The road to forever Novel Chapter 2

The road to forever
2
Staying here and knowing that Obakeng will see me from time to time is something else. It makes me dread going out. He stays not far from my home. On the other side he’s been calling me nonstop. I ignore his calls. I don’t know what he expects from me. Does he want me to say yes to him being with my mother and I at the same time? That’s not normal.
I think I was the only one in love in this relationship. There’s no way someone who’s in love with you will see it normal to go and ask your mother out. To even make a baby while at it? it Is not normal and he knows it too. I just need him to leave me alone so that i can move on with my life without him.
I lock the door and walk to my brother’s place. He has been helping me look for a job. He said he had something for me before i found out about this tragedy that has fallen upon me. Getting a job would help me keep busy. It will help me to not think a lot. I don’t want to end up depressed because of a man.
I get to my brother’s place and find his wife. She’s about to leave for work. I greet her and take a seat. Some time after his wife has left my brother comes out with my niece. He hands her to me. I find him smiling when I look at him.
“If someone didn’t know they’d say she’s your chilld.” We laugh. This baby looks like me. I do look like my brother. Our fathers were brothers.
“I should just take her and stay with her.”
“I found you a job,but it’s in Pretoria. If you can’t take it I will continue looking. I understand you also have to think of your fiance. ”
“No,there’s no fiance anymore. I broke off the engagement. You should let the family know. I’m taking the job.”
Taking this job means that I will be away from here,away from all this chaos. It’s exactly what I need. It will keep me busy and not think too much. It came at the right time.
“What happened? You two were so in love and planning the wedding. ”
“I guess some people are good at pretending. I don’t think he ever loved me. He has been cheating on me for almost four years and had a baby while at that. That’s not someone I can get married to. So I canceled everything
” Now that I think about it,this man didn’t waste time asking my mother out. It was during the time my mother and I were just starting to work on our relationship. That’s when I showed him the photo.
“You made the right decision. Imagine what was going to happen once you’re married. It’s good that you found out before reaching the altar. I think this job is exactly what you need. It will take your mind off things.”
“You’re right.”
“That bastard better pray that I don’t bump into him. He will never cheat again in his life when I’m done with him.”
“Argg. Just let him be. At least I don’t have a child with him. That’s good,right?” He nods. That’s what I’m most grateful for. Imagine if I had a child with the bastard. I’d be tied to him for the rest of my life.
I go back to my place to pack. I want to leave as soon as possible. I don’t have to worry about anything. I have transport money and my brother is going to pay for my rent. I just need to get a place to stay and tell my brother how much it is. That’s it.
I’m blessed to have Kagiso in my life. Ever since my father passed away he’s been there for me. He actually took over my father’s role. He does everything for me. Even when I was at school he’d give me an allowance every month. So i know that even if things don’t go well with the new job he will be there for me.
After packing I walk to my mom’s. I’m going to miss this place. But it’s not that bad. I’m not leaving for good. I will still come back home. I would never leave for good just because of a man who couldn’t keep his pants zipped.
When I get to my mom’s I find Thabo watching tv and eating. When he sees me he giggles and gives me his place. He wants to be fed. I take it and feed him.
“How are you?” I ask.
“I’m fine. Are you sleeping here?”
“Why don’t you come and sleep at my place?”
“Okay.” He nods his head. Sometimes him and Kego sleep over at my place.
My mother comes out of her bedroom. She greets and sits down. Just by looking at her i feel so guilty that I’m keeping this secret. I should just tell her everything but i can’t. I have to take this secret to my grave. If she ever finds out then it’s not from me.
“Mom,I’m leaving this weekend. Kagiso got me a job in Pretoria. ” I tell her.
“Are you leaving because of your fiance? Why did you cancel everything?” She asks.
“That too. He cheated. ”
“I’m so sorry. It will be fine. Do you have everything that you will need when you move?” She asks.
“I have money for rent. Kagiso will pay.”
“Okay. I will send you money for groceries and furniture. And don’t even say no. It’s my responsibility to take care of you.”
“You are not sad that I’m leaving?” I actually feel sad.
“I am sad,but I cannot stop you. We will visit you and you will also come home. Don’t forget to study. You have an important exam coming up. If there is something you don’t understand call me.” I smile. My mom has helped me so much with my studies. And I know she will always help me whenever I’m stuck. I know that I can always run to her.
**************
Starting over at a new place can be overwhelming. I’m actuallyxhappy here. With this job I won’t go home from time to time. I will only go once in a while. I will miss my family. Especially my little brother. I feel so sad whenever I talk to him on the phone and he asks me when am i going to take him out. I loved taking him out before I found out about my fiance and my mother. I don’t think things will ever be the same.
I think I made the right decision. I can’t be with someone who cheats on me. Who knows? Maybe my mother was not the only one. But as for my mother she will always be in my life. I will not cut her off. She didn’t know. Obakeng is the one who knew and went after her. I wonder what was going on in his mind when he did this. What were his intentions? Why did he even propose?
Working is so nice. It hasn’t been a month but I’m happy. It keeps me busy. I forget about a lot. The struggle is catching a taxi to work. I’m a receptionist. And I have to be early at work. What I like about my job is that I knock off early. At 1pm I’m on my way home. Nice,isn’t? That’s because there are two receptionists. When I knock off the other one takes over from me.
But going back is not that bad. Taxis are not hard to find. Just after exiting the gate from work I see one coming. I take a taxi to town then from there I take another one to Pretoria North. That’s where I stay. My brother is paying my rent for the first two months. I sometimes wonder how he manages to help me like this. Does he tell his wife about it?
When I’m about to stop a taxi I hear a bell behind me. I turn around and see a car of some guy who once dropped me off here at work. He has a friend at the complex where i stay. That’s where I met him and he asked where I was going. Then he dropped me at work. I’ve already made friends at the complex. My neighbors were the first to welcome me when i arrived at the complex. That’s where I met this guy.
“Are you going home?” I nod.
“Get in.” I get in and he drives off. I don’t fear anything. I always see him whenever he’s visiting his friend. So I don’t think he’d do anything to me.
“How are you?”He asks.
“I’m fine,thanks. And you?”
“I’m good. You take a taxi everyday to work?”
“Yes. ”
“If you like I can drop you at work everyday. I work just 20 minutes away from where you work.”I look at him and he smiles.
“For free.”
“Okay. ” In that way I will save money. Let me just take advantage of this offer.
My phone rings. I smile. It’s my mother video calling.
“Hello,mom. Sorry for not calling today. I had a busy day. I was planning on calling when I get to my place.” I say. I smile more when I hear my little brother’s voice. He wants to speak.
“It’s fine. How are you, my child? And how’s work?” She asks.
“I’m fine. And work is good. I’m settling in here.”
“O tlotla gae leng,ausi? Ke go gopotse!(when are you coming home,sis? I miss you.)” Thabo says. His face is still not appearing. After a few seconds my mother moves the phone to him. He smiles when he sees me and claps. I miss him so much.
“Papa o rekile koloi!(Dad bought a car!)” He shouts.
“Ka nnete?(Really?)” I ask.
“Yes. I wasn’t even expecting it. He just came here and said he’s taking us somewhere. Then he surprised me with the car and a ring for our fourth year anniversary. ” My mother says. I wipe a tear that falls. I’m sure she thinks it’s tears of happiness.
“I’m so happy for you,mom. Congratulations. ” I’m going to keep this secret about Obakeng and I. I just hope he does the same. My mother loves him so much.
She waves the ring on the screen. It’s beautiful. So who am I to end her happiness?
“He’s here. You can talk to him. ” His face appears. Guilt is written all over his face.
“Uhm,congratulations on your engagement. ”
“Thank you.”
“Please take good care of my mother. I hope you treat her well. ” My mother smiles when the phone is back at her.
“I love you,my child.” She always tells me that she loves me. I think it’s because of the time that we lost.
“I love you too,mom.”
“Tla o ntsae ausi!(Come and fetch me sis.) Why did you leave?”
“I’m working so I can buy you more toys. I will come home soon.”
“Okay. ” The video call ends. I will go home on his birthday,which is in October. Now we are in March.
After the call ends I can’t help but let my tears fall. I wipe them quickly and look outside the window.
“Are you okay?” Zwelakhe asks. I nod my head. I don’t trust myself to speak. If I open my mouth I might just cry and I won’t be able to control myself. I might even let this secret out.
“If you miss your family so much maybe you should visit them.”
“No. I’ve only been here for a week. I can’t go home.” I managed to say without breaking down.
We get to my place and I thank him and go to my apartment. I lock myself in and take a long shower. After that I feel relaxed. I stay in a one bedroom apartment. It has an open plan kitchen/living room and a bathroom. It’s exactly what I needed. My own little place.
I stand by the balcony and watch cars as they move and people going about their business. It’s so busy around here. I really wish I wasn’t going through what I’m going through. I would be enjoying myself right now. It’s Friday. I would be going out. My friends are all the way back at home. So I won’t be able to go out on my own. Not when I’m like this. I might even get hit by a car because of stress.
I thought I would get over my break up easily. I was lying to myself. It hurts. It hurts more than I thought. I didn’t think it would be this hard. The man that I had plans with is causing me this pain. I had plans for the future with this man. But now he is marrying my mother. I was ready to introduce him to my mother. But my mother introduced him to me first and that’s where things went wrong.
I’m asking myself why he was telling me to not leave him. He wanted us to fix things. Why? Did he want to marry both my mother and I? I mean,he proposed to her so fast. I actually dodged a bullet. Even if he was not going to cheat on me with my mother he was going to do it with another woman.
My phone beeps. It’s texts from my mother. I read them. She’s so happy. It’s evident in her voice. There are also pictures. Thabo on top of the new car,him and Kego standing next to the car, and also the ring. It’s a new ring. Obakeng must have sold mine adn bought this. Now the money that he was saving to pay my bride price will be used on my mom.
I send my mother a text congratulating her once again. I’m not going to let my pain get in the way of her happiness. I sit on the floor and go to my gallery. I haven’t bought a couch or any furniture. I will do that tomorrow since it’s the weekend.
When I get into my gallery I delete all pictures and videis of Obakeng and I together. I also remove them from the recycling bin. I get rid of anything that reminds me of us. I don’t want to leave any proof or anything that will trigger me. I’m done for good. This chapter of my life is closed.
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