Zwi a Penga
Insert 41
Me:" Thank you" I took out a box of necklace that I bought for her and =handed it over
Me:"here" she opened it and opened her mouth wide in shock. She didn't say anything but she just hugged me again.
Tshili:"thank you babe, you are the best"
Me:"no you are the best" she kissed me
Me:"are we done here?"
Tshili:"yep but we can relax and dance to our song"
Me:"i also have a surprise for you"
Tshili:"what?" Her face lit up
Me:"babe i am a man of plans, you didn't think i didn't plan anything for our anniversary did you?"
Tshili:"i....i just…"
Me:"you just nothing, come with me" I carried her on my back and took her to our room. We got there and I took out a box of the second present that I got her. Damn I was a bit nervous; I was not sure how she was going to react to this one. We sat on the bed and she excitedly opened the box. She gave me a frightened slash horrified look
Tshili:"you are kidding right?" she was shaking
Me:"no.....not really" she threw the box at me and ran to the bathroom.
Me:"wooow that went well” I said while following behind her
Me:"babbbyyy" i shouted
Me:”babe please open the door” and she kept quiet
Me:”nana please” still nothing
Me:”Tshililo open the damn door” and then she opened
Tshili:”how can you give me that as a present?”
Me:”babe it’s not a big deal”
Tshili:”big deal! Do you have any idea what a big of a deal that is to me huh?” she lashes out at me
Me:”owk nana sorry…I thought that since I might be going away then you should own one…it’s just a gun” yohhh the look she gave me neh?
Tshili:”just a gun? Did you just say just a gun? That’s not just a gun Thembuluwo, that’s a damn killing-people machine, that thing kills people, like it just kills you….how do you buy me something like that?” I walked to her and took her hands
Tshili:” let me go” I did as she said
Me:”the fact that it kills people is the reason why I got it for you”
Tshili:”what?”
Me:”I want to know that you are safe when I am in there, babe it’s not like it automatically just shoots at anyone”
Tshili:” that’s the problem, I don’t want to touch it, period…I can’t shoot and I have no intensions of learning so please”
Me:” my love it’s not that bad…trust me I wouldn’t have got you a gun if you were not going to need it”
Tshili:”why would I need it?”
Me:” I am a criminal Tshili so everything is possible. What if something happens and Xolani is not there to protect you huh? You need to be able to protect yourself and our son” she looked at me and then on the floor
Tshili:”I am scared of guns” she mumbled
Me:”I know but you need to own one”
Tshili:”I can’t even shoot”
Me:” but are you willing to take it?”
Tshili:” I am scared”
Me:” come here” she got to me and I hugged her.
We walked back to the bed. I told her that it was a legal firearm and was under Xolani’s names because he has businesses. I asked her to touch it but she didn’t want to. I removed the bullets and gave it to her. She took it and took a good look at it. After that I told her about phase two of my present. I was going to teach her how to shoot. She looked at me and laughed when i mentioned that to her. She looked happy and that was a relief…I thought she wasn’t going to agree. So I had bought us leather outfits to go with the bike that I had hired for a day. I didn’t have a licence for a bike but all that a man need in this country is how to ride a bike. And an hour lesson that I did that morning was enough for me to operate the whole thing. Hopefully I wasn’t going to crush. So we changed into leather pants, tops, jackets and hand gloves. Dammit we looked good together…we also wore some boots to go along with our outfit.
We then walked to the parking and found the owner of the bike waiting for me. We exchanged keys and I had already paid him in the morning. He told me to contact him as soon as I was done. I agreed and he walked away
Tshili:”babe a bike?”
Me:”I have always wanted to be on a bike bbe….and now that my free time is very limited, I need to do this now, with you” Tshililo smiled
Tshili:”bbe you are really pushing it today…first it was the gun and now this?”
Me:”let’s have fun bbe, adrenalin rush nyana please, we won’t crush”
Tshili:”can I trust you?”
Me:”completely” she looked at me and laughed
Tshili:” if we crush Thembuluwo I am will be the one to shoot you” that was a killer joke…I laughed. We then rode to the shooting range where we had fun together. Tshililo was a fast learner, it didn’t take her long to be able to aim…it was as if she was born for this life…like she was born to be mine and to live this life with me. I was proud of her, I really was.
After the shooting range we decided to hit the club. We were busy clubbing when my phone rang. I checked the caller and it was Bee. Tshililo didn’t want me to answer but I told her that it might be important. So I walked out to answer and she followed me
Me:”hello”
Bee:”uhhhh V Boy where the hell are you? I am at your house and no one is answering”
Me:”uhm Bee what are you doing in my house?”
Tshili:” what is she doing in our house?” I put my index finger on my mouth signalling for her to keep quiet
Bee:”I just asked you a damn question V Boy…where the F*** are you?” now she was talking like Barbie the boss
Me:”Durban”
Bee:”oww s***, s***, s***”
Me:”Bee what’s happening?” I was now pacing up and down
Bee:”where is your wife?”
Me:”here with me”
Bee:”your son?”
Me:”uhm with the nanny…Bee what’s going on?”
Tshili:”what’s going on?” she whispered
Me:”Tshililo shut up ok…Bee what is going on?”
Bee:”go back to your child right now and get on the next flight back”
Me:”I don’t understand”
Bee:”now it’s not the time for you to understand, just get to your son NOW!!” I dropped the call
Me:”babe where is the baby?”
Tshili:”with the nanny, I booked her a room because I didn’t want her to interrupt us, I got her from the agency”
Thembu:”damn it” I walked to the bike and Tshililo followed me
Tshili:”Thembuluwo what’s wrong with the baby?”
Me:”Bee just said that we need to go to him…I think something is wrong babe, maybe someone followed us”
We quickly went to the hotel. We got there and ran to the room that Tshililo booked for our nanny. Thank God our baby was still there and he looked fine. Yohh we took a sigh of relief and smiled. We took the baby and paid the nanny, we told her that we were not going to need her services any longer. We paid her enough for the week and told her that she could use her room for a week because it was already booked for her. We then walked to our room. We got there and I called Bee immediately
Bee:”V Boy”
Me:”my son is safe…tell me what’s happening”
Bee:”I am sorry V Boy”
Me:”for what?”
Bee:”there is a guy…the one who was my boss when I was still a….you know, when I was still abroad….he sort of like wanted me to come back and work for him but I refused and he didn’t have the power to get to me because….well I am Bee you know…most men are kinda scared of me so he couldn’t really get to me”
Me:”ok what does all of that has anything to do with me”
Bee:”he always needed something he can use against me, more like a leverage you know” ok I felt my head spinning, what was Bee telling me now? Wh…what?
Me:”Bee are you saying what I think you are saying?”
Bee:”I am sorry”
Me:”I am nothing to you, why would he come after me?”
Bee:”I have been a bit close to you lately…you are the only person I was ever seen in public with, laughing and all that…I think someone spotted us in Cape Town and you were seen coming in and out of my house by yourself without the other guys….they might have thought..."
Me:”thought what?”
Bee:”that we are having an affair or something like that” and just then I heard a knock on the door. I kept quiet and looked at Tshili who casually walked to the door; I ran to her and signalled for her to keep quiet
Me:”someone is at the door?” I whispered, I signalled for Tshililo to walk back. She walked back and took the baby in her arms…she was now scared
Bee:”dear lord….Thembu do not open that door”
Me:”let me call the reception” I whispered and dropped the call.
I dialled the reception while walking to the door. I looked through the key hole and damn, what I saw was some scary s***…I saw guys with big guns.
“Hello” the reception lady answered”
Me:”please call security to suite number 25 please, call the police in the meantime…there are guys with guns on my door
Lady:”guns?”
Me:”damn it man…that’s what I said, guns” I hit my head realising that I shouted enough for the guys out the door to hear me. I put the phone back in my pocket and walked to my wife. I took her hand and walked her to the balcony
Tshili:”what’s going on babe?” her eyes were teary
Me: “some guy want me dead I think…stay here, I am coming” I was seriously scared
Tshili:”No Thembuluwo I-“
Me:”shhh babe…I am a man and this is all my fault…or rather Barbie’s fault”
Tshili:”what does Barbie has-“
Me:”please I need to focus on making sure that we make it out alive”
I closed the sliding door and left her outside. I took out a gun that I bought for Tshililo and put the bullets back in. I walked to the jean I was wearing yesterday and took out another gun. The guys were now banging on the door and then I heard few gun shots and then the bang again. My guess was that the security guys were the ones who got shot because they were still banging at my door. I walked out to the balcony. I stood there looking at Tshililo and my son…Tshililo was now crying. I called Barbie immediately
Me:”Bonita how did you know I was in trouble?”
Bee:”I received a photo of your son with some strange woman” I closed my eyes and said a little prayer
Me:”do you think Svig is in on it?”
Bee:”nope, I know who is after you, Svig has nothing to do with it…Svig just want you arrested for now”
Me:” if I lose my family…" I said it like it hurt
Me:"if i lose my family and I make it out alive I promise you Bee, I will kill you first and then kill myself” I dropped the call and looked at Tshililo who was shivering in fear
Me:”babe we need to get out of here” she looked at me with a confused look.
Me:”we only have few minutes to get out of here”
Tshili:”Thembuluwo how are we going to do that?”
Me:” we need to come up with a plan” I looked down and I saw the balcony for the room below mine…it was a bit far.
Me:” we don’t have another plan Tshililo, you need to close your eyes and jump out of here”
Tshili:”what?”
Me:”babe please we don’t have time. The guys out the door are not here to play…they mean business and their business is to kill us”
Tshili:”but babe do you think I’ll be able to do it?” tears were all over her face. I walked to her and cupped her face
Me:”Tshililo I know it’s not easy but we have to do it…if not then we will all get killed, please my love I know how strong you are, do this for our son…it’s worth the risk come here” I took our son and she looked out the balcony
Tshili:”I love you” she said in between the sobs
Me:”I love you too babe, I am so sorry”
Tshili:”so how do I do this?” I put the baby on the floor; this was no time to play.
Me:”baby you are going to sit here on the railing and then hold up here facing me and then reach for the bottom steel thingy and hold on to it. I think if you are holding the bottom part of the railing then your feet should be able to at least reach the balcony for the following room. When you are sure that you will make it into the balcony of the room below us then let go of the railing and let yourself fall and jump inside the balcony. I know you might get injured but its much better than what these guys can do to you. If the room is occupied ask for help and then I will try get the baby to you” The banging was getting too persistent by now.
Me:”baby please make it quick”
I took our son and waited for her to do what I asked. She came to me and kissed me. She did everything as I instructed and she made it on another room. I heard people screaming down there, probably the people in the room wondering what was going on. After a minute or so, I looked down and saw Tshililo looking up at me with a white woman. They had a big towel with them and they each stretched it and held it open. I looked at my son and hesitated.
Tshili:”Thembuluwo please, he won’t fall down”
Woman:”don’t worry we will catch him”
I threw my son at them and I took a sigh of relief when I realised that my family was now safe. I threw one gun at Tshililo and put another one on my waist.
I heard one last big bang on the door and a gunshot and then the door shot open. I felt like I was watching a movie. I was about to reach for my gun when multiple of guns pointed at me. I knew for a fact that this was surely the end of me. I climbed on the railing quickly and then something very hot penetrated my hips, gawwwwd I felt a very sharp pain and I almost fell; I couldn’t understand what that was. I let go of the balcony and jumped to the next one. I held on to it with my legs still hanging in the air and looked at Tshililo who looked horrified with my son in her arms. She shouted for me to be quick, she was crying
Me:”stay inside and hide somewhere, get away from the bal-” I couldn’t finish because a second penetration stung on my shoulder. I involuntarily let go of the balcony because of the force that came with the object that stung me and I fell to the ground.
Zwi a Penga
Insert 42
The room I fell from was on the second floor. Yohhh the pain I was suffering from was unbearable, I struggled to get up because of the way I fell and that’s when I realised that I was actually shot. I was in so much pain, I was trying to get up when the3rd one almost hit me on my face but instead it just scratched me on my cheek and I heard its whistling sound that carried with it death. I quickly got up and ran...i had no idea where I was going but I was scared for my wife, what if they come back for her? I had the car keys on my leather jacket so I ran to the car, got inside and started it. I immediately called Tshililo. I wanted to hear if she was safe and she told me that she was fine. i told her to stay put and that I’ll try my best to keep myself safe. Xolani then called me and asked me if I was safe. I told him I was and Tshililo was also safe in the hotel. He said they have hired a private jet and were on their way to Durban as we speak. He asked me to go to the Police station in the mean time because hospital wasn’t safe…I was bleeding and in pain but I couldn’t possibly go to the hospital…I ended the call with Xolani and stepped on the accelerator. I took my phone and navigated to the Police Station. The guys were behind me. I then got to the police station and quickly got out of the car and ran to the building. I got to the help desk and fell to the floor and then I saw darkness.
TSHILILO
I was still in the suite of the woman who helped me. I was stressed out. It’s been four hours since I heard anything from Thembu. The woman and her husband were sleeping along with my son but I couldn’t sleep. The cops came and took statements from both of us…all I said was that it was a robbery; I had nothing else to say. The hotel manager tried to give me another room but I begged the woman who helped me saying that I wanted to stay with her until my husband comes back, I felt safer knowing that I was with other people and not alone. The time was somewhere around one or two in the morning when I received a call from Xolani telling me that he was down at the reception…I was shocked by that. I quickly thanked the woman and her husband and also exchanged contact details with them and then walked out to the reception. I got to Xolani and cried in his arms. He looked so worried. I asked him about Thembu and he said that Thembuluwo was in hospital and was fine…he said that he was shot twice. We immediately left for the hospital I was so worried and I wanted to see him myself. I asked Xolani about the people who were after us and he said that it was all because of Bee…yep the people were actually after Bonita and they thought that hurting Thembuluwo would actually get her attention. I couldn’t believe that our lives were in danger because of someone else.
We got to the ward and I was shocked to see Gerrit, Javas and Bee sitting there. I was shocked to see them because Xolani never told me that they were there. I looked at Bonita and something took over my sense of reasoning and sense of thinking…all I felt was anger and within split second I walked to her and hit her on the face
Me:”you coloured gangster b***” I said just after the hot clap I gave her
She didn’t move or anything like that, she just gave me the ‘you’ve got to me kidding me look’ iyohh she was giving it to the wrong person because I just didn’t care. I think everyone was shocked at what just happened because nobody moved or say anything. I grabbed her by the collar of her shirt and tried to shake her but damn man, that girl didn’t move an inch
Me:”if ever….and I repeat Bee if ever Thembu dies, I will surely kill you, you can count on that” she grabbed both my hands and looked me dead in the eyes…I felt like a man was holding my hands, her grip was very tight and it hurt
Bee:”just because your husband is in a hospital bed and he is a good friend of mine, I will let this slide but believe me b***, I can squeeze you up into a ball…don’t test me” and then she walked out.
Javas:”wow”
Gerrit:”hello ma’am” Gerrit smiled at me, I gave them a death stare
Me:”hi” ok I know I was acting like a dworse….but damn my man was lying in a hospital bed because of someone else
Me:”I wanna see him”
X:”guys were you allowed in?”
Javas:”yeah…you can ask the doctor over there”
THEMBULUWO
So I woke up in a hospital bed with Nurses fussing over me. I was as confused as F*** and I had no idea what was happening and then in a split second my memory came back and I started stressing about Tshililo. I asked about my wife while I was in a panic mode and they told me that she was waiting outside with my brothers…I got confused when they mentioned brothers, I had no idea what they were talking about.
After the Nurses and the Doctors had checked me up and told me that I could go home I was allowed to see my wife. Yeah they managed to take out the bullets, treated me and bandaged the bullets wounds so there was no need for me to stay longer at the hospital. They said I was gonna have to use crunches to walk. Tshililo walked in and I was so happy to see her. I thought about everything we’ve been through and I was glad that she was fine. We talked about how we were both scared of losing each other and how much we meant to each other. She also told me about Xolani and my colleagues who were waiting outside. I was glad that they were here for me. The police came in to question us when Tshililo was with me. I told them that we got hijacked and the whole thing was just a hijacking gone wrong. I told them about how Tshili and I got out of the room and how I ran away and went to the police station…they thanked us and said that they were going to work hard to get the hijackers…they then said goodbye and left us. I spent few minutes with Tshililo and then she walked out. Bonita walked in as soon as Tshililo left
Me:”get out”
Bee:”Thembu we-“
Me:”I said get the hell out Bee”
Bee:”I am still your f***ng boss ok? You still can’t tell me s*** V Boy, don’t try and act like that with me ok? Do you think I wanted this? Do you think I didn’t care at all? How do you think this makes me feel huh? You sleeping here knowing that it’s my damn fault? I f***ng love you ok?” I looked at her, I horrified by the last statement
Bee:”I do” her eyes were teary and then she turned around and walked out.
“Did Bee just confessed to loving you?” Xolani said as he was standing at the door…I closed my eyes in fear
X:”Thembu I just asked you a question?” I opened my eyes and looked at him…he was smiling
Me:”I don’t know bro”
X:”what do you mean you don’t know, you heard what she said”
Me:”just leave it ok?”
X:”how can you tell me to just leave it, we are talking about Bee here, the boss lady….huh uh lemme rephrase that, the gangster lady, bro I am telling you if you decide to take her as a second wife neh? I wouldn’t blame you, in fact I would even volunteer to talk to Tshililo for you”
Me:”X are you insane?”
X:”I am Serious Thembu, Bee is one of those hot sexy tough kinda women, dammn imagine bonking that? ok if you are having it with her neh….i am encouraging you to do it bro, this is not just a girl, this is the woman that is worth risking everything for….damn Thembu I wish I were you” I looked at him and shook my head
X:’I am serious…so have you?” he said showing me what he means with his head
X:”you know what I mean”
Me:”dammit Xolani get that idea outta ya head ok? I am not dating her and I haven’t done anything with her, I was as shocked as you were and I think she meant that she loved me as a friend, we are friends mus”
X:”ahg Thembu you are smarter than that, she was serious, she almost cried…if she offer herself will you say no?” I looked at him and laughed
Me:”tsek Xolani” he also laughed
X:”you wouldn’t say no bro”
Me:”Bee is not the type of a woman you cheat with, especially now that she said she loves me…what happens when she wants me for herself? She is not the kind you can just hit and run, nope that girl can kill my wife and my child bro….she is that heartless”
X:”can she actually do that?”
Me:”she is a gangster boss what do you think?”
X:”yeah you are right….anyway the guys who were shooting you and all that, we dealt with them”
Me:”you did?”
X:”yep the Bee team was in action”
Me:”that’s great news”
X:”yep Javas went to get you some clothes here at the mall and Gerrit is with the baby” I looked at him wide-eyed
Me:”Gerrit with my baby? Can he even hold a baby?”
X:”of course he can”
So I talked to Xolani for a while and then Tshililo dealt with the paper works for me to be discharged. We were walking out of the ward after I had changed when Xolani told me that my parents were here. I was shocked at that…I thought they didn’t care anymore but Xolani called them last night and they took the first flight to Durban. We found my parents waiting for us at the reception. My mom was sad as usual and my dad was trying to be strong. So they were pissed as well saying that I got myself into trouble because of the drugs. Anyway they said I was going home with them…home being Venda. I couldn’t argue with that, I think I needed to be home until the trial so my colleagues got to meet my parents and we let them in on the fact that I was going to be in Venda until my trial. We were about to leave when I asked to speak to Bee in private. We went to a corner far away from everyone else.
Bee:”so you are going home huh?” she was standing with her back against the wall with her one foot on the wall and another one on the floor
Me:”yeah I am”
Bee:”you said you wanna talk”
Me:”uhm when you said you loved me…you meant as a friend right?” to be honest with you I was scared to even ask because I wanted the answer to be yes, she looked at me and frowned
Bee:”nope” uhm I went quiet, I didn’t know what to say, Bee was in love with me, as in really in love
Bee:”don’t give me that look V Boy, I ain’tgonna take you away from your wife although I wish I could but I ain’t gonna do it owk?” I took a sigh of relief
Me:”that’s a relief”
Bee:”I have never loved someone before, I have never cared about anyone the way I do about you in fact I didn’t care about anyone at all, you kill the heartless woman in me and you bring out this caring girl I didn’t know existed but don’t worry I love you enough to accept what and who makes you happy, I know she does”
Me:”thanks” ok my heart was racing. Don’t get me wrong but I couldn’t help but wonder how Bonita was in bed. She looked like the type who can go 50 shades on you…the thought of her in bed with me wasn’t really a pretty picture
Bee:”but one day V Boy, I want to make love to you, I just want to do it with someone I love, just one day” she gave me a cocky smile, the kinda smile I’d never seen in her before
Me:”and the gangster boss just flirt with her employee”
Bee:”don’t flatter yourself, it’s gonna be my call….don’t worry though, I will stay away from you but I still need you as a friend”
Me:”I gotta go” I was smiling
Bee: “farewell” she gave me that smile again
So my family and I left the hospital and went back to the hotel where we were going to get the rest of our stuff. My parents were going on and on about how bad this life was. They asked how we got into it in the first place and Xolani explained what drove him into it and how he introduced the life to me after I told him my problem. He said that if he knew then that I was his brother he would have just given me the money. My dad got pissed and told Xolani how could he be a fool and decide to sell drugs for a living…that’s when Xolani got pissed and told my dad that it was his fault…that if he was a better father we would all be safe…my dad tried to hit Xolani but he told him not to even try because he will fight him right there and then. The shouting and the disagreements went on for a while until my mom asked how we can get out of the drug life….we told her that there was no getting out. We even told her about my trial and how I was facing possibilities of a long jail time…my mom cried.
So we boarded the flight to Joburg later that afternoon and then drove back home. we got home quite late and we asked my parents to move back in the house and they said they’ll do it tomorrow…they didn’t want to but I told them that I might be going away for a long time so we had to make the most of the time I still had…we had to spend more time together as a family.
So we stayed home for few weeks up until a weekend before my trial starts on a Monday. The stay at home was great. I spent time with my parents and my siblings and my wife plus Xolani. Xolani was having the time of his life and he was getting along very well with Khathu, sometimes I was even jealous of their friendship. So the bottom line is that we had a great time and I was glad that my last days as a free man were this memorable. Tshililo was happy to be home. We even went to her mom’s a few times. I was well now and there was no trace of an accident. It was Thursday when my parents, Xolani, Tshililo and myself went back to George. Xolani was also allowed a holiday at work because there wasn’t much to do…everyone was lying low, Svig didn’t want to risk anyone getting caught because the police were obviously watching us. The trial was starting on a Monday and I was nervous.
Zwi a Penga
Insert 43
We got home in George and everyone was happy to be there. We chilled a bit and then I decided to go check on Bee. I told Tshililo where I was going and she was fine with it.
Bee:”you look better” she said after the hug I gave her when she opened the door for me
Me:”yeah I am better, how have you been?”
Bee:”I have been good, I got in contact with my sister, I don’t wanna meet her yet because of what happened to you, I don’t want the same thing happening to her too”
Me:”I see, you have pics of her?”
Bee:”yep” she smiled shame
Me:”how does it feel though?” we sat on the sofa
Bee:”honestly I don’t know Thembu, it’s a new thing for me, I don’t even know if I will be able to be someone’s sister”
Me:”you were able to be my friend, I am sure you can be a good sister to her too”
Bee:”I don’t wanna talk about me, I am happy to see you” I just gave her the look….yep I mean thee look
Bee:”I don’t mean in that manner please, remove that thought outta ya mind, what the hell is wrong with you?” she was laughing
Me:”that’s such a relief”
Bee:”I know, so how are you really?” I looked at her
Me “I am scared”
Bee:”I can imagine”
Me:”I am scared of leaving my wife all alone you know, my child growing up without me, just being in there scares the s*** out of me”
Bee:”come here” she gave me another hug
Me:”I am sorry but you are the only person I can really talk to….i am trying to be strong at home, I don’t want anyone to see how scared I am but the honest truth is that I am scared Bee”
Bee:”I am sorry V Boy, I wish I can do something, but I tried and it’s not every day that a person gets their way”
Me:”I understand, do you think the guys who were after me the last time can still-“
Bee:”don’t worry about them, Svig and I dealt with them…Svig sort of like warned my boss not to mess with his team”
Me:”Svig did that?”
Bee:”the child is his and plus Thembu you are still part of his team, when Svig do these things, he is doing them for himself so that everyone can know that they can’t mess with him” I was happy with the fact that the child was not mine
Me:”wow I can’t tell you how relieved I am right now”
Bee:”I know” she looked at me and smiled
Me:”I am meeting our lawyers with Sticks tomorrow, I will let you know how it goes”
Bee:”hopefully all will go well” I chilled with her a little bit and then got ready to leave
Me:”since you say the guys have been dealt with, why don’t you see your sister?”
Bee:”I am just scared” we were now standing at the door because I was about to leave
Me:”scared?”
Bee:”you won’t understand Thembu, I will tell you some other time”
Me:”ok”
Bee:”give me one last hug” I hugged her.
Bee:”you have no idea what seeing you like this does to me, it does things to me that I don’t understand Thembu, you make me so weak and at the same time so happy for no damn reason….i think this is what they call love…i…I feel like holding you like this for eternity…..damn it gosh just go home Thembu” we broke the hug and she looked at me, oww damn she had tears
Me:”Bonita”
Bee:”just go….i love you” ok I just stood there and looked at her, she was hot yes, but I didn’t love her in that way, I knew that for sure and I better leave before something happens
Me:”are you gonna be fine though?”
Bee:”I got a chance to see you today so yep I will be more than fine” I looked at her one last time and waved my hand.
So the trial finally arrived and the first day in court wasn’t so pleasant. Sticks and I kinda got fried in that court room and it was ugly. After the trial I was upset and scared. Xolani suggested going clubbing to get my mind off things but I lashed out at him…how do I think of drinking when my life was hanging by a thread. I sat in the bedroom with my wife. I’d been in court for one day only and I was already losing hope
Me:” do you really love me?” I said that after a long hug we shared as she was trying to make me feel better
Tshili:” my love for you is real Thembuluwo, haven’t you seen that? I supported you from the very first time you told me that you were dealing drugs…yes I was a bit shaken at the time but I came around and supported you because my love for you was bigger than dealing drugs. I found out you…uhm killed someone but I still didn’t run Thembu, I stayed with you. We fought a lot but did I leave you? No….we had dealt with Sharon and Teressa and gosh Thembu I still stayed. We jumped off a balcony in Durban, I could have left because our son’s life was in danger but like hell I didn’t…..i have had sleepless nights, wondering if you were safe or not, scared if you will make it back from work…..Thembuluwo my love for you will never die, I meant what I said on our wedding day….FOR BETTER OR WORSE”
Me:”now that you’ve said all that I feel guilty, I feel like I have brought you nothing but pain”
Tshili:” that’s not true and you know it. Thembuluwo the first time I flew on the flight I was with you. The first car I drove beside the driving school car was yours. What about the good times we had when we were still going clubbing together? And oww we stayed together in varsity res and we used to buy grocery at Woolworths, like damn who do that at varsity?….the trip to Cape Town wooow bbe we had fun, do you remember that hotel and the cruise ship? Thembuluwo I learned to wear Nike and Adidas sneaker-wedge because of you. And look at the phone that I am using? Who doesn’t want that? You have opened up to me about anything and trusted me with your life. we got married in community of property and you didn’t care what anyone was gonna say….you made me a woman that I am today…you actually built me so please babe cut that crap about bringing nothing but pain” she was smiling.
Me:”what did I do to deserve a wife like you?”
Tshili:”you became a gangster” she laughed and climbed on the bed, I climbed on top of her
Me:”you’ve made me feel better and only you can do that”
Tshili:”I am in love with my gangster…he vhanna damn Thembu” we laughed
The trial went on for few days and my family was there for me all the way. They showed me support at every turn and i was thankful. After the trial the Judge came up with the verdict and Sticks and I were found guilty of being in possession of drugs and unlicensed fire arms. Well I don’t think that I can even explain what I felt when they said that I was guilty. But I think what I felt is nothing compared to what I felt when they gave us the sentencing. We were in court with our loved ones when the Judge read out our sentence out loud for everyone to hear
Judge:” the sentence to be given here today will serve as an example to all the drug dealers out there and as an example to all the young kids who envy the fancy life style of drug dealers. Mr Thembuluwo Mudau and Mr Monwabisi Zondani you have been sentenced to 17 years in jail for being in possession of drugs and 4 years in jail for unlicensed fire arms, the charges will run concurantly….no bail will be granted”
I might have died more than 1000 times at that moment. I fell to the chair and just sat there and stared into space. For the first time I was trying to calculate 17 plus 4 and dammit I couldn’t get it right….i finally add up the 2 numbers….i was sentenced to twe-n-t-y-one-years in prison. I immediately thought of my wife. I stood up and looked at where she was…she was sitting there looking helpless, I looked around and my eyes found Bee, she was just looking at me with her eyes wide open…my mom was beside herself, she was crying uncontrollably and my dad just had this look on his face…it was a look of shock…Xolani was crying. Dammit what have I done? Everyone I loved was in pain all because of me…I wished I could take it all back but I couldn’t. I was going away and there was nothing I could do about it. The two police man came and took my hand. I looked at my wife and f*** it, it hurt so bad.
Me:” Tshililo” I shouted her name as they were taking me and Sticks away
Tshililo:” Thembuluwo” she was crying
TSHILILO
I heard Thembu’s sentencing and felt my world spinning…I thought I didn’t hear right, it had to be wrong. It was only when they were taking him away that I realised that it was really happening. I looked at him as they took him away and felt like they took away all my dreams and everything I shared with him. I felt a sharp pain in my heart, how in a world was I going to start over? I couldn’t handle it anymore so I walked out of the court house and to the parking lot. I stood against our car. Xolani came running after me; he also had tears on his eyes
X:”Tshililo”
Me:”it’s done X, he is gone” I sobbed uncontrollably
X:”I know Tshililo, I am sorry” I looked up and saw his parents walking towards us.
Honestly I was in so much pain and didn’t want to start talking about what happened here today, it was too much that I had to deal with this whole thing and starting over my life without my husband, I didn’t need people talking to me about it too. I quickly got inside the Benz. Xolani tried opening the other doors and I locked them. He banged on the window but I ignored him and looked straight ahead. I started the car and drove away. I didn’t know where I was going but I just wanted to go far away…far away from everything and everyone. I just wanted to go somewhere where I could cry and scream and do whatever that would help me deal with the pain I was feeling. I took the N2 road leading to Mossel Bay. I was crying while I was driving. I got somewhere and felt like the temperature in the car was too high and I was battling to breathe.
I parked the car on the side of the road and I quickly got out and then fell down on my knees and just cried. I was in so much pain that even my voice couldn’t come out. I asked myself what have I done to deserve this kind of pain? This kind of misery? All I ever did was love this man and damn the price I had to pay for that love. I was scared, I was scared to face this world alone without him, what if some gangster just emerge and decide to attack us again? I was scared of raising our son alone. The pain in my heart was building up and with every sob came a painful reminder that Thembuluwo was gone, no more cuddling and all those things. I cried until I called my mom with her old name.
I have no idea how long I stayed there but someone came after a long time. I tried to look but I was too weak to turn around and look at him. He scooped me up and I was in his arms
Me:”Thembu?” for a second there I thought the whole thing that happened was a dream
X:”Tshililo”
Me:”Thembuluwo”
X:”It’s Xolani” owww damn it, and then it sank…..Thembuluwo was really gone
Me:” I want him Xolani”
X:”I know and I am sorry” I was weak I couldn’t even look at him.
X:”I have to take you home”
Me:”home? I don’t wanna go home” I sobbed again. Xolani took me to the back seat of my car. He went to his car and briefly talked to some guy and then came back to my car and drove home. We got home and he came and carried me up again….damn being in Xolani’s arms felt weird and I was embarrassed about it
Me:”put me down”
X:”you are too weak to walk” he took me to the house…Thembu’s father was pacing in the living room, he looked worried
Dad:”how is she?”
X:”she is really weak, I found her sleeping by the side of the road crying”
Dad:” eish mom is also beside herself…just take her to her bedroom…she needs some rest”
X:”owk dad, I think you should also rest”
Dad:”no I will be fine” I felt like telling him once again to put me down because I was a grown ass woman people and Xolani was not my man so I was obviously heavy on him. He took me to the bedroom and put me to bed. He then walked to the door
Me:”Xolani?” he turned around and looked at me
X:”yah”
Me:”thank you for everything; I am actually feeling bad right now”
X:”not as bad as I do Tshili, this is all my fault, they should have arrested me at least….i have nothing to lose, no wife or a child….i am the reason why Thembu is in this mess right now, I recruited him” he walked out before I could say anything, I guess he didn’t want me to tell him that it wasn’t his fault. I thought about my mom and how she was going to react when she hear the news…damn I thought about our neighbours…we were going to be the talk of the village for a very long time.
THEMBULUWO
After the sentencing we were told that they were still preparing our paper works and that we will be transferred to Pollsmoor prison…I almost fainted when they mentioned that name. This was seriously the end of me.
TSHILILO
The next three days were hectic…lord it was bad. I don’t even know how I got through the first three days but I was a mess and so was everyone else. His mom was seriously battling…she hardly talked to anyone. Father in law was trying his best to be strong for both of us but I could see it in his eyes that this was taking a toll on him. But he was there for everyone including me. We’d sit sometimes and talk about Thembu and about how I was feeling. For few days there I felt like I had a father. Xolani was being Xolani. A life saver for all of us. I could see the pain he carried with him. There was something on his face that told me that he was just not the same anymore. He was Thembu’s brother for God’s sake, they were close and they loved each other so this was painful for him but hey the brother was doing his best to make sure that we were all fine. He was the family’s cook during all this. I don’t know how we got through this but we became one, we held each other’s hands and understood each other’s pain and I think that’s what really helped us. Sihle was also there for me. She was in the house like every day and she didn’t judge or anything like that, she just became a friend I needed. I forgot to mention Bongani, he was also there for Xolani and he tried to be there for me too but I pushed him away at every turn.
Zwi a Penga
Insert 44
THEMBULUWO
I was finally taken to Polsmoor prison along with Sticks. We got there and were welcomed but some fully bodied tattooed guys who offered to be our husbands…believe me it was crazy and scary as hell. I’d never been so scared of a human being before. We were about to be taken by some guys when Jay intervened. Yohh the shock plus relief I got neh? So we were finally reunited with Jay. Jay hadn’t been there for long but Svig had connections in there and Jay had settled in very well and with him in there…we knew that we were safe. Maybe prison wasn’t going to be the horror movie I had been envisioning.
TSHILILO
Third day after Thembu was arrested I woke up and was going about my business when I walked down to the lounge and found Bongani there. I just lashed out at him…I mean I didn’t understand why he was at my house in the morning…he was a damn Doctor for f***s sake, how about he go and be a Doctor/. Well he said something about trying to be there for me and Xolani but I just wanted him to stay away. Xolani tried to talk for him but I just didn’t want to hear of it.
Somehow my mom found out about Thembuluwo. I don’t know how that happened or who told her because I’d been dreading to tell her the news. She called me later in the afternoon and was pissed that I’d been dating a criminal and suggested that I divorce him right away. She said that if I divorce him then I’ll still own half of his assets so I could still move on with my life as if nothing happened and not worry about the money. I couldn’t believe my mom. She was also concerned about the fact that the whole village had been gossiping about me spending drug money and living this fancy life because of drug money. We argued about it until I couldn’t take it anymore and we got off the phone. I later browsed through my Facebook timeline and was shocked to find everyone talking about me and my gangster husband and how I had been living large with blood money. What was more shocking was to find that even my closest friends were talking about it. I was really shocked. I decided not to log on Facebook again…maybe for few months because logging in was just going to kill me. After hearing what my mom said and what I saw on Facebook I was depressed…I wished the world could open up and swallow me. I decided to call Khathutshelo who was Thembu’s friend and find out what people were saying at home about him. khathu didn’t want to tell me what people were saying simply because he was trying to protect me. He just told me to be strong and not to worry about what people were saying. There was something I loved about him. He didn’t ask questions or judge us…all he did was offer his support as a friend.
After few days Thembu’s parents told me that maybe it was about time that we all go back home in Venda. I didn’t want to leave this place…this is where I had memories with Thembu. So I asked them to let me stay behind...i said that I wanted to make a plan to see Thembu sometime soon and i didn’t want to fly up and down every time I wanna see him so I wanted to be here in George because it’s not too far from Cape Town as compared to Limpopo. Well they agreed to let me be. Later that day I called Bonita and asked to meet. She agreed and said I could come by to her house. I went to her house and she seemed happy to see me. We talked about me missing Thembu and then we hugged and cried together….well I understand why I was crying…my husband was arrested but I didn’t understand why she was crying. I asked her why and she said that she was crying because Thembu was the only friend she had and now she had lost him. I asked her to help me get some time to see him. She told me to consider it done and said that she was going to pull all the stops for me to see my husband. She said she knows how much Thembu loves me and how much I mean to him so seeing me was obviously going to make him happy. I was seriously thankful to her. I apologised for how I behaved that time back in Durban and she told me not to worry about it. After having coffee together I drove out of her house.
THEMBULUWO
Being in prison wasn’t so bad…it was just lonely at times. Sticks and I were having it easy because of Jay. So apparently Jay was associated with the gangs of a certain number while in there and everyone in that gang had to have that number tattooed somewhere in their body…Sticks and I wanted some safety and a sense of belonging so automatically we belonged to that gang and we had to get the tattoo. I got mine on my six packs…that’s where I wanted it. It wasn’t too big though…it was small enough. I also asked to have one more Tattoo just above my left breast. I told the guy to write ‘TTT LufunoLunzhi#Vhadau” (TTT LotsOfLove#Vhadau) triple T was for my name, my wife’s name and our son. I guess if we happen to have more kids then their names were going to start with a T. i missed my family so terribly and I was trying my best not to think too much about them.
TSHILILO
After Bee’s house I went to the restaurant. I was walking out of the restaurant when I ran into Bongani
Bongani:”hi”
Me:”hi” I don’t know man but this guy seemed to be every-damn-where
Bongani:”you look tired”
Me:”i am tired Bongani” I folded my hands on my chest and looked at him
Bongani:”i can only imagine what you are going through right now, i think-“
Me:”Bongani don’t sta-“ He closed my mouth with his hand…I looked at him in shock
Bongani:”just let me talk ok? I know you don’t like me but i am on your side here” I tried to talk as well as removing his hand from my mouth but he didn’t budge
Bongani:”i understand what you are going through, i really do...that’s why i just keep quite when you shout at me but Tshililo you need to accept what happened and try to live with it, that’s the only way to go about it at the moment” eish gosh who said i was not dealing with it?
Bongani:“i know how much you love him and he loves you too, you are going through a very tough time right now but at least his family is there for you, let all of us be there for you, let Xolani help where he can....let us help ok? I understand that at times you just wanna be alone and you feel like shouting at me or anyone close but that’s also fine....i know you didn’t like the fact that Xolani told me what happened but i kinda found out from the papers before Xolani told me so don’t be mad at him plus i am not the one for judgements, i know people do things for different reasons and Xolani told me why he and Thembu started doing this, i am fine with it, i aint gonna judge or anything” he then removed his hand from my mouth…I had no energy to say anything anymore so i just looked at him
Bongani:”you can start shouting at me, i am ready for that now” he looked at me smiling, I shook my head looking at him, why was he like this? So sweet and nice...but this was how he was, I remembered how he checked up on me the first day we met even though he didn’t know me
Me:”i miss him so much” i whispered
Bongani:”that’s normal Tshili, there is nothing wrong with that, allow yourself to miss him, you don’t have to forget him”
Me:”everyone is talking about it at home, they are talking about how i married a thug for money and all that crap, but it wasn’t like that....i...i really love him” i cried, he came closer to me and hugged me so tight.
Bongani:”you don’t owe anyone an explanation as to why you married your husband, in fact you did married a thug so what? You are filthy rich right? You still have the cash so what?.....here is what you can do to stop them from talking....take some nice pics with your Benz and post them on facebook with the caption, ‘Mrs Mudau and her first born’.....or an old pic you took with him and say ‘still in love with my thug’ or something like that....you can even order the latest BMW Tshililo and take a pictures with it and post them on facebook with the caption....’living large #TeamThugLife’, my point is that don’t let them get to you, you don’t regret being with him right?” he broke the hug and looked at me, i shook my head
Bongani:”so go out there and show em baby girl, you married a gangster that’s all, you didn’t kill anyone....i could even lend you my Maserati just for the photoshoot” he said that laughing, hahaha i couldn’t help but laugh
Me:”you have a Maserati?” honestly i was shocked
Bongani:”i have few cars hon” he smiled at me
Me:” owk thanks for everything”
Bongani:”anytime and i am glad i made you smile for a change”
Me:”Don’t count on it” we laughed, I got inside my car
Bongani:”so when are you gonna come for my Maserati?”
Me:”i think i will buy mine, a pink one” he laughed out loud, i started the car and drove off.
I got home and found Thembu’s parents telling Xolani that they were leaving tomorrow. He didn’t want them to go but Thembu’s dad had to go back to work now…he had taken too much unpaid leave, it was about time he goes back to work. As for his mom…I think Thendo and Rendi needed her more than me and Xolani. We were still sitting in the lounge when I received a call from Bee saying that she organised for me to see Thembuluwo tomorrow at 6pm. I thanked her and told her that I’ll be in Cape Town during that time. The bad news was that I was the only one allowed to see him. After the call I told the family. They were just happy that at least someone in the family will get to see him and Xolani even offered to drive me.
THEMBULUWO
It was in the morning when Jay announced that Sticks and I were going to see our wives. We were shocked and excited at the same time, he told us we were not allowed to have visitors yet but Bee pulled some stops for us to have a visitor for just 15 minutes each. Well 15 minutes was better than nothing. Sticks and I were both excited for the rest of the day. The time finally came and I went in to see Tshililo first. Sticks was going to see his wife just after me. I can’t even begin to explain how I felt when I saw her. I wanted to cry and held her so tight but I reminded myself that I was in jail and can’t even touch her. She looked good shame and she looked happy to see me. She told me how much she missed me and how hard it was without me but she also told me that she’ll be strong. So I told her about the situation inside and that Jay had been keeping us safe in there and that we didn’t really have any problems. I was hoping to make her feel better; I didn’t want her to worry about my safety. We laughed together until our laughs turned into cries…we missed each other so bad.
After spending few minutes with our wives Jay came to me and Sticks and told us that we had to be initiated into a gang and that someone had to die in our hands. We didn’t hesitate but killed some guy. I know it was not a great thing to do but hey this was the survival strategy and I had to obey and do what was expected of me. Sticks didn’t have any problem with it; I mean he was heartless and enjoyed hurting people so this was like taking a candy from the baby for him. I can’t say the same for me.
TSHILILO
After Xolani’s parents had left us, Xolani also left and I was left alone in the house. Sihle was keeping me busy every now and again. I was trying my level best not to stress too much. My birthday was approaching and i didn’t plan on doing anything…I mean it didn’t look like the right time to be throwing birthday parties. Xolani kinda wanted me to do something but I told him that I was fine with not doing anything at all.
Luvhengo called me right after Xolani had left the house. He said he just wanted me to know that I had his support, he even suggested flying down to George. I threatened him and told him not to even think of it because I had real gangsters looking after me 24/7. He couldn’t believe that I said that but hey a woman got to look after herself around here. I got off the phone with him and it all sank in…I was a single mother, the thought of it kinda scared me…I had no idea how I was going to pull it all off. Thembuluwo called me later that afternoon. I can’t even explain how a one minute call from him made me feel. For that minute I felt like all my problems had disappeared. All I felt was my love for him. I know that waiting for him was not going to be easy but I knew for a fact that he was the only one I loved. I was happy to hear his voice, he sounded so happy to hear mine too.
So weeks went by and somehow Bonita and I became close. I don’t know how but I guess for some reason she reminded me of my husband and with Thembu gone I think she wanted that same friendship he had offered her. I also felt safe with her, like I knew that Xolani won’t be watching me. Ow yes brother in law had been following me around everywhere I go and he’d been watching me like a hawk, I think Thembu instructed him to do so. I’ve tried to go clubbing a night or two just to get my mind off things with Sihle and Rotenda but he was there making sure that whoever greets me walk away with at least a warning or a blue eyed face. It wasn’t funny people, it’s not like I wanted to date but I needed some freedom at least. I tried to talk to Thembu about it but he ignored me on that regard so I guess I was stuck with Xolani following me around everywhere I go. If it’s not Xolani following me around then it’s somebody else who have been instructed to do so. Bongani tried to get too close to me…I think all he wanted was to support me and after how he talked to me outside the restaurant the other day…I was kinda glad he was in my life and we were getting pretty close but Xolani put an end to it….he told me not to befriend him.
I mentioned something about Rotenda up there. Rotenda was a friend of mine from home. She came up here because she had some job interview and wanted a place to stay. Mind you, she was one of my friends who had a lot to say about me and Thembu on Facebook…she was actually my best friend so I had to take her in. I was tempted to tell her to butt off but hey I was not really heartless so I took her in for few days. She got to meet Sihle during that period.
I was chilling in the living room one afternoon with Rotenda and my son when my phone rang. I knew the prison number by now. I excused myself and went to the bedroom to answer the phone. I missed him so much. I cried while talking to him. I told him that it was not easy, that I loved him yes but I missed him so bad. He asked me to be strong and told me about how much he loved me and that I should be strong for our son. I asked if there was a possibility of him being released anytime soon and he said that he didn’t want to give any false hope. After the call with Thembu I felt that I wanted to talk to someone whom I know could be a better friend. I dialled his number and he picked up
“hello"
Me:"hi, Its Tshililo"
"wow…uhm…Tshili…how are you?"
Me:"i Don’t know" I wanted to cry again
"do you want me to come over? Because i can come now if you want me to"
Me:"no that’s not a good idea, i just want someone to talk to" I was wiping off tears
"Owk uhm i will do whatever you want, so talk to me"
Me:"where can i start?"
"Just start anywhere Tshili, i won’t judge"
Me:"it’s painful, very painful....i am tired of all this, i wanna be free and most of all....i wanna be happy, Don’t get me wrong, i still love him so much, i do"
"But?"
Me:"the price i am paying for this love is too much"
"Don’t you think he is also paying? think of it this way....at least you have the freedom to do anything and go anywhere but he doesn’t have that, all he has are the memories you shared and he is stuck in the same hell whole Tshili, he sees the same people everyday...don’t you think that the two of you are going through the same thing? It’s not just you but him too" Owk this was news to me, the whole time i was stressed because i was only thinking about myself, i never considered how he was feeling
Me:"now i feel bad, i never thought of it that way"
"please don’t beat yourself up too much Tshili, i will be there for you whenever you want me to"
Me:"thanks Bongani"
Zwi a Penga
Insert 45
THEMBULUWO
After my call with Tshililo I threw my fist on the wall and screamed. She was clearly losing it without me. She sounded vulnerable and that could only means one thing. If ever she meet someone she’ll go for it…damn it I needed to make a plan...i needed to make a plan real quick so that I could get out of here. I honestly didn’t want to lose her, not to someone else.
TSHILILO
The following morning I took Rotenda to her interview. She had the address and didn’t know the place so I didn’t want her to get lost. After her interview we went to the bus station and waited for the bus to board. She was going back home. After Rotenda had boarded her bus I called Bongani
Bongi:"hello"
Me:"hey"
Bongani:"how are you holding up?"
Me:"much better"
Bongi:"mhm that’s the music to my ear"
Me:"are you busy today?"
Bongi:"not for you, i have 2 appointments with my patients but i can clear my diary"
Me:"uhm Bongi no its fine, there is no need for that, your job is important"
Bongi:"i am a man of priorities and right now you are on top of them all"
Me:"that’s not necess-"
Bongi:"enough about that, where are you?"
Me:"Sasol garage"
Bongi:"can you drive to my house? i will sms you the address" I kept quiet to think
Bongi:"owk so you want us to hang out in a public space instead?"
Me:"uhm nope your house is fine, i will wait for the directions"
Bongi:"on second thought, go to the mall and leave your car there, i will come pick you up, after the episode i had with Xolani the last thing i need is him driving into my driveway and find your car"
Me:"an episode?" I was confused and wanted to know more. So Xolani went to talk to Bongi about me? like seriously? Bongi was like the only true friend i had, not exactly only but he got me in a way that only he could....but it didn’t come close to the way that my hubby got me, you know
Bongi:"nothing that you should worry about girl, anyways let me clear my diary and i will be at the mall in about 15 minutes"
Me:"uhm owk" I sat there and thought about what I was doing. Bongani was nothing but a friend and I needed him. But then why hide it from Xolani…ahg I sighed and decided not to think too much about it.
I drove to the mall and waited for Bongani. He drove in shortly after me and parked his car close to mine
Bongani:"Mrs Mudau"
Me:"hey"
Bongani:"how is the lil fella doing?" he said playing with my son
Me:"He is excited"
Bongani:"shall we?" he looked at me and I nodded. He opened the door for me and i got in. We drove to his house. We got there and got out of the car. He came to my side and took my son. We went to the house and he was very welcoming, his house was beautiful and I kinda liked it. So he made me something to eat and some drinks…I wasn’t really hungry but I figured it would be impolite for me to say no
Me:"tell me about your episode with Xolani first"
Bongi:"nothing i can’t handle my friend"
Me:"Don’t give me that Bongi"
Bongi:"we talked man to man, that’s as far as i can tell you"
Me:"but you don’t want him to see us together anymore?"
Bongi:"nope, i have to keep the peace'
Me:"but here you are with me in your house"
Bongi:"you needed me as a friend i couldn’t say no"
Me:"so you only want friendship from me?" he looked at me for a long time
Bongi:"yeah i wanna be your friend and keep you safe and happy until Thembu comes back" he looked at my baby and smiled.
Me:"i wanna tell my husband about our friendship"
Bongani:"fine by me"
My phone rang; I took it out of my pocket and check the caller. It was Thembuluwo. I immediately smiled
Bongi:"please don’t say anything that will upset him, make him smile Tshili"
Me:"how do you know it’s him?" I was still smiling
Bongi:"that smile" I answered the call and walked away from Bongani
Me:"my love love"
Thembu:"wifey, after what happened yesterday I couldn’t leave you like that, i had to call again"
Me:" I am so sorry"
Thembu:"it’s not necessary, how are you feeling now?"
Me:" much better, someone made me see the light" I walked out of the house
Thembu:"someone?" he was concerned
Me:"Bongani" I said that and swallowed
Thembu:"Bongani? Babe how is Bongani involved in any of this?”
Me:" he is my friend too Thembu and he is the one who made me realise that this whole thing doesn’t only hurt me but it hurt you even more because yo-“
Thembu:"wa…wait a…a minute…you went to Bongani and told him our business?”
Me:"babe no b-“
Thembu:" but what Tshililo? i am not going to have some guy spending time with you and acting like he cares when he is actually trying to get into your pants, you are not a child anymore Tshililo can you please act like a married woman? You are taking advice from Bongani, is he even married?” owk i was not expecting this at all
Me:"Thembu bbe please try to understand, he is just a friend, that’s all he is.....he supports me and he wants me to be strong for you"
Thembu:"and that’s supposed to make me feel better? Do you honestly want me to give you a go ahead? Why are you doing this to me? Tshililo stay away from that guy or else all hell will break lose” yohh my mouth went dry
Thembu:"Tshililo do you want to be single?"
Me:"Bbe No"
Thembu:"so? What happened to your friend Sihle? And what does Bongani have anyway?"
Me:"bbe he is just a friend"
Thembu:" a guy friend? And why is he befriending you now all of a sudden? Why didn’t you start with your friendship while I was still around? Last time I checked you hated him. First it was Sihle and now you…this guy really wants us so bad” I breathed, Thembuluwo was really angry now
Me:"ok I get it babe"
Thembu:" no I think Bongani needs to be dealt with" my eyes short open
Me:"b-bbe what do you mean?"
Thembu:"it’s time i toughen up and stop being a softy” he dropped the call. I didn’t understand why Thembuluwo was being like this. I walked back to the house and stood at the door and watched Bongani playing with my son. He looked up at me
Bongani:"you don’t look happy"
Me:"i think i should go"
Bongi:"but you've just arrived mus" I just looked at him and said nothing
Bongani:"You told him?"
Me:"i can’t keep secrets from him, i really have to go Bongi"
Bongi:"oww.....do you maybe want me to talk to him?"
Me:"are you insane? Of course not"
Bongi:"owk sorry for mentioning that Tshililo, i was happy to spend the whole afternoon with you" I just kept quiet and said nothing. He was about to give me my son when somebody knocked at the door
Bongi:"let me get that first" he walked to the door with my son.
"What the hell is going on?" yuwii!! That was Xolani's voice
Bongi:"Xolani" Xolani looked at me and I saw anger written all over his face
X:"i came here to give you a second warning about her and i found her here?" he said that pointing at me
Me:"Xolani it’s not wh-"
X:"Tshililo shut the F*** up ok? I haven’t even started with you yet"
Bongi:"Xolani just chill ok?" Bongani gave me my son
X:"chill? You are telling me to chill? Dude you are sleeping with my brother’s wife and you want me to chill? You are talking s*** right now” he held Bongani by his t shirt
Bongi:"Xolani lets be civil about this, I am not sleeping with this girl, we are friends nxa!!"
Xolani:"you think I am dumb neh? Do I look dumb to you? Do you see stupid written on my forehead?" Xolani punched Bongani and just like that they started fighting. I put my son on the sofa and tried to stop them
Me:"Xolani please"
X:"stay the hell out of this" I stood between them
X:"this is not over Bongani, i don’t ever wanna see your ugly face ever again, Tshililo is married and if you try anything again i will get you killed, that’s a promise my brother, I will kill you"
Bongani:"Xolani bruh listen here" Xolani angrily walked to the sofa and took my son and then took my hand and walked away with me
Bongani:"really?"
X:"i am coming back for you, you need to be taught a lesson, Doctor my foot" he pulled me to his car
Me:"Xolani you are hurting me"
X:"believe me Tshililo i wanna do more than hurt you right now" he put the baby in the car
X:"how can you do this to my brother?"
Me:"Xolani you are overreacting"
X:"overreacting? Tshililo you are the one who is acting like you are single here" he was shouting at me. I decided to let him be and angrily tried to open the door but I felt his hand against my face…he had hit me. I was still that shocked when he grabbed me by my top
X:"you disgust me right now Tshililo, coming to see another man with my brother’s son? Even after i have talked to you about him?" tears started coming out
Me:"Xolani" I was crying. Bongani came running to us. Xolani threw me on the floor and took out a gun. Bongani stood still and slowly walked backwards.
X:"our so called friendship ends right now; you are nothing but a home wrecker"
Bongani:"please let me explain Xolani"
X:"explain what? How you are in love with my brother’s wife? i have seen the way you look at her So please i don’t think i want any more explanation" he pointed at me with a gun and signalled for me to get in the car. I quickly got in. I’d never seen Xolani so angry
X:"i will deal with you afterwards" he got inside the car and drove off. We got to the house and got out of the car. I got inside the house and he followed.
X:"Thembu gave me a call today regarding your incident...are you deliberately trying to kill him or what? i mean you know how insecure he can be over you spending time with some guy"
Me;"i didn’t think of it that way"
X:"you didn’t think at all Tshililo, he is in jail for a long term for heaven’s sake, the last thing he needs is knowing that you have a man entertaining you" Xolani turned and walked to the door.
Me:"Xolani" he turned around and looked at me
Me:"as far as I know, this house is legally mine because Thembuluwo is not here so give me the keys”
X:"you are kidding right?"
Me:"The keys Xolani or i will call the police right now" he looked at me and then took out my house keys and threw them on the table
Me:"you are not welcome in my house anymore and don’t stress about Bongani i won’t associate myself with him, not because of what you did but because of what Thembu told me"
X:"Tshililo i am just trying to look out for you, that guy want to buy himself into your pants"
Me:" you’ve hit me Xolani, do you call that looking out for me?" he looked at me and put his hands in the air as if defeated and then walked out.
After Xolani had left I called Bee and asked her to get Thembu to call me immediately. He had called me once and another call wasn’t possible but I knew that Bee could make it happen. I don’t know how she does it but Bee always had a way to make things happen and I knew I could count on her. She told me not to worry and that she’ll make it happen. I ended my call with Bee and Bongani called me. I told him not to ever call me again and that our friendship was over, I hung up on him. I seriously didn’t want any more problems in my life.
I waited a bit longer and then Thembu called me. I told him about the incident with Xolani and about how good a friend Bongani was to me. I told him that I was never ever going to betray him. He said he trusted me but he didn’t trust Bongani. I begged him to give me my freedom and to let me be me. We talked about this for a long time until he gave up and said I could have my friendship with Bongani. Yeah I was happy at least now I wasn’t going to be watched. I asked him to trust the fact that I loved him. He told me not to worry and said that he’ll also talk to Xolani so that he can have some faith in me.
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