Jabulani Arrives in London

After kissing and saying goodbye to Avianna, Dr. Klein let himself out of the house and went down the short flight of steps to where his car was parked. It was about five minutes after seven in the evening. He was on his way to pick Jabulani up from Heathrow.

Excitement filled him. It had been weeks since he last saw her in Johannesburg. He couldn’t wait to take her in his arms and hold her tightly.

He hoped that she would like the flat he had rented for her. Yesterday, he had stocked it with food and drink and other things she would need. It was in a nice, quiet area and within walking distance to the university.

He climbed into his car and drove off. It was a cold but clear evening. He turned on the radio so that classical music played softly in the background. It occurred to him that he hadn’t told Avianna about the flat. She would ask a lot of questions. She would wonder why Jabulani couldn’t live on campus or share a flat with another student or stay with a host family. What reason could he give for putting the girl up in a flat? Avianna couldn’t know that he had done it so that he could visit Jabulani regularly and they could continue their affair.

He couldn’t wait to show Jabulani around London. They would go to the usual tourist attractions, of course and perhaps a drive into the countryside. It was lovely at this time of the year. And he was sure that she would be up for going to a concert. London was always full of music venues. He was sure that Avianna wouldn’t mind him spending so much time with Jabulani. Avianna was very trusting. There were times when he felt like a complete heel and despised himself for what he was doing but he couldn’t help how he felt about Jabulani. He knew that what he was doing was wrong but, he couldn’t bring himself to end the affair nor did he want to.

Last week the church sermon had been about Adultery in the Heart. He could hear the minister as he repeated Jesus’ words, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” He wondered if the guilt he was feeling inside was evident on his face which had felt suddenly very hot. He shot a sideways glance at Avianna but she was looking straight ahead.

It was tough going to church, knowing that he was breaking one of the Ten Commandments. He still read His Bible but stuck to the Psalms. He prayed but for not for God’s forgiveness or for Him to help him to stop sinning. This was a cherished sin. He wanted to hold on to it. He wanted Jabulani more than anything else in the entire world and he wasn’t going to give her up for anything or anyone.

Jabulani gazed out of the window, her heart pounding with excitement. They were going to touch down shortly. She couldn’t wait for the plane to touch down and to disembark. Was Max at the airport waiting for her? She hadn’t been able to sleep a wink because she was so anxious to see him. The flight had seemed never-ending. Eleven hours had seemed like an eternity. She had tried to pass the hours by reading the book she had bought from a second hand store but half way through the fourth chapter, she couldn’t seem to get past the words, The crooked painting winked.

Since leaving Johannesburg, she had thought of nothing or no one else except Max. After saying goodbye to her parents at the airport, she had been impatient to embark on her long flight to England. She had promised them that she would call them as soon as possible to let them know that she had arrived safely. They were very grateful to Max for sponsoring her and couldn’t help marveling about how decent he was to have such an invested interest in their daughter’s education. If they only knew that Max and she were lovers…

The plane touched down and taxied down the runway. Everything seemed to be taking long, she thought. Finally, she was through baggage claims and making her way to where she hoped to see Max. And there he was, looking very handsome in his leather jacket and jeans. He smiled and waved at her and she hurried towards him, her eyes dancing with delight and excitement. “Hello,” Max said when she reached him. “Welcome to London.”

She beamed up at him. “Hello. Thank you.”

His eyes were restless on her face. “I’m so happy to see you, Jabulani.”

“I’m very happy to see you too, Max.” How she wished she could hug and kiss him. She would have to wait until they were alone.

How he longed to take her in his arms and kiss her but that would have to wait until they got to the flat. “Let me carry that,” he said, taking the portmanteau from her.

“Thank you.”

“Let’s go.” He led the way to the elevators which they took to the underground parking. She followed him to his car and after he stowed the luggage in the trunk, he opened the door for her. Their eyes met as she passed him and got into the car.

As soon as he got in the car, he turned so that he was facing her and leaning over, he kissed her. Jabulani reached up and gripped the hair at the nape of his neck as she responded eagerly to his passionate kisses. “I’ve been dreaming of this moment for a long, long time,” she murmured breathlessly when he broke off the kiss several minutes later.

“So have I,” he replied huskily. “Let’s go.” Reluctantly, he released her and turned in his seat to start the engine. Jabulani fastened her seat belt. They drove out of the parking lot and into the night.

Jabulani stared out of the window, her eyes wide as they beheld the bright lights of the city. London looked just as it had looked in the movies and in magazines and on the Internet. She couldn’t wait to explore it. It must be lovely in the spring and summer. She wondered where Max lived and if it was far from the flat where he was taking her. “I’m so excited to be here,” she told him.

“I can tell,” he said with a smile.

“It’s so different from Johannesburg. The sun sets earlier here.”

“Yes, it does.”

“And London is bigger than Johannesburg.”

“Yes, it is.”

“I want to see as much of London as possible.”

“I’ll take you sightseeing.”

“I was hoping that you would,” she said, glancing at him. “Your wife wouldn’t mind, would she?”

“No, she wouldn’t.”

“Is the house where you and she live far from the flat where I’m going to live?”

“It’s about a half hour drive.”

“That’s good. I was worried that it would be far and that we wouldn’t be able to see much of each other.”

“We probably wouldn’t be able to see each other during the week because of your classes.”

“What about in the evenings and on the weekends?”

“We’ll figure out an arrangement which will work for both of us.”

“All right.” She had to be content with that, after all he was married. He couldn’t neglect spending time with his wife and besides, he recently started working three days a week at a private clinic.

“So, did you have a good flight?”

“It was fine but very long. I couldn’t sleep because I was so excited. I tried reading but I couldn’t concentrate. I couldn’t wait to see you, Max.”

He reached out and gently squeezed her hand. “I couldn’t wait to see you either,” he replied quietly. It felt really good to have her there in London. Now, they could see more of each other.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the apartment building and after parking the car, he removed her luggage and they headed towards the back entrance. He opened the door and they went inside. They went to the bank of elevators and one immediately came. They went up to the fifth floor. Jabulani followed him down the corridor until he stopped in front of the last door on the right. He opened it and she went inside.

He closed the door behind him and after they removed their shoes, he carried the luggage into the bedroom and set it down beside the bed. Then, he joined her in the living-room. He watched as she looked around her, left the living-room, went into the kitchen and into the bedroom, the bathroom before returning to the living-room.

It was a really nice, cozy place. And when she looked out of the window, she could see the twinkling lights of the city in the distance and it was quiet. She couldn’t hear the traffic below.

“Do you like it?” he asked.

She turned and faced him, her face breaking into a big smile. “I love it,” she exclaimed. “Thank you.”

He was relieved to hear that. “You’re welcome.”

“Do you have to leave now or can you stay for a while?” she asked, no longer smiling.

He walked over to her and his eyes darkened as they met hers. “I’ll stay for as long as you want me to…” he murmured huskily. His hands went up to cup her face between them.

She put her arms around his waist. “What if I want you to stay forever?”

“Maybe, one of these days, I will never leave…” Then, his mouth was on hers, plundering it hungrily.

Source: University of London