Chapter 5 Getting To know Kelvin - I Fell In Love With A Blind Man

Mike: You know you won't manage, stop being stubborn.

They kept on arguing and weren’t reaching any agreement.

Me: Just stop it!

They both kept quiet and I sighed. They were going on like two-year-olds.

Me: Take the night off, Mike. I'll take care of Kelvin.

Kelvin: There's no need to, I could just fly to my parent's house and I'll be fine.

Me: That's using money unnecessarily. I'll take care of you while he goes and gets laid.

Mike: I'm not a douchebag, I won't shag her on our first date.

Me: Trust me, the both of you look like players. You swing women left, right, and center.

The way they laughed, it was like they were remembering a lot, and I just left them there to be all buddy-buddy. I was lazy to go upstairs, so I texted Mike telling him I'm going home to pick up an overnight bag.

I got home, and Loveness was home too.

Me: Aren't you supposed to be at work, Loveness?

Loveness: We were dismissed early. Some inspection is going on, and I don't have any class today, so I'm sleeping all day.

Me: Well you'll sleep alone tonight, I have to stay over and take care of my boss.

Loveness: Where is he's right hand man?

Me: Taking the night off

Loveness: You do realize that your boss is blind

Me: Yes I'm fully aware of that

Loveness: Meaning you might have to bath him?

Me: Oh, I didn't think of that.

She laughed at me and continued sleeping while I was recalculating my decision and how I didn't even think this thoroughly. I'll just cross that bridge when I get to it. I drove back to his mansion and put my bag in the room I'm using. I waved at Mike to come here, so that Kelvin does not hear me. He looked confused and came to me.

Mike: What?

Me: I have a question

Mike: And that is?

Me: Do I have to bathe him?

Mike just decided to laugh at me and I felt so stupid.

Mike: No, he can do it himself. Wait, you think I bathe him everyday?

Me: I thought so

Mike: No, I only do that on his weak days.

Me: Weak days?

Mike: Yes, he has his days where he can't function. His entire body shuts down and he can't even stand.

Me: What happened to him?

Mike: It's not my place to tell

Me: I understand

Mike: Let me leave you guys to bond and get to know each other. If there's an emergency, don't hesitate to call me.

Me: Emergencies like?

Mike: Him falling and you can't pick him up, that's literally like the only emergency that could happen today.

Me: Got it.

Mike said his goodbyes and he left. Awkward.... I didn't even know what to do. Kelvin was busy with some papers, he was reading using his hands. It's a very rare thing to see, our world has improved highly and it has definitely became a place comfortable for every type of person. Blind people can read and write just like normal people.

Me: What do you do for a living Kelvin?

Kelvin: I sit in the house all day

Me: Really now? Sarcasm is not for you

Kelvin: I'm a businessman, that you should know. I own a restaurant, multi-million construction company and a few taxis my father gave me.

Me: Interesting

Kelvin: I feel like you have more questions

Me: I do

Kelvin: Ask

Me: Who handles all these businesses for you?

Kelvin: I do, with Mike's help too.

Me: How long have you known Mike

Kelvin: 30 years

Me: How old are you?

Kelvin: 35

Me: Interesting

Kelvin: You may continue

Me: Do you know what Mike looks like?

Kelvin: I do know how he looked like when we were 5 years old. The question you wanted to ask was if I was born blind?

Me: Yes

Kelvin: No, I wasn't.

Me: So you got blind when you were 5 years old?

Kelvin: I couldn't completely see when I was 6.

Me: What happened?

Kelvin: That's a story for another day.

Me: Okay.

Kelvin: I can open my eyes but I won't be able to see you.

He put the papers aside and I stepped closer.

Kelvin: Take off my glasses

Me: I always thought you just wear shades, well that was before I knew you were blind.

Kelvin: You're an interesting character

I took off his glasses and sat next to him. He slowly opened his eyes and they were wet, they had those dirty things you have when you have a pink eye, the slimy stuff. I don't know what they're called yet I did do life sciences at school.

Me: Let me clean your eyes

He nodded and I ran to get a wet towel and cleaned his eyes. He sat so quietly and so still, it was like he was in deep thoughts. He caressed my arms and laughed.

Me: What?

Kelvin: You're a monkey, your arms are hairy.

Me:

(giggles) I'm not a monkey.

Kelvin: Whatever makes you sleep at night.

Me: I'm done. Are you hungry?

Kelvin: Yes I am but don't cook,

just order something.

Me: I don't mind cooking

Kelvin: This is your day off from

cooking

Me: Okay fine.

Kelvin: So tell me, what do you

enjoy doing?

Me: Reading, watching movies and

sleeping.

Kelvin: That's it?

Me: Yeah thats it

Kelvin: You don't go jogging,

hiking, swimming, partying?

Me: No. I'm a very lazy person so

I don't engage in any activity

that requires me to be active and

energetic

Kelvin: That means you're a

virgin

Me: What?

Kelvin: Sex requires you to be

active and energetic so you said

you don't engage on such

activities so it means you're a

virgin.

Me: Well I'm not.

Kelvin: Let me ask again, what

do you enjoy doing Nosipho?

Me: Reading, watching movies and

sleeping.

Kelvin: And having sex.

I laughed at him and ordered

pizza and ribs.

Kelvin: Sadly, I can't watch

movies with you, I can just listen.

I can't play a game with you

cause I can't see so I guess we'll

just sit and talk for the rest of

the afternoon

Me: I'm fine with that.

Kelvin: So you're 25

Me: Yes I am

Kelvin: No child?

Me: No

Kelvin: Want one?

Me: Yes and do you have a child?

Kelvin: No and I don't want one

Me: Why?

Kelvin: Whats the use of having a child whom I'll never even be able to see and its highly possible that, that child will be blind too.

I wouldnt want my very own child

to go through this life. Its no

fun.

Me: I understand, so it means you

don't want a wife?

Kelvin: No, I'm fine with just

having bootycalls cause I don't

have to see them. Once I'm done,

we go our separate ways.

Me: You don't have a girlfriend?

Kelvin: No

Me: Okay.

Silence...

And then I drop the mug I was

carrying.

Kelvin: Shantel, you're always

dropping things.

Me: I'm clumsy.

Kelvin: One would swear you're

doing it on purpose.

Me: My hands just shake for no

reason and I drop things.

Kelvin: You need to learn how to

relax.

Me: Have you ever been inlove

before?

Kelvin: No. The only love I know

is the one I get from my parents,

my siblings and Mike. Put my glasses back on, my eyes hurt.