CHAPTER 45
NALEDI MOLETSANE

Today was my last day at work, my
colleagues organized a small farewell party
for me. It was a bitter sweet moment, I’m
going to miss that place very much. I mean
that’s where my career started and shortly
after that I moved up the ranks because of
my hard work and dedication. I will forever be
grateful for all the opportunities they offered
me, I wouldn’t have made it so far in my
career in such a short space of time if it
wasn’t for them.
I get to my house in Bryanston and park the
car in the garage. I moved here a few days
ago, it was time. Vhutshilo’s relationship has
been facing blows because of me and our set
up, we were stupid to expect Karabo to just
accept the situation like it’s normal. We can
still be able to co-parent our daughter
without him putting me before his own
girlfriend. I have to stop being depended on
him and vice versa. I’m going to teach myself
to only reach out to Vhutshilo when it has
something to do with Bassie.
This place is too big for one person but it’s
not too bad. It’s not as awkward as I thought
it would be, I made sure to remove all
pictures of Jimmy and I around the house.
They have no business hanging on the walls,
he was never mine to begin with. I do get
flash backs now and again, especially in the
bedroom we shared and the lounge but I know
everything will die down as soon as I’m used
to being here.
I remove my shoes at the door connecting the
garage to the main house and head to the
stairs. I need to take a shower and go prepare
a snack, my drinks are already chilled in the
fridge. I’m going to nextflix and chill all alone.
That’s what I’ve gotten used to since we
moved to Vhutshilo’s place. Bassie enjoyed
being sandwiched between us on Friday
evenings and choosing movies like a boss. I
loved it more than going out to clubs with my
friends. Speaking of which, I haven’t spoken
nor seen Kat in a while. I should give her a
call and invite her out for lunch. I just pray to
God that she doesn’t mention Mongezi, I want
absolutely nothing to do with him.
I’m out of the shower in about 30 minutes
and I’m feeling fresh. I just oil my body and
throw on an oversized T-shirt, it’s
comfortable enough to be infront of the TV. I
should check in on my daughter before
getting drunk, I miss her so much but she’s
happy to be staying with my mother and
Manana again. I made her understand that it’s
only temporary and in a few weeks she will be
back with mommy and rotating between her
grandmother’s and her father. I’m just
crossing fingers that it’s not too much for
her.
I just made a light snack, crackers, cheese,
biltong, salami sticks, grapes and
strawberries. I’m going to wash them down
with one bottle of Champagne then move to
my absolute favorite, savanna. I take
everything with me to the lounge and I’m
startled when I walk inside, what the hell is
wrong with this woman? She needs to give
me back my key. She can’t be coming and
going like she owns the place.
“Hey, I was about to come looking for you,”
Thuli says with a smile and I heave a sigh.
“No, you can’t do this. You cannot just show
up here without calling me first,” I say and
she nods her understanding.
“I’m sorry, I should have called but you tend to
not answer me and only get back to me
later,” that’s because she’s doing too much. I
agreed to spend sometime with her if that
will help her get over Jimmy but I made it
clear that there has to be some boundaries.
This is not it.
“Why are you here?” I ask and she looks at her
wrist watch.
“I came to fetch you, Naledi,” I furrow my
forehead. What the hell is she on about now?
“Do you want me to ask?” I’m trying with her
but God!
“I thought we could both do with a short left,
maybe me more than you but that’s fine. I
just want to have a great weekend, have
some fun and remember how amazing it feels
to just live life you know,” she explains and I
heave a sigh, she defeats me. Thuli has two
daughters, why couldn’t she take them on the
short left? Yes, that brat Sihle is out. I decided
not to fight it because I don’t have the energy
for her anymore. Hopefully she has learned her
lesson, plus, her mother promised that she
will not bother me at all.
“Thuli, I can’t just up and leave. I have a
daughter that needs me,” I say and her smile
disappears and tears well up in her eyes. Not
the water works, God please, no.
“I don’t mean to sound insensitive but I also
need you Naledi. Your daughter will be okay,
we will be gone for the weekend. You’re the
only person who can help me get through this
Naledi, the only one who isn’t expecting me to
be strong. I can be vulnerable with you, please
go with me,” she says, lowering herself on the
couch.
“This is manipulation, Thuli. What you’re doing
to me is not fair,” she buries her face in her
hands.
“I understand why you might feel that way
but I am begging you. Help me find my feet,
help me to rediscover myself. I need to be
someone other than Jimmy’s widow. Yes, it’s
going to take me a while but for this weekend
can I just be Thulisile in Cape Town, waking
up and sleeping with champagne in her hand,”
I hate the desperation in her voice. It makes
me feel guilty.
“I don’t like forcing matters, Naledi. So I’m
going to ask you to show me a great time in
Cape Town and once we are back I will not
bother you again. I will find a way to unlove
Jimmy without you as a reminder that I
meant nothing to him,” she mutters and I nod.
“This weekend together then we go our
separate ways? ” that sounds fair.
“That’s the deal. Go grab your ID document or
passport, we need to rush to the airport. I
managed to get us tickets on the flight that’s
leaving in two hours.” she says.
How the hell did she get a hold of my details?
“I need to pack,” Thuli shakes her head.
“Just change, Naledi. We will shop in Cape
Town, like I said, I want to live life this
weekend.” it’s going to be a long weekend,
Lord have mercy.
KATHERINE MOLOTSI
“Can we do lunch tomorrow,” I ask Karabo and
she heaves a sigh before getting up from my
chest.
“What’s wrong babe?” I ask because she looks
uncomfortable. I hope she’s not thinking of
ending this thing between us. I mean our
situation is the only thing that has been
keeping me sane since I found out about my
husband and his ex, Mabatho.
“Uhm… I wo… I can’t do anything this
weekend. I’ll be busy packing and moving my
things to Vhutshilo’s house,” she stummers
and I raise an eyebrow.
“What do you mean moving your things to his
house?” I ask, sitting up straight. I’m not
understanding.
“Exactly that, Kat. My boyfriend asked me to
move in with him and I agreed,” she explains,
getting out of bed and grabbing her gown.
“You’re kidding right? You agree to move in
with him and Naledi?” I ask and she shakes
her head.
“No, Naledi and Bassie have moved out so I
can move in. Vhutshilo is finally choosing me,
Kat. He is finally proving to me that he can
put me first in his life,” she says briskly and I
huff out a humorless laugh.
“You think that’s him choosing you? Naledi
was always going to move out from there.
You’re just going there to play wife, to keep
him company while he waits for Naledi’s
phone call asking for him. He is not over my
friend, he will never be Karabo. Save yourself
the inevitable heartbreak,” I say vehemently
and Karabo is horrified by my words.
“Fuck you, Kat. You are failing to spew this
nonsense to yourself, your husband is the one
that’s not over Mabatho. Please don’t project
your bullshit on me,” she answers, mad as hell
and I close my eyes. She’s right, I’m taking out
my frustrations on her.
“Baby, I’m sorry. It’s just that…” I take a deep
breath, “You’ve been making me happy amidst
the shit happening in my marriage. I am
scared of loosing that, of loosing you. I’m
sorry,” I quickly climb off the bed and pull her
to me by her waist.
“You’re married, Kat. You can’t expect me to
put my life on hold for you. Remember how
you once broke my heart? You can’t expect
me to fully give myself to you, I’m with
Vhutshilo now,” her words are like daggers
thrown at my heart. I wish I chose her.
“Where does your move leave us?” I’m scared
of her answer but I need to know.
“I cannot continue cheating on my man with
you. He is trying, Kat. I need to be faithful to
him,” she says and I close my eyes, pained.
She pecks my lips, “You need to leave,
Katherine,” she whispers and gets out of my
hold. This hurts, it hurts so bad.
I am loosing both my husband and my
girlfriend and there’s nothing I can’t do about
it at the moment.
I grab my clothes and start putting them on.
Karabo has her back to me, she’s looking
outside her bedroom window. I’m trying not
to allow my tears to fall, I can’t believe that
she’s not choosing me but I can’t blame her
because I didn’t choose her in the past. She
loves me, that I know but she’s scared. Once
bitten twice shy, but I won’t give up on
Karabo.
I need to find a way to move my assets so
Thabo doesn’t get shit when I file for a
divorce. I want him to go back to his village
doll with nothing to his name. I’m done trying
to make it work with him. It’s time I put in
the effort with Karabo. Vhutshilo will have to
forgive me, the girl is definitely mine.
I walk out of the bedroom and grab my car
keys and handbag on the coffee table. It’s
dark outside, Thabo will wonder why I’m home
earlier than what I said. I called him when I
left the office and said I’m grabbing drinks
with Naledi and I’ll be back before midnight.
It’s only after 8pm and I’m already on my way
home, this is not how I wanted my night to
end.
I get to my house and the TV is playing in the
lounge but Thabo is not in the room. I drop
my handbag on the couch and head to the
bedroom, I need to shower Karabo’s scent off
me and change into pyjamas. I’m going to
take something to knock me out through the
night, I don’t want anything reminding me of
my situation with Karabo. I’ll wake up
tomorrow and figure out my next move.
The bedroom door is ajar and there are sounds
coming from inside. It’s Thabo, he is groaning.
Those are the sounds he makes when we are
having sex. He better not have brought his
bitch into my house, hell would freeze over
for sure. I gently push the door open and soft
moans are coming from his phone, it’s on loud
speaker, placed on his chest. His eyes are shut
close, his mouth forming the perfect O and he
is busy stroking his dick. Mabatho’s voice
calls his name out softly and my husband
groans deeper. He is really enjoying this phone
sex. I close the door and Thabo jolts up, his
eyes are widened, eyeballs threatening to fall
off.
I don’t say anything, I just move to the
adjoining bathroom to take a shower.