Wehweh, Ruri and I are in our last commerce lecture before we go to industry. So how it works is that you’ll have your commerce subjects, then you have classes. Industry is education on the industry that you want to operate in. Ruri is in Fashion Design and Merchandising – makes sense because she already has businesses in this space. Wehweh’s industry is ICT. My industry is hospitality, specifically focusing on Hotel Keeping and Catering. We sit together in all the classes that we attend together. Every Saturday morning, we study together via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. We have 5am – 7am sessions. And it helps a lot. We keep each other accountable.

A text message comes through my cellphone.
“Hey”. It’s Molise.
“Heya.” Me.
“You good?” 
“Yeah. You?”
“I’m good. I’m wondering if you could come by my consulting rooms after your classes. We need to talk.”
“About?” 
“I’ll tell you when you get here.”
“I thought you were in theatre today.”
“I was… in the morning. The rest of my afternoon is consultations.”
“I’ll see. I still have industry lectures. I’ll be done at 1pm”.
“That’s fine. See you at 1:30?”
I send a thumbs up.
I wonder.

The lecture ends. We all pack away our iPads and MacBooks. As we pack:
“Plans after industry?” Ruri asks us.
“I’m meeting up with hubby. He said he needs to talk to me about something”, I say.
“I’m meeting up with my brother.” Wehweh.
“Ai, I’m going home to sleep then.” Ruri.
“Where’s Khanya?” I ask.
“Still in SA. He comes back at the end of the week hey”, she says.
“Well, just join me as I meet up with my brother then.” Wehweh.
“Niyangishiya vele?” Me.
“Ushadile sisi”, Ruri.
We all laugh. 

We make our way out of the lecture room. Eish, and we bump into Wandile. Ruri doesn’t know why Wandile is a Hotspot. She’s confused. Wehweh is frozen – hurt even, taken back to a time when this would’ve never been awkward. I’m just here for her.

“Hey”, Wandile greets her first.
“Hey”, Wehweh.
“Babe, are you waiting for me?” That Sanel girl says to Wandile, coming out of nowhere. 
She notices us.
Her face turns sour. Also, her man is ignoring her. I’m now holding Wehweh’s hand. I’m here for her. Sanel mustn’t start shit.
“You look good, Wehweh”, Wandile says.
“Ngiyabonga. Nawe futhi“, Wehweh.
“Wandile, we are going to be late for our lecture”, Sanel.
“You can go. I’ll catch up with you”, Wandile says to her.
“Excuse me?” Sanel.
Wandile closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. You can just see that he’s hurting as much as Wehweh is.
“Ey wena, Wehweh… what did I say to you?!” Sanel is now ANGRY! 
“Sorry, ausi… personal space is appreciated. Let’s not get overfamiliar with each other”, Ruri. She’s a fierce one this one… underhandedly so.
“She’s overfamiliar with my man. So we can share a penis, but we cannot share personal space?! Clearly, what is her is me and what is me is her. Angisho mnaks?” Yoh Sanel!
“Lalela la wena… angazi uphuze kuphi nje ngoba uzodakelwa phez’kwami! How many times must I tell you that I am not sleeping with Wandile?! This is my best friend and he’s been my best friend for years. Now I’ve lost a solid friendship in him because of your insecurities. If you feel ukuthi you are that cold in bed, get yourself some Yoni Steaming Products and leave the rest of us out of your shit!” Wehweh naye!
Sanel throws hands, but Ruri is so quick… wow! She catches Sanel’s hand then throws it back at her. 
“I’m not going to tell you again! Back the fuck off!” Ruri sounds so scary. I’m even terrified of her right now. Her face! Her tone! Her voice is saying “or else” while the words are not really coming out of her mouth. And her or else sounds life-threatening. Even Sanel is scared. She looks at Wandile – who, by the way, is still staring at Wehweh and looks ready to cry. 
“Friend, let’s go”, Ruri says. All three of us walk away. Only now I realise that people were watching us. I hope no one took videos.

…

I arrive at Royal Mohale Hospital. This is where Molise’s doctor’s rooms are. He told me, I’ve never been here. I ask the security to show me where Dr Maphosa’s rooms are. He directs me and I make my way there. 

I actually do see “Dr Maphosa” on the glass sliding door, so I walk in. This is the waiting area with fancy couches and a coffee table with stax of magazines on it. The reception area is also here and there are three gorgeous assistants behind the reception desk. 
I text him.
“I’m here. But your office seems busy.”
I see that he’s online.
He doesn’t type back. He just comes out. He greets everyone. He introduces me as his wife and people are actually impressed. Then he pulls me to his office. We are actually holding hands. We get into his office. He has nice couches in here. His desk has pictures of the kids and I. This guy is…
“I feel bad. I’m holding up all those people in there.” I say.
“Some I’ve already seen. They are just waiting for test results from the lab then my nurse will take over. Some need to be seen by the nurse first before coming into my sonar room – which is through that door”, he says pointing at a door that is behind me that leads to an attached room. There is a second door as well that’s behind him that leads to another sonar room. He explains that he has two of these rooms. This is a really nice setup. 
“I made sure that my schedule is set up in such a way that I can be available for you right now.” He says.
I nod my head. 
“How’s your day going?” He asks me.
I giggle before I start telling him about what just happened between Wehweh, Sanel and Wandile. He’s laughing and all, but his take is that Wandile is the problem. According to him, Wandile has wifed Wehweh and turned Sanel into a sex buddy. 
Interesting…
“Do you have any close female friends?” I ask him.
He might as well be honest. It’s not like I’m going to divorce him. 
“What are you asking me exactly?” He says, smiling at me so slyly.
“Is there or isn’t there a female that is very close to or with you that’s not your family?” 
“We have girls we hang out with… some I’ve tapped in the past… but I don’t have a Wehweh in my life”, he says.
I see. 
“So, what did you want to talk about?” I ask him. 
He clears his throat, sits up straight then says, “I’d like us to live together… you know, like a family”, he says.
Yoh!
“Why?” I ask him.
“I’m serious about making us work”, he says.
I look at him.
“And I’ll be honest with you, my feelings for you grow deeper each and everyday. I want to he able to just kiss you and not feel like I’m committing a crime. I want to have sex with you again –
I laugh, interrupting him. He looks at me, searching for the joke.
“You know I’ve only had sex with you twice and on both occasions, I became pregnant.”
He bursts into laughter. 
“I’ll prescribe contraceptions for you.” He says, still laughing. 
I stop laughing then breathe.
“You know… you are one man that’s impacted my life the most. I became a mother twice for you. You are my husband – a forever kind of relationship that I don’t take lightly. And you made me look at it very differently because of the nature of our marriage. And strange enough, you are the only man that I’ve ever been with… sexually.” 
He stands up from his chair on the other side of his office desk. He sits on the edge of his office desk, right in front of me, locking me towards him with his legs. He uses his finger to lift my head up towards him, lifting my face up by my chin. 
“I know that I owe you. I owe you so much that I’ll probably never be able to pay you back. Outside of owing you, I long to fall asleep next to you every night and wake up next to you every morning. I long to do right by Phupholethu and Lelapa… next to their mother… everyday… under one roof. I don’t want to feel bad for falling deeper in love with you. I want to be their father. I want to be your husband. I’m begging you to let me in.” 
I don’t even know how to feel right now.
He pulls a ring out of his pocket. It’s the wedding band that I gave him when we got married. He didn’t even give me a wedding ring. I was so hurt. But now that I think about it, that should’ve been my red flag that shit would go left. 
“I gave that ring to you as my husband. You didn’t give me one to show that I’m your wife. Instead, you just passed me onto your mother and I became her wife instead… raising my children with her.” I say.
He pulls out some box from his other pocket. He opens the box. There’s a ring in there. A stunning ring. It’s a pear shaped diamond ring accompanied by a band. 
I look at him. 
“I also know that we never signed. We just got traditionally married. I’ve made an appointment for us at home affairs. I want you to be my wife… not just under customary law, but also under civil law. Zah, I love you. I want to be your husband. Please let me. Bring a witness, I’ll bring mine… let’s do this.” 
Yoh! This is not the conversation I thought we’d be having today. 
“I’m sorry… for everything, Zah… ke kopa tshwarelo.” He says. 
Now I’m just emotional.

– 

Ruri, Wehweh and I had a conference call and I brought up to speed about how and why I got married, what my life has been since I married 

Molise, and what is happening now. After their shock and excitement – support trumping all feelings which I appreciate so much – we decided that Wehweh would be my witness and Ruri invited us to dinner at her father’s restaurant – Rooftop – the one that no one can ever get a reservation at. I really like my friends. 

Molise and I have now signed. I had Wehweh be my witness. He had one of his friends as a witness. His name is Lebo. Lebo and Wehweh were busy communicating very hush hush nje. I just knew they were up to something. Lebo is the one driving. 

When we get to Rooftop – where our early dinner is – courtesy of Ruri – we head in with Lebo and Wehweh. Molise holds my hand. We walk into a booked out floor that has a board at its entrance that reads “Congratulations Mr and Mrs 

Maphosa.”

 When did they plan and execute all of this? We were at Home Affairs for 30 minutes tops.
Molise and I look at each other. I think we both know what’s happening here.

We step in and “Surprise” being yelled has us laughing. There are men I don’t know, so I know Lebo had everything to do with inviting them. Ruri invited Breezy, Thendo, Mapho and Vanessa. There are more guys than us girls. I see that her man is also here. She introduces him to me. Muhle yena shame. Insizwa mpela. Wehweh’s brother, Patrick, and his girlfriend are here. So is Mnqobi – Wehweh’s new excitement. I’m so glad I was convinced to wear a cute white dress. Molise is in a suit. My dress is a Ruri design. Yes, I supported my friend. I paid for it online and a delivery person she phoned brought it while I was doing hair and makeup. 
I’m most grateful that my children are here.

We have our dinner with our friends. The table is full of laughter and chatter. Everyone looks really beautiful. Stunning, I tell you! Lelapa is sitting on top of me. Phupho is sitting on top of Molise.
“You look beautiful”, he tells me this for the 100th time today.
“Yes mommy, you look wow!” Phupho says.
I smile at them. 

The night is nice. A photographer forced my family and I into a photoshoot, but hey, we are good. We leave for home at 11pm. We are using my Velar. He drives. The kids are passed out in the backseat. 

“Thank you”, I say.
He looks at me briefly then focuses on the road again.
“Thank you for finally choosing us. Thank you for today. Thank you for making this work. Thank you for giving them a chance at a normal family structure.”
He holds my hand.
“I’m not perfect. But I will do my best.” He says.
“That’s all we ask.” I say.
“Because my place is a one-bedroom apartment, I’m thinking we rent it out to make some money from it”, he says. 
“Okay.” Me.
“Ja, property is a good investment. The Seete Construction Group is building blocks and blocks of apartments. They’ll only be for rentals. They’ll be making money from there. They’ve just opened opportunities for people to get a cut-nyama from this. So, if one apartment will be rented for R25 000, we can buy to get up to R15 000 a month from that. But we buy in for that. I’m thinking of going to the bank, applying for a loan  and getting about ten of those deals. Rentals start from R15 000, but those are not up for the rental deal. We can only buy in from those that will be rented for R25 000 and the minimum we can buy in is to get R10 000 out of the rent.” He says.
“I think that’s a good idea. I like having those types of investments. I’ve been looking for opportunities such as these to invest the money that my dad gave me as a wedding gift.” 
He looks at me in shock. Then he says, “your father gave you money?”
“Yep. I put it in an account that can get interest. I checked on it this morning. With interest, I’m sitting on R55 million.”
He literally stops the car.
“What?” I ask him. I don’t come from poverty, you know.
“We can use it to get ourselves a whole block or two blocks of the apartments. From what we make from the rentals, 25% can go into our joint savings, 25% goes to an account I’ve set up for Phupho, 25% goes to an account I’ve set up for Lelapa, then the last 25% is for us to enjoy.” I say.
“Phupho and Lelapa have accounts with money too?” 
“Yes. They need to have it easier and better than us. A lot of the money you sent me for them, I used some for essentials then banked the rest for them.” 
I don’t know how to read his reaction. 
“O bohlale, you know that?” He says.
I giggle then say, “thank you.”
“There’s nothing worse than having goals in life when the woman in your life is financially illiterate. I’ve just realised that with you, not only will I reach my financial goals, but I’ll also build generational wealth for my kids.” 
I smile. This is very nice to hear. 
“Financial education is very important. I’ve even started teaching Phupho how to save money so that she’s not reckless with money when she has access to large amounts of money.” I say.
“How are you doing that?” He asks me. 
“I tell her I’m her bank account. Every month, she has R300 to spend on tuck money at school as well as the toys she has. She has a little notebook where every time I give her money, she takes it from the R300. Then whatever she has in December, I match it, then we put it in her bank account. She’s very excited about having a bank account. She says she will use the money in there to have a sweet sixteen for herself”.
We both laugh at this.
“Ja, we watched one Sweet Sixteen episode – the American one where it’s a huge deal and people give their teenage kids luxury cars. Then she asked me if nna le wena would do a similar party for her then buy her a Porsche.”
“A Porsche?!” He yells.
I laugh at him. 
“How does she know about a Porsche?” He asks me, still laughing.
“She has her father’s taste in cars. I’ll give her that.” He says.
“Mos, I need to start saving big time.” 
We giggle.
“But, re tlo ba shup. We will figure it out.” He says.
“Would you be open to having one more?” He asks me.
“You actually want more kids?” I’m actually shocked.
“I’m just wondering if it’s something that you want so that we are both clear on where we are with kids”, he says.
“I almost died giving birth to Phupho. That pregnancy was quite difficult. I remember how it was so painful 80% of the time. When I went into labour, it was horrible. Then she also almost died. The umbilical chord was around her neck and suffocating her. She came out blue. Literally. She was in ICU for three weeks. It was not a nice experience at all. With Lelapa, it wasn’t any easier. But your mom stressed me the hell out. And all the hectic work she made me do, reminding me everyday that I’m not sick, I’m just pregnant… and that I’m not the first person to get pregnant, even though my gynae kept saying I need to chill… I gave birth to him as a premature baby and I wasn’t producing any breastmilk. I’m so fortunate that you were able to buy the breastmilk to help feed him. The paediatrician told me that his stomach was so small. If we gave him formula, his tummy would’ve burst and he would have died. So, I didn’t have great experiences with my pregnancy. I don’t know if I have another trauma left in me with another baby.”
He’s quiet for a minute.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there with Phupho. I did my best with Lelapa, I didn’t realise mama worked you that intense.” 
“I don’t really want us to talk too much about that. I do feel that things could’ve been different if you just took us and been there from the beginning. But in the spirit of starting afresh, let’s do it better now.”
He just looks at me. 

We finally get home. We put our kids to sleep then we baptise our wedding day with a good session of sex. 
He passes out almost immediately. I decide to text Mapho.

“Hey babes”. 
“Gorgeous bride… you good?” She texts back immediately. 
“I am. I’m just not trying to get pregnant again. I’ve never been on contraceptives before. Can you help with recommending contraceptives for me please?” 
“LOL! I love you so much. Let’s meet at the clinic tomorrow. I’ll ask the more senior students that work there to prescribe something for you after the nurse has seen you. She will do an analysis by briefly asking you some questions so you get contraceptives that are best suited for you.” 
“Thanks my love. You rock.” 
“You are welcome, gorgeous. Now enjoy your man.” 
“He’s already asleep.” Me. 
“It’s your wedding night. Wake him up with a blowjob.” 
I send laughing faces, but actually, I wake him up with the blow job and he’s so much more than a happy man.