NURSE THEMBENI
CHAPTER 6
THEMBENI
This man is really trying to score points with me. The Golide who does not bow to anyone is driving me back to Manzana, and not forcing me to sleep over at his house. I wonder if he will agree if I ask him to switch off that Maskandi blasting from the speakers.
It’s some deep, soul-stirring love song about a man begging his woman to come back to him, and not to forget their love because he knows there are better men than him out there.
The singer’s voice cracks on the high notes as if he’s actually crying.
Normally this kind of music would have me wiping invisible tears and feeling all the feels. Tonight? Nothing, not even a flicker. My heart is sitting there like a stone, arms crossed, refusing to be moved.
This man is playing romantic music like it’s going to fix everything. Hawu! Does he think I’m going to melt because someone is singing about sleepless nights and broken hearts? Nope, the devil has always been a liar.
I glance at him. He’s gripping the steering wheel tight, staring straight ahead. This is not my Golide… yes, my Golide. My body claimed him even though my heart didn’t. My Golide is cocky, quick with the cash, zero emotions on display. This version is soft, weird and almost nervous.
“It feels like this is my last day on earth,” I say out of nowhere.
He turns the volume down a bit.
“Why?” He asks.
“You’re acting strange. This is not the Golide I know. The one who drops me off, sends money, and disappears until next weekend.”
He exhales through his nose.
“Don’t call me Golide, I prefer my real name.”
I snort and look out the window. Yeah, okay, Mehlo. Keep dreaming. I don’t say anything else. What’s there to say? The man wants romance points now, but he’s months behind on the syllabus.
I kick off my shoes and prop my feet up on the dashboard, crossing my ankles like I own the place. The leather is cool against my heels. I know he hates this, last time I tried it he gave me that look and said, “Thembeni, feet down. This is not a taxi.” Harsh, no nonsense. I never did it again.
Tonight? Tonight I’m testing him.
He wants a relationship now? Fine. Let’s see how serious he is. If he’s really changed, he won’t say a word. If he’s still the same controlling Golide, he’ll snap any second.
I catch him glancing over, a frown on his face, but lips sealed. He gives me nothing, not even a sigh. He just keeps driving, eyes back on the road. I almost laugh. Okay, Mehlo. Point to you.
“This new behaviour of yours feels like a once in a blue moon type of thing,” I say, staring at the dark fields flashing past.
He glances at me again, confused.
“What are you talking about?”
“I feel like I’m going to wake up tomorrow and you’ll be gone. Poof. Weeks later you will be pulling up like nothing happened, texting me ‘phuma ngila phandle.’ that’s what you always do.”
He looks at me, then back at the road.
“Stop trying to chase me away, Thembeni. I’m not going anywhere.”
I sigh and roll my eyes so hard they fall out the window. I want to say ‘Yeah, right.’ But the words settle somewhere soft in my chest. Damn him.
The Maskandi track changes to another loud one, same vibe, man pleading, guitar crying. Without thinking, I start humming along, then singing under my breath. Quiet at first, then louder because why not? My voice isn’t bad, and the song is catchy even if it’s trying too hard to make me feel things.
Out of nowhere, Golide cusses under his breath.
“Shit!” He repeats.
I stop my singing, here it comes. The feet comment, he’s finally cracked.
But when I look at him, he’s not staring at my legs. He’s staring straight ahead, slowing the car gradually, foot easing off the accelerator as if he’s approaching something dangerous.
I follow his gaze.
There are four sets of headlights facing us, it’s four cars parked in front of us, blocking both lanes.
“What is going on?” My voice comes out higher than I want.
He kills the music completely.
“Your boyfriend is here.”
My heart slams against my ribs. What boyfriend? I don’t have a boyfriend.
“Who? What are you talking about?” I ask.
Before he can answer, the doors open. Men step out in uniforms, the royal insignia tells me that they are Palace guards. That is Chief Menzi’s personal detail.
“Drive, Golide. Drive now. I’ve seen what these men do to people who cross the chief. I don’t want to die tonight.”
He switches off the engine and looks at me.
“It’s Mehlo.”
What? This is a matter of life and death, and he’s worried about his name?
“Stay in the car.” He says.
“Mehlo…”
Too late, he’s already opening his door. I lunge after him.
“Get back in here!” I call.
He doesn’t even look back, he’s out of the car. I want to cry as he shuts the door and walks forward like he’s going to buy bread. Something is wrong with that man.
I slam the locks down, all four, locking myself inside. If Golide wants to die tonight, he can die alone. I’m not opening for anyone.
Through the windscreen I watch him approach the men, hands in his pockets, shoulders relaxed. The guards look confident for a minute, but then something strange happens. Their postures change, shoulders drop and eyes widen. Is that fear? Actual fear on their faces?
They’re looking at Golide with fear, and respect if I’m not mistaken.
Why? He doesn’t even have a gun, no weapon. He’s just standing there talking to them. He looks so casual, you would think he’s giving them directions.
One by one they back up, get back in their cars and drive back the way they came. What just happened?
Golide watches them go, then turns and walks back. I unlock the door, he slides in, shuts it, and starts the car like nothing happened.
I’m on him immediately, hands patting his arms, his chest, his sides.
“Are you hurt? What happened? Why aren’t you bleeding? And why did Chief Hlongwane not get out of the car?”
“He wasn’t there.” He says.
Huh!
“Okay! Why did the Palace guards leave? Why did they look scared of you? Did you threaten them?”
He’s probably hiding a gun. He pulls back onto the road.
“I told them if they touch you, I’ll have them arrested.”
I snort so hard it hurts.
“Arrested? By who? The police don’t touch the royal guards. You think they’re scared of your lawyer?”
He doesn’t answer right away, he just keeps driving, one hand loose on the wheel.
I stare at him, the moonlight catches the side of his face. His jaw is tight, something cold settles in my stomach. There is something about him, yeah he’s always been suspicious. But this is different.
“Mehlo! Who are you, really?”
He glances at me once.
“Someone who’s not letting anyone take you from me, not the chief, your brothers, or anyone.”
Not the response I was hoping for, I’m tired of him trying to be romantic. I want proper answers
.
.
We pull up outside the yard, it’s pitch black outside. We don’t have yard lights, no streetlights, just darkness and the moon. Everyone’s definitely sleeping. I don’t move to open the door, he looks at me, I look at him and shrug.
He pulls out his phone, thumbs start flying across the screen. My phone buzzes in my pocket. I check it, R5000 just landed in my account, yep, this is the standard procedure. Sending me money when he drops me off.
“This is not what I was waiting for, but thanks.”
He frowns. “What were you waiting for then?”
“For you to walk me inside. It’s midnight, everyone’s asleep. It’s dark, I’m not walking alone.”
He glances out at the blackness.
“There’s nothing out there. This is the safest place in Manzana.”
That’s what he thinks.
This man has a long way to go with romance 101.
“It’s late at night. In my head there are witches, tokoloshes, ancestors who forgot their manners, and whatever else that might snatch my soul before I reach the rondavel. This is me saying I’m scared of the dark, Mehlo.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose, I’m really giving him a headache, aren’t I?
“You’re scared of the dark?” He wants to confirm because in his head, it’s not normal for humans to be scared of something that has no hands or feet, something that can’t chase you.
“Yes, the dark is terrifying.”
Why is his brow rising like that?
Oh! “No, not you,” I say quickly. “I’m scared of the actual dark. Not dark men, relax.”
He mutters something under his breath, opens his door, and steps out. The second he shuts it, he vanishes into the night. Gone, the darkness swallowed him whole. But I hear his footsteps crunching on the gravel, coming around to my side.
My door opens, the car light flicks on, and there he is, tall, serious, looking like he’s escorting royalty instead of a nurse who just rejected his proposal an hour ago.
I grab his arm as we start walking. The moon is actually doing its job tonight, throwing light on the path so I don’t trip over my own feet. My rondavel is right next to the main house, he’s following my lead. We’re almost there.
Three figures suddenly step out from behind the main house, as if they’ve been waiting for this exact moment.
I let out a scream, but my heart calms down when Ngcwele starts laughing. I can recognize that laugh anywhere. What are my brothers doing outside? I almost pee on myself. I thought they were sleeping
I feel Golide stiffen beside me. I pray they can’t see him. It’s dark, he’s wearing black. If he smiles, then it’s over for me.
“Where have you been?”
Mkhululi is the big brother, the most strict one.
“The hospital, my shift ended late. I’m home now.”
“Don’t lie, I was there with the chief. Sister Dlamini said you left hours ago. We checked the footage, Thembeni. We saw you get into that fancy car.”
Sister Dlamini, you useless cover! I’m never trusting you with an alibi again.
My heart is hammering so hard I can feel it in my throat. My brothers haven’t said anything about the man next to me yet. Maybe they can’t see him, the darkness is on my side for once.
Why is Mkhululi tilting his head? I don’t think he’s still looking at me.
“Who is this next to you?”
Hayibo. I curse under my breath, Golide must have smiled or something. His teeth are like tower lights in the dark.
“Who?” I say, playing dumb.
“The guy standing right next to you,” Mkhululi says, like I’m the slow one.
“There’s no one next to me,” I lie.
“Stop it, we’re not fools. We can see umnyamana standing next to you.” He snaps.
Umnyamana? They just called Golide a shadow man. Or dark thing. I’m embarrassed for Golide. I’ll apologize to him tomorrow, my bank balance depends on it. Right now I need to survive.
“He’s… my transport driver. I asked him to walk me in because it’s dark.”
Yes, this should help me escape.
Mkhululi nods, he’s buying it.
“Oh. So he’s that transport driver you said you’ll kick his balls next time you see him because he’s always late?”
I hate Mkhululi. I hate him so much right now.
“Yes, that’s him.” I force out.
Mkhululi smiles, it’s actually a grin because he’s evil.
“Then do it.” He says.
“What?”
“Your brothers are here, we’ll protect you. Kick his balls, he won’t do anything to you.” Mkhululi.
My brothers can be proper bullies when they want to be. Golide’s breathing gets louder next to me, he still hasn’t said a word, but I can feel the tension rolling off him.
“Kick this person wena!” Mkhululi snaps.
I turn to Golide in panic, either I kick him or we both get in trouble.
Golide opens his mouth, and says something stupid like “I’m not her driver”… and I lose it.
I kick him hard, right in his view-once, his man package. He groans like a wounded animal, doubles over, and drops to his knees in the dirt.
My brothers burst out laughing, high-five each other and cheering.
“That’s my sister!” Ngcwele’s laughing the loudest. I thought he was on my side.
I’m standing here horrified. I just kicked my own bank account. My walking ATM is on the ground clutching himself. What have I done?
He wheezes something that sounds like “Themi…” but it’s lost in another groan. My brothers are still laughing like this is the funniest thing they’ve seen all year. I want the ground to open and swallow me whole. This is officially the worst night of my life. And it’s not even over yet.
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