Midnight Kiss
3
Later that afternoon in Gaborone, Lesedi sat in the back seat of the car, staring out the window while her father chatted with his friend in the front.
Her tears had long dried. Everything inside her felt numb.
She watched big, beautiful houses pass by hidden behind tall walls and electric gates. Her mind raced while dark thoughts pressing in. A part of her wished she could open the door and jump out of the moving car, end everything right there. It felt like the better option.
The car slowed and turned into a gate.
Her father’s friend smiled.
“We are here.”
He pressed the intercom, and moments later the gate slid open revealing a white house inside a neat yard. They drove in and parked beside another car. Rragwe Ofentse stepped out first.
As he walked toward the house, Lesedi wet her dry throat as her father turned to her.
“We have arrived. You are going to stay here with him.” He paused looking at her swollen eyes. “He is a good man with a good job. He will rake care of you. You can go to school to be a teacher like you have always wanted. ”
Tears stung her eyes.
“I don’t want to stay here.”
“But you are staying and that is final. Whatever nonsense you were doing with that idiot is finished. You will never see him again. This is your life now.”
A tear slid down her cheek.
“You should be grateful.” He glanced over at the door then at his daughter. “Rragwe Ofentse says his son is a proper man. You should be celebrating. Let’s go.”
Lesedi watched her father step out of the car, adjusting his neatly tucked shirt. She opened her door slowly and followed him.
Rragwe Ofentse knocked on the door for the third time getting impatient. Moments later, the door opened and a man stood there, smiling confused.
“Papa?”
Rragwe Ofentse nodded.
“I have been knocking for a while. What were you doing?” He turned slightly. “Remember my friend Kgosiemang? The one I told you about, the one with the beautiful daughter?”
He pointed toward them.
“This is him. And this is his daughter, Lesedi.”
Lesedi’s heart raced as she stood next to her father.
“I have already paid the bride price on your behalf and now I have brought you your wife. All this nonsense you have been doing here with girls who have no manners ends today.”
Ofentse looked at Lesedi, then slowly turned to his father.
“Excuse me?”
“I have paid bride price on your behalf.” Rragwe Ofentse spoke calmly. “Just like I told you I would. You will pay me back.”
Ofentse laughed then stopped realizing no one else was laughing. He stared at his father.
“What do you think this is? The nineteenth century? You paid bride price for her, then you did it for yourself. She is yours not mine. When have I ever told you that I needed a wife, or that you could go and choose one for me? Or better yet, marry her on my behalf?”
Rragwe Ofentse stepped closer.
“The only reason I gave you my company to run,” He spoke quietly. “was because I believed you would become a man of principle. If I have to act on your behalf to make sure that happens, then I will.”
He leaned in.
“If you don’t want her, then don’t ever step foot in my company again. I will not allow you to embarrass me or destroy the legacy I worked hard to build.”
His voice hardened.
“And be careful with what comes out of your mouth next. I will personally make sure you are in jail for all the nonsense you have done before the sun sets.”
Ofentse’s heart pounded. The veins at his temples bulging as his nose flared with every breath he took.
“You wouldn’t do that.”
Rragwe Ofentse stared at him.
“Try me.”
He turned to Lesedi, his face softening instantly.
“Lesedi, come my child, step closer.”
He took her trembling hand.
“This is your home now. Come inside.”
He pushed his son aside and walked into the house with her.
Lesedi swallowed hard, unable to lift her eyes to the man who was supposed to be her husband. Her heart raced as a cold shiver ran down her spine.
Rragwe Ofentse smiled proudly.
“All this is yours. That is Ofentse. You will stay here with him. Unfortunately, your father and I cannot stay long. We have business to attend to while we are in the city.”
“You will be fine here.”
Tears rolled down Lesedi’s cheeks as she turned to her father.
“Papa…”
Rragwe Lesedi placed her bag down and cleared his throat.
“I will come and see you soon. Be good.”
She shook her head.
“I-”
“Be good.”
He turned and walked out.
Rragwe Ofentse looked at his son.
“Treat her well. I am watching you. Mistreat her and see what happens.”
He followed rragwe Lesedi outside.
“Your son does not look happy.”
“Ofentse has always been like that. He will be fine. He will get used to his reality.”
They got in the car.
“I have covered too much nonsense for him. Gave him everything on a silver platter. Instead of protecting the good name I built for this family, he parades around the city with prostitutes.”
He shook his head.
“I will never allow that. Lesedi is right for him.”
Inside the house, Lesedi listened to the car drive out and somehow it felt like she was stuck in a dream. She moved back as Ofentse stared at her, disgust reflecting in his eyes. He clenched his jaw and walked to his bedroom. Lesedi stood still unsure of what to do. Minutes passed as she stood in the same position. Finally she gathered a little strength and took a step headed towards the door but a car driving in outside froze her to her spot. Her heart skipped with relief of her father coming back for him. It was obviously him. He was back to his senses. Joyful tears filled her eyes. Ofentse walked out from his bedroom and frowned looking at her.
“What the fuvk are you still doing in my house?”
“I..”
The front door opened and a lady walked in dressed smartly, her long heels hitting the tiles. She smiled at Ofentse but paused looking at Lesedi.
“Uhh..”
Ofentse met her halfway and kissed her.
“My father was just here dropping off a maid for me. I don’t need her so she is leaving.”
His girlfriend smiled a little.
“Really? Because you barely clean after yourself? And we can share her. I also need a maid at my house.”
“She is from the village, I doubt she knows anything. I don’t think she even knows how to use a mop.”
Arefa looked over and chuckled. “Ng ng, she is perfect. Everyone knows what a mop is. I forgot my file last night. I am already late for work.”
She looked around then walked over to the TV stand and picked up the file. She looked at Lesedi who was standing still as if she were statue.
“You don’t talk?”
Lesedi’s throat dried up further. Arefa looked at her up and down then walked back to her man.
“I will see you later. I am late!”
She perked him on the lips and rushed out.
.