BAYANDA
08 .
BAYANDA
I could have never imagined that one day, Sipho would lay his hands on me—he has told me so many times that he loves me and he wants to see me happy, is this his way of showing me that? I don’t understand anything right now. I’m also not going to tolerate a man who lays his hands on me.
I’ve been raised in a way that whenever such happens in a relationship, I can never stay. I’m staring at myself in the mirror right now, I’m not that lightskinned but his hand mark is visible across my cheek—he looked like he was losing it for a second, I didn’t think that he’d find out so soon. Everything just happened in a rush and I didn’t have the energy to explain myself to him.
I don’t see anything wrong with my history with Katlego. We never dated, we were both kids that found homes in each other. Is that what got him that mad? I heave a sigh and put on my robe.
Sarah already knocked off, if she had seen me like this then Sipho would be spending the night in jail—she doesn’t play with me that one. I grab the bottle of water and step out to the balcony, I stand there watching the city’s view—the fresh air is hitting my face calmly. I needed this, the quiet alone time. Sbahle Zwane admitted her daughter today, she was very emotional about this whole thing but I tried by all means to assure her that her child is in good hands.
About that child, she looks like someone I’ve seen before—but because I have such a weak memory, I can’t remember who. It’s gonna take me 5 years to remember that person unless I randomly see them again. My phone rings in my bedroom, I shouldn’t be picking it up but I need to be on call always incase something happens at the hospital..
“Hello?” I answer the phone.
“Are you available for a late night dinner? I haven’t taken you out for your birthday yet, I know it already passed but I want to take you out.” Katlego says, on the other side of the call. Where did he even get my numbers?
“Where did you get my numbers?” I ask him.
“I happen to have connections around this city. Don’t worry about where I got your numbers, are you accepting my invitation?” He asks me, I heave a sigh.
“No, thanks. I don’t want to have dinner with you—I’ve already eaten and I’m about to sleep.” I say, attempting to hang up but something stops me.
“That tone sounds fishy, what happened? you don’t sound like you’re in a good mood.” He says, this person last saw me 14 years ago. How can he still know me like this? even Sipho doesn’t know me like this.
“Nothing happened Katlego, I’m okay. I should get some rest, I have work to do tomorrow.” I say hanging up, I walk back inside and place my phone back in the charger. I take the extra pillows off my bed and open the covers. I walk downstairs to make myself some coffee before I go to sleep.
I turn on the lights and walk to the kitchen, I turn on the coffee maker and stand there—losing myself in these thoughts. It doesn’t take a second before I hear my door bell ring—it’s 9pm in the evening, who rings someone’s door bell at this time? some people are so weird.
I rush to the CCTV computer and check the person standing by the door, he’s facing the other way but I can clearly see that it’s Katlego—how did he even get here so fast? it hasn’t even been 15 minutes since I spoke to him.
I walk to the door and open up, he’s holding a package of food. I hope that’s not for me because I clearly told him that I’m not hungry, I already ate.
“What is wrong with you?” I ask him, he walks inside—before I can actually let him in. I glance at him shocked, he does know that this is my house and he can’t just walk in like this? how the heck did he even know that I stay here?
“I feel like you’re stalking me, what’s wrong with you?” I ask him, he turns around and glances at me—with a straight face.
“What’s on your face?” He asks me, I place my hand over my cheek—what will he even do? Sipho is his brother, he won’t do anything to him.
“Your brother slapped me because he found the album you had given to me. He was also mad that I refused to sleep with him at that moment.” I say, walking past him and going to the kitchen—he’s following me.
“Did you slap him back?” He asks me, I glance at him—how could I have slapped him back when he was in that state? he really shook me up, it was my first time seeing him like that.
“I didn’t .” I say, he shoots a stare at me—for what?
“You’re opening up the door to beat you up everytime for him if you don’t reciprocate what he has done.” He says, takes me back to the time my primary school mates were bullying me—he badly wanted me to stand up for myself and at some times, I couldn’t.
“I am not opening any door for Sipho, that was the last time I ever let him talk to me or even touch me. I am done with him.” I say pouring my coffee in my favourite mug.
“Want some?” I ask him, he nods and sits down.
“Glad you have sense.” He says, so I didn’t have sense when I let those bullies bully me? I glance at him and shake my head.
“You found my house, my numbers and my workplace, you are being a stalker right now. You’re at my house so late at night, I was sleeping.” I say, placing his mug infront of him.
“Well, if my best friend didn’t give me her address—numbers and other things, what am I supoosed to do? I had to resort to such so I could see you, you even refused to go to dinner with me.” He says stirring his coffee.
“I’m not feeling very well hence I declined your invitation.” I say, he glances at me and chuckles softly.
“You’re not feeling well just because of a 23 year old small boy. Abafana neh..” He says shaking his head multiple times, I stare at him—is he teasing me?
“That’s not very funny.” I say, he glances at me and laughs.
“It’s not funny and I also don’t think you should be beating yourself up like this. For someone that you weren’t even sure is the one for you, he shouldn’t be having this much effect on you. Unless you loved him that much.” He says, bumping into me.
“You’re teasing me right now and I’m going to kick you out of my house, Katlego. That’s not funny, I actually do love him.” I say, he becomes serious.
“You still love him even after he raised his hand on you?” He asks me, I look sideways.
“I didn’t say that.” I say, grabbing the package he brought—I might as well eat this food in here since he bought it.
“I didn’t mean to make you feel bad but I hope you mean what you said. I won’t allow Sipho to touch my best friend anymore.” He says, glancing at me. I heave a sigh, when last did I hear him call me that?
“You haven’t asked me to be your best friend now that we’re grown up .” I say, he chuckles a bit.
“I didn’t know our friendship died.” He says, of course it didn’t die. I just want to hear him say it. It would mean a lot to me if he says it right now.
“Will you be my best friend again Yanda?” He asks me, I smile. I’d choose to be his best friend for another 14 years—until the day we both exit this earth.
“Of course.” I say, he sighs.
“You like being begged.” He says, i roll my eyes and take out two plates.
“You have been traveling the world without me, how dare you? I thought you were going to take me with.” I say, he laughs.
“Where do you want to go?” He asks me, I want to go all around the world—what part of that doesn’t he get?
“Everywhere.” I say, he nods.
“Noted, the only reason I’ve been working this hard is because I wanted to have enough money so I can be able to take you everywhere you want.” He says, I roll my eyes again. Katlego is such a liar.
“You didn’t know where to find me, if I wasn’t dating your brother then you would have never found me.” I say, oh—he bought wings and fries, yummy.
“I was going to find you eitherway, the same way destiny separated us. I believe it was going to make us unite again.” He says, I heave a sigh—I hate destiny.
“And you came on my birthday, I saw you for the first time in 14 years on my birthday. Do you even know how much that meant to me? it felt like a birthday gift in human form.” I say, taking out two forks out of the utensils drawer.
“That’s why you almost fainted when you saw me. Above all, I was just shocked that you were on your own two feet.” He says, I nod.
“I know.” I say sitting down and giving him his plate. He’s about to eat when I stop him.
“We need to pray first. You want this food to choke you or what?” I ask him, he shakes his head and holds both my hands. I start praying for the food.
“For the food, we are about to receive. We thank you lord, Amen.” I say, we both open our eyes and start eating.
“I love the gift you got me, the teddy bear is my little baby now. I’m loving it.” I say, he glances at me and nods.
“I knew you’d love the gift, I know you more than I know myself at this point. I also understand that you’d always do free hand hairstyles rather than braiding with hairpieces or putting on wigs.” He says, oh—he’s so right.
“And what do you think? do you think they suit me?” I ask him, he looks at me—I know I’m asking the obvious, I just want to hear him say it.
“You’re so dumb for asking such an obvious question, yes Yanda. They look good on you, everything looks good on you at this point.” He says, he just said I’m dumb? this man.
“You’re calling me dumb in my own house? Mr, I will kick you right now.” I say, he shakes his head.
“I’m not going anywhere, not now—not ever.” He says, I roll my eyes—he is right about that.
—
We just finished eating “dinner”, I’m just glad that he uplifted my mood—I don’t need to sleep with a heavy heart right now.
“I need to hit the road.” He says getting up, I get up as well. I should walk him out, he took the time to spend a few hours with me.
“Thanks for coming, I really appreciate it. You’ve uplifted my mood, I was going to sleep with a broken heart.” I say heaving a sigh.
“You think you’re gonna need to sleep with a heavy heart when your best friend is here? not anymore.” He says, he makes everything feel so much better.
“Let me walk you out then, it’s late. The traffic is probably crazy right now so you better drive properly.” I say, he takes my hand and we walk to the door. I open it and wait for him to step out.
“How can I step out when you’re holding my hand so tightly?” He asks me, I glance at both our hands—stupid Bayanda, you’re the one who’s supposed to let go.
“Oh, sorry.” I say letting his hand go. He walks off and I grab his arm—the bravery? Bayanda!
“Please stay the night..” I say, he glances at me—he grabs my waist, smashing his lips against mine—I didn’t say he should kiss me, did I say that? I wrap my arms around his neck and he walks back inside—sucking my lower lip, he pushes the door to close with his foot—timeout.