudly expressed, "If you dare hurt those hands I will cut you with my teeth!" He respected.

''Where?'' he teased grabbing her waist gently and pulling her to the small space in between his legs hanging in the air. Every fiber in her body wrestled the explosions bursting onto her skin. She felt hot. His stare. His hands. His perfume.

''Where?'' she inquired.

''Yes! Choose and I will let you go.''

Olivia could not respond. How could she? He was already kissing his way up from her collarbone sliding to the back of her ear tickling her earlobe. He deepened the level of intensity and tenderness on her skin. He could feel her breaths shorten and her hands loosen the knot she had tied right in front of her stomach. They landed roughly on the sides. Toby helped her place her hands on his shoulder finding it hard to resist landing his lips on hers, yet.

He got back in action. Flooding his hands underneath her white t-shirt teasing himself, touching the hem of her plunge bra. He sexily whispered,

''Bite me.''

She did. She landed a small bite on his graceful neck. So did he. His was more pleasant. He was fully experienced at these kind of stuff. He got carried away. He dug himself deeper on her neck and unhooked her bra swiftly. He genuinely did not mean for that to happen. Olivia's look explained it all and he respected and moved to her seat so she could drive.

Olivia was still out of breath. Her hands weakly holding the steering-wheel. She was in shock to look at her neck for the results of such an encounter. It was slightly blue and purple and burnt. Toby had never been so embarrassed before. He was really uncomfortable. He was neither getting a positive response from Olivia nor any affection.

''Your bra. Let me hook it back,'' he asked internally crying out for her to look at him. He felt terrible.

''W..w..what?!'' she replied unsure of how to react. Her baggy t-shirt needn't one to worry about her boobs hanging like peaches the way they were. No one would tell. Honestly she enjoyed the little break from the bra.

''Eyes on the road,'' instructed Toby lightly lifting her t-shirt and going underneath it. Her body quivered once more. He avoided cupping her breasts with his own hands and used the bra instead. He loved her natural scent. He covered her back once more with the cotton t-shirt and kept quiet. The only thing he said were the directions and to stop her from being easily distracted by the loose domestic animals they drove past by on their way to Plumtree, Bulilima Mangwe to visit the Department of The Registrar General to inquire more about her father or anyone related to him.

''We're here!'' she finally spoke. It had been really hard for her to drive so close to the houses. The roads were under construction and this was a very small town. The few individuals they met asking for directions to the Plumtree government offices were kind and welcoming. The car itself made people want to talk to its owners. Surprisingly the town was clean and sanitary. They drove past the dustbin collectors wearing masks and overalls.

They got out of the car she had parked next to the office buildings. There was another building to the east under construction and a huge tank of water visible behind the main building that was painted in dust-white and had a border of small indigenous flowers around the entire building. A security guard who sat outside ran to us in respect of Toby who apparently looked like a government official even in his summer wear. He kept throwing eyes on Olivia who reminded him of someone he could not clearly recall.

It was not as packed as the offices in Bulawayo would be. Everything was in order. A sign hung directing to each department. We were given the opportunity to meet the manager who was exhilarated by the car outside. It was hard to grab his full attention because of his easily triggered quirky spirits. He was a short and stout man.

Mr Shabangu had a fresh haircut and an unclean suit. He was in desperate need of a break. Working there was not his ideal dream of a job. Before we could tell him the purpose of our meeting, he gave us a grand tour around the construction site and nearby shops introducing us to people who wanted nothing to do with us. It showed how he wanted to let the neighborhood admire his job for the people he got to meet.

Finally we got back to our sits at the small and stuffy office after passing the security guard with the golden smile. Golden because of the color of his teeth. He looked and smelt of cigarettes. Unfortunately there was no way he could help us. We begged him to tell us anything or to give us any documents related to Craig Khohliswa  but he was a very kind and delicate man. No point in bribing him or anything. He loved and respect the people. But the guard looked nothing like a lover of men.

''How about $200 baba (father) we have nothing else to offer you,'' insisted Toby desperate to find out the hidden truth that shocked the guard after we questioned him. He was too frightened to light his own cigarette. His dull and suspicious actions signaled we had to do something to panel-beat the truth out of him.

"Fine,'' he replied pulling his hand from his pocket to receive the money. He counted it to double check the amount.

''Talk,'' Toby instructed looking sideways for anyone who might suspiciously want to engage in their conversation. Olivia was in shock to even move an inch.

''Let's go to your car. I don't trust these eyes,'' he pointed outside the fence to a crowd of muscular men carrying sticks and tyres and helmets. The sun was a few minutes away from setting and the guard had already locked up the buildings and was knocking off.

''I will tell you on the way, for now drive me home before they see me with you.''