BONDED FOREVER
BONUS chapter sponsored by Bongiwe Seleka 
20. HE IS A MAN.
ANDZISO
“Oops.” she smiles, not so shyly as she bats her eyelashes. I decide that I don’t have the energy for this. I have an event to get to and Pearl’s friend is simply not someone I deem important enough for me to spend time talking to. If it were up to me i would have made my way out of here without even laying eyes on her but she clearly had other plans.
I ignore her and continue with what I came in here for, scanning the room until I find the shoes that Pearl asked me to get under her vanity chair.
“I’m sorry about that, I can be so clumsy sometimes.” Mikateko lightly says and I turn to look at her again, the towel is now secured on her body and she had this mischievous look on her face that tells me that the apology she just offered is nothing but bullshit. Why Pearl won’t see through this girl beats me but I’m really starting to have my patience run thin where this girl is concerned and I’ve never been one to dictate who my partner should befriend or not.
“Mhh.” I hum, still not wanting to exchange words with her. I got what I came here for so I can go but she stands by the doorway, blocking my way. Must my patience be tested today of all days? “you’re in my way.”
“Why are you in such a hurry? I’m sure she’s still busy and you can spare a few minutes.” even her attempt to use a sultry voice is repulsive. Her existence as a whole irks me. There was a time when I could tolerate her but lately she has been determined to work on my very last thin nerve. What she’s doing right now is just the cherry on top.
“Are you going to move?” my own voice is firm and cold. I have no time for these games.
“I’m just making conversation, you don’t need to be cold and Pearl doesn’t need to know-“
I let out a dry chuckle as soon as she says the last words.
“I mean about the little incident that just happened, it can just be between us two.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you’re looking at me right now and thinking one of two things. The first being that I can’t read between the lines and the second being that I’m a weak man so I’ll easily give in to temptation. Unfortunately for you, I’m neither of the two. I don’t like you so by default I cannot be aroused by you, even if you serve yourself naked on a platter.” I take steps closer to her until I’m almost hovering over her then I say” And don’t get me wrong, this isn’t just me practicing faithfulness, no. You’re just not my type, even when you’re not dressed. I remain flaccid just by seeing your face, there’s not even a bit of hardening so get out of my way, your best friend is waiting for me. Oh, and the next time you decide to pull such stunts just remember that I have a type and you’re not it.”
With a face that looks like it has just been splashed with ice cold water, she moves to the side and I make my way outside, still feeling pissed.
My phone vibrates in my pocket and when I check, it’s Pearl asking if I got the stuff. I quickly confirm with her then I scroll to my other messages to find that Bakang has also sent a text and it reads “Fine Shamiso has been called and she’s coming in on Monday. I can’t wait to see what the grown version of her looks like seeing she was flames back in school.”
I tense up but decide to ignore his tactics, instead I reply with a “Thanks for the favour. I owe you one.”
Bakang decides that he’s not done annoying me because he sends “You’re welcome. So tell me, can I compare her to wine? Fine wine?” I ignore the text and adds “It’s fine, you don’t have to respond. I’ll see her on Monday and hopefully for the rest of my life if she decides to grow with the company.” his text is sent with a wink emoji and I find myself laughing at how much he’s working my nerves.
Bakang wouldn’t dare. I know he wouldn’t because of the bro code but that doesn’t mean he won’t use his words. He will find every and any opportunity to annoy me so the best way to deal with it is to make him see that I’m good.
“That’s good for you, enjoy the view.” I respond, that should shut him up but no, this is Bakang I’m talking about.
“Oh I intend to, me and all the other starved men in this place. Plus they always get excited when there’s a new pretty face in the office, the reception area is about to get lit!”
This has me locking my jaw and throwing my phone on the passenger side of the car. Fuck Bakang and I’m not entertaining his bull anymore. With that, I drive to Pearl’s workplace.
PEARL
I’ve already worked on my face with the bit of make-up that I always keep in my handbag and now I’m just waiting for Andziso to arrive so I can change and then we head out.
He looks nothing short of displeased when he walks in but he still offers me a smile. It’s not the one that I’m used to though.
“There you go” He hands me my dress and shoes and then makes sure that the door is closed so I can change in my office. Most of the people have already left, nobody cares to hang back in the office on a Friday and if it weren’t for my unplanned meeting I would have been long gone too.
“Thanks, babe. I hope you didn’t have a hard time finding my shoes, I asked Mika to look for them before you arrived.
” She didn’t. “he flatly states. I glance at him as I pull down my suit pants and start unbuttoning my shirt.” Tell me, do you trust Mika to the extent of letting her stay at your place? “
” Well yes, I mean we’ve been friends for years now so I trust her around my personal space.”
“And you’re saying she knew I was coming?”
“Yeah babe. I told her.”
“So it’s normal behavior for your friend to be wrapped in just a towel, in your place, even when she knows your man is coming over and you aren’t there?” his tone lets me know that this is not a hypothetical question.
“She wasn’t dressed?” I feel the irritation kick in already. Mika had visited me many times and she’s never walked around in a towel, in my presence… “Maybe she was coming from the shower.”
“Pearl. You’re not going to do that. You are not going to excuse your friend’s behavior. You’re not going to keep making excuses for her. I’ve put up with her nonsensical behavior but this is where is ends and you’re not going to try and shield her. This was no mistake and even if it was it could have been avoided had she had the decency to put clothes on. She stood there by your bedroom doorway and her towel conveniently dropped at the moment that I looked up.”
“What?” it comes as a whisper. No, this can’t be right… Mika wouldn’t… She wouldn’t take things that far.
“And then she proceeded to say that there was no need for you to know about that little incident. If it was indeed a miscalculation on her side then why do I need to be quiet about it?”
“I… I never thought… I don’t know.” I’m out of words. I cannot find anything to defend her with right now, nor do I wish to. This is my friend, my best friend and she decides to do this? “I’m sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for?” he sounds mad as he asks. He hates when I apologize for something that I did not do. His intense gaze has me looking down, unsure of how to respond. It’s rare that I see Andziso worked up like this hut lately it is happening often enough for me to see that there really is a problem.
“I just, I didn’t know. I never thought that this is the mindset that she had I mean, I mean, I thought that she’s my friend.” I still can’t begin to comprehend that that Mika would do such a thing, try to seduce Andziso when she knows very well that he’s my man? What kind of friend does this?
” I wasn’t planning on telling you now but I just couldn’t go through with the evening without addressing this mess. I have no right to tell you who your friends should be but at this point, baby I need you to open your eyes and see her for what she really is. Whether you keep her in your life or not is entirely up to you but when it comes to me and us, you’re going to need to make sure that she stays far. I don’t want her anywhere near me or we are going to have problems Pearl. I’m not going to play into whatever games she’s bringing, I need you to understand that. “
“I do… I understand and I’ll fix this.”
“Good.” he comes to zip my dress at the back then he pecks my lips “You’re not going to spend the night frowning because of an irrelevant person and I won’t continue talking about this. Finish up so we can go and have the time of our lives without thinking of anyone or anything else.”
“Okay.” I nod but I don’t see how I’m going to shut down these thoughts that have come to fill my head. I’m questioning her every move, her every statement. Could it be that all this time, Mika has been trying to sabotage my relationship? When I thought she was helping she was actually trying to to get things to work against me?
I still get ready and finish wearing my shoes that he helps me fasten then we make our way out but honestly, I’m no longer in the mood for this evening at all.
SHAMISO
“I got the call.” those are the first words that leave my mouth as soon as Ana walks in. I’ve been waiting for her to come back from seeing Phillip.
“For the interview?”
“Yes. They officially invited me to an interview and Bakang was kind enough to forward me the questions that they are likely to ask.”
“Girlllll, your guardian angel is alive and walking these streets with you. I think it has to do with you finally meeting Sarai, your things are coming together, my love.” she says with a bright smile.
“Soon I won’t have to deal with Simon.”
“Yes! Infact, you shouldn’t even give him the courtesy of letting him know in person that you’re leaving. Just send a please call ‘I quit’ that should suffice.”
“A please call, Anaishe?” I laugh at this.
“Yes, if he wants a call or an sms he can buy you airtime with the money that I gave him.”
“Are you ever going to let that go?”
“Never, even my forefathers must be looking at me with shame for having done such a despicable act.” she says while laughing “Back to serious things, we need to go shopping. You need to upgrade your wardrobe and get formal clothes, I don’t want my girl walking in there looking like the odd one out.”
“I do need formal clothes, hey but not a lot because I can’t spend much.”
“We can make it work. Start with a few items now then each payday keep adding on to your wardrobe and very soon you’ll be set. I’ll do your hair tomorrow, we need fresh braids too, oh my gosh, I’m so excited!”
“And I’m nervous, I can’t believe this is happening.”
“You better believe it because it’s happening. I told you that you deserve good things. What I want you to do for me is not hold back, be confident and allow yourself to meet new people, you’re still young.”
“I feel like this is starting to take a turn I don’t like so I’m gonna walk away now.”
“All I’m saying is that you don’t have to grow old alone, if a gent says hi greet him back and don’t be a coward but first make sure that you’re not dealing with a Simon.”
“And Simon is the exact reason why I will not be overly friendly with any men there.”
“Is he the only reason?”
“Shut up, Anaishe.” I say and she laughs.
“What can we say, baby daddy and baby mama refuse to put us out of our misery.” she claps her hands and walks to her bedroom.
PEARL
It turned out to be a good evening. I felt no tension between Andziso. I also got to see him in his work mode as he kept me by his side the entire time even when meeting with different people. It felt good to be out and mingling on a Friday evening, even though I couldn’t shut down my thoughts.
We took pictures again and yes, some of them wnr to my whatsapp status. Mika just viewed them and said nothing but that is nothing new, whenever I post about my relationship she doesn’t comment, she prefers tk do it verbally while adding some mean comments there.
The entire night I have been replaying everything single thing and I’m afraid I’m at the “realizing” stage and I’m not liking the findings. A part of me wishes that I’m just over thinking or that there was a misunderstanding with her and Andziso earlier on but his words keep playing in my head “You’re not going to keep making excuses for her.” have I really been doing that? I mean now that I’m thinking about it, it feels like that but it’s a hard think to accept. I’ve stood up for Mika a lot of times. I even almost helped a person lose their job because I couldn’t speak up against my friend and I have felt like crap about it ever since.
I feel worse when Andziso drops me off and doesn’t stay. The plan was that he would stay but I don’t 3ven question him, I know his reluctance had to do with the person who is in my apartment right now. It feels like his dislike for her sky rocketed in just days. He never used to like her but it wasn’t this bad. Now it’s like he can’t even stand to hear her name.
After kissing him goodbye, I walk into my apartment and he heads back to his car after telling me that he will get someone to get me to work tomorrow because I left my car there. It’s these gestures that make me fall deeper in love with him each time and they put a smile on my face but it immediately falls when I find Mika sitting on my couch in her skimpy pajamas
“Hawu, didn’t you say you’re getting some tonight? Where is Mr. Khanyisa Tech?”
I look at her and sigh. I cannot find anything friendly to say right now so I just walk to my bedroom but she follows.
“Are you no longer talking to me now? Don’t tell me it’s about what happened earlier.”
“What happened earlier?” I decide to get her version of the story without letting her know that Andziso already spoke to me about it.
“Didn’t Andziso tell you?”
“Tell me what?” I furrow my eyebrows to further feign confusion.
“Well, I had just finished bathing and next thing there he is in my bedroom, he startled me and as I jumped from the shock the towel fell.”
“What did he do afterwards?”
“You know men, chomi. His eyes kept lingering and I was frozen for a moment, so I quickly picked my towel up.”
“Did he touch you?”
“No, but the way he was looking at me…” she stops and shakes her head “Yho, men are something else. But I told him not to worry and I don’t think much of the incident, things like this happen so if he’s still around you can call him to come in, I don’t mind.”
I bust out laughing, startling her in the process. “You don’t mind. Really Mikateko, this is the story you’re going with?”
“I don’t unders-“
“He told me. Andziso told me that he found you standing right where you are right now and then your towel dropped.”
“But that’s what I’m saying mus?”
“You said in the bedroom where you sleep, not in here and don’t you dare say that he lusted over you. Andziso wouldn’t, I know him.”
“Oh so you believe a man over your friend? Is that it? You think he wouldn’t look at me twice?” she grows angry, which takes me by surprise because it feels like this isn’t fresh anger.
“He wouldn’t. He is in a committed relationship and you are my friend, why would he look at you like that?”
“Because he is a man! Don’t be stupid Pearl-“
“I’m not stupid!”
“Oh but you are, you are naive and stuck living in your little bubble where your boyfriend is so perfect so much that he won’t do any harm. You know what, I wasn’t going to tell you but he came closer and attempted to kiss me. Being the good friend that I am, I told him not to even think about it. “
” You’re lying “
” I’m not! If you don’t believe me then ask him but then again, he won’t tell you the truth and just like the desperate, naive girl that you are, you will obviously believe him. When will you open your eyes? Andziso is no different to every other man, especially one that already has a baby mama.”
“Now you’re just speaking nonsense. I see it it now, you’re jealous!”
“Who? Me?”
“Yes, you. You are jealous of my relationship, Mikateko and that is why you are always talking down on it and him. You act like you care about me but the truth is you’re just trying hard to fill his head with nonsense. Say there’s even a bit of truth in your statement. I told you that he was on his way so couldn’t your stupid bath time wait? “
” Hay! Hay, it’s not my fault that you are insecure. I didn’t know that I need to be dressed like a nun whenever your boyfriend is around. “
” Don’t do that, don’t twist this-“
” I’m not twisting anything. I thought I was in my best friend’s place, where I could feel comfortable and now you’re making me feel bad for being comfortable? I never told Andziso to look at me, nor did I tell him to come closer. He wanted this! But of course, you’re going to console yourself with a bunch of lies because that’s how you operate, vele. You refuse to open your eyes to the truth-“
” The truth is that you knew exactly what you were doing, that is the truth. The truth is that you that you can’t even stand me so why don’t you do us a favour and leave! “
” Oh I will, tomorrow first thing-“
” No. You’re not sleeping under my roof. I want you gone right now. Leave , Mikateko! Get out! “
She stands there, arms crossed and a daring look on her face while she shifts her weight from one hip to another. She must think I’m joking so I walk past her and go to the room that I offered her. I pick up her clothing and the suitcase then I roll it out.
“What are you doing?” she yells from behind me but I don’t respond, I open my main door and throw them outside then I come back for the bags “Pearl! Wa penga? Have you lost your mind?”
I remain quiet. I’m on a mission and she will not derail me. When she tries to pull one bag from me I pull it using so much force that it leaves her with wide eyes. I chuck them outside too then I look for her car keys and find them on the TV stand, I grab them and march to her then I shove them on her hand “Out!”
“Pearl-“
“I said get out, before I drag you out myself” We engage in a staring contest until she backs down then she huffs and storms out, slamming my door shut in the process.