{"id":85,"date":"2026-01-21T14:36:35","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T14:36:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/?p=85"},"modified":"2026-01-21T14:36:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T14:36:35","slug":"uguluva-chapter-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/uguluva-chapter-15\/","title":{"rendered":"uGULUVA Chapter 15"},"content":{"rendered":"
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uGULUVA.<\/div>\n
CHAPTER 15.<\/div>\n
[SPONSORED CHAPTER. \"\u2728\ufe0f\"<\/span>]<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Phindile has everything ready. All that remains are the final touch-ups on her braids, her fingers smoothing down flyaways as she secures them into a neat high bun. She leans closer to the mirror, studying her reflection\u2014checking, fixing, convincing herself.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cThis is it, Phindile,\u201d she whispers.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The time reads 06:15 when her phone vibrates softly on the table.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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“MK is on his way. Be ready.”<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Ncanezwe\u2019s message makes her inhale sharply. She stares at the screen longer than necessary, her chest tightening for reasons she refuses to name. Why is she nervous? This is just pretending. An arrangement. Nothing more.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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“Okay,” she types back, forcing calm into the single word.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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She places the phone down, then slowly kneels beside the bed. Her palms press together as she bows her head, closing her eyes. Prayer always helps. If nothing else, it quiets the shaking inside her chest. And right now, she needs that peace more than ever.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cBaba, Nkulunkulu onamandla, namanje ngizakuwe. Ngibonga ukuvuka Nkosi yeZulu. Ngicela amandla avela ekhaya ezulwini, bese uyangithwala Nkosi. Kukho konke okusayo kwenzeka, ngihambele phambili, bese ungipha amandla kuze kube phakade. Amen.\u201d<\/div>\n
(Father, Almighty God, today I come to You again. I thank You for waking me up, Lord of Heaven. I ask for strength that comes from heaven, that You may carry me, Lord. In everything that is about to happen, let me move forward, and grant me strength forever. Amen.)<\/div>\n
She exhales deeply after the prayer.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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This is a completely new chapter for her, and she is determined\u2014with everything in her\u2014not to mess it up.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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It\u2019s 06:45 when MK hoots outside, and I let out a slow sigh. Everything is ready. Rehearsed. I\u2019m nervous\u2014but it\u2019s time.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I take one last glance at my reflection in the mirror before stepping out, rolling my suitcase behind me. I lock the house and walk toward the car just as MK steps out, adjusting his sunglasses. I sigh again when I reach him.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cGood morning, Madam,\u201d he says.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Madam? Wow.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cGood morning, MK. Please stick to Phindile,\u201d I say.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He nods, takes my suitcase, and opens the car door for me. Before I even get in, a familiar scent surrounds me. He\u2019s already here?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cMorning, MaP,\u201d he says the moment I settle into the car.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I turn to him. Ncanezwe Cele. Seated in the backseat next to me. Calm. Collected. Completely ready.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cGood morning, Sir,\u201d I reply.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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His eyes hold mine for a second longer than necessary\u2014measuring, assessing, as if this isn\u2019t just a trip but a test. Then he looks away, tapping once on his phone.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d Ncanezwe says calmly.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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MK closes the door and walks around the car. The engine hums to life, smooth and controlled, just like the man sitting behind me. As we pull away from my place, I grip my handbag tighter on my lap, reminding myself to breathe. This is it.<\/div>\n
No turning back.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The streets are still quiet, Soweto barely awake. The sky is a soft grey-blue, the kind that feels heavy with unspoken things. I stare out the window, watching houses blur past, grounding myself in the movement.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cYou slept well?\u201d Ncanezwe asks.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cYes, Sir,\u201d I answer immediately.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He clicks his tongue softly. \u201cDrop the \u2018Sir\u2019 when it\u2019s just us. You\u2019re not my employee this weekend.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I swallow. \u201cYes\u2014okay.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A pause.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cYou\u2019re nervous,\u201d he states, not asking.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I hesitate, then nod. \u201cA little.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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His gaze returns to me, sharp but not unkind. \u201cGood. Nervous people pay attention. Careless people embarrass me.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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My stomach tightens. \u201cI won\u2019t.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI know.\u201d Another pause. \u201cTell me\u2014what am I to you when someone asks?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I don\u2019t hesitate. \u201cYour partner. Phindile Gwala. A marketing consultant. We\u2019ve been together for just over a year. We met through at an event. You\u2019re private. Protective.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A faint smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. Barely there\u2014but it\u2019s enough to send a strange flutter through my chest.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cAnd how do I treat you?\u201d he asks.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cWith respect,\u201d I say. \u201cFirm, but attentive. You don\u2019t like public affection, but you don\u2019t let anyone disrespect me.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cGood,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd you?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI support you. I don\u2019t interfere in your business. I listen more than I talk.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He nods once. Approval.<\/div>\n
MK clears his throat softly from the front.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019ll stop for coffee in ten minutes.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Ncanezwe doesn\u2019t look away from me. \u201cShe takes it black. No sugar.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I blink. I never told him that.<\/div>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d I say quietly.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The car continues forward, the silence settling again\u2014thick, deliberate. But this time, it feels different. Like I\u2019ve crossed an invisible line. And there\u2019s no stepping back now.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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We stopped for coffee, and now we\u2019re back on the road, heading somewhere I don\u2019t know. The stretch of tar ahead of us feels endless\u2014quiet, unfamiliar. I\u2019m still nervous, but it\u2019s the kind that settles in my chest without hurting. I trust the man beside me, even if I don\u2019t fully understand him yet.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I sigh and pull out my phone, slipping my earphones in. Amazulu by Amanda Black fills my ears, her voice soft, grounding. I lean back against the seat and close my eyes, letting the music carry me, forcing my thoughts to slow.<\/div>\n
Thirty-five minutes later, the car begins to slow.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The music fades as I open my eyes. My brows knit together when I notice the change in scenery\u2014tall fences, harsh lights, signs that demand attention whether I want to give it or not.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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An airport. My breath catches as he parks. I stare out the window, my heart racing now, disbelief washing over me.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cAn airport?\u201d I ask, my voice barely above a whisper, shock written all over my face.<\/div>\n
This\u2026 I didn\u2019t see it coming.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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100+ comments & 10 shares. \"\ud83d\udc8b\"<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

uGULUVA. CHAPTER 15. [SPONSORED CHAPTER. ] Phindile has everything ready. All that remains are the final touch-ups on her braids, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uguluva"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":99,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85\/revisions\/99"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}