THE RISE OF TUMELO By Author’s Voice Chapter 16

THE RISE OF TUMELO
CHAPTER 16 [Sponsored by anonymous.]
ITUMELENG
A MONTH LATER…
I’m still fuming, stuck in this limbo with Tumelo. We barely exchange words, or rather, I make a point to ignore him most of the time. It’s been over a month since that night, and the anger still simmers. Who leaves someone hanging like that? He owes me an explanation, at least.
Yesterday, he handed me cash, like throwing money at the problem would fix everything. I took it, but forgiveness? No way. I’m not playing that game. Today, I’m in the kitchen, moving stiffly as I prep breakfast for him only. He’s perched on the counter, eyes tracking my every move as I crack eggs, the sizzle of the pan making me jumpy. I don’t spare him a glance, my anger simmering like the bacon grease popping in the pan.
I slam his plate onto the table, the clatter making him look up. I feel his gaze burning into me as I turn to head upstairs, my back straight, hands on my hips. “Itumeleng.” He calls, his voice low, like he’s trying to placate me. I swivel, eyes narrowing.
“What?” My patience is threadbare, the word snaps out.
He looks up, eyes red-rimmed, like he’s on the verge of tears. For a second, my resolve wavers, but I harden up.
“I’m sorry,” he says, the words feeling hollow. What for? Does he even know?
“What for?” I demand, my voice rising.
He drops his gaze, face contorting like he’s wrestling with words. The silence stretches, making me twitch. I sigh, the anger draining out of me, leaving exhaustion. I spin on my heel, heading for the other bedroom – I’ve been sleeping there since that night. I slam the bathroom door behind me, the echo satisfying, and crank the shower on. Hot water pounds against my skin, but it doesn’t wash away the frustration.
As the steam wraps around me, I replay that night, the way he left me… I turn the water hotter, like I can scald the memory away. The bathroom’s fogging up, mirroring my mood – murky and hot. I stand there, letting the water beat down, until it starts to run cold.
I’m wearing my black short dress that showcases my brown thighs and small boobs, feeling confident and sexy. I grab my handbag and spritz my perfume, letting the scent envelop me like a cloud of seduction, before walking out of the room. I request an Uber to ILanga mall, which is just 5 minutes away. As I walk out of the room, Tumelo is still seated like I left him, his breakfast untouched on the table, the scrambled eggs congealing on the plate. I’m offended; he’s never done this before. “Where are you going?” he asks, his voice low and suspicious. “You didn’t eat your breakfast,” he adds, his eyes narrowing.
I’m really offended; does he think I might poison him? “I don’t have an appetite, where are you going?” he asks again, his eyes snapping together like he’s trying to piece together a puzzle. “I’m going to the mall,” I say, my voice breezy as I slip into my stilettos, and he scans me from head to toe, his gaze lingering on my exposed thighs. Yes, I look beautiful and sexy, and I know it.
“Loo… looking like that?” he asks, standing up, his voice laced with a mix of desire and disapproval. “What’s wrong with my looks?” I ask, looking down at myself, feigning innocence. “There’s nothing wrong with your looks, the dress is way too short for you to move around ILanga mall alone like that,” he says, his voice firm, his eyes flashing with possessiveness. Is he jealous?
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” I say, heading to the door, my hips swaying as I walk. He follows me as I walk out, his desperation palpable. “Can I accompany you there?” he asks, his voice laced with a pleading tone. “Nope, I’ve already requested an Uber,” I say, cat-walking just to spike him, my heels clicking on the floor.
“Cancel it, I’ll remain in the car,” he says, his voice low and husky, his eyes locked on mine. Did I mention that he sounds desperate? “Tumelo, I said I’ll go alone; I don’t need anyone to guard me, I need some space alone,” I say, almost yelling, my patience wearing thin. He looks at me for a good minute, his eyes searching mine, before nodding slowly. “Itu, come on, I’ll remain in the car while you move around. I won’t be clingy; I promise,” he says, his voice softening, and my Uber hoots outside the gate, the sound breaking the tension.
I’m wearing my black short dress that showcases my brown thighs and small boobs, feeling confident and sexy. I grab my handbag and spritz my perfume, letting the scent envelop me like a cloud of seduction, before walking out of the room.
I request an Uber to ILanga mall, which is just 15 minutes away. As I walk out of the room, Tumelo is still seated like I left him, his breakfast untouched on the table, the scrambled eggs congealing on the plate. I’m offended; he’s never done this before. “Where are you going?” he asks, his voice low and suspicious.
“You didn’t eat your breakfast,” I ask, my eyes narrowing.
I’m really offended; does he think I might poison him?
“I don’t have an appetite, where are you going?” he asks again, his eyes snapping together like he’s trying to piece together a puzzle.
“I’m going to the mall,” I say, my voice breezy as I slip into my stilettos, and he scans me from head to toe, his gaze lingering on my exposed thighs. Yes, I look beautiful and sexy, and I know it.
“Loo… looking like that?” he asks, standing up, his voice laced with a mix of desire and disapproval.
“What’s wrong with my looks?” I ask, looking down at myself, feigning innocence.
“There’s nothing wrong with your looks, the dress is way too short for you to move around ILanga mall alone like that,” he says, his voice firm, his eyes flashing with possessiveness. Is he jealous?
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” I say, heading to the door, my hips swaying as I walk. He follows me as I walk out, his desperation palpable.
“Can I accompany you there?” he asks, his voice laced with a pleading tone.
“Nope, I’ve already requested an Uber,” I say, cat-walking just to spike him, my heels clicking on the floor.
“Cancel it, I’ll remain in the car,” he says, his voice low and husky, his eyes locked on mine. Did I mention that he sounds desperate?
“Tumelo, I said I’ll go alone; I don’t need anyone to guard me, I need some space alone,” I say, almost yelling, my patience wearing thin. He looks at me for a good minute, his eyes searching mine, before nodding slowly.
“Itu, come on, I’ll remain in the car while you move around. I won’t be clingy; I promise,” he says, his voice softening, and my Uber hoots outside the gate, the sound breaking the tension.
“Bye, I’ll see you around 5pm, go finish up your breakfast and please don’t follow me,” I say, my voice firm but polite, as I turn to head outside the gate. I attempt to open the car door of the waiting Uber, but it’s locked, the driver hastily locking it as I glance back to see Tumelo giving him a deadly glare, his jaws clenched tight, his hands balled into fists. The Uber driver seems terrified, his eyes darting between Tumelo and me, before he suddenly speeds off, leaving me standing alone on the sidewalk.
I turn to face Tumelo, who’s still fuming, his chest heaving with restrained anger. “You’re behaving like a toddler and it’s annoying,” I say, trying my best not to raise my voice at him, my hands on my hips.
The deadly glare vanishes from his face, replaced by a look of guilt, but it’s quickly followed by determination. “I want to come with you,” he says, taking a step closer to me.
I chuckle, the sound dripping with sarcasm, and clap once, the sharp sound echoing through the air. “For what? Tumelo, I said I want to be alone, I don’t need a bodyguard,” I say, shaking my head, as I glance around for another option. Spotting a taxi cruising down the street, I flag it down, not wanting to deal with Tumelo’s antics anymore.
I didn’t want to take a taxi, but I have no choice now, thanks to Tumelo’s childish behavior. As I slide into the taxi, the driver and all other passengers start stealing glances at me, their eyes filled with curiosity and suspicion. The taxi starts moving, and I settle in, trying to ignore the whispers behind me.
“She’s the one that got all those people kidnapped,” someone says, their voice loud enough for me to hear, making my blood boil. I hate taxis in this city, always filled with nosy and judgmental people.
“I bet he left her take a taxi on purpose, just so he can hurt more innocent souls out there,” another voice says, making my day go from bad to worse, all because of Tumelo.
–––
NTHABISENG
Honestly, I’m happy that Tshepo and I are finally in a relationship, but one thing that hurts me is that we’re always in hotels. He never takes me to his house, nor does he take me to his parents’ house to introduce me.
It’s like I’m a dirty secret or something. Another thing is that I thought he was going to splash money in my face, but he’s not. He hasn’t given me even a cent since we started dating, and I even went as far as blocking every other guy I was busy with. I thought he was different, but maybe I was just blind.
“Come on, Nthabi, don’t be mad,” he says, his voice low and smooth, as if that’ll fix everything. I don’t respond, but instead, I pull up my pants, the sound of the zipper loud in the silence. I stand near the mirror and fix my hair, trying to compose myself, but my anger is simmering just below the surface.
“Are you saying we’re done?” he asks, his voice laced with concern, as if he actually cares. I quickly turn to face him, my eyes narrowing.
“And when did I say that?” I snap my eyebrows at him, annoyed, I mean, why would he assume such? We’re not breaking up, I just want him to fix his ways, to see me as more than just a quick hookup.
“Then why are you giving me the silent treatment?” he asks, wearing his clothes, his eyes searching mine.
“Because you’re treating me like a slut, why do we always have to be in hotels when we want to be together? You can afford yourself, and I know you have a house,” I say, my voice rising, as I slip on my shoes.”You can afford to take me out, to show me off, but you’re not. It’s like you’re ashamed of me or something.”
“I’ll take you there when the time is right, our relationship is still new,” he says, his voice calm, as if he’s trying to placate me. I laugh, the sound bitter, and clap my hands once.
“Our relationship is still new for me to come to your house, but it’s not new for you to get in between my thighs?” I’m pissed, he looks way too handsome, but his mentality is nonsense. He doesn’t respond, just looks at me with those piercing eyes, like he’s trying to see right through me.
“We’re done, because it’s clear I’m being played here,” I say, grabbing my bag and making my way out of the hotel room, the door slamming shut behind me. Arriving outside, I look back, thinking he’ll follow me, but there’s no one. Just me, standing alone in the hallway, feeling foolish for thinking it was real.
–––
Zibuyile is at the mall to buy a few groceries, Tumelo doesn’t yet know she’s back because she’s been laying low. She’s wearing clothes that covers every skin of hers, even her face is hidden. She’s done shopping and is now seated on a bench waiting for her Uber to arrive.
A Toyota Hilux double cab pulls up next to her, the familiar body structure sends shivers down her spine, it’s Tumelo. He’s looking around the mall like he’s searching for someone, her heart beats fast as he moves around looking for who knows what.
She feels a shiver run down her spine as Tumelo’s eyes scan the area, his gaze moving slowly over the crowd. She holds her breath as he looks around, her mind racing with possibilities. Who is he looking for? Her? Does he know she’s back?
Luckily, her Uber arrives before he can see her. She quickly places her groceries in the boot and jumps in the car with her daughter. “Let’s go, please,” she urges the driver, her voice barely above a whisper.
As they pull away, Zibuyile can’t help but glance back, watching as Tumelo’s Hilux remains stationary, Tumelo’s gaze still scanning the crowd. Does he see her? Does he know she slipped away? She feels a shiver run down her spine as she realizes she’s narrowly avoided a confrontation.
The drive home is tense, Zibuyile’s mind racing with thoughts of Tumelo and what he was looking for at the mall. She knows she can’t avoid him forever, but for now, she’s happy to be safe, to be hidden away from his prying eyes.
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