By Mohau Khupa
This is a true love story. So glad you’re reading this. Two days before I meet Ashley, a brother of mine tells me about a video shoot for a song I would later have, that’s happening on February 14, 2021. He tells me that his friend, Ashley, is soliciting for a male model who will star alongside her in a music video shoot of her latest single. He thinks I’m the model Ashley is looking for, only she doesn’t know it yet, he tells me. I get an audio clip with a ‘forwarded’ tag on it and I’m quick to download and open it. It’s a young lady’s voice message, soliciting a model…preferably a gentleman who’s got class.
A couple of minutes later, Ashley has reached out and we’re having a conversation. I do not think anybody else could have better enlightened me. By the late afternoon of Saturday, February 13, we have made arrangements already. Sunday morning a little around 08:05AM, I meet Ashley – a light skin toned, petite and casually dressed young woman, waiting for me. Granted, she’s unlike anybody I’ve ever met. After brief salutations and teasing of how much I seem prepared, we set off for a taxi.
It feels good to connect with her over a 7KM ride to Ha Foso, Northeast of Maseru. Later I’m introduced to a videography team of three that we’re having on the set. They are young men – cheerful and energetic. By noon we are on the set; designing stunts, framing and reframing. On the set, it feels personal for Ashley and I. It feels more like our story – love at first. Hey brother, Ashley likes you a lot, a brother from the set observes. ‘It looks like you can have your way with her’.
Our last take felt even more personal. Ashley and I figured ‘twas best to have our most intimate shot last, without any direction from the team. When we had plunged barefoot, and played around with water for a moment, we met for a kiss, our first, shortest and best yet – sensational. Later, it would be an excuse to make out some more. I would go, ‘that’s not even a real kiss, we should take it from the top…’
Walking back, I could feel us holding hands. Ashley was asking me out. I liked her too…it was stellar – I was high for a moment there. I would later pull away from a little party we would have because we were getting a lot excited kissing and touching.
Sunday evening was reassuring. She knew I liked her but it could have been fleeting, so she wanted reassurance. ‘I don’t play around’ is what she got. I wasn’t going to pretend I didn’t like her. That would be playing games. Besides, we were a power couple. She called me ‘King’. I told her every king needs Queen Ashley sometimes.
