THE AFTERMATH
05
MALIBANTUBAHLE
“Stop the car” I say.
He gives me a glance and continues driving.
“Sikhanyiso stop this car right now!”
“Is that how you speak to your man?”
I scoff,whose man?
“You are not my man now stop this car”
“Ngiyabuza futhi iyona ndlela yokukhuluma nendoda yakho leyo?”
He stares and I look away.
“MaNgubane” he says,softly.
I remain silent even though my whole being wants to respond.
“Bahle”
“Only my dad calls me Bahle,you stick to Mali”
He lets out a chuckle.
“Sibangani kanti mina nawe?” he asks.
My phone rings before I can answer him.
I look at Mthoko’s call and take a deep breath before answering.
“Sthandwa sam” I say.
Sikhanyiso reaches for the phone and puts it on speaker.
“What’s going on Mali,what was that?” Mthoko asks.
“It’s nothing sthandwa sam” I tell him.
“How do you say it’s nothing when a man I don’t know just picked you up,and you just left with him?” he says.
I look at Sikhanyiso,he’s the cause of all this.
“Ngikhuluma nawe Mali” he says.
“Ngiyaxolisa” I say.
“What are you sorry for sthandwa sam huh,making me a fool infront of your collueges or hoping into another man’s car?”
I gulp,I shouldn’t have gotten into this car.
I should have just left with Mthoko.
Mthoko heaves a sigh.
“I will make it up to you” I say.
Sikhanyiso frowns.
He heaves another sigh.
“Your dad is calling,I told him about what happened”
“Hawu! kodwa Mthoko” I say
“I didn’t know what to do,a strange man picked you up. What if something happens to you?”
“Okwani nje ukuphapha uyindoda?” Sikhanyiso asks.
“Really Mali” Mthoko says.
I end the call and look at Sikhanyiso.
“What is wrong with you?”
“I just don’t like men who gossip,buka manje lempatha yakho ifuna ukungiqhatha nobabezala wam” he says.
My phone rings and I look at my father’s name popping up.
I silence the call and heave a sigh.
“Unlike you I am not a cheat,so please let this be the last time you pull a stunt like that. And stay away from me,we’re not friends”
“Ufuna ukudlani?” he asks,completely ignoring my subtle rant.
“Angilambe” I say.
“Mhmm okay”
“Can I make a stop here?”
I shrug.
“God gave you a mouth please use it”
I fold my arms.
“Do whatever makes you happy Sikhanyiso” I say.
He takes a turn and drives into a mall.
“Asambe,” he says.
“Cha”
“Why not?”
“I am tired” I say.
“I will carry you,” he says.
“No thank you” I say
“Very well then”
He gets out of the car and leaves me inside.
I watch as he heads inside,tall,well built and handsome but probably a cheat too.
I shake my head of course he’s a cheat,he’s here bulldozing his way into my life while his girlfriend is at home probably waiting for him.
I decide to send Muhle the traitor my location,all of this wouldn’t be happening if it wasn’t for her.
Sikhanyiso finally comes out and I put my phone down.
He gets in and the smell of food hits my nostrils.
He pulls out the spur bag and my stomach wambles.
I try to hold it in but the noise gets louder.
He takes a bite of his burger and my heart sinks.
I lied,lord I lied about not being hungry.
“So you’re just going to eat in front if me?”
“You said you’re not hungry”
“And you took my word for it,what kind of a man are you?”
He calmly looks at me.
“The kind that listens” he says.
I fold my arms and look outside the window.
Had I gone with Mthoko he would be feeding me right now.
Tears fill my eyes and I blink a thousand times.
“Bahle”
One more blink and my cheeks are wet.
I quickly wipe my tears and sniff.
He steps out of the car and walks over to the passenger side.
The door opens and he pulls me out.
He holds me tight and I let him be.
“Ukhalelani?”
I shrug and he pulls away.
“There’s enough food to feed an army in there.
He cups my face and smiles.
Thule phela Mambomvu” he says.
I wipe my tears and he smiles.
“There’s a park nearby,can we go there and eat?”
I nod and he smiles.
“Okay”
We both get back in the car and he looks my way.
“Umuhle ngisho ukhala” he says.
I look away and hold myself from laughing.
He parks near my house and deeply sighs.
We did go to the park and not only did we eat,we sat in comfortable silence.
He held me in his arms when a cold breeze brushed up against my skin.
Held me tight when I closed my eyes and took a brief nap,while kids giggled in the background and his scent filled my lungs.
“Thank you for today”
“It was a pleasure” he says.
I let out a sigh of my own
Suddenly my feet won’t move,my hands won’t hold the door handle.
I want to ask if I will see him again,but a part of me knows better.
“I should get inside before my brother comes out”
He nods.
I grab my bag and bouquet then look at him.
“Bye”
I step out of the car and make my way inside.
“Bahle”
I quickly turn around and look at him.
“Yes”
“Thank you for today”
I nod and wave goodbye before heading inside.
.
.
I make my way to the living room and sit next to my mother.
A family meeting has been adjourned and I am the matter to be discussed.
“Bahle”
“Baba” I say.
“Mthoko called”
I let out a sigh and look at my mother.
“Apparently you were fetched by someone he doesn’t know,he came to you work place to fetch you and you left him there” he says.
“A friend of mine picked me up baba”
“A man?”
I remain silent and he sighs.
“Mthoko has sent his family to ask for your hand in marriage”
My mouth drops and I look at my mother.
“You two have been together for a while now,he has made his intentions and he wants to marry you”
I gulp looking at mother..
Had Mthoko done this a month ago,I would have been ecstatic. I would have jumped for joy but now I don’t know how to feel.
Tears fill my eyes and I purse my lips together.
“Mali”
“Ma”
“Your father is talking to you sisi” she says.
“There’s nothing to talk about mawakhe,her uncles will respond with a date. Mthoko and Bahle love each other,angithi Bahle”
I love Mthoko,I really do,but something is happening to me and I don’t know what.
……….