The Perfect Copy
#8
Neo frowned.
“My sister?”
“Yes. Once she sees you, she will know what to do.”
Neo looked around. “You mean the wife of the married man you were sleeping with? Why would I go to her after all that you did?”
“Who told you I was sleeping with him? He raped me! Is it Tsona?”
“Mama, it doesn’t even matter how you conceived me. Why would I go to that woman’s house after what happened? I am a result of infertility!” Neo lowered her voice. “Why would I want to remind her of the past?”
“I said if you are ever stranded, you will go to her. I will send you her number. Your father… the one who impregnated me, raped me, and that is something I have to live with every day. My own family doesn’t believe me and, trust me Neo, I have gotten to a point where I do not care anymore. God knows what happened. If you ever need help, Elizabeth Edwards will help you. And if you choose to remain in Gaborone with a man and be dependent on him, that is fine. I can’t tell you what to do, but be prepared for him to use you and dispose of you. That is what is going to happen. He is just going to use you and leave you. You are not special, Neo.”
Neo swallowed as her mother cut the call. She slowly walked back inside the house. Quinton turned to her and looked at her sad face.
“What’s wrong?”
Neo forced a smile, sitting down. “Nothing.”
Quinton pulled her closer by the kitchen stool and looked into her teary eyes.
“What is wrong?”
Neo rubbed her eyes. “I am scared to stay. If you leave me, who will help me? I don’t even understand why it’s me you want from all the women you have access to.”
“What did your mother say to you?”
She looked down and Quinton tilted her chin, staring at her.
“Her life experiences will never be your experiences in life. What would make you comfortable? Should I pay the rent in advance?”
Her eyes slowly became glossy as she stared at him.
“I can do that and get you a job that doesn’t interfere with the tutoring lessons.”
Neo shook her head slowly.
“It’s not about rent.”
“Then what is it?”
She hesitated. “What will I say to my aunt? She trusted me.”
“Then tell her the truth.”
Neo blinked. “The truth?”
“Yes.” He stepped closer. “Tell her I asked you to stay.”
“She is going to say I am making a mistake.”
“Then you tell her it is your mistake to make.”
Neo stared at him quietly.
He brushed his thumb under her eye, wiping away a tear she didn’t realize had fallen.
“If I just wanted anyone else, it would be her right now but I want you.”
Her throat tightened.
“Why?”
“Because my heart wants you. I am not promising you that life will be perfect, I am promising you that I am not here to waste your time.”
Silence settled between them.
Neo exhaled slowly. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Ok.”
He smiled pulling her for a kiss. He moved back smiling.
“Anyways my sister is coming to drop off a few of my belongings.”
Neo sniffed rubbing her eyes. “She is coming here?”
“Yes. She is already in the estate. She…-“ Lights reflected from the window and he got off the stool. “She is already here.”
Neo grabbed him arm. “Where should I go? I can go to the bathroom and hide.”
“Neo weh kana ga ke ngwana, you are meeting my sister.”
He walked to the door just as someone knocked. He opened the door and his sister laughed.
“Big head!”
“Tsek! O meno.”
His sister pushed him laughing while getting inside the house. She paused laughing and looked over at Neo.
“Uhh..” She glanced at her brother.
Quinton walked over to Neo.
“Babe, this is my one and only older sister by just 2 years if I may add, Barati, this is Neo.”
Barati walked over to Neo and tilted her head. “Hi. Have we met before?”
Neo shook her head nervously. Barati got closer.
“There is no way! I know you. I have met you before.”
Quinton smiled. “Met her where? She has lived in Mahalapye her whole life.”
Barati looked at her brother. “I am not being weird. Does she have a sister? Because I could gave sworn I met you before. At my work place, you came with your mom. I forgot your mom’s name, I work at a travel agency. And you were going to Windhoek.”
Neo moved closer to Quinton. “It was not me. Its my first time here.”
Barati turned catching Quinton staring at him. She turned back to Neo and sighed.
“I guess I am mixing you up. I see so many people that..” Barati smiled. “Nice meeting you Neo. I didn’t know big head here was dating.”
Quinton put his arm around Neo.
“Big head yaanong ke mang?”
Barati laughed. “Ijo. Anywho, your staff is in the boot. I have to go. Nice to meet you Neo.”
“Eemma.”
Neo sighed as the sister walked out. Quinton kissed her cheek and walked after his sister. Barati looked at him standing by her car.
“I swear to you, I have met her before. Her name started with an N but it wasn’t Neo.”
“It couldn’t have been her. Its her first time in Gaborone.”
“Maybe sibling?”
“Maybe. Her father is no where to be found so it could be her sister.”
“Makes sense though that girl looked exactly like her. Just that Neo has short hair, that other one had long hair. She looks young though she is beautiful.”
“She is legal.”
“Do her parents know she is here?”
“Yes.”
Barati sighed. “Your things are in the boot. Please act right for that poor girl. She seems very nice. And take her back home from here. We don’t want you in the news for kidnapping.”
Quinton grabbed the box in the boot and stared at his sister.
“This one is the one for me.”
He walked back in the house as his sister got in her car and drove off. She thoughtfully called her husband headed to the gate.
“Hey.”
“Babe weh, I just saw Q’s new girlfriend.”
“He is dating?”
“Yes. And believe it or not, I have seen that girl’s look alike before.”
“Look alike?”
“Yes. Identical look alike. As in another copy of her. I know siblings sometimes look alike but not like this. Its as if these 2 girls are twins.”
“Maybe they are. Sometimes twins are separated at birth for various reasons.”
“Maybe.”
She drove off while still gossiping with her husband.
***
The following morning, Neelo picked a call while going through universities in the States.
“Hello?”
“You are alive?”
“Yes.”
“Oh well, what a bummer. I thought you would be dead.”
She rolled her eyes. “I am fine.”
“Next time you think of taking your life, call me so we can determine if its worth it.”
She smiled a little. “Mxm.”
He chuckled. “I am being serious.”
“Your brother got arrested. It’s on Facebook.”
“Yeah, it was bound to happen.”
“Are you not scared he is going to tell them police you have the money?”
“No. He is a piece of shit but not that kind.”
She leaned back. “Thank you.”
“Anytime. I charge for counseling services.”
She laughed. “Pay yourself with the robbery money.”
“You are ungrateful.”
They both laughed then he sighed. “Sharp akere?”
She smiled. “Bye. Wait, what’s your name?”
“Vincent.”
“Ok. Bye Vincent.”
He chuckled hanging up. Neelo put her phone down and continued looking through the schools while her smile lingered.
***
Kgosi’s heart pounded later that morning as Amo walked from the elevator at her work place, her heels clacking loudly on the tiles. He stood up by the waiting area while holding the huge bouquet of roses.
Amo sighed approaching him.
“Hi.”
He wet his lips. “Hey. Uh I got you these.”
She looked at the flowers then took them. “Thank you.”
He took a deep breath in. “You look very beautiful.”
She held the flowers properly. “Thanks.” She looked at him properly. “I heard your uncles canceled the meeting we were supposed to have.”
“Yeah. They are giving me space to fix my own mess.”
Amo looked behind at a few colleagues walking out of the premises.
“You broke my heart Kgosi.”
“And I am sorry. I swear on my life baby, it will never happen again.”
“I don’t know if I can trust you again.”
“I will do anything. I swear I will do anything.”
“Thank you fir the flowers. I have a meeting to-“
“I tested positive for HIV yesterday. I know this is not something you would want to hear and I know this sets up us back but-“
“You tested positive?”
“Yes. I was thinking maybe you can also test-“
“Because you think you gave it to me? Does your side chick also has it?”
He looked down. “Yes.”
“You know what? Its fine. I forgive you.”
His face jerked up to her. “Babe- “
“I forgive you. You can come back home.”
“Are you serious?”
“100% sure. Come back. I forgive you.”
His eyes moistened. He moved closer to hug her but she moved back.
“I have to go.”
She turned and walked away.
***
That same morning, Neo quickly turned off the TV in the house all alone and picked Tsona’s call.
“Aunty.”
“Neo, are you with Quinton in Gaborone?”
“Aunty-“
“Answer me! I just spoke to your mother. Is that who you are with?”
“I am sorry-“
“What are you sorry about? You lying to me? Taking my money to run off with a man who will never marry you or what?”
“I sent granny’s money. I didn’t-“
“And the one I gave you for the bus? How long have you been seeing him?”
“I am sorry.”
“No. Don’t be. You knew what you were doing when you decided to run off with him. I am very disappointed in you but what did I expect from Maria’s child? You are just like your mother, the apple truly doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
Tears burnt Neo’s eyes. Tsona continued angrily.
“I didn’t take you in for you to behave like this so if you think you are grown, I then wash my hands off you. Don’t come back to my house, I do not house liars. And you are fired, I told you what would happen should you throw yourself at him. Stay there and never come back to me.”
“I am very sorry.”
Tsona hung up. Neo sat back in complete silence.
FOUR YEARS LATER…
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