"Carrie, is everything okay?''

''Hey. All is good I was just, uh...wanted to know if you are okay.''

''What happened sis?''

''I got an email fr..from our mother. She and him are going to the wedding.'' Her voice staggered. Toby wished he could be with her right now.

''Yeah I know. Mom told me already. Look we are going to talk about this when I get home later.'' Carrie sounded distressed and distracted from the other end of the line. This touched Toby's heart. He was vulnerable again.

''Its too early for you to be up Carrie. Go to sleep or watch a movie or something. So much has happened! I need your help. Please call Jayden and ask him everything Olivia loves and buy it. Lighten up her room and-'' he stopped talking to attentively listen to the sound escaping from the adjoining room.

"I need to go right now, please take my card. You know where it is bye.'' He cut the line and put on his shirt he washed two hours ago. He was so anxious and hoped this was not that ugly man chasing after them already. Gladness would fill soon after he kills the bastard.

He opened his room's door wide to find Benita sneaking out of her room. He could not understand this woman's actions and mindset. Why would she do this to her daughter again?'

''Mrs Khohliswa?'' he called out scaring and catching her in the middle of the act.

''I need to..'' points to the gate ''I need to leave,'' she cries crocodile tears that streamed down her cheeks straight to the granite-tiled floor.

"Drop the act mama(mother). What is wrong with you?!''

She looked at him with pitiless and condescending eyes showing him no sign of remorse or emotion. She did not care. She never cares.

''You really have the nerve rich boy to address me as though I am your lover. I am an elder to you. Oh I see the sparkle in your eyes that has made her so vulnerable in your eyes. At least something good came out of her (Olivia) after all. Maybe I should stick around for her lobola(dowry) negotiations. She would give me a lotta money.''

''How can anyone be atrocious? She's your daughter who loves you in spite of all those things you did to her. You beat her and treated her like a dog. Both your children are in that room. Please don't do this. I will give you whatever you want. It will break her if you leave.'' He fell down on his knees and watched her leave. She was quite confident on how she was going to get to her destination.

''She did what? No. No! You let her leave. Don't touch me!'' she was incapable to stand on her own. Her own mother and body had already betrayed her.

''Olivia!'' She shutdown completely. She did not move laying detached on the floor. He left her there and waked Willy up.

''Willy wake up we need to go now. Get your clothes and lets go.''

The gates are always opened by the security guards on duty. We were not really an impudence to them. On their way back home, Toby found Willy's company refreshing. She was a girl gifted in humor. Her English was not as good as Olivia's but was satisfying enough. She spoke lovingly of her mother even after he had explained fully about her mother abandoning them. She conveyed everything she knew to Toby in such ease. Willy brought back the innocence, peace and uplifting atmosphere one needed in times as these.

Toby could not stop comparing Willy to her little sister. You would say they were twins if not familiar with their acquaintance. He felt sorry for Olivia who had missed the opportunity to listen to her sister's chubby character lead their light conversation. He was certain that she and Carrie would make good friends.

''Where are we brother-in-law?'' Willy was nothing but a cutie. He did not want to destroy her eagerness and suspense and so he responded,

''I'm taking you home.''

Surprise, surprise. Humongous mansion. Large cars. Is that a fountain? A girl wonders. She could not believe such buildings ever existed in mankind's creation. She was impressed previously by the sky-scrappers on the way to this heaven, but the castle she set foot on was way better.

''Liv, I'm going to carry you to your room now.'' Olivia could feel his hands wrapped around her body. Her eyelids were heavy and her body light as a feather. She, for a minute there got scared her soul was drifting away from her body. She had exhausted herself too much and needed to rest.

Carrie was alone in the dining-room secretly Googling baby clothes and their costs. When her brother walked past her she winked in admiration to the romance. Instantly he knew she had pulled something up in her room. He laid her on her bed and admired the stickers and posters of Why Don't We and, is that a bicycle? He opened her cupboard and piles and piles of black, white and grey clothes filled it. A new i-Phone 11  and a digital camera. Something was missing. He left her and drove back to the city after introducing Willy to Carrie. Perfect match.

After the little visit to the city he freshened up and took his laptop and phone to Olivia's room and sat right next to her on her fairy-tale bed. He put her hands around him and watched Netflix trailers after convincing himself not to watch Scandal without her. Olivia enjoyed watching Olivia Pope slay her way out the White House and her clients' destinations . And also because her name was said by the president out of love and appreciation.

A day passed. Willy was ecstatic. Carrie enjoyed teasing her brother each time he returned to the kitchen after failing to wake Olivia up to have her dinner, breakfast and lunch. He missed her. He had canceled plans with Kevin and his other friends just to watch her sleep and enjoy comedy specials to which Olivia grinned in her sleep each time he laughed playfully.

Toby's fear of not spending enough time with Olivia crept in. He was to leave the following morning and she was still asleep. This was his last night here. He was also freaking out because he thought she was dead for a second there. He could not take the anxiety anymore and tried to wake her up.

''Olivia!'' he called for the last time shaking her vigorously.

''Toby is that you?'' she finally opened her small eyes like a baby for the first time. He could not help but take a video and some photos of this moment. She was adorable.

''Love.''

''Toby.''

''I have a surprise for you downstairs. Get ready and see you then. I..I missed you.'' It was Olivia's first time waking up feeling like a loved and adored person. It was exhilarating and gave her goosebumps all together. Surprise? She squealed and jumped in excitement. She tried to gather her thoughts to recall the events that had taken place. A tear fell out onto her left cheek but brushed it off recalling her sister's name. She could feel that she had overslept again because of her fatigued body. I remember this smell.

''Lights out, check. Table for two, check. Grilled chicken and sandwiches, check. Tie, check. The gift? Fuck where is it!''

''Toby,'' called Olivia walking out in the dark confused whether it was a power cut or something else.

He switched on the fairy lights and heaven fell down in front of Olivia's eyes. They glowed magically glimmering in passion and strong emotion. It was beautiful it made Olivia cry a little bit. From the staircase were dozens and dozens of rose petals leading to the next set stage. Pictures of Toby and Olivia as a kid. Instantly she knew Jayden had something to do with this. He was the only person with access to her childhood pictures. Music played in the background. Olivia's favorite contemporary jazz music. It got her heart racing in suspense. Midst of all the glowing lights and balloons was a table and two chairs with a note.

''A note, classy move idiot,'' she laughed softly acknowledging how special she felt right now. Cheesy but something she would have never thought about her entire life.

It read;

Opening scene: The beautiful lady takes her seat.

She followed the request.

Second scene: She looks underneath the table for a hidden and lovely gift.

She could not control how happy and thrilled she was by his words and presentation. The weather was chill and all she could think about were Toby's whereabouts and his reason to all of this before her eyes. She pulled the cloth dressing the table upwards and carried the manuscript with her right hand to place it on the table. She perused through the first and second chapter and noticed it was her book. The first page was signed in Toby's name and she could not control her tears. It was done for her.

Last scene: (nothing on it)

''You still feel like an apple my love,'' he whispered in her ear sending shivers down her spine. His voice and the manly watery-spicy perfume swept her off her feet. He had completed the final scene.

''I don't know what to say,'' she confessed her eyes glittering to the emitted light.She literally could not speak.

''Surprisingly I have a lot to say tonight,'' he joked trying to loosen her up. She was nervous in that dress.

''That dress looks ravishing on you.'' What? It's just a long Hijab fashioned black dress and some slippers. Are you sure?

''You look very tall and handsome in that suit. Anything special?''

''You. God I am so in love with you. Are you blushing?'' they both laughed teasingly. She was blushing. She could not contain her nervous thrills. Beauty, joy and love all overwhelmed her especially when Toby could not take her eyes off her.

''I'm hungry,'' she did not know how to act or talk under such conditions. This was just too much but enough for her.

''You haven't had food for two days. Why wouldn't you be?''

He went to the kitchen a short distance away and came back carrying two plates and began serving his famous sandwich and grilled chicken also Olivia's favorite. They had their meal whilst enjoying a flowing conversation about her book and Toby's interests. She learnt two things about him that night. One he was an artist before the whole basketball facade. Two he was a gentlemen. His manners and conversation steering skills made their night even better.

''I have one more thing for you,'' he said after thirty minutes of Olivia's charming remarks on Toby's opinions and stood next to the table. They were enjoying themselves and were being who they wanted to be. Just two young adults trying to forget the world's bitterness.

''Olivia Khohliswa I am fully aware that we met a few weeks ago and I can't express my gratitude for the way you took care of my sister and l with such love and affection. I can't speak further more because I'm a man in love with an incredible young lady and I can't fully express what I feel. If I was able to then it would be that I loved you less.'' He rose from his chair and moved closer to Olivia and knelt on one knee in front of her and the stupid chair. Her tears betrayed her again and she gracefully allowed Toby to wipe them off.

''You deserve more than the stars and the moon for what you make me want to be. When you're close I turn back to the little boy in love because of that smile'' she smiles ''your hair and that birthmark on your thighs.'' She laughs gently at his embarrassment.

''When you're close love I can't take a second away from looking at you. Sorry for the long speech but it is all because I love you. I really do.'' He moved his hand to his side pocket and removed the most scintillating and well-cut classic diamond ring.

''Be my wife?''