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drawing-way-outside-the-lines · 4 years

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The true scent of Medieval times.

Pt 1. *The room was musky, a scent of old wet stone and mold hanging thick in the air, it was dark, and barely lit by a few torches here and there. But as far as the eye could see, it seemed to be a dungeon type of basement, somewhere deep below ground, judging by the sound of dripping water echoing through the surrounding hallways* Sparkle: *She sat quietly on a large wooden chair, her heart beating fast and anxiously, not quite sure how she got there, not quite sure if she even wanted to be there. Were was he? He said he was just going to get something and would be right back. That was at least 5 minutes ago.* Bard: *In a thick Irish accent* Ahm sorry ferr keeping yeh waiting, lil lassie. *His charming smile was spread into a long wide grin as he stood next to her, shoulder length golden wavy locks framing his face* Something for the pain, yeh? *He reached a hand out with a small shot glass of golden red liquid* Ireland’s finest for the lady! *He grinned even wider and inviting* Sparkle: *She looked hesitating at the glass* Bard: Come on now... yeh going to trust me with yerr life, an errrything yeh hold dear to hearrrt, but yeh can't trust meh teh pour yeh a drink before weh get starrrted? Tsh *he shook his head and played off as being hurt and offended* Come on lassie, Ahm about teh change yeh life and give yeh what yeh have always wanted, and yeh can't even have a wee drrrink with meh firrrst? Sparkle: *She grabbed the glass, but still looked at it hesitating* Bard: Yeh ‘ave ‘eard of Whiskey, ‘aven't yeh? *he chuckled friendly* Me taught weh were friends?

Sparkle: *She sighed soft and nodded* No you're right, you're right. *She looked at the glass a last time, then swallowed the liquid in one mouthful, a not so familiar taste of Whiskey filling her mouth. She had tasted it before, of course, over the years. Knowing Congo for over a decade, well, it would have been a surprise if this would have been her first Whiskey ever. She swallowed hard as the liquid burned the back of her throat* WOOOH!!! *She shook her head and gasped for air, bursting out a soft chuckle* Bard: That's the spirrrit *he chuckled warmly and grabbed the glass, placing it on a small table next to them. He grabbed a small suitcase from the floor and opened it, placing it on the table as well. Bottles of herbs, potions, scissors, knives and some instruments that looked mostly like something out of a horror movie, came to her eyes, sending a shiver through her body, but before she could react, Bard had already grabbed a wooden stool and sat down in front of her, his strong hands resting firmly on her naked knees* Are yeh cold? Yeh seem a wee tense, and ah'm afraid ah left yeh wait for too long, naked in a damp basement. *He smiled somewhat apologizing* Sparkle: *She chuckled nervously* I'm not naked... *she tucked a bit on the thin wooly blanket wrapped around her shoulders, but felt much more naked than she had ever felt her 30-something years of living* Bard: Rrrright... so lets get teh ett so yeh wont catch a cold before we done *he chuckled soft* now what exactleh do yeh want? *His thick Irish accent was thicker than the usual McKinney's she had come across, but she still understood him well* Yeh told me something about you wanted teh be taller? Sparkle: *She took a deep shaky breath* Same shape... as well as it will translate... but yes... taller... a bit below average... for a.... boy.... *she frowned softly* clean shaven..... everywhere.... Bard: As in can't grrrrow body hair, orrr just clean? Sparkle: No body hair... just hair on my head... blonde.... blue eyes..... feminine.... but not too much... light voice, but with some deeper tones..... full lips..... not too cute a nose, but not big either... not crooked.... a lot like.... hm.... I like yours.... Bard: N'awww that's sweet darrrling... ah made it mehself! *he smiled warmly* Teeth? Sparkle: Keep them as.... no.... keep the strength of them as they are but change them enough to look different..... no.... shit.... *She sighed deep* I don't know? Bard: ....... rrright... let me ask you this.... what do you plan to do with the child? Sparkle *She looked at him confused, she hadn't told him about Penny?* Bard: Ah assume yeh still want herrr in yerr life? So what is the thought about this? Mum suddenly being a daddy? And if so... how will yeh explain that to her? She's still a toddler, rrrright? Sparkle: Yes, she hasn't aged up yet, although we expect it to be any day now, as she both talks and walks like a child. Bard: So yeh would wait and tell her when she reaches child stage? Sparkle: *She nodded nervously and fumbled with her hands* Bard: So yeh would keep her... well.... that would mean he would have teh know sooner than later, who yeh are.... or else he would certainly ask questions why a strange boy treats HIS child as if he was her mum. A mum who strangely disappeared. Sparkle: *She frowned deep* But I thought the agreement were.... the spell... he would fall in love and it would no longer matter cause I would have the right kind of body and Bard: Yes, but sooner or later things will surface, they always do. This is not a matter of a stranger. The two of yeh know each other for years, yeh have a family tegether... yeh ‘ave common friends.... it's a much more complicated matter if yeh want me teh simply wipe the slate clean and give yeh a completely new start with no questions asked.... a start where yeh get to be a parent to yerr daughter without anyone finding it strrrange. Sparkle: *She nodded soft and sighed* I'm sorry for taking up your time then. *She was just about to jump down from the chair, tears gathering in her eyes, as Bard pushed hard against her knees* Bard: Ah said it was complicated..... not impossible! *He took a deep breath* close yerr eyes, and concentrate on as detailed a sketch as possible, of what you want yerr new life teh be like... take as much time as yeh need, to give me the best possible view. The more you add, the more material I have to work with. Try teh vision how yeh will look, sound move. Skills yeh will have, things yeh will like or dislike. The complete anatomy of yerr body, the scent of yerrr skin, the tone, the smoothness. Sizes. Fears, hopes, dreams. How yeh want him to feel about yeh when he sees yeh the first time, how yerr love will unfold.... how deep yerr love will eventually grow. Do you want marriage, more kids? A house together? What should yerr job be if yeh have one? Are yeh rich? Middle class? Poor? And if poor are yeh on the streets, have room mates or a small flat of your own? Perhaps this time yeh want to be famous... or a Prince? There is no limits! Are yeh back to being regular human, still immortal? Do yeh have any powers? Give me as much material as yeh can possibly come up with, the more the better result. I told yeh, there's no reversing it, and this is yerr new life, yerrr future, it is up to yeh teh make it the best possible. Sparkle: *She took a deep breath, nodded and closed her eyes* Bard: Alrrright... let yerr thoughts flow freely.... I'll read them as they come. *Hours passed although it seemed like just minutes* Sparkle: *Finally she seemed to run out of more to add, and instantly felt her knees getting forced apart so her legs spread wide open* Bard: *He sat between her legs with one of the horror movie looking tools, a not so friendly grin plastered on his face* So let's get to it lassie... or should ah say lass from now on? *he laughed hollow and arched his back* Remember, no reversing once am done with meh work! A deal is a deal, and ah will claim meh price whether yeh are a satisfied customer or UUUNGH!!! *a loud groan sounded from Bard, as something seemed to punch him out of thin air, and he got instantly knocked off the stool, landing on the cold wet stone floor* Sparkle: *She gasped loudly and tried to get up, but now noticed she had been strapped to the chair by old leather straps, the fear of being trapped with what appeared to be her biggest mistake yet, left her whimpering in fear, desperately trying to wiggle herself lose* Bard: DAMN YEH BRANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!! *He stood up with fiery red eyes, spitting blood on the floor* A DEAL IS A DEAL!!!!!! SHE BELONGS TEH ME WHETHER YEH LIKE IT OR NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY DON"T YEH COME UP HERRRRRRE AN FIGHT MEH FOR 'ERR THEN?!? YEH FUCKING COWARD!!!!!!!

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ketso · 2 years

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Episode 30

Khabane and I are driving to Mohato's and Zarinah's wedding. We started at his home and parked my car, then took one of his dad's cars - some Lamborghini. His dad said he would have never given Khabane that car if I were not there with him. Lol! Khabane and I are in the Lamborghini while Khabane's parents are following us in the Mercedes-Benz AMG. That car is... yoh! I would have liked for Khabane to take that one. It has no letter and no number. Just a two-door and two-seater AMG. Apparently, it also belongs to Khabane's dad. Khabane's mom is into big cars. She has expensive big cars. I guess it's the mom in her always choosing mom-cars, but classy, stylish and expensive mom cars. She'd get along very well with Rofhiwa. Those are her vibes.

Ruri is at the royal house. She and Rena are in the wedding. So, she just slept there yesterday.

"Ushup?" Khabane asks me.

He looks so HOT!

I mean, he's an extremely good-looking man. But when he tries hard to look good, smell good and dress good - ubuhle buvele bugezeke!

I would like to believe that I look nice too.

Khabane's mom invited me to do nails, hair and makeup with her. Kazi had her designer put my dress together. It's a traditional wedding. Sesotho traditional wedding, to be exact.

So kazi's designer did an all-beads dress for me. I'm not even joking.

My dress is only white and brown beads! Then by my breast area, it finishes off with brown and white feathers.

"Are you trying to out-dress the bride?" Khabane's mom asked me.

I just laughed. But I look nice!

Khabane's mom's hair person put Malaysian hair strips in my hair. Then he lifted them into a rather long ponytail. My makeup is proper. And I just wore studs. I mean, my dress is a lot. My heels are a combination of nude and transparent.

Khabane's mom and I are actually cool. Ruri and I are closer. We chat all the time. It's like having a baby sister. And I love it.

"I'm fine, baby." I say.

"You are not fine. Talk to me... what's going on?"

"I feel like gogo's attempt to resolving the family's beef didn't work. I think kazi is still hurt." I say.

"She's not okay, love. You guys are a close family. None of you will be okay until this beef is cooked."

"I just don't know how to be there for her. And papa... Papa is so hurt, Khabane. Family is everything to papa. Our family is EVERYTHING to him. He is hurt that kazi is not okay. He is hurt that Fifi and I are not getting along. Ai."

He holds my hand.

"We are going to fix this. Reahile and I are going to fix you and Fifi today. Then you and Fifi must fix your parents. You caused this shit between them, you fix it."

Why do I find this funny? I just laugh.

"But seriously, babe. You and your family love each other. That's why none of you will be cool until all of this is done. So, le tloba shup. Tomorrow, you are doing lunch with Fifi. Squash it."

"Thank you, baby."

"You are welcome, love."

I send a picture of Khabane and I to kazi. We took it this morning after we were dressed up and ready for the day.

"My babies!" She says in a text message.

We arrive at the royal house.

We have to leave the car running as we get out, then the hired staff, parks the car.

There are cameras everywhere. We are being snapped every two seconds.

Yerrr!

I always forget that these people are the celebrities of Tholoana Kingdom.

We are led to the red carpet.

Khabane has his arms around my waist. I feel so good. I'm smiling from my stomach.

We get to a backdrop of Zari and Mo. That's where we snap the picks.

I see Fifi and Rea approaching us. Clearly, Khabane and Rea planned this. Now the four of us are snapping picks together. And it actually feels nice.

"The camera guy's fly is open." Fifi gossips in my ear.

"And his package is forcing itself through that whole", I gossip back.

And we both laugh.

We are snapped.

We finally leave the red carpet.

We are sent the pictures instantly. They are so nice, man.

"I'm sending these to papa and kazi" Fifi says.

I'll let her do it because she does have to make it up to kazi.

Before I even respond, she's already sent them.

Within minutes, a picture of us laughing - probably at the camera guy and his open fly - is papa's profile picture on WhatsApp. Kazi updates her status of all four us and the caption is, "My babies".

Hmmm. Okay.

We make our way to our seats. The royals sit in the front seat, as expected. I'm sitting with Khabane, Banathi, Mndeni, their dates, Khabane's parents and Banathi's parents in the next row.

Tee-le, Thuli, Mfundo, Nene and their kids are in the row behind us. I greet them briefly. They look so beautiful.

Behind them sits the NFR Legends - passed and present. Then everyone else.

Queen-Mother Kea walks in with three of her daughters-in-law: Sonia, Setati and Remo. Mofomahadi Thabi walks in alone. I also don't know why. She doesn't even look like herself. She looks so.... sad and out of touch.

Morena Ona and Moholo Khotso walk in together. Then while Moholo Khotso finds his seat next to Remo, Morena Ona finds a seat next to Sonia.

TENSE!

Clearly, Thabi is the mofomahadi, but Sonia is THE WIFE. Asazi ke ngo-irrelevant third.

Mulalo and Mohau walk in together. All of this is being televised, by the way. My babies look so cute. I can't believe they can walk already. Mulalo has flowers, but even she isn't sure what to do with them. Mohau has the rings on some cushion. He is in a suit with a seSotho pattern finish and Mulalo is in a white dress with brown seshweshwe patterns.

They spot me and instead of going to the alter, they sprint to me. Everyone laughs, but like... I must now stand up and walk them to the end. And there are cameras. And that isle is so fucken long. Whose brilliant idea was it that twins that are not even two be tasked with such duties.

"I'm not going alone, Khabane. Grab a twin and let's go!"

"What?!"

I'm already standing. I take Mulalo. He's now forced to take Mohau and we hold their hands get them to the end of the isle.

Now, we have to stand here with them.

Jesu!

Ruri walks in, the bridesmaid. She walks in with Mohale. They both look stunning! Mohale goes to the groom's side and Ruri comes to my side. When she gets to the end of the isle, she says, "You look better than all of us". I'm getting a bit irky with this comment yaz. I mean, why did people underdress if I’m the most dressed person here?

I try to hand Mulalo over to her, but Mulalo is not having it. She grabs onto my dress with force and I just let it be. Not because I enjoy being bullied by her, but because my dress is just beads. If one bead snaps, I'll be naked on camera in seconds and I'll trend for the rest of my life.

Lefatselabarena walks in. The bridesmaid. The only Mohale sister. Well, Nyakalo exists now too, but she doesn't seem close with everyone else. Rena walks in with Tholoana.

The ladies are wearing fully patterned brown seShweshwe short dresses with brown seShweshwe doeks. The guys are wearing brown seShweshwe pants, white shirts and sanna marena blankets.

Priceless!

Now, Rofhiwa walks in, the maid of honour. Her dress is white and has seShweshwe trimmings. It has a seShweshwe fishtail finish. I wonder why she would be the maid of honour. That’s the most important person in the bridal party and she doesn’t even get along with Zari like that. They always complain about each other. Maybe the twins made them do this. Nna I would never! It is my wedding, and it is the one day I get to be selfish…

Anyway…

Fifi had a white wedding... then we exchanged gifts and called it the traditional part of the wedding. I don't know why she wouldn't want to show off this level of beauty. There's so much beauty in tradition and culture... much more than white weddings in my opinion. But Rofhiwa is Rofhiwa. If modernity hasn't put a stamp on it for elegance, she's not interested. Reahile loves her as she is and that's all that matters.

Reahile now walks in!

Yeses!

He is accompanied by umbongi reciting the Mohale clan names.

He is wearing a black suit, Chinese collar white shirt, sanna marena, the mokorotlo hat and he has a cane in his hand.

The best part about blackness is culture. We are rich, guys! We are rich!

Mo walks in with umbongi as well. He is reciting their clan names. There is a young lady ululating and three girls dancing as they lead him to the altar.

He is wearing black suit pants.

No shirt.

But guys I promise, it looks nice. All he has on is a blazer jacket that is made up of the sanna marena blanket.

Suka madoda!

He wears the mokorotlo hat too and he has his cane with him.

Khabane better look this nice at our wedding. Yes, I'm speaking it into existence.

When the dancers and imibongi go sit down, I follow them with Mulalo in my arms. Khabane follows us too with Mohau in our arms.

They are already over everything and start getting restless. Where are their baby bags?!

Khabane gives Mohau his cellphone and it settles him. So, I give Mulalo my phone and they are entertained.

"What if we have twins?" Khabane asks stupid questions.

Who is a twin in his family?

Rofhiwa is biologically not my sister and the twins are hers. I don't have a biological gene for twins.

"We are safe. Khululeka." I say.

He smiles at me and says, "But we going to have some good-looking brats."

Mxm!

But I laugh because wow.

Makoti finally arrives.

Her father walks her down the isle. They are both dressed in FULL Nigerian wear. I always forget that her father is Nigerian and her mother is Jamaican. But this is so different! So beautiful!

There are loud Nigerian aunts making a damn statement and I love it! We are all standing because wow....!!!

What a beauty!!!

It's ululating!

It's an aunt shouting in excitement in Nigerian!

It's a bunch of people throwing money at Zarinah as she walks down the isle.

"Let's go pick up that money!" Bathung Khabane?!

Who and what am I dating?!

This is beautiful!

This is stunning!

This is breath-taking!

Black people... We are rich!

...

The wedding is beautiful. Hands down. Zari and Mohato look very happy. I'm happy they are getting married. I cannot imagine Mohato marrying anyone else. Zari is the only person who can truly manage Mohato and the illness that he has. The royal family also trusts her with everything, especially managing Mohato's health. No one else would be able to manage that.

They say their "I dos" and within minutes, they are kissing and Zari is Zarinah Mohale.

We are now at the reception and the reception is purely the traditional part of Zarinah becoming Mrs Mohale and being introduced to the Mohale ancestors.

She, like Rofhiwa, is also given a seSotho new name by the Mohales. Queen-Mother Kea is the one who names them. Rofhiwa was named Mmamohau... hence her first son is Mohau. Zarinah is named Mmamoahi. So, their first son will most likely be Moahi.

As we go into the evening, the party is happening.

"Please look at your child", Thuli says to me.

I look on the stage and Khumo is having the time of her life.

I actually just laugh.

I'm accepting that I have a special daughter.

Thuli laughs too.

Then we see her running towards us.

"Daddy, I have a new friend", she says.

"Really?"

"Yes. And we were performing on stage."

Thuli just laughs so hard.

"What's her name?" I ask her, still laughing.

"I actually don't know." She says.

I shake my head.

"I'm going back to dance on stage neh. I'm performing and people are watching me."

Khumo mara.

"Khumo, it's getting cold and it's going to rain. We need to go the car and get your jersey", Thuli says.

"But mommy, it's hot. I'm feeling hot. And I'm performing. So, I'm going to be more hot." Khumo Serame has an answer for everything.

I even hear Khabane's mom laughing and when I look at her, she's laughing at Khumo.

"I wasn't asking", Thuli.

"Mommy, you know I feel my body. When I'm cold, I'll tell you." Khumo.

"Woooooohhhhh!!!! You have a Ruri in your hands!" Khabane's mother says and we just laugh.

"If you feel one drop of rain on your skin-

"I'm running to you and we getting a jersey." Khumo finishes Thuli's sentence.

"Come give mommy a kiss." Thuli.

I love how Thuli will shit on Khumo, then ask for a kiss just to say it's all love. It's beautiful, man.

Khumo dives to her mother, hugs her then kisses her.

"Khumo, come." Some girl says. At least she knows her new friend’s name.

"I'm not playing with you!" Khumo. Okay, I spoke too quickly. Kanti isn't this the new friend?

"But, I want to play with you guys", the girl.

"You didn't ask us", Khumo.

Why is Khumo such a bully?

"Khumo, what did I say about being mean?" Thuli.

Good. She sees it too.

Khumo is getting upset.

"Uyakwata?! Then we are going home. Daddy, we are going home." Thuli.

"No!" Khumo.

We both look at her.

She climbs off her mother's lap.

She goes to the friend.

"I'm sorry for being mean." Khumo says to the girl. The girl tries to hug Khumo, but Khumo pulls back and says, "I'm just apologizing. You don't have to touch me."

Thuli looks away.

We both want to laugh, but Khumo can never know that we think this is funny.

"I'll make everyone else play with you. They listen to me. Come." Khumo.

Then they are gone.

Khabane's mom is deep within laughter.

"Remoletile?! Your child?!" Thuli.

Yoh!

The party is great and Thuli is actually having fun. Zari and Fifi come join us and chill with us. Khanyisa was here with Khabane, but they seem to have left now.

Oh, nope. She's still here. And she's being herself, bless her soul. She's wearing flat shoes and is serving people.

Khabane walks towards us.

"Your girlfriend, Hai khona." I say.

Everyone laughs. He also laughs.

"She's helping koko Kea with serving the royal elders. She's not serving everyone else. Relax." Khabane says.

We laugh.

Khanyisa should have been a doctor. Serving is who she is. It's so much more than what she does. It's honestly admirable.

"Does she need help, KB? I don't mind helping", Thuli says.

She's pregnant.

Uya kai?

"She's almost done. Thanks though, Aus' Thuli." Khabane says.

"Are you sure?" Thuli.

"Hai Ausi Thuli, you are pregnant. You must relax."

"I'm not disabled."

"If you go into labour now, who's going to deliver for you? Wabona Mme Thabi is a bit house-to-let in the head right now."

Our entire circle BURSTS into laughter... like BURSTS! That statement was both unexpected and WTF?! Yoh!

It starts raining.

We move to some shelter.

By the time we are all settled in, we see Khanyisa bringing the kids in. I'm going to buy this girl flowers and chocolate and I'm going to kill Khabane if he ever hurts her.

"You good?" Khabane asks her.

She nods her head.

He puts his suit jacket over her shoulders, putting all of us under pressure. I just want to say that we are cold and we've all been rained on. But we succumb to the pressure and put our jackets on our women.

"Mommy, it rained on me." Khumo.

Thuli opens her arms and Khumo climbs on top of her. Thuli cuddles her into my jacket.

I actually take a picture of them. I love this.

We chat away until really late then we all start deciding that it's time to go. Mohato and Zari have left.

Reahile takes sleeping Mohau from Khabane. Rofhiwa takes Mulalo. Then they say goodnight.

I hold my wife's hand, take my daughter and have her in my other hand. I see Khanyisa and Bane also holding hands to leave.

It's been nice.

....

Waking up as Mrs Mohale is just so nice. But I've got flu. I got rained on and I'm struggling to even get out of bed. Every part of my body is aching! I'm blocked. I have a headache for CENTURIES!

Mohale is so sweet, shame. He's been babysitting me since last night. But today, he's taking me to the doctor. I didn't really want to go to the doctor. I still don't.

The thing is...

I had an abortion.

And before you dog me out, hear me out.

Mo has a mental health illness that has a high chance of being passed on. I struggle a lot with Mo. We manage his mental illness, but I struggle. A lot. If Mo and I have kids, there is a high chance that our kids would have it too. I would not be able to manage more than one person who has this illness. I don't even think Mo would be able to handle children. I sometimes observe him with Rea's twins. He has no patience for them at all. The one time, Mohau had fell off a highchair that Mo had placed him on while doing I don't know what. Next thing, Mohau screams his lungs out because he fell and hurt himself. We sprinted into the kitchen and we found Mo in a corner, shutting his ears, having an episode because he was triggered by the screaming. Reahile even punched him for that, and he didn't react. He just yelled, "Get that child out of here!"

It was crazy.

I had to stop Rea from shitting on him so I could hold him and tell him that everything would be okay. Then give him meds and help him sleep.

Now, nobody trusts him with the kids. It would be irresponsible of me to have kids knowing how he is. It took a lot for me to get Rofhiwa and Reahile to be cool with Mohale again, not hold what happened against him. They were DONE with him. DONE! And it wasn't okay. Mo doesn't want to be like this. But he has a condition that he cannot control.

"You look beautiful", he tells me.

"Lies. I feel awful. There's no way that I look better than what I feel."

He laughs.

"You look amazing, baby."

We laugh.

"We had a beautiful day yesterday", I say.

"It was amazing. Thank you for choosing me, Mmamoahi". He says.

"Rofhiwa doesn't use her Mmamohau name."

"Rofhiwa is not the next queen, Mmamoahi. You are."

What?!

"Your father confirmed that?" I ask him.

"Not in so many ways." He says.

"Mo, I thought the next king would be Ntate Khotso's son. In this case, it's Moloko."

"He's the youngest of all of us."

"Your grandfather, Mohato, was the youngest out of him, Ntate Reahile and Ntate Morena. He became king and his brothers were his advisors."

He thinks about this.

I don't want Mo getting to a point where he starts being dangerous to his own family just because he wants the throne.

"I'd make a good king, Zari."

"You would, love. But being a leader doesn't always have to be within the capacity of a king. Look at Ntate Khotso and all the work that he does. Why wouldn't you want to be that for Moloko?"

"Because I want the throne. And no one seems interested in it, but me. I work the closest and the most with Ntate. Rea's life is all about Rofhiwa's ass... he's more of a Ramaru than what Rofhiwa is a Mohale. And Rofhiwa just thinks that she's better than everyone."

Yeah, he's never said it out loud, but he doesn't like Fifi at all.

"Mohale is gay", he continues.

"And?"

He throws me a skemp look.

"Tholoana is somewhere between his Zulu mother and us. Moloko is a kid. A KID. If dad died tomorrow, how would he be expected to rule?"

"If ntate died tomorrow, ntate Khotso would take over."

"And if they both died?"

"Mohato!"

"I'm just saying." He says then sits on the edge of the bed.

"The throne should be ours, Zari."

I just take a deep breath. Then I say, "I don't want you going to war with your family for this throne. You know that they will not hesitate to even have you admitted and banned from this place, masking it as you struggling because of your mental health. You are too much of an easy target to not lie low."

"I didn't ask for this illness."

"I know. But you need to look after yourself and show that you have this as controlled as possible... that you can operate at a high level of leadership and that your mental health isn't stopping you from being a functional leader. Prove that first, then we talk."

He thinks about what I'm saying.

After some time, he says, "You need to see a doctor".

"I just want to sleep. Get into bed with me. Let's sleep." I say.

He smiles.

"We are not having sex. We are sleeping." Me.

He laughs aloud. But he climbs into bed and we cuddle.

...

I manage to get up, shower and dress up. Khosi and Mandisa were not able to attend my wedding because of Thuli's and Tee-le's presence. So, we had plans to meet up for lunch today. I could do with getting out of this house and meeting some friends. Khosi has become quite a good friend to me. She's actually a good person. She didn't deserve what happened to her.

It's still raining.

Good Lord!

I'm finally dressed up and I grab my bag. I don't know where Mo is. Let me phone him.

"Baby?" He answers after two rings.

"Hey love. Where are you?"

"I'm in a meeting with pope, Bane, Rea, Mohale and Banathi. What's wrong?"

"I'm just going to meet up with Khosi."

"Aren't you sick?"

"I'll be fine. Don't worry."

"Okay. Keep your phone on, baby. We might need to head to Miami today."

"We?"

"Us gents... and maybe you, the ladies."

Ai!

"Am I in danger if I go out?"

"Not yet, baby. Just stay alert."

We hang up.

I bump into Rofhiwa feeding her kids as I make my way to the car.

"Hey", I greet her.

"Mrs Mo. Hi." She says. She's very pleasant this morning. I wonder.

"How are you feeling? I heard you are sick", she says.

"I'm feeling a bit better. Also, just sleeping all the time is going to make me worse."

She nods her head.

"Where are you going?" She asks me.

"Just meeting up with Khosi and Mandisa. They couldn't really make it to the wedding because of Thuli and Tee-le, so..."

"Aowa! She needs to get over it now. They are not even checking for her like that."

"Would you be able to get over it if someone took Rea from you like that?"

"Like what, exactly?"

Why is she acting dumb? She knows what happened? Suddenly she has amnesia because Thuli is her friend?

Nonsense!

"Forget it!" I say.

She rolls her eyes.

Spoiled brat!

"So, when are you and Mo having kids? The twins need friends."

"That’s very forward of you... to ask me something like that. Seriously?"

"Hawu?! I'm just asking. If you don't want to answer the question, you don't have to. But don't be such a bitch."

"That conversation is a conversation between my husband and me. Where do you get off asking me something like that?"

"Zari, it's not that deep. Fuck!"

"Do you see me asking you when you are going to give Reahile his pair of balls back?"

"Excuse me?!"

"Excuse you? We all see that you've turned him into Mrs Ramaru. There isn't a hint of Mohale in you. You've even named a child Mulalo. Don't be disturbed if she's never taken seriously around here."

She looks surprised. Shocked. Angry. What's surprising her? What's shocking her? What's making her angry?

"Y'all discuss my marriage?" She asks me.

"We discuss the fact that you’ve turned Reahile into a little bitch and no one in the family likes it. So, if he ever steps out on you just to find his manhood again, we will all help him cheat on you and build a life with the woman who treats him like the prince that he is."

She looks like she wants to cry.

Mxm!

"Later!" I say, then just leave her there.

...

I'm working in Ramaru's office today. We have a lot that we have to do collectively. I know that he and Fikile are going through stuff, but I appreciate that they are such professionals, and our business has continuity whether they are having issues or not. I guess that's why they are such successful businesspeople.

After a few hours of working, Fikile walks in with LOTS OF FOOD.

"Sanibonani", even Thomas is shocked. Imagine my awkwardness?!

"Hey", Thomas.

"I just got back from a food expo with Koena." She says. On cue, my stunner of a wife walks in with more food.

"Hey guys", she greets us.

Ramaru and I look at each other.

"We took quite a lot of the African food - for you guys, obviously. We mixed it with Mexican food for Koena and I. We were feeling Mexican food." Fikile.

Thomas and I stand up from our seats and we walk towards them, kissing them to say hi.

Then, Thomas and Fikile zone out a bit.

Fikile: "Taste this one". She feeds him something.

Koena places herself in my arms. I just know this is about to be a moment out of a soapie. Koena is emotional. Why didn't I just stay in my own office?

Fikile: "Imnandi neh?"

Thomas: "Hmmm... imnandi."

Thomas is even speaking isiZulu? Kubi!

Thomas removes the food from Fikile then pulls her into a hug.

"I don't want to cry, Thomas." Fikile keeps saying, but she's breaking down as Thomas pulls her closer and closer towards him. Koena is holding me tighter and tighter. I hold her too. I don't know what her and Fikile spoke about that's making her feel like this is her battle too.

"I'm sorry, Thomas. I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry", Fikile keeps saying through her cries.

"Okay. It's okay, baby." Thomas.

"No, it's not okay. It's not okay. Rofhiwa is my child. She's my child. And now I've made her feel like she isn't."

"Baby, she's not entirely innocent in all of this. Stop doing this to yourself."

Mfundo briefly told me about this fight between Fikile and Rofhiwa. I didn't think it was this serious.

"Thomas -

"Baby, sshhhh... we are past this. We are past it."

Fikile just cries.

Thomas pulls her towards his closet and they close themselves in there.

Is this the right time to remind him that we have a deadline?

"Baby?" Koena.

"Yebo?"

"Can I ask you something?"

Yerrr! Women! Bathelelana ama-emotions faster than bathelelana i-flu!

"Yini Koena?"

"You've done so well. For yourself. For us. You know that, right?"

Where is this going?

"Ja?"

"You are exactly where Sindi wanted you to be all those years ago. You realise that, right?"

So, she's pulling a Rofhiwa? Uvus' abafile?

Mind you, we are still in this hug, so I'm not looking into her face.

"Koena, ukhuluma ngani?"

"I'm just wondering -

"Wondering what, Koena?! What are you wondering?!"

I'm actually pissed. Why are we talking about Sindiswa? She's been dead for years and she's my past. Why are we going there?

She comes out of the hug.

I look at her.

I want answers.

"If she never cheated on you... waited on you and have been more patient with you... would you be having this life that you and I have... with her?"

"Amanyala! Amanyala le nt' ongibuza yona." I say.

She looks emotional.

Uyahlanya lo! Futhi why isn't she at work?

"I’m just saying, Mthunzi -

"You are saying what? What are you saying, Koena? Twenty years of marriage and three children later... this is the shit you ask me?"

"Would we have made it to twenty years if Sindi -

"Would we have made it to three hours if Mohavi's dad stayed and helped you raise him?"

"I didn't love him. You loved Sindi."

"I did. She was my wife. And she was the mother of my daughter. Why wouldn't I love her?"

"Kholeka was the mother of your son. Did you love her?"

"To answer your question, Koena... Sindi and I divorced each other because we brought out the worst in each other. I didn't marry you because things didn't work out with Sindi. Sindi has never been a factor in my choice to have a family with you. Now, I'm never having this conversation with you ever again! Next time you want answers, you can go dig up her body and have a conversation with what's left of it! Do you understand me?!"

"Msomi!"

Oh, they are back.

"Thomas, when you are done with Fikile, you'll find me in my office." I say.

"Ukudla?" Koena has the audacity to ask me that?

"Angilambile." I say.

"Msomi, come on." Thomas.

Eish.

I choose to sit down. Koena pissed me off. What the fuck was that?!

I sit on a one-seater couch, so she doesn't sit next to me. She chooses to sit on top of me.

Fikile laughs.

I can't help but smile.

She hugs me.

Mxm!

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