The Perfect Copy
#2
In the early hours of the morning in Maun, Neo slowly stepped out of the bus. Aunty Tsona smiled and clapped, standing next to the conductor.
“Bathong Neo! I was starting to get worried thinking you are not in the bus.”
Neo laughed, stepped down holding her bag, then hugged her aunt. Tsona giggled.
“You are so big. And beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
Tsona took the bag and walked to her Honda Fit, placing it on the back seat.
“Get in. We have to go home and start preparing for work.”
They both got into the car and Tsona drove off.
“Your mom told me about your results. It’s not that bad. And she is the last person to judge when she never even sat down for her Form 5 exams because she was already pregnant.”
Neo looked over at her aunt. “Did my father really deny me?”
Tsona shook her head. “He wanted nothing to do with your mother. Mama was a maid to that family and… that family took all of us in. Instead of us being grateful, your mother decided to have an affair with the man of the house. She got pregnant and he didn’t want anything to do with her anymore. Men love you till you are pregnant. When we all found out that Maria was pregnant, she cried ra.pe and Mama was fired immediately.”
Neo nodded. “And where did the man go?”
“The white man moved away with his family. Mama was too angry then and she kicked your mother out. For a while we didn’t know where your mother was and when we found her, she had already given birth to you.”
Neo sat back. “She doesn’t like being asked about him.”
“Of course. He disappeared from the face of the earth. But wherever he is, know you have a big sister. The white man and his wife had a daughter. She was married, newly married it seemed. She also just disappeared. Enough about all that. You are here now. You will work with me and I will make sure you rewrite. You will go back to UB. I know that is all you have ever dreamt of. The money you make from working with me, we will save it for next year in Gaborone. Deal?”
Neo smiled excitedly. “Deal!”
“Good. I have this contract at a private company. My company cleans their offices, though the contract is ending today. I pray they renew it. They pay good money and on time.”
“Okay.”
***
Later that morning, Neelo walked out of the house after her parents had left for work and rushed over to Kgosi’s car at the gate. She jumped in and he drove off immediately.
“The doctor said it won’t take more than 20 minutes.”
“Mhmm…”
He glanced at her. “Nice car. Your parents really love you.”
“Mhmm…”
“Amo is getting suspicious of you. After this, we are going to have to keep our distance.”
Neelo turned to him. “You are breaking up with me?”
“This was fun while it lasted, but I am not willing to sacrifice my marriage for two minutes of fun. Also, your threats last night didn’t sit well with me.”
“I said it because I wanted you to see how serious I am.”
“By saying you would accuse me of ra.pe?”
Neelo folded her arms. “Fine. I also have lost interest in you.”
Kgosi remained silent as he drove to the private clinic. Minutes later, he parked in the parking lot.
“The doctor is a friend of mine. Let me know when you are done and I will call a cab for you.”
“You are not waiting for me?”
“I have to get to work. I have more serious things to do.”
He stepped out of the car and walked toward the entrance.
Neelo took a deep breath then thoughtfully took off her panty. She looked around and tucked it behind his seat before getting out of the car. She followed him inside the clinic and stopped at the reception where Kgosi was standing with a doctor.
He sighed.
“Dan, this is Neelo. Neelo, this is Daniel, Dr. Mompati. He will be doing the surgery.”
Dan looked at Neelo and smiled, taking a step closer. He stretched out his hand.
“Hi. How do you do?”
Neelo looked at his hand and folded her arms. “Fine.”
Kgosi sighed. “Dan, o bue le nna. (You will talk to me.)”
“Sure, boy.”
Kgosi walked out of the clinic.
Dan smiled. “You can follow me.”
Neelo quietly followed him to his office and sat across from him.
“You look angry.”
Neelo looked at him. “Will I be in pain after we are done?”
“You will feel some discomfort for a day or two, then from there you will be fine.” He leaned back slightly. “If it makes you feel any better, I think he’s an asshole as well.”
Neelo paused, then smiled. “I should have never been sleeping with him.”
Dan shrugged lightly. “It’s life. We learn as we go. I am going to do an ultrasound to find out how far along you are, then from there do the procedure. From here o bake.”
Neelo laughed softly. “Ke bakile. (I have leant my lesson.)”
Dan locked eyes with her, chuckling.
“You are very pretty. Too pretty for this kind of nonsense.”
He stood up and handed her a boob tube.
“You can put this on and lie on the bed. I will excuse you.”
“Thank you.”
Neelo watched him walk out, then undressed and put on the tube. She picked up her phone to block Kgosi but a thought crossed her mind and she put it down instead. She lay on the small bed and stared at the ceiling.
45 MINUTES LATER…
Dan walked out with Neelo. She looked around and sighed.
“Thank you. I will call a cab to take me home.”
Dan glanced at his watch. “No, I will take you home.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I am taking you home. Wait for me here.”
He hurried back inside the clinic and stepped out minutes later. He led her to his car and helped her inside. Neelo watched him walk around the car and get in.
“Where do you stay?”
“Block 8.”
“Okay.”
He started the car and drove off.
For a moment, they drove in silence.
“So..” Dan glanced at her. “How old are you?”
“Nineteen.”
Dan frowned. “When did you start sleeping with Kgosi?”
“A couple of months back.”
“How old were you then?”
“Eighteen.”
Dan shook his head slowly, keeping his eyes on the road. “Why did you agree?”
Neelo shrugged. “He made me feel special.”
Dan exhaled through his nose. “From here, you need to focus on school. Did you pass form 5?”
Neelo looked at him. “I passed.”
“Good. Then focus on that. Build your life. Men will always be there.”
She smiled faintly. “Yes, Doctor.”
He turned to her. “I am serious.”
“I know.”
A while later, Dan parked outside the gate and turned off the engine.
“You need to wait at least two years before you start dating.”
Neelo smiled at how firm his voice had gotten. “Fine.”
“I mean it.”
“I said fine.”
He looked at her for a second then softened. “I will keep checking on you. Just to make sure you are okay.”
Neelo smiled at him. “Okay.”
He held her gaze for a moment then Neelo’s expression changed.
“I still want to punish Kgosi.”
Dan blinked. “What?”
She took out her phone and put her feet on the dashboard.
Dan burst out laughing. “What are you doing?”
She angled the camera snapping a picture.
“So now you want to destroy my friendship?”
Neelo grinned. “You shouldn’t be friends with a pedophile to begin with.”
Dan shook his head amused.
Neelo flipped her camera to video mode, leaned toward him and pulled him closer, kissing him.
Dan paused for a second then kissed her back.
Neelo moved back slowly then ended the video saving it.
She smiled.
“This should be enough to bury him alive. Bye.”
She opened the door, stepped out of the car and walked away without looking back.
Dan laughed shaking his head watching her walk towards a house.
***
That afternoon, Neo cleaned an office with her aunt. Tsona glanced at the clock on the wall.
“Okay, you got how we do it, right?”
Neo nodded.
“Good. Finish off this one. I will go and start on the last office. It’s time.”
“Eemma.”
Tsona walked out and Neo wrung the cloth she was using, then bent over and wiped the table clean. Minutes passed and she found her flow in the cleaning while lost in her thoughts.
The door opened behind her and she jumped, startled them turned around.
The owner of the office looked at her and smiled.
“Hi.”
Neo blinked, staring at him. “Dumelang.”
“Scared you?”
She shook her head. “Ng ng.”
“Waaka. (Lies.) I scared you. You should see yourself.”
“I am sorry, I almost finished.”
“It’s okay. I just want my laptop charger and I am out.”
He walked around his desk and grabbed his charger. He looked at her.
“What’s your name?”
“Neo. I am with Tsona Cleaning Services.”
He smiled. “You are new?”
“Yes.”
“Great. Sharp akere, Neoza?”
She found herself smiling back. “Sharp.”
He chuckled and walked out.
Neo finished cleaning and a while later walked out. She bumped into her aunt.
“I am done.”
Tsona smiled. “I just got a call. They are renewing the contract.”
Neo hugged her aunt.
“You were worried for nothing.”
“I know. Done cleaning?”
“Yes. And the owner of the office came to pick his charger.”
“Did he say anything?”
“No.”
“He is an executive here. Starting from Monday after you have fully learnt the job, you will clean the other offices. The executives’ and CEO’s offices, I like to have my best of the best clean them. They are the ones to impress.”
They walked back into the office and Tsona smiled impressed while checking everything.
Her phone rang. She took it out and answered.
“Hello?… Oh hi, Sam. They just called saying the contract will be renewed… Yes, thank you so much… oh?… really?… okay… who?… Neo?”
Neo looked at her aunt.
Tsona nodded. “Okay… uh she will be there… okay… okay… yes, that is fine. Bye.”
Neo stared at her aunt as she hung up. “What is it?”
“Apparently the owner of this office really liked your cleaning and he wants you to be assigned to this office. He is the one who gave the call for the contract to be renewed as well.”
***
Later that day, Kgosi parked his car at his house and stepped out, checking his call log just in case he had missed a call. Neelo still hadn’t called or even texted.
He opened his WhatsApp walking inside the house. His heart skipped as he looked at the picture she had just uploaded on her status.
He zoomed in on the picture, his heart racing.
“Hey, babe…”
He swallowed, looking over at his wife then forced a smile.
“Hi.”
She looked at him, then sighed. “Where is your lunch box and laptop bag?”
He blinked. “Shit, I forgot them in the car.”
“I will get them. Go and freshen up, I am almost done cooking.”
“Thank you.”
Kgosi walked to the bedroom and into the bathroom, making a call.
“Ntwana-”
“What happened with Neelo today?” He closed the bathroom door. “You didn’t call me.”
“Oh, I got busy but it went well.”
“I just saw she posted herself in your car.”
“My car?”
“Yes! I know your car’s interior. What’s going on?”
Kgosi shook his head holding his phone tighter.
“Dan, I am serious.”
Dan laughed. “So am I. What’s going on? Gape didn’t you say you don’t want this girl anymore?”
“That doesn’t change that she is still my girl. We didn’t break up on a serious note. I just want her to understand that she can’t say such threats to me. Do you want her?”
Dan sighed. “I am not after your girl.”
“The picture on her status… the car in that picture is yours.” His heart pounded even more. “I love her. Let’s not do this.”
“Kana nna ga kitse gore o bata eng. Also she is way too young for me. I have to go. Bye.”
Dan hung up.
Kgosi’s heart raced and he turned holding his phone,calling Neelo. He thoughtfully opened the door to check the coast.
His heart skipped as he came face to face with Amo who was calmly staring at him, standing by the door holding a white lace panty.
“Please come out so you can tell me who this girl is that you love and didn’t break up with on a serious note. And maybe you can also tell me whose panty this is. I found it in your car.”