{SHORT}

TSAKANI

Where did she think she was going to end up? You see if Lee didn’t send me the current numbers that she’s using I wouldn’t have answered her call, and if she really wants her phone she will come here, and fetch she’s the one who left it after all. And this time around she will end up in my bed… Leon ordered false teeth for Spiki, I still can’t believe that he betrayed us like that, I would’ve understood if it was someone else, but Spikiri mfethu? Hhayi mfana, phela he was the one that I trusted the most out of all the guys in the gang, and now I don’t even know how I will look at him because pretending to be cool with him is out of the equation. I really wanted to kill him, but Talon advised otherwise I hope Spikiri will stick to his word, as for Adele I will deal with her when the time comes. Right now I want her to know that I don’t know what’s going on, she was having full blast with my dick Kanty swine wants to wipe me clean, RHA. Her sbindi, hhayi shame siyavuma mfana.

Since I have no plans today I decided to go to the mall, one thing you should know about me is that I don’t walk around with bodyguards everywhere I go, but the respect these self-proclaimed Mafias have for me is out of this world, and no one dares come my way I don’t even know why, shrugs. The stares that I’m getting from these women I’m used to them, they no longer amuse or make me feel somehow it’s just how it is.

Growing up I was never an easy child. I was hard-headed, and pretty much stubborn I might say, I never listened to anyone even now, I still don’t listen to anyone, I make my own rules especially when they include my life, but when it includes the gang I have to listen to the others views, that’s team work. My first stop is at news café I need a drink or two, the truth is I don’t know why I came here, but here I am, alone for that matter. At times, I wish that I had a girlfriend you know, someone to cuddle with, and spoil, but then who will date someone a like me? A King pin? A ruthless Mafia as most people call me. No one. I’ve tried dating, dating women who said that they will love me, and handle all the baggage that I come with, but a week is enough for them, they change in a blink of an eye once they see me in action, and some couldn’t handle my appetite for sex no matter how much money I’ve given them, they just couldn’t stand the sex that comes with it. I love sex, I really do, I don’t want to lie to you guys. The only woman who seemed to be almost in the same level with me when it comes to sex is Adele, but sometimes it gets too much for her, and she pretends as if she passed out, that is her way of telling me she’s tired, argh. But otherwise, I’m glad that none of the women I’ve been with knew my line of work they were just happy to receive money, money of which they don’t know where it came from. Even my mother doesn’t know my line of work, but she knows that it’s something illegal. My phone rings, and it’s Lee I wonder what does he want.

“Lee.”

“Ek’se TK. I think I saw someone who looks like you here at the mall.”

Me: “It’s not someone who looks like me, it’s me,” he chuckles.

Him: “Hhe ntwana, a whole you here at the mall? Hhayi I film, I movie straight le. Amajita ayacava?” I laugh.

Me: “Tsek maarn. Where the hell are you?” He sighs.

Him: “Se Clicks njayami,”

Me: “Kuhambani daar?”

Him: “The women are here to buy toiletries, and get some decoration for the house. Your woman says the house looks manly, so she wants to turn it into a warm, and welcoming home. Women,” I laugh.

Me: “She’s not my woman, and who gave them the permission to change my house?”

Him: “Why don’t you ask her yourself? I’ll go, and give her the phone.”

Me: “No. Don’t. By the way, what’s your role there?”

Him: “Following them around.”

Me: “Come, and join me here at news café I’m bored,” he laughs.

Him: “Get a girlfriend. Kidding man, I’ll be there now now I just need to alert the ladies that I’m excusing myself for a while,” he hangs up. I laugh, and shake my head yah neh. Lee hates the mall I wonder how did they convince him to tag along, argh almost forgot that he’s the chauffeur guy. And again I wonder if Lux know that I’m behind all this, not Sol. But even if she doesn’t know it’s still fine, as I said before I’m protecting her from a distance. Sol is not a threat, not unless he sees that you got potential, then that’s another story.

“Long time no see stranger,” Sasha says settling down. She too, beautiful as she is can’t stand my sex appetite such a bore. She takes a sip of draft, and I just look at her. “So, why were you avoiding me? I’ve been trying to get hold of you all these days to no avail, and you are never in your house.”

“I’m busy,” taking a sip on my draft.

Her: “With what Tsakani because your gear business ain’t blooming,” she only knows that I sell drugs.

Me: “Trying to revive my gear business, I really need it to pick up before I get paralyzed completely (broke) things are bad,” she chuckles.

Her: “That’s because you are a fool Tsakani! You are stupid, in fact you’re a twat!” And here I was thinking that all these words mean the same thing, guess I was wrong. “That’s another reason why I will never date you, that’s because you’re a loser. Look at yourself, you even drink at news café where everyone who earns peanuts drink, I’m glad I met someone better, someone who is loaded,” she takes another sip of my draft.

Me: “Yet, you are out here busy taking sip on my draft? Isn’t that you’re showing that you can’t afford to buy your own alcohol? Women your age are securing the bag while you here busy boasting about someone else’s money. Now, do yourself a favour, and get your flat ass on that chair, and leave

” I pick up the half-full glass, and splash the remaining draft in her chest, she gasps earning us a few stares from some of the noisy customers. 

Her: “You are such a dick Tsakani! I hate you,” she shows me her middle finger, and storms off leaving me laughing. Women and drama. She came for me, she thought that I wasn’t going to retaliate to all that name-calling she did? Pshhhh.

“Sasha is angry man, what did you do her?” Lee asks settling down.

Me: “Nothing. How’s the shopping going?” He shakes his head.

Him: “I need a strong glass of shot, I’ve never been this tired in my whole entire life. When you see me shopping with a woman again, kill me. Wuhhh, kill me please,” he is pissed off. I laugh.

Me: “Hade man. Were you forced?”

Him: “Your mother-in-law asked me to come with them, she doesn’t trust malls that much because they are full of criminals.”

Me: “She’s right though. One needs to be vigilant when coming here. So, is she suspecting anything?”

Him: “Nope. And that’s only because her cousin is keeping her occupied.”

Me: “She has a cousin?”

Him: “A retarded cousin for that matter, that one needs some serious ovulation in a psychiatric facility because wow,” I chuckle.

Me: “She sounds like trouble.”

Him: “She is trouble!” We both laugh, at least now I have someone to keep me company.

★»★«

LUXOLO

My feet are killing me. I can do with some foot massage right now. My mother & Lindiwe are still enjoying the shopping, yet my mom said that we are only to get some house decoration, and buy her- her sewing machine, but instead they are hopping from shops to shops window shopping. I excuse myself from them, and go to the ladies room I really need to rest my feet. You see in stripping is all about working your legs on the pole, and not walk around as if you are lost or something. And again my mother knows that I get serious headache when we get home if we were here at the mall, that’s why I don’t like them. I really hate crowded places, sometimes I do get headaches when working the pole, but I still push because I need to make money.

Lindiwe sends me a text telling me that they are ready to leave I must call Lee, thanks God. I punch in his numbers, and it rings thrice I’m about to hang up when he answers.

“Sugar my darling.”

“We are ready to leave, come and fetch us.”

Him: “I’m on my way give me 3 minutes,” he hangs up. 3 minutes it is. I step out in one of the toilets, and wash my hands from the mirror I can see someone standing behind me looking at me straight, I don’t even know her, but her look is unsettling, and she’s wearing all black. I tilt my head, and look at her, I see her approaching me from behind taking out something from her back, a silver knife is on her shaking hand. Amateur, she lifts it up, and we hear some shuffling, and people talking outside they are clearly coming here, she drops the knife on the floor, and runs away. I hurry to where the knife is and kick it in one of the toilet’s door thanks God the there’s some tiny space underneath the door, I get in too then pick it up, and put it on my waist then walk out as if everything is fine. I wonder who was she, and who sent her. Why would whoever send her, send an amateur? A whole flipping amateur! Now I don’t know who wants me dead because it seems like I’ve made myself enemies unaware, my big mouth must go, period.

Lindiwe: “What took you so long?”

Me: “Constipation was showing me flames,” what if she’s the one who sent her? I’m not saying that she did, I just don’t trust her.

Her: “You should stop it eating soil.”

Me: “But I don’t eat soil,” shrugging.

Mom: “It’s probably white bread plus you don’t drink enough water,” oh no.

Me: “I doubt,” Lee comes to where we are, and he helps carry some of the shopping bags, and walk away together with my mother we are following behind them.

Her: “I don’t know if it’s me or what, but I feel like someone is watching/following us,” I feel the same too, and that can only be that girl not unless she is with people who she works with.

Me: “My sentiments too,” she stops on her tracks, and moves her eyes around until they stop at a certain person.

Her: “Shit! Hold these for me I’ll be back, in fact walk straight to the car, and don’t look back if I’m not back within 5 minutes tell Lee to leave,” she hands me the shopping bags.

Me: “Where are you going?”

Her: “I need to sort out something fast, and I already smell blood my nose never lies.” She pushes me to leave, and she takes another direction. Where the hell is she going, and what did she mean by she sm…, oh shit. Don’t tell me that she’s a killer, I mean. Hhayini, fuck it. I pick up my steps, and head straight to where the car is. From a distance I can hear gunshots, and I see people scattering all over the mall screaming, I quickly step inside the car, and Lee brings the engine to life. Lindiwe. We can’t leave her.

Mom: “Wait, where’s Lindiwe?” My mom asks with so much panic in her voice.

Me: “She’s coming Mama.”

Her: “Oh, umntana ka sis wami bandla,” she puts her hands over her head.

Me: “She’s fine Mama don’t worry,” my legs are shaking.

Lee: “Let me go, and check her out.”

Me: “No. Don’t. I trust that she’s fine wherever she is,” wuhhh. Who am I trying to convince? Shit. Lee, is about to drive when I see Lindiwe running toward the car wearing another T-shirt covering the bloodied one. Did she really kill a person, or maybe blood spilled on her? Damn. She gets inside the car.

“Drive!” She orders Lee, and Lee roars the engine to life, and speeds off without asking any questions. What just happened. I look at her hand, and I see a small gun in her hand, wawu. Who are you Lindiwe? I look at my mother, and she’s concentrating on the road, she exhaled a deep breath when she saw Lindiwe. Lee, is looking at in the rear mirror.

Me: “What happened?” Whispering.

Her: “I’ll fill you in when we get home,” she whispers back. I nod. Lee phones ring.

“Sir.”

“Yes they are.”

“Okay,” he shakes his head I guess he noticed the blood in Lindiwe’s T-shirt. Police vans pass us in a speed ringing their sirens, these old bill are forever late, ai…