“Le mvula, Nkosiyami!” I say as I step into the bedroom wrapped in a towel. I just took a shower… a nice long and hot shower. 
Mnqobi is lying on our bed watching TV in our bedroom. He’s watching the news. Sasi is passed out next to him. I bathed her, fed her then she passed out. 
“I wonder how long this will go on.” He says. 
“No one knows. We are even completing our exams virtually now.” I say. 
“Will you be able to study and write with Sasi and I around?”
“Yes babe. I wrote two of my exams izolo nikhona. We are good.” I say. 
He smiles at me. 
There’s a knock on our door. 
“You expecting someone?” I ask him. 
He shakes his head. 
But he gets up then heads downstairs to get the door. I quickly get dressed. I wear orange Nike gym tights, a black short-sleeved Nike t-shirt, white socks that sit over my tights and slippers. No need for sneakers. 
I’m so glad I got fresh cornrow lines before this flooding mess. So, I just throw on a wig… something cute nje. A black 12-inch Vietnamese full frontal wig will do for today. 
I look good! I look like Mnqobi’s girlfriend! 
I put Sasi inside the blankets then head downstairs to see who Mnqobi is talking to. 

Hai bo! 
“Wandile?! Sanel?!” I exclaim. 
And they are both still outside. 
“What’s going on?” I ask. Now I’m standing next to Mnqobi. 
“Bathi badinga indawo yokuhlala”, Mnqobi says. 
“The university has been affected by the flooding and the airport is closed. No one can come in or leave the kingdom. All hotels are closed too. If we had options, we wouldn’t be here”, Sanel says. 
Mnqobi and I look at each other. 
“I know this is uncomfortable, Wehweh… but I’m asking. You are my best friend. I need you to help me. Please.” Wandile. 
“Ngicela ukukhuluma noMnqobi? Please.” I say. Mnqobi is too quiet for my liking.

“Ucabangani?” I ask him now we have moved away from Sanel and Wandile.
“Does what I think matter? This is your house”, he says.
“Seriously, Mnqobi? Ngempela?”
“Ungibuzelani? You know damn well that I don’t like that boy. I don’t like him. I don’t like your friendship with him. I don’t like the way he looks, the way he walks… and I’ll probably not like the way he farts. I don’t like anything about that fucker. So, you know damn well that I don’t want him living here. We don’t know how long this rain will be happening for. So, I don’t even know how long I’ll have to tolerate that little shit!” 
I look at him. Honestly, what am I supposed to say? 
“You want to accommodate them, don’t you?” He asks me.
“Only because it’s the right thing to do. Kumele benzeni? This is an extreme situation, and they are stranded! It’s not just Wandile… Sanel is here too. Kodwa this is also your home. It’s also Sasi’s home. And you have no business being uncomfortable in your own home. So, if it’s not good for you or Sasi, then then they cannot stay.” 
He looks at me… he looks at me long and hard.
Then he says, “it’s fine, he can stay. But if his sneeze so much as bothers me, he’s out.”
“Fine.” I say.
“You’ll tell him?” Me.
“Wehweh, I don’t like that guy! Don’t make me talk to him more than I should. Please.”

So, I head downstairs to deliver the news. 
I find them in the kitchen. They are quite nervous about what I have to say. 
“You guys are welcome to stay”, I say. 
“Really?” Sanel says, struggling to hide her relief. 
“Yeah. Feel at home.” Me.
“And that animal you call your boyfriend?” Wandile.
“What about him?” Me.
“He’s staying too?” Wandile.
“Yes. This is his home. We have a daughter too. She’s here and this is her home too.”
“You are a whole stepmother?! What’s wrong with you, Wehweh? Does your father know about this?!” He’s even raising his voice at me now. 
“Ey wena, Wandile! Ey! Kukwami la! Impilo yami le! UMnqobi is my boyfriend and Sasi is my daughter. This is our home and siphila kamnandi la. Asizo hlanyiswa uwe thina. You better understand that, or nihambe la!” 
Now Mnqobi is here next to me. 
Eish!
“Kunenkinga?” Mnqobi.
“No. Not at all.” Sanel says. 
“Love, take Sanel to the guest bedroom please. I’d like a minute with Wandile.” Mnqobi says to me.
My body instantly becomes cold. 
I look at him. 
I look at Sanel. 
I help her with the bags and lead her to the guest bedroom downstairs. It has an insuite bathroom and all.

I’m helping her unpack their bags. 
“Thanks for this”, she says.
“It’s fine. We were never enemies, Sanel. You are the one that just hated me for no reason”, I say. 
“And I’m sorry… for all of it. Especially for how I treated you.” She says.
“It’s fine. Okwenzekile kufana nokudaliwe”, I say.
He’s quiet. 
“Do you think bazolwa?” She asks me. 
“I don’t know. I want to go eavesdrop.” I say.
“Let’s go”, she says.

We sit at the beginning of the staircase, hiding behind the staircase’s wall. 
Mnqobi: “Ucabanga ukuthi angiboni ukuthi uzishaya ngoWehweh wena?”
Wandile: “Wehweh and I have history! History that you’ve never been part of and will never be part of!”
Mnqobi: “And it must kill you that you never tapped neh? I actually believe Wehweh when she tells me that you guys are friends. She doesn’t look at you with eyes of love. But wena… that’s why even ne-cherry yakho hates Wehweh so much. We all see you stare at her ass and hips a little too long – longer than you should. We see you lust over her and love her in a way that she can never reciprocate nor bring back. When she told me about her ex, I knew that she’s not into you because she preferred to settle for that pathological cheater than being with you.”
There is silence.
Mnqobi: “Lithini leshambula lakho when your eyes fill up with love and lust every time you talk about my girlfriend?”
Silence. 
I hear Sanel sniffing behind me. 
Maybe eavesdropping over this conversation was not a good idea. 
Mnqobi: “Lalela la wena slima ndini… you are in my house! My territory! You better behave yourself!”
Wandile: “And if I don’t?”
Mnqobi laughs then says, “Wehweh herself will kick you out of here before ngikuhudula ngamasende kwiskontiri! Nx!” 
“Wehweh…” I hear Sasi’s voice coming from the bedroom.
“I have to –
Sanel just nods her head. 
I head upstairs and leave her on the staircase.

…

Wandile and Sanel have been here for a week now. It has not been pleasant – especially between Wandile and Mnqobi. I just finished writing my last paper. It’s still raining. 
Sasi and I are setting up for a movie afternoon in the tv room. 
“Hey guys”, Sanel walks in and says. 
Mnqobi went to meet up with his brother. I don’t know where Wandile is. 
“Hello”, Sasi says. 
She asked us who these people are. We explained that they are our friends. 
“How was your exam?” I ask her. 
“Ey, ngibhalile ntombi. Iphepha lona lingigeze ubebebe. Kodwa ke…”
I laugh and say, “I’m sure it wasn’t that bad.”
She laughs then says, “sizobona khona. What are you guys up to?” 
“Movie afternoon. Wanna join us?” Sasi. 
“May I?” Sanel. 
“Of course!” I say. 
She joins in helping us set up. Things are still awkward between us, but we will live. 
She helps us set up. She even helps with popcorn, whispers and wine gums. I taught Sasi this combo and she’s in love! We make hot chocolate just to keep warm. The wet and windy weather has made the place cold. 
My cellphone rings. It’s Lindiwe, Sasi’s mom. 
“Sasi, mommy is calling.” I say. 
She sprints to my phone. She answers and puts the phone on speaker. 
Sasi: “Hi mom.”
Lindiwe: “Hey baby. Are you being a good girl?”
Sasi: “Yes. And we going to have a movie afternoon today.” 
Lindiwe: “That’s so nice. I’m sure you don’t even miss us neh?”
Sasi laughs. 
Lindiwe laughs too then she says, “I love you, baby. Let me speak to Wehweh.” 
Sasi: “I love you too, mommy.” 
She hands me the phone. 
“Hey”, me. 
“Hey girl. Thank you so much bandla for ukungihlalela nengane. Ngiyazi bandla ukuthi unoyise, kodwa we both know ukuthi the primary parent is the woman in the house. Uyaphila and she’s happy. Akawuvali nomlomo ngoWehweh wakhe. Truly Wehweh, ngiyabonga that I can even phone you and not Mnqobi.”
I just blush. What does one say after all of that? 
“Are you guys still stuck at in South Africa?” I ask. 
“Absolutely. There are no flights at all going out to the kingdom.”
“The airport is closed yona.”
“Is it getting any better kodwa?”
“We will get there. Don’t worry, Sasi is good with us.”
“Thank you. All the best, sisi.”
“You too”. Now we hang up. 
“Yazi, you’d do well in isithembu.” Sanel says. 
“What?! Never!”
She laughs then says, “seriously. Uzithobile. You give every woman their place. I’m sorry about – 
“Sanel, kudlulile. Please.”
Silence. 
“Can we start our movie now?” Sasi.

–

It is 8pm now and Mnqobi is not back. I’m trying to call him as I pace about the kitchen, but he’s phone is engaged. 
Wandile walks into the house. Sanel has been in their room. Sasi is upstairs and asleep in her bedroom. 
Wandile and I look at each other. 
“You waiting up for that loser of yours?” He says.
“Ungenwe yini wena?”
“You don’t deserve a thug like that.”
“A thug?! Yini ngawe, Wandile? Why are you doing this to me?”
“This is just a repeat of your situation with Nkululeko. A stepmother? You let him sponge off you like this? Ahlale nengane yakhe in your house that your father is paying for?!”
“Ucabanga ukuthi he’s with me for money? Uyamazi nje wena uMnqobi Khuzwayo?! He’s a lot of things, but broke is not one of them.”
“How do you know that?”
“Just because he doesn’t walk around with LV from head to toe, doesn’t mean he’s broke. Wealth is not loud, only new money is. He’s got nothing to prove, especially to you!”
“Nomawethu –
“WANDILE PLEASE! I support you with everything that you do! I support your relationship and all your decisions, even when I don’t agree with them. I even backed off so that you and your girlfriend could have the space that you needed in your relationship. Why is it so difficult for you to do the same for me?!” 
Silence. 
Oh my God! 
The look that he’s giving me…
“Wandile? Uqinisile uMnqobi? Are you in love with me?”
Silence…
But these looks he keeps giving me.
“Wandile!”
“Wehweh, you really want to tell me that you’ve never thought about you and me in that way? What it would be like if we explored-
“Please stop!”
“Wehweh, our families know each other. Your family loves and trusts me just as my family loves and trusts you. We’d be great together.”
“Wandile, I don’t love you like that. I don’t have those kinds of thoughts about you. At all. I don’t have those feelings for you. You are my friend… my best friend, Wandile.” 
He looks sad. 
“The floods are better. The hotels are now open. I think it’s best that you and Sanel leave. She’s great. She’s not worth you ulahla into ekhona ngento engekho.” I say then make my way upstairs. 

I do hear him and Sanel arguing, but after about two hours, they have left. 
I try to phone Mnqobi again. Nothing.
I phone Banathi. His phone is also engaged. I phone Banathi’s wife. Zero. 
Where are these people? 

I take a shower. My mind is in fifty different places no matter how much I try to calm it down. Mnqobi has never been this quiet before. What if something happened to him? In these floods futhi? 
I lotion myself then head back into the bedroom. 
I check my phone. No missed calls.
Now I’m worried. 
“Wehweh”, Sasi says as she walks into my room. 
“Yes, my love?” Me.
“Dad wants to talk to you”, she says handing me a cellphone. 
I didn’t even know she had a cellphone. Why does she never play with it like every child her age? Why does her mother reach her on my phone or Mnqobi’s phone if she has her own cellphone? 
I accept the phone from her without any questions because I’m very worried at this point. 
“Mnqobi?” Me. 
“Sthandwa sami, ngisenkingeni.”
“Enkingeni enjani?”
“A big one. I need you to pack what you can and go to my parents’ house.” 
“Huh?”
“Love, I’ll explain everything when I see you. Please just make sure that you and Sasi are safe. And make sure that no one is following you.”
The line goes dead. 
Sasi and I look at each other. 
“I’ll go change out of my pyjamas and pack my bag too.” She says. Then she runs out of my room. 
What’s happening? 

I wear black Nike training tights – nothing white or bright in case shit hits the fan. I wear black socks that lie slightly over my tights just above my ankles. I wear black sneakers. I wear a black Nike t-shirt just on top of a long-sleeved trainer. All Nike. 
I pull out my LV travelling bag. It’s a huge bag. I pack for both Mnqobi and I. I fit quite a lot in and almost leave the wardrobe empty. So, I decide to pull out the other LV travel bag and pack what’s left in there. Cupboards are clean this side. I still have space, so I go clear Sasi’s cupboard and put her stuff in here too. 
“We need to take the stuff in the study too… in case the police come.” She says.
“What stuff?” I ask. What has Mnqobi been keeping in my house?!
Sasi leads me to the study. I’ll admit that I never come in here. Ever! 
She opens a cupboard. 
There are black clothes and heavy bags in here. I pack the clothes in my bag as well as the documents that Sasi pulls out of the study desk drawers. She doesn’t even look scared. 
I take the two travel bags in here as well – not even opening them. 

I tell Sasi to stay put as I go pack the four big bags in the car. I had traded in my A45 for a GLE 63 AMG. Mnqobi convinced me that I needed a bigger car. I just needed a new car because the A45 was feeling a bit old, and my dad offered because I got distinctions in my first semester. 
I told Sasi to pack food because I know she wouldn’t just stay put. 
When I’m done, I lock the house and we head upstairs to the safe. My dad has always taught me to keep cash in a safe. He always said, “if you want to be rich, know that you must have enough money in a safe that can sustain you for three months minimum without any traceable card activity.” I have enough to sustain me for six months. 
I pull out my chunky LV bag and shove some in there underneath some handbag essentials. Sasi let’s me shove some in her school bag underneath her toys. I shove the rest in my gadget bag, between my chargers, MacBook and iPad. 
We finally make our way to the car. 

…

Sasi and I driving to Mnqobi’s parents’ house. 
I have another wig on now – yes, I packed all my wigs too. I love them, okay? And so does my man. 
“Your hair is really nice. It’s different everyday.” Sasi says. 
I laugh. 
Her mom wears wigs too. I’ve never seen her without a wig. 
I’m wearing a simple black Brazilian 32inch wig. I even glued it on today in case shit goes left. I don’t want my wig pulled off in panic. 
“Are you going to break up with my dad because of the church?”
“The church?”
“Yeah. I don’t know what they do exactly, but I know it’s bad because the police are always looking for us and we are always running away and having to leave the country.”
What the hell did this child just say?!
“But it’s to help the country. They don’t do bad things because they are bad people. It helps the kingdom not have to beg for money from other countries or international banks. The criminal world in the kingdom subsidises the financial benefits of the kingdom.” 
“Sasi, uzazelaphi le zinto ozikhulumayo?” I ask her.
“My dad tells me everything. Please don’t dump him. I really love you. He really loves you too. Even my mom likes you.” 
This child knows big things. 

We drive into the road of the house. There are police cars all around the house. I drive on. I don’t stop. Sasi is scared now. 
“Do you have a way of calling your dad?” I ask her. 
She shakes her head and says, “if I go to sleep and he’s not home yet, I sleep with this phone under my pillow. Only he can phone me.”
Yoh! 
“We can go to Soweto. My grandfather is from there. Granny Nothile lives there with Uncle Phakathwayo. They’ll find us there. There is a good chance that dad will go there with everyone else.”
If I’m going to South Africa, I’m going home. I’m not going to Soweto to people I don’t know in a family full of thugs. 
“Sasi, jump to the backseat, grab the blanket and pillow then sleep. You need to rest, baby girl.” 
She does as I say then I head out to South Africa.