THE AFTERMATH
06
MALIBANTUBAHLE
It’s been a week and I don’t know how to feel about Mthoko’s proposal.
I wipe the kitchen counter and start on the dishes.
I don’t know but maybe if he had spoken to me first then I wouldn’t be feeling this blindsided.
He wraps his arms around my waist and kisses my neck.
“Did you really have to send your uncles to my father’s house?”
He cups my breast and presses himself against me.
“We’ve talked about this more than once. I told you my intentions the day I met you. Ngakutshela ukuthi ngiyakuthanda futhi ngizokushada. Why are you talking as if this is new to your ears?”
“Because you blinded sided me”
“Sthandwa sam we spoke about this in detail”
I feel his boner pressing against my butt.
“Yes,but ..”
“But what?”
He turns me around and looks into my eyes.
“I love you and I want you to be the mother of my children,I want to build with you Mali” he says.
“And I love you too,but marriage is a big deal. It’s a huge step one I don’t think we’re both ready for”
He holds my face and kisses me.
“What’s really going on?”
“Nothing” I say.
He nods and puts my hand on his chest.
“I am just scared,this is a huge step” I say.
“One that we prayed about,please don’t worry yourself about anything”
I nod and force a smile.
Maybe this is nothing but pre marriage jitters.
I turn around but he pulls me back and cups my face.
He once again cups my breast and I let out a sigh.
I close my eyes to try and be in the moment, but the moments shared at the park come rushing.
It’s been a week and I haven’t seen or heard from him.
He brings my hand to the front of his pants,making me feel his already hard dixk.
“Not today” I say.
He opens his eyes and looks at me.
“Kancane nje sthandwa sam” he says.
I let out another sigh..
“It’s been a long day and I am tired”
I pull away and he gulps.
“Seems like you are always tired these days,” he says.
“Work is hectic”
He lets out a chuckle.
“Is it him?”
“Him,who?”
“The guy that picked you up the other day”
I remain silent and he rubs his forehead.
“You’ve been distant and cold lately,you barely have time for us. I can’t even touch you without you talking about being tired”
“There’s no such nothing”
“So what you’re saying is that I am crazy?”
“Of course not,” I say.
“Then why is sex with me suddenly an issue!”
“It’s not!”
“Then prove it”
I shake my head.
“I am not doing this with you”
“Because you’re sleeping with him right,you would rather sleep with him than me,is that it? Is that why you don’t want me to touch you”
“I think I should go home before it gets really late”
I place the dishcloth down and look at him.
“It’s been a long exhausting day,students wanting every bit of attention. You of all people know how hectic things can get with learners”
I walk away and make my way to the bedroom.
I grab my things and head out.
“Mali” he says,softly.
I look his way and sigh.
“I don’t want to fight with you” I tell him.
“Look,I am sorry, sthandwa sam. I don’t know but I don’t want to lose you” he says.
“You won’t” I say , assuring him.
He nods.
“Let me drop you off”
“It’s okay I will drive myself”
He steps closer and kisses my forehead.
“I love you” he says.
“I love you too”
I pull away and he walks me to my car.
“Call me when you get home”
“Alright”
I get in the car and drive out.
Sikhanyiso crosses my mind before I even reach the gate.
I reach for my phone and call Muhle.
“Hey bestie”
“Am I though?”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“When last did we talk?”
“Work has been hectic today”
“Work or Kuyasa?”
She laughs.
“I am sorry” she says.
“It’s okay,by the way since we’re speaking about Kuyasa..”
“We are?”
“Just let me finish”
She laughs out loud and I smile.
“Mhmm okay”
“How is he doing?”
“He’s okay I guess”
“And Sikhanyiso?” I ask.
A moment passes and she laughs.
“So you didn’t call because you miss me”
“Girl I saw you yesterday when you came to fetch your dinner”
“Yet a few minutes ago you acted as if we haven’t seen each other for for days”
“Muhle I am drowning” I say.
She laughs even harder.
“Talk to me,” she says.
“It’s been a week and I haven’t heard from him,I don’t know but I am worried about him”
She sighs.
“Now that you’ve mentioned it,I haven’t seen him either. And Kuyasa been going to his place to see him,I think he’s sick or something because I can tell Kuyass is also worried about him”
“Do you perhaps know his address?”
“What if you get there and his girlfriend is there?”
“I am worried about him, Muhle,” I say,softly.
She lets out another sigh.
“Please” I say.
“Or maybe you can talk to Kuyasa and we can all go together”
“Okay”
“Alright I am on my way to you”
I end the call and drive off.
Kuyasa parks next to a Ford Raptor and looks at me.
“Ngisasho, this is a bad idea,” he says.
“If he doesn’t want me to stay,then I will leave”
“He’s really not in a good head space”
“And that’s why I want to check on him”
“Fine”
We get out of the car and head inside.
The outside is beautiful,just like Kuyasa’s.
He starts knocking and I take a moment to look at both cars parked next to each other. These two clearly have money,I wonder what they do for a living.
The door opens and he looks at us.
“Mambomvu,” he says.
He looks terrible and the stench of alcohol coming from him doesn’t help one bit.
“Sawubona”
“What are you doing here?”
“I am here to check up on you”
He looks at Kuyasa.
“She insisted” kuyasa says
“Thank you Kuyasa I will call Muhle if I need anything”
He nods and looks at Sikhanyiso.
“Izobonana Hlomuka”
He says walking away.
We remain standing by the door just staring at each other.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he says.
“I know”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because I am worried about you”
I walk past him and to my horror not only is the house a mess,it smells like it too.
“I don’t want you here” he says
“But you need me here”
He looks at me without saying anything.
“I will clean you,you can sit here,” he says.
“Go take a shower,i will clean up and make us something to eat”
He slowly nods.
“Please shout if you need anything” he says.
“Okay”
He walks away and I look at the dirty dishes staring at me.
I walk over to his fridge and the smell tells me some of these things have gone off.
My phone rings and I pull it out.
I take a deep huge breath and answer the phone.
“Sthandwa sam”
“Mthoko”
“I wanted to check if you’re home safe?”
I look around this house and nod.
“Yes and No,see I decided to sleep over at Muhle’s.”
“Oh okay and you didn’t think to let me know?”
“I was going to tell you”
“Oh okay can I speak to Muhle”
“She’s taking a shower,maybe when she’s done”
“Mhmm okay” he says.
“I have to go the pots are burning”
“Oh okay,I love you”
“Me too”
I end the call and sigh,bringing the phone to my chest.
Guilt slowly consumes me and I gulp.
I slowly put the phone down and start cleaning.
.
.
It’s 8pm and I am still here,comfortably sitting and not thinking about going home.
I look at him and smile,he cleans up well. And he smells good.
He sits next to me and gets under the fleece blanket.
“The house looks amazing,thank you”
“It’s a pleasure” I say.
He breaks into a smile.
“Thank you for coming”
I nod and we just stare at each other.
His eyes look different,if I didn’t know better. I would say he’d been crying.
“You don’t have to say anything” I tell him.
He looks away and I hold his face bringing him back.
“Whatever it is,I am here for you” I say.
“You don’t understand this is not something that can be fixed,I can’t get away from this”
His eyes tear up and tears drop.
“What’s wrong Ngidi?
He takes my hand and places it on his chest.
“Khuluma nami Hlomuka”
He opens his mouth but only his tears come out.
I quickly pull him into my arms and hold him tight.
He wraps his arms around me and tightens his hold.
I eventually pull away and hold his face.
He leans close and brushes his lips against mine.
He pulls my lips and I close my eyes,letting him kiss me.
He pulls away slowly and gulps.
“We shouldn’t,” he says,staring at my lips.
“We shouldn’t,” I say.
“But I want to”
“I really want to and with all my heart Mambomvu” he says,softly.
I swallow hard and look into his eyes.
“Ngivumele ngithobe inhliziyo yakho Hlomuka,noma ngabe okwesikhashana,noma ngabe okumzuzwana”
He slowly leans in and kisses me.
I silence the noise and let this man kisses me.
…………