{It’s a bit long}

LUXOLO

I step out of the shower when I hear the doorbell ringing, I’m sure Tsakani is in deep sleep. I’m happy that for the first time in like forever he finally managed to get some peaceful sleep. No moaning, or waking up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat, this place is indeed mind calming. I grab one of the robes that were sprawled on top of the couch, I tighten it as I open the door, and it’s room service.

“Thank you. I will dial you once done eating,” she slightly nods and pivots around, I close the door and wake Tsakani up, it’s almost 09:15 am. He growls and covers himself with the sheet as I’m jumping on top of the bed waking him up.

“Wake up sleepy head. Breakfast is ready, and remember, we are going sightseeing today, get up toe.”

“Fuck, bubbles! I’m still sleeping, I don’t remember when was the last time I had some peaceful sleep,” he says sitting upright rubbing his face, and throwing his dreadlocks behind him. The beard needs to be trimmed it looks unruly. “What are we having for breakfast?”

Me: “How about you go and brush your teeth first, then we will find out what they’ve prepared. I told them not to prepare us fancy weird food, but normal food.”

Him: “What’s their normal food here?” He balances his elbows in his thighs, and put both his hands in his cheeks then pouts a little, looking all gay, a muscular gay that is. I chuckle. “What? What is it?”

Me: “Nothing,” I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. “Just go and brush your teeth before the food gets cold.”

Him: “Right.” He gets off the bed and saunter to the shower. I make the bed so long then I will look for something to wear for both of us, the weather it’s a little bit chilly on this side, and it looks like it might rain later on. Even if it rains, Nikolai will still die plus vele bathi rain is a blessing, and in this case, it means that his death has been blessed already.

In no time we are out of the hotel in our matching outfit he actually insisted that we wear the same clothes, and paint Milan black with a touch of blue. Our first stop is at The Grand Canal in Venice. The largest and most famous of these waterways, cutting a wide S-shaped route through the city. The is grandest of palaces once owned by the wealthiest and most powerful families of the Venetian Republic, the buildings are extremely ancient though, but beautiful. The boat is a little uncomfortable for me, I’d rather be in a car or airplane than here, plus I’m not a fan of vast waters.

“Beautiful. I think we should move down here,” Tsakani notifies me.

“Huh? With whom?” I look at him.

Him: “Us. And possibly with our kids in the future.”

Me: “What? I ain’t leaving South Africa. That country is lit, imagine missing out on all the fun there and the jokes they formulate in serious situations? Like, my love, it can never be me shame.”

Him: “So, you don’t want us to start a new life in a different world?”

Me: “Nope. They don’t even sell kotas or bunny chows here, and they don’t have chesanyamas and heck! They don’t even know what pineapple is.” He laughs. “You know I’m right though,” he continues laughing and I just ignore him, and watch the view.

Him: “Now that you’ve mentioned it, I wouldn’t trade South Africa for anything. We’ve even fought for that country, and that will be a good history for our kids in the future.”

Her: “Exactly. We can always come here for holidays.”

Him: “Great. Who would’ve thought that one day I’ll find myself here in Italy?”

Me: “No one.”

Him: “After all it’s said & done I think we need to tour the world. What do you think?”

Me: “That was forever on top of my bucket list,” he nods.

Once done cruising The Grand canal, we found ourselves on the Amalfi Coast. A breathtaking site, Hillside towns are built precariously along the steep mountainsides that cascade down to the sea. The main towns along here are Positano and Amalfi, with their colorful domed cathedral. At least here we are touring the coast by using an Uber, our tour guide is the best shame. The walking paths stretch all along the coast, the most breathtaking scenery for us is the Sentiero Degli Dei, Footpath of the Gods, at the western end from Positano.

Vatican City the place with most of the world’s priceless arts and poignant works of Pieta was next. The Uffizi Gallery, a building that contains an art museum followed afterward. Roman Forum, Cinque Terre tarrail, hiking in Gola Su Gorropu all visited. And our last stop after all the sightseeing we did is at Trattoria Trippa a famous Italian restaurant, and the reviews were promising, and now we are here to feed our curiosity taste buds.

The waiter gives us our menus, and the names of the food are so foreign as I browse the menu. The only thing I can say I’m familiar with is the chocolate cake, as for bo fried tripes and the others ku dark.

“Fried tripes?” I laugh nodding as Tsakani questions. “Tripe as in Umgodu godu?” He sounds taken aback by that, and so am I.

“And look at how nasty your prawns look, sies.”

Him: “Are you sure that we are in the right restaurant?” I laugh out loud not carrying about the people around us. “I think we should leave, bubbles. There’s no way I’m eating here.”

Me: “No. We are not leaving. We will just order Risotto with Tastasal, this one tastes better I once tasted it.”

Him: “Hope I won’t regret this.”

Me: “You won’t trust me.” I wave my hand at the waiter to attend us. “And for dessert, we can have Timasto.”

Him: “We should’ve just looked for a pizza place or something, and besides we are not dressed for the part. See how elegant everyone is looking?” I scan my eyes around, and people are wearing suits & dresses. But then again, if they didn’t want us here they wouldn’t have let us in right? Yeah, that’s just about it. Clearly, everyone is welcomed here. “You see?”

Me: “I do, and the owner doesn’t seem to have a problem with us eating here. We are different from all these people here, they may look at us weirdly but the curiosity lingers in their eyes, they want to know the story behind us.”

Him: “So, we are basically celebrities around here?”

Me: “More like aliens,” he snickers, and I tilt my head giving him a one-shoulder shrug.

Him: “Hmmm,” our food arrives, and we dig in. “It doesn’t taste that bad, I’m actually enjoying it.”

Me: “I told you.”

Him: “But it’s such a small portion.”

Me: “I know. We will grab burgers in some burger joint that Milan told me about, she said the burgers there are the best!”

Him: “Now you are talking,” we continue eating over a light conversation.

The black-tie event starts at 19:00, and it’s only 15:00, we still have some time, but not much because we still need to go and fetch our attire for the night in the nearest boutique. I have no doubts that the girls will be locked in that stuffy commune, I must also find a way to free them, and they better fucking go bizarre in that event. All those rich fuckers must suffer, and feel the wrath of these girls, and the building must be shut down after that and never to be used again. Or possibly being changed into some sort of youth rehabilitation center or something that will benefit the community too. We are still going to use the underground route, and we also need to deactivate the cameras once we get there.

★»★«

VUYO

I don’t know why, or what I did, but God is coming through for me in just a short period of time. He is proving to me continuously about how great he is, and his promises are always yes & amen. Last night as I was preparing to retire to bed when I received a call from my uncle’s wife, Brenda. She told me where I can find my sister, but in order for me to meet with her, I will have to book an appointment to see her, according to my aunt this sister of mine is a very busy woman, and detest being distracted by random people, and she’s not quite a people’s person. I wonder what is her line of work, and if she works with people; how does she deal with them? Anyway, Brenda promised that she will send me her numbers once she’s spoken to her, and asked for her permission and if she’s okay meeting up with me. Hmm, I don’t know, but I’m kind of nervous I don’t even know why because she didn’t even agree to meet with me yet. What if she refused to meet up with me? Sighs. Let me not think much about it, but rather practice what I’m going to say to her.

“Kwanyiwa,” Dineo, says stepping inside the kitchen startling me. She laughs. “Sorry for scaring you, but I’m here for Yezwe’s bottle I’ve been waiting for it for over 20 minutes now,” she stares at me, arms in front of her.

“Sorry, I was lost in thoughts,” I hand her the bottle.

Her: “Thinking about your sister?” I nod sitting down. “I thought I told to not stop worrying, everything will go just fine. Sometimes you worry about nothing, and if she refuses to meet up with you, it’d still be okay because you would’ve tried your best to meet up with her, and tried making things right. It will all be on her, and not you. Relax, and allow God to work on your behalf.”

Me: “Thank you. I don’t know what I would’ve done if it wasn’t for you, thank you.”

Her: “You don’t have to thank me. It is my duty to make sure that you are always in good spirits, that’s what I’m here for. Let me go and feed Yezwe before he starts wailing, and don’t worry, your aunt will come back with good news.” She kisses my forehead, and saunters away.

I look at my phone, and still nothing from Brenda. Guess I will just have to be patient, and be positive as my fiancé said. The kids are both at school, so I have nothing to do really, and Dineo will sleep once done feeding Yezwe. Soccer it is then…

★»★«

TSAKANI

Our attire is all set in our suit covers, and we are ready to hit the road. I trimmed my beard as bubbles suggested

and plaited my locks. Bubbles got a new style plus the makeup artist did a wonderful job with her face. She looks really beautiful. I’m in love, well, I’m always in love with her over and over again. I pick our suit covers while she picks up the backpack containing our clothes that we are going to wear once out of here, we can’t leave this hotel looking suspicious they might call the police on us. And the backpack also contains some weapons. 

“Let’s cruise,” she throws the backpack on her back and steps out of the room, I follow her shortly. Once outside her phone rings. “South African number, I wonder who is it. Hello?” She answers putting the phone on the loudspeaker.

“Hey, Tammy. It’s me.” That’s Lindiwe’s voice and she sounds down.

“Hey, me. What’s up?”

Her: “I told him, Tammy.”

Bubbles: “What? And what did he say?”

Her: “He just left without saying anything to me. I don’t even know where he went to, I’m stressed Tammy. What if he breaks up with me?”

Bubbles: “Calm down Lindiwe. He’s still in shock, he will come around. Lee, he loves you Lindiwe and I don’t think he will break up with you just give him some time he will come around. At least the truth is finally out you will no longer have to hide anymore.”

Her: “I guess you are right, and to tell you the truth I’m relieved that I finally told him the truth, and I can be myself again without having to worry. Urh…m, there’s only one hiccup though.”

Bubbles: “What is it?”

Her: “The guys & Milan, don’t know about them finding out about this I don’t even want to see how they are going to react once they learn the truth. I wish I can get swallowed by the ground, or disappear into thin air,” bubbles laugh. “Especially TK’s expression,” bubbles look at me.

Bubbles: “Don’t worry about him, I will fill him in.”

Her: “He better not faint. Guess I’ll have to tell Milan because I’m sure that Leon knows by now, anyway, let me not keep you. I will dial you later.”

Bubbles: “Cool, and don’t worry about Lee, he will come back to his senses.”

Her: “Hopefully, bye and pass my greetings to TK.”

Bubbles: “I will, love you.”

Her: “Love you too.” She hangs up, and bubbles turn to look at me.

Me: “And?”

Her: “I will tell you everything once we are done with this mission that we are embarking on.

Me: “I’ll remind you.” She nods. I wonder what’s the reveal.

The passage is dark, but not too dark since our torches are providing light for us, and lanterns are surrounding the walls even though their brightness is not that bright, it’s dim. Bubbles open something like a lid just above her head after we’ve climbed the ladder. The first thing my eyes lands on is the piece of gold that’s near the secret door or something. My mouth hangs open as I take in the sight before me after bubbles switched on the light, gold is covering this place, there are no windows here, just golds covering the whole wall. Damn, if I can get my hands on these I’ll be a fucking billionaire! Wait, there’s also no door here, geez. This person really hid his treasures well.

Me: “Bubbles, are all these real?” I touch some of them.

Her: “Yes. And here we have diamonds,” she gestures to the long cabinet, there’s actually 2 of them. She yanks the door open and my mouth once again drops to the floor as I see millions of diamonds glimmering. “We will be back for them later on, wear your mask I don’t want you throwing up.”

Me: “Throwing up? I’m a big boy bubbles, nothing makes me squeamish,”  she chuckles then shrugs her shoulders. “I’m for real.”

Her: “If you say so.” She puts on her mask, and nods for me to follow after her. She climbs the ladder after switching off the lights. Nausea bubbles from up from my stomach, to my throat, out of my mouth, and onto the pile of rotten bodies on the floor as the smell hit my nose. I can hear bubbles chuckling as I spew everything that I’ve eaten. Yasis, the smell is very terrible! I search for my mask in my pocket and put it on, the sight alone is nauseating I’ve never seen a lot of bodies before. “Yah clever,” she giggles.

Me: “Nx.”

Her: “Shhh, they are bringing a fresh corpse steady yourself,” I nod. The door clicks as the one behind it unlocks it, the door opens and the guard steps in dragging a body. “Psss,” the guard turns to look in the direction that voice came from, but he was a little bit late because I was already behind him in one quick motion covering his mouth, the okapi in my hand makes its way to his neck, I push it in, and he bellows I let go of her as he slumps to the floor. “Good job.”

Me: “Let’s just get out of here.”

Her: “Scared that you might throw up again?” She chuckles.

Me: “Shut the hell up!” We step out of the dead body room, I’m not coming back here. The guard’s uniform is my perfect fit, great. We walk the passage as cars keep coming in after they’ve done some security check. Bubbles, knows this place like the back of her hand. We weave passages, and in no time we are inside this enormous building we can hear muffled noise from here.

Her: “Go and check his room, and I will check his office,” I nod, then we part ways I still remember the directions she told me to take once we got here. I pass some of the food servers, couples stepping inside heading to that other room, guards milling around clearly not expecting anything to happen tonight.

I find the room, turn down the handle, step inside and search for him, but nothing. He’s not here, guess he’s in his office. Let me go, I don’t want to miss the show that bubbles is going to put for Nikolai.

★»★«

LUXOLO

I can hear voices inside his office, he’s with someone, a woman to be exact I’m sure it’s one of the girls that they torture here, he wants to release before the event starts. I place my hand on the doorknob, and pull it down then push it open, silent gun in my right hand. He doesn’t see me, the girl grinding him is obstructing his view. He is still a piece of shit. I clear my throat, and the girl leaps up from him and scurry to the corner, her body is underweight. Nikolai, narrows his eyes trying to make out who am I, upon realizing who am I his eyes go wide in shock as if he just saw a ghost or something.

“T- guns?” I flash him a smile nodding. “What the hell are you doing here?” I discern him as he puts his hand under the table.

“Don’t even think about it.” I shoot him on his shoulder and he groans.

Him: “What the fuck? Are you crazy!”

Me: “That’s my middle name. How do you like me now?”

Him: “Ho- how did gain entrance here? All the gates are secured, and you don’t look like someone who got an invitation.” He’s annoyed.

Me: “I know. I saw it as a good thing to invite myself since I didn’t get my invitation, but not to worry I’m here now.”

Him: “Why are you here? Thought you died in that fucking war!”

Me: “Well, I survived.” I shoot him on his other shoulder, and he groans again, the girl yelps. I turn to the girl. “Can you shut up for a few seconds? You are annoying me,” she quickly nods. “Good.”

Him: “What the fuck are you doing here?”

Me: “To visit you.”

Him: “You better leave right now before my guards come here, you know how quickly they react when they don’t see me for more than 10 minutes.”

“You mean those fuckers out there? Don’t worry yourself about them, they are too occupied, and by the look of things they will be for quite some time.” Nikolai tilts his head, and stare at him. “Oh, my bad. I’m TK, bubbles boyfriend.” He looks at me, then at Tsakani, and back at me.

Him: “I don’t care who the hell you are! What the fuck do you mean by ‘they are too occupied?”

Tsakani: “The girls are going wild out there on them, it’s like a jungle.”

Him: “What?” He attempts to get up, but the pain in his shoulders is humbling him. “What the fuck did you do you son of a bitch!” He bangs the table freaking out the little girl.

Tk: “I’m sure you were not planning to keep them on that stuffy room while there’s some event taking place right? I mean, that would be very heartless of you to shut them out. To tell you the truth, they seem very happy to be out there, and after keeping your boys busy they are going to the hall, imagine how traumatized those guests of yours are going to be.”

Him: “Fuck you, man! Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Do you!” I laugh, now I understand why he’s mad, some of the girls’ parents are here they are part of the guests, I’m all for his insolence because wow!

Me: “Ahh, now I understand why you are indignant. You are scared that those guests of yours will see their bruised, underweight, broken, ruined daughters who suffered in your hands. You are very cruel. Furthermore, you invited all these rich people to this event of yours, the very same people whom you have their daughters captured & tortured. Killing you is going to be easy, so, why don’t I just let the very same girls you’ve tortured kill you themselves. Oh, and I’ll be taking all those golds & diamonds because you will no longer need them.”

Him: “Fuck you!”

Me: “It takes two,” I throw my gun on top of the table where he can’t reach it, but I’m very confident that the girl will use it on him, I saw how she eyed it. “We are going to use your private jet to transport all the gold & diamonds you are keeping here then I’ll notify the police afterward, stay well, but before we leave just allow us to change into our outfits that correspond with the event.”

It doesn’t take us long to change into our formal outfit. We dispose of our clothes in the trash bin, and Tsakani sets them alight.

Me: “May your soul rest in fucking pieces!” I spit on the marble floor.

Tsakani: “And no one will miss you,” he takes my hand into his and as we step out of his office, the girl arises from the floor abruptly and head to the table where the gun is placed.

The girls still haven’t invaded the hall yet as people are still mingling and beverages being served. Tsakani takes two cocktails from the waiter that was passing by.

Him: “It’s only a matter of time before they grace us with their presence,” I nod as we continue walking in further getting lost in the crowd heading to the emergency exit without being seen. The door on the other side pushes open immediately as we descend the stairs, and lots of screaming follows after… Done & Dusted.