This year is flying by so quickly. We just got Khabane’s report and he did very well at school this year, so Maboko and I decided to treat him to dinner to celebrate. Maboko, Khabane and I have just come back home from dinner. Khabane is fast asleep, lying his head on Maboko’s shoulder, so I open the door for us to enter the apartment. Maboko heads to the bedroom to put Khabane down and hopefully change him into his pyjamas as well. I hear Maboko waking him up to go and pee. Khabane doesn’t protest, he just goes into the toilet, pees, then let’s his father change him into his pyjamas. 

I am just chilling in the TV room and drinking some water with a slice of lemon. 

Khabane walks back into the TV room. 

“Khabane, go to sleep.” I say. 

“I want to sit with you guys. You left me the other day”. He says. 

We didn’t leave him. He was with his grandmother and his aunt while we were attending an event. We always leave him with Maboko’s mother and sister when we attend events. He is too young to attend with us and I am generally there to work.  

“Sleep on the couch, boy”. Maboko says. 

Maboko spoils this child. I don’t agree with this nonsense. 

But he sleeps on the one couch, then Maboko and I are forced to sit on a separate couch together. Khabane is out like a light in no time. 

“When do you start working in the government offices again?” Maboko asks me.

“On Monday. But I’ll still consult for K-Pable-C.” 

“Are you happy with that?” 

“Yeah, why not? The pay is great, so I’ll even be able to finish building my house six months ahead of schedule”, I say. 

“I’d like to finish it for you”, Maboko randomly says. 

I look at him. I’m not sure if he’s being serious or not. 

“I want to stay there with you guys. Teboho, my family is going to pay damages for Khabane next week. I’d like them to also pay lobola for you. Let’s do it, Mme Seete. Let’s get married. Let’s be a family. Let’s complete the prophecy that we made together when we were still in high school… that you will be my wife and the mother of my kids. Please have me, Teboho Tlou.” 

I’m so taken aback. I was not expecting this at all. I don’t even know what to say. I don’t even know how I feel. I suddenly start crying and I have no idea why. 

“Are you serious?” I ask him after a few moments. 

“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. Marry me, Tebza, Mme waKhabane.” He says. 

I am in so much disbelief. I cannot stop crying. Then this guy goes down on one knee and pulls a box out of his pocket. He got a ring too?!

“When did you plan all of this?” I ask him. 

He laughs and I chuckle. He takes my left hand and places the ring at the edge of my wedding finger, saying: “May I?”

I nod my head and say, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” 

Maboko’s eyes are suddenly filled with tears too. He slides the ring on my finger and we both get up and hug each other. It’s finally going to happen! 

…

A week later…

Tiisetso and I are cooking in the kitchen. We are wearing old dresses and aprons because we haven’t even bathed yet. We were told to wake up and start cooking. This house is full of annoying relatives. My dad’s family doesn’t like my mother, so there’s that beef. My mom has her family here and they are committed to defending her. Some people are peeling and doing stuff outside. Some are inside the house and everyone is singing. It’s 5am and I’m tired. I don’t understand where people get this energy from. 

“How are you feeling?” Tiisetso asks me. 

“Excited. This is how it was always supposed to be, Tiisetso. It’s always been him in my life and me in his.” I say. 

“People like Linda thought that they could come between what was meant to be. Now, we are all partying away and celebrating true love.” She says and I smile. 

“Love looks good on you, sis. Most importantly, thank you a million times for organising me a job. Your man is tough, but he is fair. And shame, at work, I’m an employee and nothing more.” 

I asked Maboko to hire her as his secretary and he agreed. He always says that she works hard and I believe him. Tiisetso has never been afraid of hard work. She just never wanted to go and run after opportunities. Her kids need to eat and I was not prepared to support her and her kids. So, I got her a job. I can believe that he is a tough businessman. He didn’t get to be the powerhouse that he is by being soft. 

“Don’t disappoint me”, I tell Tiisetso. 

We both laugh. 

“I won’t. I promise. Maboko does not give me room to disappoint you. He is so different when he is at work. He is not the Maboko that is warm and funny. People are terrified of him at work. They don’t understand how I’m not afraid of him. Even his PA would ask me to interact with him on things that she needs to interact with him on. Imagine!” She tells me. 

“It’s a job, Tiisetso. It’s his company and his money. There’s nothing funny to him about that. How is his PA? Is she hot?” I cannot help but ask. 

She looks at me and says, “You’ve never met her?” 

I shake my head. 

“You should come and visit us at the office some time. Come and meet everyone so they know who Mrs Seete is. At the moment, it is still a rumour that Mr Seete is about to marry the diamond of Tholoana Kingdom. No one is brave enough to ask Maboko for the confirmation.” 

We both laugh. 

“The PA is a married forty-two year old woman. She is gorgeous, but she has three children and a crazy husband.” She tells me. 

“Crazy husband?” 

“Yeah. He will call at five minutes to five and ask if she has already left the office. So now I have to cover for her for when Maboko needs us to stay late because she gets beatings if she gets home late. Luckily for me, Maboko takes me home when we finish late at the office.” 

“Does Maboko know that his PA is being abused?” 

“Maboko doesn’t get involved in people’s lives. He is not the kind of boss that will ask you about your children’s well-being. He tells you that there is a wellness centre in the building and if you need to talk, just take a walk there. I prefer it that way. People are not forward with him because the line is drawn and they know their place. So, Mrs Seete, you will automatically be respected.” 

I nod my head and ponder on what Tiisetso has said to me. We continue to cook this meat we were told to cook. 

“So, I was thinking of getting myself a new car”. I say. 

“But you haven’t been driving your current car for long. Has it even been to its first service?”

“Nope. I want you to have it.” I tell her. 

Tiisetso is first shocked. Then she jumps all over me screaming. 

“Thank you so much, Teboho.” She says as she keeps hugging me. 

I smile and laugh. 

“Look T, I want to say thank you. You’ve always looked out for me and you’ve always been amazing towards me. I know sometimes I can be a bit tough on you, but I’ve always been jealous of you. Mama le papa love you. There isn’t a damn thing that they wouldn’t do for you. They’ve always favoured you more. They don’t do anything for me and they make me feel as if they never wanted me. But that’s my battle with them and I’m sorry I ever took it out on you”, I say. 

“They do love you, Teboho. You are just a lot tougher than I am. Teboho, you’ve always been able to do things without them. You’ve never needed them. Nna, I just make one bad decision after another and I’m not as strong as you are. It hurts the parents when you defy them. You should give them a break. Nobody knows what to do with a strong daughter”, she says. 

“Yeah well, the Audi Q5 is yours. You and the kids can officially have a ride as of next week when my car arrives. Also, Maboko and I have decided that when we move into our house, you can have the flat. You need to get out of this place before your relationship with the parents becomes like mine. There comes a time when a child needs to cut the umbilical cord.” 

Tiisetso is overwhelmed with excitement. Her screaming has my mom looking at us foul. 

“You are the best sister ever! You’d swear that you are the older sister.” She says. 

“I love you too, big sister.” 

“The two of you are making a noise!” My mom says as she approaches where we are in the kitchen. 

“Bathung mama, we are making noise? All these people that are singing and waking up this entire township at this hour of the day – what are they doing?” Only Tiisetso is brave enough to ask such questions. I just giggle. My mom does not say anything. She just takes one long look at me then says, “Are you happy, Teboho?” 

“I am, mama. I love Maboko. I always have.” 

She nods her head and says, “Don’t get to the Seete house and embarrass me. You always behave as if you are your own boss and you don’t recognise adults. If you did recognise adults instead of running your own show, Khabane would have never been born and you would have left that Seete boy alone all those years ago when I told you to. Nothing good ever comes from rich people who have no regard for other people.” 

“Mama, why would you say something like that?” I’m glad Tiisetso sees how her mother treats me. I am honestly just waiting for the day when she tells me that she is not my mother. It would make so much sense as to why she hates me so much. 

“Mama, my son is a blessing. Maboko is the man that I love. Your bitterness and cruelty have never blocked the blessings that have happened in my life because I have always been destined for so much more than what you wanted me to have. I have worked hard and didn’t settle just because I was born in a particular tax bracket. It pains me that you cannot be proud of me, but I have lived with the pain that you have caused me all my life.” 

“I have hurt you, Teboho? Really?!” 

“Yes mama, you have! Just like you are hurting me now on the morning of my wedding day!” 

We are getting loud now and people are watching us – including the relatives that don’t like her.

“What about all the times that you have hurt me?!” She says. 

“How have I hurt you, mama?! How?!” I yell at her because this woman honestly has some nerve.

My dad enters the kitchen and looks at us. I look at my dad. 

“Mapula, can you just restrain yourself for one day? Please?!” My dad. 

“Of course you would take her side”, my mom says. 

“She’s my daughter. Unlike you, I am very proud of her. I know that it eats at you that Teboho became everything you wish you could have been, but you need to put that aside and support your daughter for once in your life. Share in her joy and just enjoy this day. The Seete family is going to become family and you need to get over what happened between you guys all those years ago and move on! It’s been forty years, Mapula. Even Tiisetso wasn’t born when that nonsense happened. Yes, we begged Teboho to stay away from the family, but she didn’t. And now her son is their grandson too and their son is about to be our son-in-law. Get over this nonsense. It is not worth losing our child and grandchild over.” My dad. 

“What happened between mama and the Seete family?” Tiisetso enquires. I am also quite curious.

My mom just leaves the kitchen and my dad goes back to whatever it is that he was doing outside. The attention is off us again. 

“Do you think Maboko’s mother took ntate Seete from mama?” Tiisetso asks me. 

“Sies wena man! Why is your brain always going there with adults?” 

We both laugh. 

“What else could make mama so upset about the Seetes for over forty years? It has something to do with sex. Mark my words.” 

We laugh and I say, “I don’t want to think about this.”

“OMG! What if you and Maboko are siblings? Or, what if we have a common sibling with the Seetes?”

“Tiisetso, stop it! Maboko is my husband and I really don’t want to be thinking about our parents being anything more than just in-laws. Please.” I say. 

We both giggle.  

Maboko calls me. I answer it. 

“Hey baby”. 

“Hey, Mrs Seete. Are you good?”

“We are still preparing. I’m feeling super sleepy and I cannot wait for today to be over. My mother is already working overtime on my nerves.” 

On cue, my mom comes into the kitchen to yell at us. 

“Tiisetso! Teboho! You need to go into the bedroom now. The Seete family is here. Go bath and stay put in the bedroom.” 

I tell Maboko that I have to go, but I’ll see him in a few hours. 

“I love you”, he says. 

“I love you too, baby”. 

“I’ll take that phone, wena Teboho. Bedroom!” My mom.

I hang up and go to the bedroom. 

The negotiations are almost over. Tiisetso and I have even gone out and the Seete family has identified their bride – me. I am panicking because Tiisetso’s and my outfit have not arrived yet. After the negotiations, Maboko and I are having the wedding right here at my parents’ house. Tiisetso and I are still in robes and the make-up people have arrived. I’m just crying and I don’t want to be touched. The kids’ outfits arrived yesterday, so they are all dressed up. 

“Tebo, they’ll wait for you. You are the bride. Dise is on her way, she might be coming with the designer”. Tiisetso keeps saying. 

I just suddenly feel cold. I’m looking outside my window and I see Maboko and his groomsmen drinking and smoking. They are already dressed up for the day. I see Gwen and she isn’t dressed neither. My bridesmaids are Dise and Gwen. Tiisetso is my maid of honour. Maboko’s groomsmen are the twins (they are a buy one get one free combo) and Zakhele. Ona is his best man. Their friendship is very interesting. Ona’s best friend is Khotso and Khotso’s best friend is Ona. But outside of each other, their best friend is Maboko and they are his best friends. They have this brotherhood that is so beautiful, even their mothers mother them as triplets – especially the queen. I’m so glad Ona married a decent woman. The queen deserves a decent daughter and you can just tell that she loves having Dise around as the daughter.

I see Dise coming towards the house with suit covers in her hands. She kisses Ona and chats with him for a minute. 

“Tiisetso, I think our dresses are here.” I say. 

She comes to the window and she sees Dise with the suit covers. She runs outside and I see her talking to Dise. They walk towards the house together. Gwen is with them. Finally, the day can start. 

There is ululating in the TV room and we just know everything is done and everyone is happy. We are still getting our makeup done. Gwen and Dise are doing their makeup because their hair is done. We’ve called my mother and she is in here getting her hair done with Tiisetso and me. We all did our nails yesterday. 

After about thirty minutes, my mom, Tiisetso and I start our makeup. People outside are finding their seats and enjoying canapés as they wait for us. Maboko looks so nice in his outfit. All the groomsmen do. When I am done getting dressed, the ululating begins again. I think people outside are also getting the message that we are about to start. 

The artist we hired for the day starts singing and the guys start walking into the glass tent that is decorated for our wedding. We have an entire production team covering this and apparently it is being streamed online live. Maboko is walked down the aisle by his mother and father. 

When he is at the altar, Gwen is the first to walk out and start walking down the aisle. She is followed in by Regodise. They look so beautiful. Their dresses have the sanna marena material formed in a fishtail. Then the top part of their dresses are pure beads of Sesotho colours: red, brown and white. The guys are wearing suit pants and sanna marena blankets on top. They just have vests underneath. I honestly thank God that today is chilly and rainy. Those blankets are coming in handy. We’d all faint if the sun decided to fry us today. 

Tiisetso’s dress is silk and brown in colour. It also has a fishtail finish. The top part is red and white beads purely, then the top is finished off with brown feathers. She walks down the aisle and honestly, she looks amazing. People even ululate for her. She’s gorgeous. Then finally, me. My parents will be walking me down the aisle too. I wish it were just my dad. My mother does not deserve to be doing this. But she is who she is and optics are everything to her, so she is walking me down that aisle whether I like it or not – that time, she doesn’t even like the fact that I am marrying into this family. Anyway, I am wearing a white dress. It is a princess wedding dress. The top has pearls finishing off the look. 

My parents walk me down the aisle and I just start crying. The guys look really nice. Everyone looks nice. 

The wedding happens and we honestly just say I do and keep it pushing. The vows thing is not for us. He knows my heart and I know his. We are content with that. After we do the whole kiss the bride thing, we and our bridal party get into a V250 and drive to get our photos taken. Mohale, Khabane, Seipati and Bakang are with us. Mohale is growing every second of each day. He is almost a year old – he is about eleven months now and he is at that stage where he wants to walk himself everywhere and not be picked up. He drives Ona crazy sometimes – good! We’ve all always low-key wanted Ona to have a mini version of himself, so he could understand what he put everyone through. LOL! Our parents follow us in a separate car. 

In the middle of our pictures getting taken, the rain baptises us! Our photoshoot is cut short and we now have to go to the Seete household because I have to arrive there in a white dress then they will dress me up. 

So cars head to the Seete household and it’s so full here. Damn!

People are at our car with umbrellas and you’d think the rain would keep people indoors. Not in Tholoana Kingdom. People are here and are partying like the rain means nothing. Ona takes off his sanna marena and gives it to Dise to cover Mohale as we get out of the car. 

“I have his blanket baby. I’ll use it. You are my partner, phela. You must look proper”. Dise. 

We all laugh. 

“Can I carry my baby brother?” Khabane. 

“When we are inside the house, you can carry him and help us keep him warm. Is that okay?” Dise says to Khabane. 

Khabane gets excited. 

Ona takes Khabane and says, “We need to cover you from the rain too, little champ. You’ll get sick.” He is such a dad. Hai guys, miracles are real! A whole Ona! It’s beautiful to see. 

Dise throws Ona another baby blanket and Ona takes Khabane and puts him over his shoulder, throwing the blanket over Khabane’s head. 

“He’s very heavy”. I say. 

“He’s not that bad”, Ona. 

“Okay, we will go inside and we will go into Maboko’s room. That way, they’ll bath and get warm then watch TV.” I say. 

“Cool. We will follow you guys.” Dise. 

“Seipati and Bakang, we all go inside neh?” Me. 

They agree. 

“How does it feel to finally be married to the one?” Ona asks Maboko. 

Maboko smiles and says, “It feels unreal.” He kisses me.

“I posted that athletics today – the one I swore that I’d talk about on your wedding day”, he says and laughs.

Dise pulls out her phone and searches for Ona. It is his most recent post. The caption reads, “And I am the best man that made sure they made it to the altar and left the altar as Mr and Mrs Seete. It started when they were younger and he was her boo. Now she calls him husband and I look forward to their 50^th wedding anniversary where I will be sharing this picture again.” 

I am so moved. Others are laughing, but I just hug Ona. In his own special way, he has just blessed us and I am so happy that he is Maboko’s best man. 

“I will not lie, I doubted the township tent thing being streamed live, but it was definitely more intimate and meaningful than the loveless glamour wedding.” Ona says. 

“Khotso, when is Gcina going to start hanging out with us?” I ask because I am not ready to respond to what Ona just said. 

Khotso blushes. 

“I like her”, I tell him. 

“I like her too. She’ll hang out with us soon.” He says. 

“I heard morena tell Uncle Q that he needs to move to Tholoana Kingdom permanently because this up and down between South Africa and Tholoana Kingdom is becoming annoying. So, she might be up here with us one of these days.” Ona says. 

Dise and I ululate. The guys laugh at Khotso. He blushes. 

So the rain rains harder and now we are all reluctant to get out of the car. People are in the street singing. I don’t understand. I really don’t. 

My mom phones Tiisetso. 

“Mama”

“What are you waiting for? Get out the car.” 

“But mama, it’s pouring and we have kids with us.” 

“So you are going to wait for the rain to stop? People are hungry!” 

Tiisetso hangs up.

“Dude, your mom hasn’t changed one bit.” Ona says and we all laugh. 

Ona’s mother knocks on the door and opens it. 

“Come. Get out. Do your step and go sit like this in the house so people can dish and eat”. 

And just like that, we are doing steps in the rain – a very quick step. Ona and Dise sprinted to the house with the kids. 

When we are done, we go into the house. 

I first check in on Dise and Ona. The kids are even bathed up and are watching TV in front of the heater while getting dressed into warm clothes. 

Our bridal party changes into their second outfit and the Seete family dresses me up as well in a pure Sesotho seshweshwe. They throw the sanna marena over my shoulders. 

The rain is still pouring when I’m presented to the community as Mrs Seete in my outfit. We do steps in the street and people are honestly just a vibe. I even forget that it’s raining. 

Finally, the step thing is over.  People are eating in the tent. It’s a glass tent as well. It’s huge, so it accommodates everyone. The kids are here with us as well and we are feeding them. 

When the food part is done, the after party begins and we go into the house for a bit. There are four bars set up here. Free alcohol + DJs and live performances, I don’t know when we are going to sleep today. 

…

I am streaming this wedding on my iPad and I don’t know why because I cannot stop crying. It’s honestly such a beautiful and intimate wedding – mine was better, but I’m extremely hurt. Maboko looks so happy. It’s raining, but the only thing ringing here is celebration and love. Now that I think about it, the wedding is a bit low class. I mean they could have done with a venue. But hey, it’s Teboho and for her standard and affordability, it’s nice. 

I suddenly see Kabelo walk into the bedroom and he sees me watching the wedding. He seems extremely upset. I don’t understand why. But, we deal with his anger with a good session of aggressive sex. 

As we lie naked in bed, I am still a bit emotional. 

“So he chose her after all.” I say. 

“She won”. I continue. 

“He has always chosen her, Linda. He never stopped loving her. She just left the country and you were the only thing available in his eyes.” 

“But he said he loved me.” 

“I’m sure he did. But Teboho has his heart and she will never give it back.”

This statement cuts me deep. 

“Why are you here with me, Kabelo?” I ask him. 

“I don’t understand your question.”

“I’m your best friend’s ex-wife. Why are you sleeping with me?” 

“Because I like you and I know that I can be a better man that what Maboko was to you.” 

“So you actually want us to be in a relationship?” 

“Why not?” 

I shake my head. 

This guy gets out of bed and says, “I need to get ready. There’s a party to welcome Tebza into the Seete house happening right now. I’m headed there. I’d ask you to come with me, but I understand how insensitive this is for you.” 

I was never welcomed with a party.

“I want to come. We can go together, as a couple.” I say. 

“To piss off the bride and groom?” 

“I promise that I’ll be on my best behaviour.” I say. 

“I don’t believe you.” He says. 

“I promise. Please don’t leave me here alone. Please.”

“Fine. Get ready. Let’s go.” 

The party is HAPPENING! It’s pouring and people are partying like animals. There are four bar trailers here as well and obviously the lines are long as hell. There is a whole stage and there are live performances. Maboko’s celebrity friends are all here and they look as nice as they did when they were at my wedding. They are all surprised to see me here. Everyone is. This party starts from the one corner and is up to the next corner. People are dancing and drinking in the rain. There is no sign of the bride and groom though. 

We find Samke, Thelma and Zakes. They stare at us as we approach them. 

“Hey” I greet them.

“Hey friend”, Thelma. 

“We didn’t think you’d be here”. Samke.

“I didn’t think you’d be here neither. Last I checked, you were my friends.” I say. 

“We are also Maboko’s friends. We are here to support him.” Samke says. 

“I see”, I say. 

“Sho Zakes”, Kabelo greets Zakes. 

Zakes just nods his head, but doesn’t say anything. 

“Everything went well today?” Kabelo enquires. 

“Very well”, Zakes.

“Where are the bride and groom?” Kabelo asks. 

“Inside the house. We haven’t seen them in a bit”, Zakes. 

“But this is their party”, Kabelo points out. 

“Yet you are here with Maboko’s ex-wife. What are you trying to do?” Zakes. 

“We are here to congratulate them”, I say. 

Kabelo and I get served drinks by some waiter. Then we all sit down and chill in the rain. No respect for makeup and wigs I tell you. 

“So when are they coming out again?” I ask. 

Samke rolls her eyes. 

“We don’t know. Just enjoy yourself”. Thelma says. 

“Linda, why are you here? He doesn’t want you.” Samke says. 

“He doesn’t want you neither. You always thought he would choose you if not Teboho. He chose me and it kills you.” I tell her. I’m tired of her fake self.

“At least I’m not delusional. Unlike you, I don’t put myself on the same level as the love of his life.” Samke.

“At least I know what it’s like to have him love me.” I say. 

“You mean whatever he was feeling for you while he was sleeping with the rest of us? You were married for five minutes and didn’t even enjoy a second of that marriage.” 

I slap the shit out of her and she stands up and fights back. 

“Hai luna! What the hell?” Thelma tries, but we fight in the rain and roll on the ground beating each other up. 

Kabelo and Zakes finally pull us apart. Maboko and Teboho are standing here looking at us. They are not wearing shoes and they look like they’ve been having sex. Gwen and Tiisetso are with them. So are Dise, some girl I don’t know and the Mohale twins. 

“Le shup?” Gwen asks us. 

No one answers her.

“Why are you here?” Teboho asks me. 

I’m suddenly tongue-tied.

“Is that how little respect you have for us?” Teboho. 

“Ncesi Teboho. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to disrespect you.” Samke.

Teboho and I stare at each other. 

“You smell like sex”, I tell her. She wreaks of it. 

“It’s my wedding night. Or what? You can’t relate?” 

Ona laughs as Teboho says this. 

“I came to congratulate you”, I say. 

“Thank you. Now that you have, please leave.” She says. 

“What’s with the hostility? We’d like to party.” Kabelo says.

“You clearly don’t know how to behave. Some other time maybe”. Teboho says. 

Who does this girl think she is?! 

“Well, we are not here for you. Maboko is my friend and I am here for him.” Kabelo. 

“Eh monna! Take your date and get the fuck out of my yard”. Maboko. 

Kabelo and Maboko stare at each other. 

“Ey! Voetsek wena man. Fuck off!” Ona. 

“Baby, let’s go.” Kabelo says to me. 

“I didn’t have miscarriages. I was never pregnant. I’ve felt bad all these years, but now I feel good. I’m glad I didn’t have your child because now I’d be a single parent while you play house with her.” I say. I want him to hurt! He has hurt me enough. 

“I’m glad that we share the same sentiments that we would have messed up a human being if we had one together.” He says. 

“Maboko – 

“Get out, Linda! Leave!” Teboho. 

“Hai wena! I’m talking to –

“My husband?” 

We stare at each other. 

“Are you leaving? Or do you need help?” Khotso. 

Kabelo pulls me out. And before we make it to the gate, there are gun shouts everywhere. People are on the floor and are screaming. There is absolute chaos. The gun shots stop. I look for Kabelo. He has been shot. 

“Call an ambulance! Now!” I scream.