THE COVEN’S BRIDE
CHAPTER 1
NALEDI
A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO
‘To our first apartment!” Tshidi and I toast to it. It’s my first apartment to be precise. Tshidi still lives with her family. I don’t think she is planning on moving out anytime soon. I have finally managed to move out of my aunt’s house. They wouldn’t let me move out sooner because my aunt thought it was my way of trying to get freedom to sleep around. Plus, she couldn’t afford to have me leave her house because she needed me to help watch her children.
Even working at the salon full-time, I still had to take care of my aunt’s children and pretty much everything at the house. I was the mother, the child, and the helper of the house. I wasn’t even allowed to go out. I had to lie and say we knock off at ten pm at the salon just so I could rest after work or spend some time with Tshidi.
Tshidi comes from a lovely family, or maybe my family is bitter because they can barely make ends meet. I know I shouldn’t bite the hand that feeds me, but my aunt has been nothing but horrible to me. She might have taken me in, but every day I am reminded of how I am an orphan.
This is one of the reasons I one day want to have my own family. I want to have someone to love and live for. Something I will love with all my heart and protect with my life. I want to be the parent I wish I had when I was growing up.
“Now is not the time to zone out, we are celebrating girl,” Tshidi snaps her fingers in my face. I love that she understands that sometimes I zone out and always pulls me out without making things uncomfortable.
I smile and raise my champagne glass. “To our new place.”
“To our new places, babe.”
We say our because what belongs to me belongs to her too, although I never allow her to treat me like a charity case. She is my friend, yes, but she doesn’t need to financially take care of me. I have a job so that I can take care of myself. Although she doesn’t listen half of the time, I love that she listens when I say I don’t want her to spend money on me.
“Your house is beautiful, Naledi. I am so proud of you.”
I smile, sipping on the champagne, “Thanks, friend.”
“What did your aunt say when you told her you were moving out?”
I sigh, placing my glass on the table. “She is not happy, she says it’s last minute and that I am very selfish. She says I should have told her sooner, so she gets someone to watch the children.”
“She can go h*ng herself. She was treating her as her nanny. She should have gotten a helper a long time ago. F*ck her and her children.”
I laugh at how annoyed she looks. Tshidi knows how my aunt is; she has witnessed her go off at me a couple of times. My aunt is the type that doesn’t care if there are people around; she says whatever she wants to say. I have lost count of how many times she has insulted me in front of Tshidi.
There was a time she barred me from seeing Tshidi because she said Tshidi was possessed and that she was a bad influence on me. I don’t believe in friends being a bad influence. Tshidi and I are the opposite of each other, but I have never tried to live her life or vice versa. There was a year when my aunt made me fast the whole week because she saw me standing with Tshidi while she was smoking weed.
She claimed my friend was possessed and I needed to cleanse out whatever spell Tshidi had cast on me. My aunt was just being my aunt, and I let her control me until a month ago when I told her that I was moving out of her house. I am a 30-year-old woman, and I should be allowed to make my own decisions, and I can sleep around if I want. I am still a virgin, but my aunt thinks I lost my virginity in high school.
“Before I forget, are you ready for your birthday?” I ask Tshidi and watch her face light up. Her birthday is her favourite day of the year.
“I am so excited, and I cannot wait to turn 30. I wonder what my parents would buy me this time. I hope it’s not a house though – don’t want that, and I have a feeling they are sick of me staying with them.”
I chuckle because her mother bought her a house but made me promise not to tell her. Her parents think it’s time she moved out of their house, and for sure they are sick of her. I don’t blame them; Tshidi is messy and never wants to do anything. I smile and say, “I also wonder what they got you.”
“As I said, I hope it’s not a house.”
“Do you know how many people would kill to receive a house from their parents? Many people would kill to live alone, Tshidi,” I say, refilling her glass.
“Who wants to live alone when they can live with their parents? Those people do everything for me.”
Probably one of the reasons they want her out of the house. The helper does everything for her. “Moving on, is your boyfriend coming to the party?”
“I would k*ll him if he misses my birthday.”
I laugh out loud. I know she is not joking. Her birthday means the world to her. I wonder what her boyfriend is going to get her this year. He gives her the most expensive gifts ever. She might be a little crazy and maybe messy, but she is lucky when it comes to matters of the heart. She has been with the same man since High School, and I cannot wait for the day they tie the knot.
“Did I tell you how proud I am of you?” Tshidi says to me, smiling. “You have done well for yourself, friend. I am proud of you. You did it all by yourself no support whatsoever. I envy your determination so much.”
“Thank you, big sister, and there is nothing to envy here. Not having money is nothing to envy.”
“Let’s open another bottle, we are celebrating today.” She gets off the chair and goes to get another bottle in the fridge. We are not even done with the first one, and I am already feeling tipsy. Expensive alcohol hits hard.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER
“Where is she?” Jannel asks. She is Tshidi’s mother.
It’s 6 pm and we’ve all been on our feet since morning, making sure that everything is set for Tshidi’s birthday. As for the birthday girl, she is somewhere with her boyfriend. Tshidi’s birthday is the most stressful for me and her family because we get to take care of everything while she has the best day of her life. I wish I had a family that cared for me as much as Tshidi’s. My family always forgets my birthday. The only person who always remembers is Tshidi.
“She is on her way, I think she will be here in thirty minutes,” I answer.
Jannel checks her wristwatch before saying, “I think you can go change. I will finish up here. Thank you, Naledi.”
“You don’t have to thank me.”
She says, “You help me out a lot, I would have died years ago because of Tshidi if you weren’t around. I appreciate you.”
I head to my room; I have a room at their house that I use whenever I am visiting. Tshidi was the one who insisted they reserve a room for me even though the only day I use it is her birthday since my aunt is always on my case.
The party has started. This year it is packed more than any other year, maybe because it is Queen Tshidi’s 30th birthday and every important person is invited. I shift my attention to the door when I hear people cheer, and that could only mean Tshidi is here. I smile and reach for my phone, prepared to record her as she walks in, but something else catches my attention.
A figure is standing a couple of feet in front of me. He is tall, dark, and handsome. He is wearing a white shirt folded to the sleeves and white formal trousers. The theme is all white after all. Our eyes lock, I feel my heart race, and for a second, everything stands still. It’s like it’s now just him and me – everybody else has vanished.
“Naledi!” Tshidi launches herself at me hurting my one boob in the process. I didn’t see her coming.
“Hey birthday girl!”
“I am 30 b*tches!” Tshidi screams in excitement.
“Happy birthday, babe, and your present is along with the others.”
She pulls me close for another hug. “Just your presence is enough, thank you for giving me my dream party.”
“I didn’t do it alone.”
“I know but thank you. Now let’s get drunk,” she takes my hand and pulls me to the drinks table. I so wanted to take a video of her coming in, but that stranger distracted me. Speaking for the handsome stranger, I wonder where he disappeared to.
“To 30 years on this earth,” Tshidi says, holding up a shot.
“To 30 years and many more!”
We down them and bite on the lemon. I hate shots. The only day I let Tshidi force me into having them is on her birthday.
“Let’s get this party started!” Tshidi yells, walking to her boyfriend, and everyone cheers. I know the night will end with her head in the toilet. Her birthday is the only day she drinks until she passes out.
Someone clearing their throat catches my attention, and I turn to look at them. It’s that man. His lips curve into a smile. “Good evening!”
“Hi.”
He extends his hand to me. “My name is Sibusiso.”
“Naledi.”
“Nice to meet you, Naledi,” he says, wearing a very warm smile that I always remember whenever I close my eyes till this day.
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