BONDED FOREVER By Kuli Writes Chapter 18

BONDED FOREVER
BONUS chapter sponsored by Nomsa Prudence
18. FREE TO DO WHATEVER.
SHAMISO
“There you go.” I hand the white envelope that I got from Andziso to Simon. He really thought of everything while I was just floating.
Simon opens the envelop and takes out the letter stating that I was sick yesterday. He wasn’t here yesterday so only giving him the letter today. I’m not expecting him to scrutinize it but he does, I don’t even know what it is that he’s looking for but I wait for him to take his time and go through it.
“Centurion? You don’t stay there.” he looks at me with a raised eyebrow.
“A freind arranged for me to see his doctor because I can’t afford private healthcare.” I explain, I suspected that the address would be a problem so I thought of an appropriate answer.
“A friend, huh?”
“Yes.”
“Is this friend the reason why you look happy today?”
“I’m not sure I understand.” I decide that I’m not going to give him anymore information that what I’ve already given.
“You heard me, is this friend the reason why you’re happy this morning after claiming to be sick on Saturday?”
“I received good care and medication so I feel a lot better. As for my mood, I don’t think it’s something that I should be questioned on unless if it directly affects my work.”
He looks at me for a moment then nods “You can get back to work.” he walks away and I go on with my day.
Saturday is still fresh in my head and nothing can ruin my mood. Not even Simon. I woke up feeling like a huge load has been lifted off my shoulders, like the sun is shining differently today and the air is fresher than what it usually is. I keep hearing Sarai call me mommy and the cherry on top? It’s not in a dream. This is something that really happened and will continue to happen.
If I wasn’t running and hiding from the rest of the world I’d climb the tallest mountain and announce just how happy I am today.
I go though my shift with ease. I don’t mind anything today, not the restrooms that need to be cleaned again just after I attended to them, not the rude customers and definitely not my grumpy manager. Everything is great this side and I love it, I love it all.
I knock off an hour before Ana so after changing into my normal clothes I devide to call the number that I was given for Sarai, I promised to call her today again and I’m making good on my word, I even bought enough minutes to last me for a while because I want to make this a habit, I want to hear her voice every single day.
“Mommy!” her sweet little voice comes through when the call is connected.
“Hey, baby. How are you?”
“I’m good thanks and you?” she asks. Andziso really did an excellent job with raising her to be a polite, well-mannered child. He really did a great job, which further has me feeling thankful that she was given to him, no one else could love and take care of her better than her own father and paternal family in my absence.
“I’m good too, sweety. How was your day?”
“It was great! I told all my friends about you.”
“You did?” I decide to shove my anxiety att the back of my head and not steal or ruin her moment.
“Yes, I told them that you came back from Zimbabwe and you are no longer leaving. I told them that you are very beautiful and look just like me. They want to see you, mommy.”
“Maybe I’ll meet them some day and you can introduce me to all of them.”
“Yes, I wish you can find a job closer to where me and daddy stay so you can stay with us and I can see you everyday.”
I don’t know how to tell her that her wish is not going to come true, that not all families are built the same. Maybe she will understand better as she grows but for now, I decide not to make her sad.
” Maybe it will happen, sweety but even if we don’t see each other everyday, we can still talk everyday.”
“Can we video call too?”
“Are you allowed to video call?”
“Daddy video calls me sometimes when he works late, I think I’m allowed.”
Her number doesn’t have WhatsApp so I’ll have to ask Andziso about this “Okay, we can video call too, how about tomorrow?”
“Okay,” she says and continues telling me about her day at school and the homework that she has. It’s a while before I hang up, wanting to save more minutes for tomorrow. Once I’ve hung up I send Andziso a message asking what app he uses on the phone to be able to video call her, he doesn’t read it instantly and I conclude that he’s probably still occupied and will reply later.
.
.
.
Later back in our apartment, it’s my turn to cook and Ana is busy looking at all the pictures that we took on Saturday, I asked Andziso to send them to me.
“I love this one the most.” she holds up the phone for me to see and I pry my eyes off the chopping board to see what she’s talking about. I roll my eyes when I do but my smile betrays me.
“Of course you do.” it’s a selfie of the three if us.
“You guys look cute and look at your baby right there in the middle.”
“She loves taking pictures, a lot.”
“I don’t blame her, she’s a pretty girl.” Ana smiles. “You look different today.”
“How so?”
“You look happier, you’re smiling more and your eyes say you’re genuinely happy. I want things to stay like this.”
“I want the same too. Lord knows I’ve waited for this moment.”
“I know, love, I know. So what’s the arrangement now?”
Seeing that I arrived quite late last night, we didn’t get to talk and now we have time to debrief before eating and going to bed.
“I think I’ll see her more times at his home and then I’ll bring up the sleepover matter. I’d like to wake up under the same roof as her every once in a short while, if you’re good with that.” we are sharing this apartment and she’s paying more than me. I can’t just make decisions alone where our living space is concerned.
” Of course I’m good with it, maybe we can even have a themed girls sleep over with her. Have a spa treatment, watch movies, you know, the works. I don’t have a problem with you bringing Sarai here and I also can’t wait to meet my niece.”
Her words warm my heart. Ana had had my back from the first time we met and she continues to be there for me. I’ll never know what I did to deserve her and aunt Chenesa but I must have done something good to deserve them.
” I’ll introduce the matter softly. I can tell that he’s still a little uneasy about my return.”
“That is understandable, with time he will relax.”
“I hope so… I also suggested a friendship between us.”
“Friends don’t know what the other looks like when naked, Shamie.” she says and I throw her a glare, to which she doesn’t care.
“That was years back and we were both inexperienced and trying to explore. We didn’t even see each other naked more than I can count with my one hand.
“Yet we have Sarai, walking proof of your varsity shenanigans and the fact that you two have seen each other naked.” she throws her hands in the air.
“Proof that it really doesn’t take much to fall pregnant.” I mumble. We didn’t even get intimate three times but she’s here.
“Why did you do that though? I mean the friendship suggestion.” she sounds a little disappointed.
“Because I don’t want to lwave anything to chance. We’re going to be in each other’s lives again for the longest time if not forever. I don’t want to put my heart out there like that, Ana. I don’t want to hold on to some hope that he’s going to want to try again. ”
” Andziso cares about you, I don’t know him well enough but on the few occasions that I’ve seen and interacted with him I’ve seen that. ”
” I know that too but he’s with Pearl and you know I don’t likes messes. I don’t want to complicate my life and I want to live a drama free one. I don’t want to convince myself that he’s still mine when his woman is right there, that’s not okay and it’s also not healthy. I need to protect my sanity and peace of mind and suggesting a friendship was the best way to go about it. This way he can also be relived if he was worried. ”
” So how does this friendship work? ”
” It simply means we get along. We don’t have to do what normal friends do. We just have to co-parent in a respectful manner and not cross boundaries. I respect that he has his own life and he returns the favour. Simple.”
” Girl, your proof of life is that you wake up and go to work, he doesn’t have much to worry about. “she teases and I throw a wet dish cloth at her, making her laugh.” But seriously, I get it. You didn’t want to tip toe around the unspoken things so you thought you’d shut it down with friendship. ”
” Exactly, like I said, I’m here for Sarai and everything else can fall back.”
“Or fall in line.”
“Anaishe.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll listen. But promise me one thing.”
“What?”
“If baby daddy offers to help you out, in any way you won’t shut it down. You’re young Shamiso and you can still become something great. If Andziso asks to assist you, don’t do that annoying thing of yours of declining and saying it’s okay, you’re okay, when you’re not. Let him help you out if he wants to. ”
” I won’t decline. I just won’t expect him to do it either, he doesn’t owe me anything.”
” He doesn’t but he cares for you and seemingly has the means to help you. I’d say you should approach him first but I know you won’t do it so if he does, accept the help. ”
” I will. By the way, you’re still young too. ”
” And I’m on my way to become a sexy house wife. I don’t even like working.”
” Has Phillip proposed? “I tease her because I know I’d be the first to know if he did.
” If not Phillip then someone else but mark my words, soon and very soon, I’ll be living my dream life and you my love will be right there with me, cruising nicely. ”
” Hmm, Such big dreams. We need to buy shades for this bright future that awaits us.” I can’t help but snicker and she scowls at me.
” Don’t bore me, please.”
*****
PEARL
“Can we talk?”
I look up from my laptop and find Mika standing by my door. We haven’t spoken since I told her to get out of my office.
“About what?”
She takes that as an invitation to come in. “I want to apologize.” she softly says and I’m not sure which takes me by surprise more, her soft speaking or what she just said.
“You want to apologize?”
“Yes. You were right, I was out of line and I got too invested in your relationship, which I shouldn’t have done.”
“That is true.”.
“I thought I was looking out for you.”
“Looking out for me doesn’t mean that you have to treat other people like trash. What you did wasn’t okay, regardless of whatever intentions you had and the fact that you went on to laugh about it still bothers me.”
“I know… I saw the look of disappointment that you gave me and I didn’t like it. I get that I have a strong personality, Pearl and sometimes I can be overbearing but that’s because I care. I see how much you love Andziso and I see how it will break you to lose him. ”
” I’m not losing him. Andziso and I are good, Shamiso’s return changes nothing and these are his own words. Is it an adjustment? Yes it is but not one that will make me want to partake in what happened back at the restaurant. That whole thing made me feel uncomfortable, Mikateko and I thought you’d get it. ”
” I get it, I do. I really am sorry and I don’t want to lose our friendship. ”
” How do I know that the next time I share something with you, it won’t come back to bite me?”
“It won’t because I’ve learned my lesson.”
“I’ve learned mine too.”
“Which means?”
“Which means that I now know not to share too much about my relationship with you. Somethings are meant to stay between Andziso and I only.”
“Pearl, I hope he’s not the one making you say this. You know what they say about men who will want to alienate you from your loved ones.”
“There you go with your theories again. Andziso isn’t an abuser and he’s not forcing me to say this. I’m saying it because I’ve seen what oversharing can do and I didn’t like it.”
“Okay… I respect that, does this mean that we are still friends?”
“Yes, we are friends. Just don’t put me in the position that you had me in not too long ago.”
“Oh, I have learned to mind my own business, trust me.”
A message pops up and it’s a screen shot of an email from Andziso inviting him to a networking event on Friday evening. At the bottom he asks “will you please be my plus one?”
“Do you even need to ask?” I send back.
“I’m still here.” Mika says.
“Sorry, I got distracted.”
“Okay, how about we hit the club this Friday? It’s been a while since we went out.”
“Sorry friend but Andziso just asked me to be his plus one on that same day, some other time maybe?”
“Fine. I’ll let this one slide because I’m still making it up to you.”
“Thank you and I’ll make it up to you.”
“I’ll hold you to that. Let me get back to work then later you’ll tell me what you’re wearing on Friday as Mr. Khanyisa Tech’s plus one.” she winks then walks out. I read the invitation again and find that it’s a black tie event. Shoot, I really need to go shopping.
ANDZISO
” He’s still alive, ladies and gentlemen. The damn man is still alive! ” Bakang says the moment I step into his office. “Where the hell have you been?”
“I’ve been busy working, some of us have to grind hard, you know?”
“Fuck off!” He says but we both still laugh. I always tease Bakang about having it easy because he works for his father’s logistics company but that’s tlnot the truth. This guy is by far one of the most hardworking people that I know and his father is not letting have it easy too, he makes sure that Bakang earns each and every position that he gets ahold of on this company, nothing is handed to him. Infact, there is a huge contrast between Varsity Bakang and grown up Bakang but somethings about him will never change of course.
“I’m just kidding, bro. You know this.”
“Bruh!I do know.” he runs his hands over his face a couple of times and I can see the exhaustion.
“That bad?”
“You have no idea. Why did we grow up?”
“Because we had no choice.” I state the obvious and he huffs then leans back on his chair. I decide to take a seat because this one will not say anything. His hospitality needs some polishing.
“What’s good? I feel like I haven’t heard from you in forever. How is my Goddaughter?”
“She’s not your Goddaughter, I don’t need you corrupting her.”
“You can debate till you reach the ends of the earth, fact remains, I’m that little girls favourite uncle.”
“I bet Lefa begs to differ.”
“Lefa can go screw himself.”
There’s always been this competition between Lefa and Bakang about who Khanyisa’s favourite uncle is. While Bakang had deemed himself the favourite, Lefa has termed himself the “necessary” uncle and he always says that nothing beats that because one thing for sure, if she’s ever in trouble he will be pulling up there fast.
“I’m staying out of it, man. A lot had been going on.”
“A lot like?”
“Shamiso… She’s back.” I say and silence fills the room.
“She’s back as in back, back?” he whispers.
“Yeah, she’s back.”
“Where is Bautista?” even after all these years, he hasn’t forgotten what he called him.
“Back in Zim. She’s alone.” I won’t go into details, the less people that know the better.
“Are we happy that she’s back or…”
“We are happy with her return, relieved too.”
“Okay,” He relaxes. “Has she met our girl?”
“They were together on Saturday. Khanyisa loves her already.”
“And you?”
“What about me?”
“Do you still love her?”
“That ship has long sailed.” I say and he slowly nods “Plus you have Ms. Fine Pearl, how is she handling the baby mama being back by the way? Have I missed any cat fights?”
“You’re fucking crazy.”
“What?” he stops and laughs “actually, now that I think about it you’re not wrong, I’m off the rails because both women are the epitome of cool, calm and collected. You like them sane, huh?”
“I actually do, unlike you, I like having a peaceful life.”
“Peaceful can be boring sometimes. Imagine what would be happening right now. Both women fighting for your attention and you at the center of it.”
“Is that a fantasy of yours, Bk?”
“You know it and you can make it even better by allowing me to tap Enelo and add her to the mix.”
“Fuck no, you’re going nowhere near Enelo or we’ll have a problem. Do you know how hard it is to find people I can trust to take care of Khanyisa? To trust them in my own home then the next thing she’s quitting because you broke her heart and I’m associated with you? Don’t try me like that.”
“Relax, I’m just kidding… Or not.” He mumbles the last part.
“I actually came here for a favour.”
“I knew you weren’t here because you miss me.”
“Miss you? What are we? High school girl besties?”
“Man, screw you. I miss hanging with my best friend, okay.”
“I’m just messing with you, bruh. I miss hanging too and we’ll make time to go out. For now I need you to do something for me.”
“What?”
“Give Shamiso a job.”
“Huh? I’m not in HR.”
“But you can pull strings,”
“Of bikinis, yeah I can.” He chuckles.
“Bakang.”
“Okay, okay, I see that you’re serious but didn’t she drop out?”
“She did and now she’s working as a cleaner. That’s not okay.”
“You do know that that’s not your fault, right? You didn’t do that to her.”
“I know, but I feel bad regardless. Look man, it doesn’t have to be a top job, she can do admin work, anything as long as it’s not cleaning.”
“This really bothers you, huh?”
“It does and if you can come through for her I’d appreciate it.”
He sighs “Wouldn’t it be easier if you hired her? I mean, you’re the boss.”
“No, it’s better if she’s not working for me.”
“Why is that?” he gives me a look that tells me that he’s already over thinking.
“Just…”
“I won’t help if you’re not honest with me.”
“I don’t want to make things awkward, man. I want to help but I don’t want to create any tension between her, myself and Pearl.”
“Hmm, does Pearl know that you’re playing hero where your baby mama is concerned?”
“Dude, are you going to help or not?”
“Relax, I’ll help. It might not be immediate but I’ll find something for her and I’ll do it because I like Shamiso. Come to think of it, I always liked her…” he slowly says with a smirk.
“Fuck you.”
This makes him laugh the loudest “Man, we really need this night out because there’s clearly a lot going on that we need to talk about, but no worries man, I’ll come through for her, she deserves a break.”
“Thank you. I’ll get going now.”
“I’ll also keep a close eye on her and make sure that no one steps on your territory.”
“I don’t own Shamiso and she’s an adult, she’s free to do whatever.”
“She’s free to do whoever too?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, thanks for the green light ,man. I appreciate it.”
“Bakang, Fuck off!” I say before walking out of his office before he works on my nerves further than he already has.