“Good morning”, I greet her with a kiss. 

The sun is bouncing off her skin so beautifully. She is perfect. How does the king not love this woman whole heartedly? 

“Uyanda, I want to sleep. You kept me up all night.” She says.

I laugh and say, “That’s what happens when the most beautiful woman in the world sleeps and wakes up next to me.” 

She smiles. 

Her smile makes my heart sing. 

She yawns then stretches her arms. I smile as I watch her do that. She finally sits up. She’s still naked from last night.

“How is your body feeling?” I ask her. She’s been complaining about pain and fatigue.

“The massage helped a lot. Even the masseuse said I was tense and had knots. But thank you for organizing that mobile spa for me. I needed it and I appreciate it. I appreciate you so much.” She says.

“Anything for you, gorgeous”, I tell her. 

She smiles.

“I can’t believe we have to fly back today.” She says.

“I know. But we will do this again. Soon.” 

We spend the morning showering, lotioning each other, then enjoying breakfast on the porch of our villa, dressed in our pure white Egyptian cotton gowns. 

Her phone has not stopped ringing. 

“Answer it”, I say.

“It’s Ona. I’ll call him when I’m back in Tholoana Kingdom.” She says. 

“Are you sure?” Me. 

“I’d answer that if I were you”.

I have never seen her jump that quickly. I’m also shit scared, if I’m being honest.

“Khabane, what are you doing here?” She asks. 

“Are you trying to die?” This Khabane cat asks me. 

He is so buff and tall.

“Khabane, look at me. Look at me, papa, please. Look at me.” Thabi is really negotiating with this person. 

“What are you doing? What do you want to see?” Khabane asks Thabi. 

“Who are you here with, Khabane? Who else knows about this?” Thabi asks.

“Thabi?” Another lady pops up and says. 

“Sonia?”

“Get dressed, quickly! Wena, go away. Hide. Just disappear.” Sonia says, looking at me then running into the villa bedroom with Thabi. 

I run too, but find my way into a cupboard. Thabi is so scared. She’s even crying. She’s getting dressed and Sonia is picking up my clothes and throwing them over the balcony. What am I supposed to wear? 

“Sonia, please –

“Thabi, just get dressed. Ona is here with Khotso. What else do I need to get rid of?” Sonia.

Khabane is looking at them shaking his head. 

“Khabane, go delay them.” Sonia.

“I’m not doing that.” Khabane. 

“Khabane please!” The women say collectively. 

“No! You are on your own”, then he leaves the room. 

I really hope I’m not dying today. 

Sonia and Thabi are panicking about, getting rid of my things and and and…

Then Ona walks into the bedroom.

They both freeze and look at him. 

His twin walks in too. 

Two other men walk in. The one is a well-known businessman, Maboko Seete. The other is a club tycoon, Zithulele Khuzwayo. Their wives walk in behind them. Was this a family trip or something?

“Rethabile”, Ona begins. 

Thabi is SHAKING and breathing HEAVILY. 

We had such a peaceful morning. This right here is a reflection of the kind of chaos and anxiety that this man brings in her life. I hate this for her.

“So wafeba jwale? This is what you’ve become?” Ona. He is still calm. He is not shouting. 

“Ona, can we please talk about this privately?” Thabi. 

“Oh, because you cheated privately?” Ona.

Now he’s taking threatening steps towards her. 

What he’s not going to do is hit her. I’ll climb out of this cupboard, naked as I am, and I’ll kill him. 

“Ona –

He’s slapped her she’s on the ground. I’ve jumped out of the closet and these men are not shocked or scared – they are laughing at me. LAUGHING!

“Banathi”, Zithulele yells. 

“Timer”, a voice outside says.

“Sondelani ninoKhabane“, Zithulele. 

Banathi and Khabane walk in. They look at me and start laughing too. Am I a joke perhaps?

Sonia is the one who gives me clothes and tells me to get dressed. I take the clothes and get dressed. She’s also standing between Ona and Thabi. 

“Please escort this man-

“I’m not going anywhere!” I tell them. 

“Did we perhaps phrase it as a question?” Ona’s twin. 

“Uyanda, just go. Please.” Thabi says through her sobs. 

“Babe, I’m not leaving you here alone.” I tell her. 

“Babe?” All these men say to me at the same time.

“Uyanda, go!” Thabi. 

I walk out eventually. I grab my wallet and cellphone on the side pedestal. As I make my way out, I hear her say, “Ona, don’t hurt him.” 

Hurt me? 

“You are in no position to tell me what to do right now.” Ona.

“Ona, I’m the one who wronged you. I’ll take whatever punishment you throw at me. But leave Uyanda alone. That’s all I ask.” 

Punishment?

What?!

Who does this guy think he is?

I can take a punch or two. But what Punishment is this?

“Eh baba!” I hear someone say as they tap me on my back with a gun. 

I’m dying today. I’m fucken dying. 

And it’s the two boys who have been tasked with killing me – Khabane and Banathi. 

“Nathi”, a woman calls one of the boys.

They stop and look at her. 

“Take him to the plane. Mohale is there… waiting.” She says. 

The boys nod. 

Indeed, I’m taken to some private plane.

…

I like these NIR offices. I like this entire NIR/NFR village. It’s a world on its own. We have a mall here – but a mall that sells our products only and products that Mrs R brands and markets for. They pay rent to have stores here. There is a whole buzz around the launch of Thingo’s and Khanyi’s lifestyle brand that will be happening at the mall. They have an entire studio that will house their products. It’s a vibe, I tell you. There’s also a gym – but the gym is for staff and players only. The junior league mostly uses it because they are GP based. The main team is based in Tholoana Kingdom. We have a nice village there too. But damn, this is next level nice. 

There are four different buildings here. The CEOs sit in each one. Mfundo is about to be a CEO. The announcement will be made today. He is the fourth CEO. You know what, he actually deserves it. He really does. That guy works his ass off. He’s not getting this because his father is Mthunzi Msomi. He has earned his stripes. He has run his race. And now, he deserves the crown. Media is everywhere for this announcement. 

I will stay for the announcement, then I have to take Thuli to her OBGYN for her check-up. We were promised that we would be able to see the sex of the baby today, and I’m actually excited. 

I get a phone call on my cellphone just as I make my way to the conference room where the big announcement will be happening. Rea has been texting me and asking me where I am. 

“Hello?” I answer as I walk on. I didn’t even check to see who is calling. 

“Hey baby. Are you busy?” It’s my lovely wife. 

“I’m just walking to a conference. But I can talk. What’s up?” 

“Khumo’s school just called. I have to go pick her up because she’s suspended.” She says. 

“Suspended?!” My daughter is almost two. What could she have possibly done to warrant a suspension from crèche? Who the hell gets suspended from crèche? I know that Khumo is naughty, but a whole suspension?

“Yep. Apparently, she pushed some child into the swimming pool during PE time then didn’t tell the swimming teacher that the child was drowning. The other kids saw what happened and told the teacher. The other child that drowned is in hospital. When Khumo was asked why she did that, she said it was a fair fight and she won the fight.” 

I can’t help but laugh. I’m honestly defeated. She’s chuckling too. Then she says, “I’ll have go to the school to fetch her and meet the other parents. The principal called all of us.” 

“Let me fetch you. We will drive down together”, I say. 

“Are you sure you can leave work?” 

“Yeah. This is urgent.” 

“Okay. I’ll be ready when you arrive.” 

“I love you, baby.” 

“I love you, Serame.” 

My daughter?! Wow! 

…

Thuli and I arrive at the school. We find Khumo super furious on the couch with her bag against her chest. What is she angry about? She’s the one that has someone in hospital because she has anger issues. What I don’t understand is why she has so many anger issues. 

She sees Thuli and I and she runs to us. 

“Daddy, that girl was being mean to me! I was fighting for myself!” That’s the first thing she says to me. 

“Khumo, you pushed someone into the swimming pool and didn’t tell your teacher that she was drowning. That’s wrong.” Thuli. 

“She pushed me first. The difference between me and her is that I can swim. And I can swim because I pay attention in PE. She plays and doesn’t listen. So, this is not my fault!” She even stamps her foot for emphasis. 

Thuli looks at me. 

I also don’t know what to do. 

“Mr and Mrs Serame, this way please.” The principal says. 

I hold Khumo’s hand, and we go into the office. 

Khumo is sitting on top of me. It’s just Thuli and I. The other parents and the other child are not here. 

“This is the first incident that Khumo is part of and we want to ensure that it’s the last. We don’t condone this kind of behaviour and we have also let Khumo know. But we do believe that she needs some time at home to cool off and learn that anger does not solve problems.” The principal. 

“I’m sorry, Mrs Smith, but I need to understand something here. Khumo tells me that she was provoked. In fact, what happened is described as a fight that she won. Are there repercussions for the other child who was also involved in the fight? Just because my daughter isn’t in a hospital, it doesn’t mean the other party is innocent.” Thuli. I never thought she’d ever defend Khumo in such situations. Thuli is such a “the teacher is always correct” kind of parent. I must say that I’m impressed. 

“Mrs Serame, the other child is in hospital. What repercussions are you looking for?” The principal. 

Now she’s giving us judgy eyes. 

“Mrs Smith, you don’t get to make a decision that my child was in the wrong in a situation that you didn’t witness. If you are going to suspend my twenty-two months old daughter, you better bring evidence to me to show me that she instigated this mess and purposely ensured that this was the end result. I sympathize with the parents of the child who is in hospital, truly I do. But Khumo has made valid points that I cannot ignore. She was pushed into the pool too. She managed to get out. If she were unable to get out, that’s what would have saved her from suspension?” 

My wife! 

Khumo is over the conversation and the seriousness of it. 

“Mrs Serame, a child could have died.” 

“And that child could have been mine. Now unless you want me to go to the department and report how my child is being treated here, my child’s suspension is null and void. We will take her home now because I’m quite sure she doesn’t want to be here neither today – the feeling is very mutual in that regard. But tomorrow morning, she will be here, and she will go to class. If you want to suspend my child, you’ll follow process and if process serves us correctly, Khumo Serame has a right of reply.” 

I observe the principal. Thuli is not giving her space to breathe.

“Khumo, come to mommy. Let’s go, my baby.” 

Khumo dives to her mother. Thuli stands up, rubbing her belly and carrying Khumo. I get up, put my hands in my pocket and leave this office, following my wife and child out.

We are now at the OBGYN. Khumo is sitting on my lap and Thuli is lying on the bed, ready for the scan. 

“Mommy, your tummy is big like a balloon”, Khumo. 

Thuli and I laugh. 

“Your sibling is in here.” Thuli. 

“My sister?” Khumo.

“We will find out if you will have a sister or a brother”, I say. 

I’m praying for another girl. I don’t know, man. I like being a girl dad. I wouldn’t know how to be a boy-dad. I love Khumo so much. I could have more of her any day. She’s crazy, but beautiful – just like her mother. Her mother is more humble than crazy though. 

“Hello Serame family”, the doctor says. 

“Am I getting a sister?” Khumo asks before we can even greet back. 

“We will find out today. Do you want a sister?” The OBGYN says.

Khumo nods her head. 

“You don’t want a brother?” The OBGYN.

“Not really”, Khumo says. 

“Why not?” The OBGYN.

“Because my dad says boys are naughty and they only want silly things from girls.” She says. 

We all laugh. 

I can’t believe my words are being used against me right now. 

“But your brother would not want silly things from you. You know, girls get along with brothers more than they get along with sisters.” The OBGYN. 

“Really?”

“Yep. Brothers understand their sisters more. You’d enjoy having a baby brother.” 

“Okay”, she says with a sigh. 

We are now viewing the scan.

“That’s the heartbeat”, the OBGYN says. 

It’s perfect. 

“It’s so small. But the head is big”, Khumo.

We are actually in stitches. This child!

“That’s definitely a boy. Only boys have big heads.” Khumo.

We laugh then the doctor says, “She’s actually right. Look at the package there. You are having a boy.” 

I should be disappointed, but honestly, I feel so blessed. I kiss my wife. She’s also emotional. 

“Congratulations”, the OBGYN says. 

We smile at her. 

“Thank you”, Khumo says.

Again, we laugh.

Ja neh. What a daughter I have.

…

To say that I’m happy that Khanyisa is in Tholoana Kingdom is an understatement. I’m thrilled! We are not dating, but she’s my girlfriend. I don’t care what she says, I’m going to marry this girl. 

She stays in a four-bedroom townhouse that Rofhiwa used to live in, and before Rofhiwa, kazi used to live in it when she lived here in Tholoana Kingdom. Apparently, the property is paid off, so it’s their Tholoana Kingdom house. They also bought her a Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG. It’s a sexy beast. It’s black in colour and has black rims. 

We attend the same university. We are on the same campus. We are both in the BCom faculty. I’m just doing my honours year now and she’s in her first year. 

My parents bought me another business for graduating. I now have three petrol stations and a cellular and technology retail store. It’s a lot of work, I won’t lie. But I think that’s the idea. I bought my own car – my mom was deadset against my dad buying me a car. My mom is always wanting me to do things for myself… to learn responsibility and live like they don’t have money. My dad helps me out from time to time because he also doesn’t understand why my mom acts like we are poor. But for the most part, I pay for my own place, I bought my own car, I pay for my own cellphone contract, I buy my own groceries and Ruri’s allowance comes from me. That’s the part that I don’t understand and every time I complain, mom increases Ruri’s allowance THAT I MUST PAY. 

I joined the church because my businesses were part of cleaning up the church money. I don’t do hectic things like kill people, but I know how to scam ATMs and people’s bank accounts and policy funds. So that’s my job in the church – Banathi and I – we wire money in illegally. I’ve always known about the church. We’ve been running and hiding and listening to our parents fight about being busted so often that when those conversations were still taking place when we were teenagers, we put two and two together. Four was the answer. Banathi and I actually went to Koko Kea and asked her why Morena Mohato started the church. She told us that when he came into power, Tholoana Kingdom was poverty-stricken. It’s very difficult to believe that because Tholoana Kingdom is literally the African dream. I can’t imagine it in any other way. 

So, when he came into power, he made promises about making it an African dream – not one of many, but rather the only dream. He knew he couldn’t make the money legally because, laws of economics 101 tell us that there has to be money in households for there to be money in the economy. There was no money in households. So he knocked on international doors and the doors that opened taught him organised crime. He became a master at it that he was given a seat at the table and made his way up the table. As he made his way up the table, Koko-Kea created policies and grants that would wire that illegal money into households. And that has made all the difference. That money bought opportunities. It bought businesses to come in and build, create wealth and employment for his people. He kept close friends and family, left a legacy that should never ever die until Tholoana Kingdom sees the final tear of poverty. The idea is to have every child affording education and every adult making money. Some people will die, but it is for the greater good. I’m definitely sold into it. I want to part of the legacy. But not with people like Mme-Thabi whoring around. I don’t understand how she is alive yet that loser of hers is dead. They both deserved to die. But pope made the call – alongside Uncle Ona of course. 

They made Mme-Thabi throw a sack over his head and have sex with him while she held a running hose pipe over him. Between the drowning and the orgasm, he died. And she’s been traumatized and not speaking ever since. 

“Just finished with lectures. I’m going home to study.” Khanyi texts me. I’m glad she also realises that we are not dating, but she’s my girlfriend. 

I phone her. 

“Hey”, she answers her phone. 

“Hey babe. Don’t you want to study with me today?”

“Aren’t you busy? Where are you?” 

“I’m still at my place. I was working on my dissertation until late, so I slept in.” 

“Oh okay. So, what are you going to do today?” 

“I’m going to check in on my businesses then continue with my dissertation. My supervisor wants a literature review draft tomorrow.”

“You can come to my place. I’ll be there. But I have a test tomorrow. It’s test week for me. I need to study.”

“Okay, I’ll come by. Expect me in the next five hours. I’ll sleep over.”

“Okay. Later.”

“Shup.”

And no, we are still not having sex. 

I spend the day checking in on my businesses. I have all the CCTV footage attached to my cellphone, iPad and monitor in my apartment. Khanyisa always laughs at me when I view what the day has been like at the stations and shop. I’m very quick to fire people because I genuinely do not expect people to rob me. I pay them competitive salaries because their salaries are made up of business earnings and the church’s money. I intentionally go into the poverty-stricken areas and find employees there. I do not advertise jobs and all that shit. I drive, by myself or with Banathi and Mohale, and look for people, train them and give them work. So, I have no mercy on anyone that steals from me and my employees know that. I know each and every one of them by name. 

Khanyisa then has a thing where she buys groceries and spends the first Saturday and Sunday of every month going into the skwatta camps, shelters, homes and poverty-stricken homelands and gives people groceries for the month. It’s beautiful. But it’s my money. My mom makes sure that I look after myself. I don’t have allowances coming from them. So please. And Khanyi knows this. She knows what my bank accounts look like. I share these things with her. What I love about her is that she gets a heavy allowance from her family and when I’m honestly broke, she helps me out. She even helps Ruri out at times and yoh, I appreciate that from my soul because Ruri is high maintenance for someone who does not have a job. I’m going to marry Khanyisa. Even my parents agree that she’s the one. 

It’s 2pm, so I make sure that Ruri is fetched from school. I phone her. 

“Hi Bane.” 

“Ru, where are you?” 

“With Mama-Remo and Rena. Mama-Remo fetched us. She’s taking me home now.” 

“Okay cool. Phone me when you are home. Mom is there today.”

“Okay. Bye.” 

…

It’s finally evening. I’ve just arrived at Khanyi’s place. She gave me biometric access, so I use my fingerprint to get through the gate. I park my Jeep Grand Cherokee next to her AMG. I love this car. Fuck! 

I search myself for the house keys. Eish, I think I left them at my place. I have her apartment keys and she has mine. It just happened. 

I head to the door and it’s open, but the security gate is locked. I just smell the heavenly scent of food inviting me in. 

I slightly knock on the door. 

She comes running to the door dressed in shorts and a t-shirt. This girl! She knows that she turns me on, and I’m not even allowed to touch her.

“Where are your keys?” She asks me as she opens for me.

“I forgot them at my place.” I say. I walk in and the first thing that I do is kiss her. 

She even jumps on me. She’s quite short actually. 

“Kunjani?” She asks me. 

“Ke shup. Just tired. Wena?” 

“I’m good. I’ve made dinner, so we can eat before we study. I’ve had my head in a book all afternoon.” She says. 

I kiss her again. Fuck, I missed her. 

We have dinner together at her dinner table. She made dumplings, beef stew and two sides: creamy spinach and pumpkin. This girl can COOK! She reminds me so much my mom’s cooking. It’s amazing. 

“Juice? Cold drink or that water of yours? I’ve prepared a jug for you.” She asks me.

I start laughing. 

I don’t drink that sweet and fizzy stuff. I’m a student athlete. Rugby is tense. My body has to be a certain way. So, I drink water: plain water or water with fruit pieces. My only guilty pleasure is smoking.

“Water, please baby.” I say. 

She laughs at me. But she enjoys the water too because every time I have this water, she brings a glass too. Mxm. 

“How was your day?” I ask her. 

“I don’t understand a chapter in informatics and it’s just making me miserable.” She says. She even looks like she wants to cry. 

“I’ll help you through it, tonight. If we need to go to my place to get my first-year notes, test and exam papers, then we will.”

She looks hopeful.

“Why didn’t I think of that?” She says.

I smile at her. 

“How was your day?” She asks me. 

“It was good. Loyiso is a dad again.” 

She’s already laughing. Loyiso is one of my employees who has, at this point, fathered a nation. He has excuses for everything and he’s always asking for a raise to look after his kids. 

“U-number bani lo?” She asks mid-laughter.

“I stopped counting a long time ago. Now, his wife came to the petrol station, went into the Reahile convenience store, took nappies and formula milk, then told him to pay for it because he can more than afford it. Imagine!” 

“Good! Why is he not stopping? One child behind her back can be a mistake. Child number three is on purpose. He’s clearly not learning his lesson.” She says.

I just laugh and shake my head. 

“You have interesting employees.” She says. 

“They like you too. They don’t allow any other woman into my office or to wait for me when I’m not around. Only you, Ruri and my mom are allowed. They got your back.” I tell her and I’m not even exaggerating. One of my crazies once went there to look for me and she was given hell.

This one is smiling and blushing. 

“So, Bane, we need to talk.” She says.

“Okay?” Me. 

I hope it’s a topic we can have while eating. Please, I don’t want my appetite ruined. This is good food.

“I’m in love with you”, she says. 

I literally stop eating. I never thought I’d ever hear that from her until her umemulo. That umemulo thing is her excuse for everything. 

I stare at her. 

“And, I want us to be exclusive. I want you to stop seeing other people and stop having sex with random people. I’m ready to give myself to you – my heart and my body.” 

Woah! Now that, I didn’t expect. 

“Khanyi, you know that I love you. I’ve loved you for years – since the day that I met you. I love you so much that I don’t want you to do things that you are not ready to do just to get me to love you and be yours. I already love you. And I’m already yours. You own heart, Khanyi. Even my body is loyal to you. I don’t even crave sex with other people anymore. I’ve had my fun and all, but my love for you has me at a point where I don’t enjoy the sex anymore.” 

She bites the side of her mouth. She’s thinking. Yes, I want to have sex with her. But not like this. She’s worth the wait. 

“When it happens, don’t feel bad. I’m ready. As long as we don’t make a child. I still want my umemulo.” 

Yoh Khanyi mara. I’m actually in stitches.

…

I’m not interested in school. Really, I’m not. I wanted to use this year to focus on my business with Khanyi. She’s in Tholoana Kingdom studying and doing this part time. I didn’t want this to be a business that our parents handle and we have no say in it. So, I work full time as product and brand owner. I sit in the NIR offices, under CEO Fikile Ramaru. But my dad and Mfundo are on my case about going to school. I was told that I have one gap year – which is this year – then I have to go back to school, even if it is part time. 

I have a girlfriend now. She’s cool and all, but I’m waiting for Khanyi to meet her so she can tell me what she thinks. Khanyi is generally a good judge of character. 

Her name is Sindisiwe. She’s from Dundee, in KZN. She is an intern at some media house. She lives in a messed up back room in the township because she’s apparently earning peanuts. I still stay at home. But even if I had my own place, Koena Zelda Msomi would beat me black and blue if I shacked up with some girl. 

I knock on my brother’s door. He’s on a call. He’s PA is not at her desk. Her secretary said he should be wraping up the call in a few minutes, but Nene is coming and has a lunch date with him. I’m gate-crashing the lunch date. 

His door reads: 

CEO: SUPPORT FUNCTIONS

MFUNDO MSOMI

I walk in. 

He looks at me. 

I find a corner in his office and sit in it. He’s dialed into a virtual call, using his 65inch screen to talk to some person with a thick accent. 

He finishes in ten minutes. 

“And then?” He asks me as he hangs up.

“I’m spending lunch with you.” Me. 

“Why?”

“Because I need advice.”

“Your dad is two buildings away, ntwana yami.”

“Ja, mara ngifuna uku-ringa nawe.” 

He takes a deep breath.

Sis’Nene walks in.

“Hello baby”, she says as she walks in. She brought food. I hope she brought enough for me. 

“Kick this boy out”, Mfundo says as he kisses Sis’Nene. 

“Hawu baby, it’s fine. I have enough food for all of us.” She says. 

“Danko!” I say. 

Nene laughs. Mfundo shakes his head. 

Nene sits on top of him. How are they going to eat chilling on each other like that? But hey, they are eating. They are making it work. 

“So, ufunani?” Mfundo asks me. 

“Sindisiwe”, me. 

Sis’Nene is already laughing. 

“Thingolwethu, you are too young for such nonsense. You should be enjoying your life right now. Why are you tying yourself down like this? You are not even twenty-one yet.” Mfundo says. 

“I really like her, Bhut’Mfundo. And I don’t like the fact that she’s staying in some backroom in a township.” 

“Bafo, you want to buy her a house now?” Why is he putting it like that? 

“No. Maybe rent her a cottage or something.” I say. 

“Thingolwethu Msomi, you are twenty years old. I repeat. You are twenty years old.” Mfundo. 

“How old is your girlfriend and where is she from?” Sis’Nene asks me. 

“She’s twenty-three. She’s from Dundee.” I say. 

“Is’gogwane?”

“Baby, stop it, hawu.” Sis’Nene says to Mfundo. 

“Ai, let me just eat my food.” Mfundo. 

“Did she say she wants to move?” Sis’Nene asks me. 

I shake my head. Then I say, “I just don’t like that place and I don’t feel safe sleeping there when I visit her.”

“But there’s nothing wrong with living in a township when you start out. I lived in a backroom when I started out. I was living with my son and had to make a plan. I didn’t die. When I made some more money and could afford a better living situation, I got out.” She says. 

“Bhut’Mfundo, wouldn’t you have wanted to take her out if you could?”

“Thingo, you barely have credit. You earn a salary because your product hasn’t taken off. That salary is money you should be putting away for a place to live in once you have to travel to school and work. You know pops wants you out. He gave me two years. You are wasting your one year working instead of studying. Now, you want to Shack up with is’gogwane? Awume kancane, ndoda.” 

I just eat my food and think about it. 

“You are going to make me tell mom.” He says.

“Hai no. Please.” Why would he do that?

“Then don’t do anything stupid.” 

“Can I bring her over to your place to sleep over tonight?” I ask him. 

“Ungang’jwayeli amasimba wena“, he says.

I just laugh. 

…

My mom knocks on my desk. I sit in an open plan space. 

I look up at her. She’s looking gorgeous as always. My dad is right next to her. Zothile is with them.

“I’m here to fetch you, nana.” She says. 

“I’ll leave with dad”, I say. 

“He’s leaving now.” She says.

I start packing up my stuff. 

“Is everything okay?” My mom asks me.

“Yeah. I’m just tired.” I say. 

I can’t get hold of Sindisiwe. I’ve been trying to reach her all day. I have a feeling that something is wrong. 

We leave. I’m trying to get my dad to get me a car. He says I’ll get a car when I graduate. Their belief in education is very problematic because they make it the be all and end all of everything. Education is not everything. There are many graduates making money for people who don’t even have a matric. I don’t get why they think if you don’t have an education, you are useless. 

I finally get a text message from Sindisiwe. 

“Sorry, my battery died and I had forgot my charger. I just got home. I’m just showering then I’ll make my way to your place.” 

Huh?

My place? 

I don’t understand. She’s never been to my home before. And we didn’t make plans to see each other today. 

“Was this meant for me?” I text back. 

She blueticks me then doesn’t reply. 

What the hell is happening?! 

I’m suddenly feeling stressed. 

“THINGOLWETHU!” My mom. 

I look at her. 

“Yini ngawe?! Bakulahlile?” My dad is actually not funny. 

“Well, whatever it is, please ungazosidina la. We are asking you what you want to eat. We are expecting an answer.” My mom. 

“I’m not really hungry.” I say.

“May I please have a burger”, Zothile. 

I text Khanyisa, “Yo. Can you chat?” 

“Just studying, but for you I’ll take a break.” She texts back. 

“I think Sindisiwe is cheating on me.” Me. 

“What’s making you think that?” Her. 

“I couldn’t reach her all day. Then she sent me this.” I send her a screenshot of the chat.

“Should I ask Bane to check for you?” She asks me. 

“Yes please.” Me. 

After about fifteen minutes, she responds.

“She just got an Uber to this place“. Then she sends me a location. 

“Who lives there?” I ask. 

“Bangz Sebata. He just moved to play for a club in South Africa.” She says. 

Yoh… a whole soccer player. 

I feel myself getting emotional. 

Why would she cheat on me? What am I not doing properly?

“Sorry.” Khanyisa texts me. 

“What should I do?” I text her. 

“Come visit me for a weekend. I think you need a break from that place.” Her. 

“I’d love that. Let me chat to the rents.” Me. 

“Cool. I’ll book your flight.” Her.