Phathudi is visiting us for the weekend. He is here to see Phatsima. I do not want him here and I do not believe that he wants to be around me. He wanted to bring his new girlfriend with him and I told him that my place is not a hotel. He thinks I am jealous. I think he is stupid. 

He keeps reminding me that he will not help me with school fees. I never asked him to. I was planning to leave him alone and not sue for him for maintenance until he told me that his new girlfriend needs a car and I should return his Polo – especially because now I can more than afford to take care of myself. He is driving back with the Polo on Sunday and I have bought Phatsi and I an Audi A3. 

I have also filed for maintenance at the magistrates court and I have a good lawyer representing me. I am learning that this guy is taking me for granted. He begged for this war and now he will get it. I am that girl who now collects receipts for court. He can afford to help me anyway. 

“Tshepi”, Phathudi says as he finds me in the kitchen working on my laptop. 

“Hi papaPhatsima”, me. 

“Can we talk about this child maintenance thing that you are taking me to court for as if I don’t support my daughter”, he says.

“Okay…” me.

“I support Phatsima. Why are you doing this?” He asks. 

“What do you do for Phatsima, exactly?” Me.

“I send you R350 every month for her”, he says with so much pride. 

“And what do you think R350 does for Phatsima in a day? Let alone in a month? Phatsima’s monthly school fees cost me R15 000. Phatsima’s clothes cost me over R2000 a month. Phatsima needs to eat everyday. She has medical needs because she is asthmatic. Her hair costs money. Her extra classes and tutors cost money. Her school camps and sports outing cost a shit load of money. Your R350 is good enough for lunch money and that only lasts her a week. You are a lawyer and you can afford to meet me half way. She is our daughter”, I say. 

His eyes are about to pop out of place. 

“Why did you take her to that school?” He asks me. 

“Because she is my daughter and I will give her the best that I can afford”, I say. 

“Tshepi, I’m in a tight spot right now. My girlfriend is pregnant. She does not work and is fully dependent on me. That’s the reason I had to ask for the Polo back remember. You can afford to hold down Phatsima without me. She cannot take care of anything, including herself, without me. Tshepi, she looks at your life and she tells me she wants the exact same for herself and the child on the way”, him. 

“Why are you complaining? That’s how you wanted me to be for a long time. You finally get what you’ve always wanted and that is a problem for you?” I ask.

“At least she knows how to be thankful and grateful, unlike you”, him.

“Good. Now take care of her and don’t make it my fucken problem. You will give Phatsima what’s due to her. I am tired of you treating her as though you will only have a relationship with her if we are still together. Be her dad. That should not be dependent upon our relationship”, me. 

He looks at me. He is breathing heavily. He slaps the shit out of me. I fight back. I punch him back and he kicks me in the stomach. I scream. He says, “Stop making a noise, Phatsima is taking a nap”. My domestic worker comes in and hits him with a pan on his back. She should have aimed for the head and hit him harder. He lets go of me. We stare at each other. He makes his way upstairs. After about 20 minutes, he comes downstairs with his bags and leaves. 

“Madam, that man can never come back here. It is unhealthy and unfair for you to let him stay here for the sake of Phatsima. Phatsima is a big girl. She will need to live with reality now”, she says. 

I think about calling Uyanda, but he is at Ndalo’s home as we speak, paying lobola for her. Yes, he went back to her. He said he loves Thuli and he can never love anyone else the way he loved her. So, now that she has moved on, he is choosing to raise his child in stability with both parents living in one house – whether there is love or not.

…

Lando, Paula, Carmen, Thuli and I went pole dancing today. I figured Thuli needed some air. She has been looking after Tee-le so well: attending physio with him, cooking for him and taking care of all those other manly needs of course. Tee-le wanted to do something nice for her, surprise-nyana just to say thank you, so I offered to distract her. Baby girl has got some serious moves on the pole, I can see how she keeps a man. We had so much fun with her. She even taught us how to twerk. Shack has a show to look forward to tonight. 

We decide to go out for lunch after our pole fitness session. Everyone checks in on their hubby and Thuli checks in on Tee-le. We are all happy that the men are fed and keeping fit, so we go about our day. Thuli is out here with a black Mercedes Benz GLC Coupe that Tee-le bought for her. I am happy for them. They seem happy and they seem to have a promising future ahead of them. 

Thuli was feeling like Spur so here we are, after years of not having Spur, chilling here about to lunch. 

“I saw Yaya the other day. He was at the daddy day event the club was hosting. I saw his baby mama for the first time”, Paula says. 

“Is he still with Bethlehem girl? Their fire was put out very quickly”, Lando. 

“Shack says they decided to stay friends until they both get over their relationships. UYaya says he is not ready for a solid relationship”, I tell them. 

“You mean to tell us that all the havoc that bitch caused was for nothing? She didn’t get him neither?” Paula. 

Thuli is uncomfortable with this conversation, I can see it. She is drinking her DonPedro to hold her tongue from telling us all to shut the fuck up. 

“Yaya has always struck me as the type that does not know what he wants vele. He can be very selfish”, Lando. 

I do not say anything. I do not want to trigger Thuli. 

“But his baby mama is gorgeous! Wow”, Paula. 

“For real?” Lando. 

“She is definitely prettier than Bethlehem girl”, Paula. 

“Well, I heard that he went to pay lobola for the baby mama”, Carmen says.

There is absolute silence at the table. Thuli bursts into laughter and we all uncomfortably laugh too. We are not sure what this means. 

“I never liked Ndalo, but I’m so glad it’s her and not Bethlehem girl. I’m very happy Bethlehem girl didn’t win.” Thuli says. 

We don’t know how to feel about this. 

I never thought I would ever say this, but Khosi comes to Thuli’s rescue. She sees us and makes her way into the restaurant and to our table. All attention is on her. 

“My my my… how the mighty have fallen. ESpur vele? This is where you lunch now? Your favourite restaurants are too expensive for you now that your men are out of contracts?” Khosi begins. 

“Hello Khosi.” Me. I love starting shit with this one. 

“Kunjani Renay?” Khosi. 

“All the better for seeing you, darling. You look good. I can definitely tell that your sugar daddy is blessing you well.” I say. 

“Are you perhaps jealous that I have upgraded on the class ladder?” Khosi. 

“Nix kanjani. I’d never dream of being a prostitute. That’s not climbing up on anything but an old shared penis”, I say. 

“Prostitute?” Khosi enquires, feeling a little upset all of a sudden. 

“He pays for your house… it’s probably his and he is just letting you live in it. He pays for your car… it’s probably his and he just lets you drive it. He sponsors your weave, nails, makeup, even your underwear. All you do is open your legs for him? If not prostitution, then what? The only difference between you and the prostitute on the street corner is that your vagina is expensive. You are nothing special”, I say. 

She is quiet now. She is just looking at us sideways.

“Thuli, I didn’t realize you were back.” She says. 

“Oh she’s been back, honey. Tee-le brought her back, moved her into his house, bought her a very sexy Benz – not make her drive one of his like he did with you – and is probably planning on wife-ing her. Thuli’s mother lives at Tee-le’s place with Tee-le’s mother. I guess that’s a side to Tee-le you never got to experience, right? UTee-le phela yena doesn’t believe in paying for prostitutes. He wants a real woman and he has found her”, Lando adds her spice. 

Khosi feels like breaking. She cannot even hide it. 

“Thuli, is this true? You are the reason he pulled away from me after you left?” Khosi asks Thuli. 

“I don’t owe you anything, Khosi. Including an explanation. Please leave me alone.” Thuli says. 

“I thought we were friends”, Khosi says. 

“Really?” Thuli. 

“It’s fine, Thuli. Enjoy my sloppy seconds”, Khosi says, trying to be nasty. 

“Oh please… you are sleeping with a married man who has made way through every loose girl in Tholoana Kingdom and you are telling me about your sloppy seconds. ” Thuli puts her in her place. 

Khosi looks like she wants to cry. 

“I’m sorry for whatever it is that I did to you, Thuli. You are one person in this life that I don’t want to lose. Whatever I did, please forgive me”, Khosi. 

“You had an interesting way of showing that when I left after Uyanda and I broke up. You knew I was hurting and you didn’t care to even contact me”, Thuli. 

“I didn’t know how to”, Khosi pleads with her. 

“Because you were busy with your own life and busy being selfish. Tee-le found me. Uyanda found me. Renay found me. Yet you and I were best friends. Enjoy your life, Khosi. You only have enough room in your life for yourself.” Thuli. 

We all look at Khosi. 

She finally walks away. 

Thuli also looks like she wants to cry. These two really were friends. It is such a pity that Thuli is too good to be her friend.

…

With everything that has been happening and all the fighting that has been going on, the NFR Legends have never been more divided. There are some people who would rather not be on the field today, but ijob ijob. 

Thuli did not want to come to the stadium today. She has been at the centre of the attention – she and Khosi. Plus, Tee-le is still healing. But Tee-le is with the team on the grounds and Thuli is the one driving him around. She sits with Renay, Paula, Carmen and Lando. When Tshepi walks into the WAGS booth, the tension thickens. She doesn’t stay for too long. She is working. She talks to who she needs to talk to and leaves. The WAGS from the other team are chuckling about the division of the team and its WAGS. 

The game begins. While the crowd roars with excitement, the other teams’ WAGS jump up and down and roar in excitement, the NFR Legends’ WAGS just sit in silence. 

Thuli texts Tee-le.

“Are you okay?” 

He replies immediately. 

“Not really. I want to go home.“

Thuli sighs. 

“Me too. Can we lock ourselves in this weekend? Just watch movies together and love each other.“

Typing…

Typing…

Typing… 

“You have no idea how much I’d really appreciate that. I’m probably getting grey hair with all the stress that we’ve been going through in the past few weeks.” 

“I just want us to really be together without the noise. Just be Thulisile and Remoletile.” 

“We will have it, baby. I promise.”

“Plus, you have a sweater that I have been eyeing for some time now. I’m jumping right on it and it’s my outfit for the day.” 

Thuli and Tee-le keep chatting while Renay and Lando are chatting. They seem to be within a deep conversation. All conversations come to a pause when there is a goal, leaving the NFR Legends down by one goal. The other WAGS are screaming in excitement. 

“I can feel him drifting away from me.” Paula says. 

“Maybe you are reading too much into nothing, P. The past few weeks have been stressful for everyone. And babe, Leruo’s own father wants to sell him.” Renay says. 

“You do know that he has a child with some other woman, right? So with Leruo, it could be work or it could be baby-mama drama.” 

There is silence. 

“Honestly, I don’t know why some of us have to be affected by the drama in the daily scandals of Khosi-Thuli-Yaya-Tee-le and Bethlehem Girl. I mean really, we are going to lose and some of our husband’s will be blamed and sold for this shit along with Leruo.” One of the Legends’ WAGS says.

“Excuse me?” Renay turns around and says. Thuli is shaking her head and Paula is on her feet. The other team’s WAGS are watching the show before them. 

“You heard me! We are sick and tired of being dragged along in the shit show that is your lives. We don’t all open our legs in unison, so I don’t know why your bedroom challenges translate to the field.” 

“Your problem is that your man is whack! He has been decorating that bench and getting three minutes of game time because really, who cares about him? What impact does he make on the team? Today, he plays his first full game and you think you can talk to us and talk about us?” 

“He’s trending because of his work, not because his penis is in and out of miscellaneous bitches, collecting STDs.” 

“Who’s her man again and why do we care about him?” Thuli says. 

Utter silence. 

“Oh, he’s one of the irrelevant ones?” Thuli continues. 

There is a starring match between the women. One of the other WAGS is recording all of this. 

“And what are you fucking recording?” Thuli barks, charging towards the cellphone that’s out. 

The WAG tries to talk back, but Thuli has already snatched her phone and threw it to Renay – who is now deleting the recorded footage. 

Roars from the stadium distract them and the NFR Legends are down by three goals at half time. 

The good news is that the NFR Legends did not concede anymore goals in the second half. The bad news is that they lost the game 3 – 0. Leruo was benched because of his feud with his father. Tee-le could only sit in the stands because he’s still injured from his accident and he is not fit to play. Shack played nonsense. Yaya got a red card within the first fifteen minutes of the game. Today’s game was just a mess. 

Each player went home with his WAG. Paula went home alone as Leruo was picked up by another car driven by another woman. As always, she kept the tears to herself in public and drove home.

…

I heard that Tee-le is out of hospital and is healing well at home… with Thuli. Honestly, I don’t know how I feel about that. Thuli was my best friend. Now to accept that she is the reason that Tee-le pulled away from me and now she lives in the house that I lived in with him? I know I’m a bitch, but even I don’t deserve that. 

I heard that Tee-le got released from the NFR Legends. I guess the world cup is going to keep him occupied while his agent finds him another team. Those women that think they control player selection, Renay et al, they must make sure he gets a team. I’m happy that he has at least been selected for the country’s squad. The squad is made up of players from the strongest teams in the league. These are the best of the best. 

I do miss him. I wonder if he is well. I wonder if he is happy with Thuli. Let me phone him. 

I dial his number. He does not answer my call.

I dial him again. It just rings. 

I wouldn’t be too forward if I called Thuli, right? I’ll take my chances. I dial her number. It is not working anymore. Shit, I don’t have her new number. 

I call Tee-le again. This time, after two rings, he answers.

Tee-le: “Hello”

Me: “Tee-le, hi.” 

Tee-le: “I’m sorry, who’s this?” 

Has he deleted my number? Really? 

Me: “Tee-le, it’s me. UKhosi.” 

Tee-le: “Oh.” 

Me: “Oh?”

Tee-le: “What do you want, Khosi? I’m busy.” 

Me: “I just wanted to check how you are doing. I also wanted to say congratulations for making it into the national team.” 

Tee-le: “Thank you.” 

Why is he being so cold? 

Me: “Tee-le, what’s going on? Why are you so cold? Are you and I on bad terms or something?” 

He hangs up. 

What the hell?! 

I call him again. He does not pick up. I call him again. He does not pick up. I call him again. This time it goes straight to voicemail. I try again. Voicemail. I call Uyanda. 

After two rings: 

Uyanda: “Hello?” 

Me: “Uyanda, it’s Khosi. Where’s Tee-le?” 

Uyanda: “Excuse me?”

Me: “WHERE’S REMOLETILE?!” 

These fuckers must not play games with me. 

Uyanda: “I’m not with him. Try him on Thuli’s phone.” 

Khosi:” Could you please send me her number?” 

Uyanda: “You are going through quite a lot to reach a man that’s done with you.” 

Khosi: “Last I checked, I didn’t ask you for your opinion. Quit acting like you support this relationship and give me Thuli’s number so I can do both you and I a favour.” 

Uyanda: “Yho.” 

Then he hangs up on me. 

Now I’m mad. I scream and throw the phone against a wall. It breaks. 

…

We are all in Nelspruit for the grand opening of Nandi’s kitchen. Thuli, Tee-le and Mam’Nandi have done very well, but I wouldn’t be Renay T if I didn’t highlight a few areas of improvement, right? 

First of all, I thought the idea of rebranding and having an official launch had everything to do with privacy. It was okay to run a convenience store out of their garage when they did not have money for rent. However, they are clearly popping now. Why is the restaurant renovated at their home? Are they trying to be a rowdy home with little peace? They have literally turned their garage into a restaurant. Does this even meet health standards? 

All the soccer players seem to be enjoying it though. There will always be something about food cooked by the township chef. 

The NFR Legends brought quite a crowd. No wonder it is so easy to find Thuli around here. When I first came around looking for her, everyone seemed to know who Thuli was. Now I guess all I need to say is the busy kitchen. I’m pretty sure her mom’s house is officially a landmark now. 

They have ten mobile kitchens around the province. They have branches of the restaurant in company buildings. They are doing great enough to not have a bash venue in their garage, honestly. 

“Are you guys okay?” Tee-le comes in to check up on us like the mkhwenyana of the house. 

He is lonely in a suit because his girlfriend is running the restaurant with her mom. This place is packed. There are people watching from the street. Us WAGs and the team are sitting at one table. It is a huge table accommodating all 22 of us. The important 22 of course. There are more than enough waiters and waitresses to cater this launch, but Thuli is running around in her hot outfit, chasing after staff. I should have done those interviews with her. These people get paid for shit to not go wrong. Thuli should be sitting here with us. Instead, I am sitting next to Ndalo, Yaya’s whatever, and she thinks we are friends. No bitch, we are not. Yaya needs to school her on the rules around here. 

All the guys have responded to Tee-le and are now within great chats about how awesome this is. Us ladies… 

Lando, Paula, Carmen and I are here to support Thuli because that’s our Ace. The other ladies look over this and are behaving as if there is something else they’d rather be doing because: 

A. They don’t like Thuli.

B. They have a loyalty to Khosi.

C. They don’t approve of the fact that Thuli hopped from Yaya’s dick to Tee-le’s dick. 

D. They believe we are hypocrites because we shunned Khosi for doing her rounds with the team, but applaud Thuli for doing hers. 

Of all these reasons, the only one that I actually respect is option A: they don’t like Thuli. All these other reasons have everything to do with Khosi. I don’t see her around here, so why are we even talking about her? 

“Babe, let’s go check in with Thuli. Maybe she needs some help”, Paula says. 

I sincerely hope that she is saying that just to get away from these bimbo bitches and go catch up on some gossip with Thuli. I did not come here to be helping out with any dishes. 

Lando, Paula, Carmen and I stand up. We whisper to our men that we are going to find Thuli. Shack is not having it. 

“Tee-le”, he gets Tee-le’s attention as Tee-le is laughing about with the other guys who might as well be single. Their women are honestly ghost. 

“Sho”, Tee-le replies. 

“When is Thuli joining us?” Shack. 

“Eish“, Tee-le. Ja, he is with a real one. 

“No no no. There is staff to do whatever it is that she is doing. Even her mom is chilling. Please get her to come sit with us. We are practically her guests.” Leruo. 

Tee-le giggles and disappears. I suppose he has gone to get Thuli. 

…

My cousin and I are chatting about in the kitchen. I am honestly overwhelmed by the turn out of this event. My cousin, Sophia, will be staying with my mother here in Nelspruit and assist her with running this place day to day. 

“You need to hook me up with one of those fine men sitting out there, mzala.” She says. We call each other mzala which means cousin. 

“How mzala? There is not one single one out there. They are all spoken for”, I tell her.

“Only the married ones are spoken for. Everyone else is fair game”, she says. 

“Oh, so Tee-le is fair game? Phela he and I are not married.” I remind her.

“Mzala, I’m not trying to get hurt. Have you seen how he looks at you? Those men don’t look at all their girls like that. You stole Tee-le’s heart. Nobody is competing with that”, she says. We laugh. 

“I’m glad that’s very clear.” Tee-le says as he walks into the living room where we are standing and chatting away. My man is so handsome. He walks straight up to me, covers me in his arms and kisses me. He smells so good.

“Age restriction”, Sophia says. The three of us giggle. 

“We miss you out there. Please come hang out with us. Surely your job here is done”, he says. 

“It is. Mzala go. We going to have to manage this place without you anyway starting from tomorrow. Don’t spoil us. Allow us to hit the ground running”, Sophia says. 

“Thank you, Sophia. Shall we?” Tee-le says, taking my hand into his. 

I nod my head at him smiling, then I look at Sophia and say, “Mzala, thank you for doing this. For coming to stay with mom while Lindani and I are away and for helping out with this venture. We really appreciate you.” 

She nods and smiles at me, assuring me that everything is okay. 

I leave with Tee-le and as we step outside, Lindani is on stage introducing the performing artist. He has been MC-ing today’s event. My brother cleans up very well. He is a very handsome fellow. I am very happy that he has finally found his purpose. I am happy that he has found his happy place in this business. He has even bought himself a new car and even dresses better. He is no longer the chief of township management. I can see the pride in my mom’s eyes every time she looks at him. This is good. We have done well. 

Tee-le and I don’t even make it to the table. Tee-le pulls me to the dance floor and we open the dance floor dancing away to the amapiano supreme performing on stage. Before we know it, people are also on the dance floor. Lando, Renay, Carmen and Paula are dancing with their men too just like I am. Two or three of the other wives are dancing with their men as well. The other men are on the floor dancing away without their wives. 

Did I tell you I’m not a favourite around here? Well, I’m not. But I’m definitely Ndalo’s favourite because she is always trying to talk to me about something. That girl gave me hell for four years. How and when did we become friends? She wanted this life. Now, she has it.

…