CHAPTER 56
NHLANGANO MAVIMBELA

This has been the most hectic few days of my
life, I cannot believe that this is happening to
me. I wish I never walked through the door
Khwezi opened for me because it has brought
nothing but chaos. I should have known that
nothing good was going to come out of this,
that it will all come crumbling down and it
truly has. Now I’ve hurt Zekhethelo and she
hates me with every fiber of her being. She
blocked me on all social media platforms as
well as my number. I asked my aunt Thalente
to borrow me her phone and when Ze heard
my voice she hung up and blocked it too. I
just want to tell her how sorry I am because I
really am. She was the last person I wanted to
hurt this bad, but then again I always knew
what I was doing with Khwezi was wrong and
would hurt if she ever found out. I guess it’s
true when they say one is never really sorry,
they are just sorry because they got caught.
I feel like a shitty human being for sleeping
with both mother and daughter. Yes, I didn’t
know but that doesn’t change the fact that I
did. This is the biggest mistake I have ever
made and it will haunt me for the rest of my
life. I won’t ever forget the look of hurt and
disappointment in my father’s eyes after he
walked Ze and her father out yesterday. He
must be wondering where he went wrong
with me, I mean he raised me very well; he
took his time to teach me right from wrong.
He never expected me to be perfect but he
raised me to be a good person.
We are on our way home from the doctor,
baba took me there to do a drug test. I also
gave blood, urine and a genital swab for
sexually transmitted infections screening.
Baba wanted the doctor to have every sample
to get answers. He didn’t ask if I used a
condom with Khwezi or not, he just figured I
didn’t. I’m glad because it would have been
embarrassing to answer that question after
he has emphasized safe sex since I got to the
age of noticing girls. We will get my results in
a few days and I’m crossing fingers that they
come back and say I’m clean.
We get home and I go straight to my
bedroom. I am too ashamed to be around my
father and Thalente if I don’t have to be. I
know I disappointed them and being in their
presence makes guilt eat through me even
more. I don’t want to think of what will
happen when my grandmother gets here, I
know baba has called to tell her what has
been happening. She’s going to break my head
for two things now, the situation with my
biological father and sleeping with my
teacher.
My phone rings, I quickly take it out of my
pocket hoping it’s Zekhethelo. To my
disappointment it’s an unsaved number, who
the fuck could it be? I take a deep breath and
answer the call.
“Nhlangano,” it’s Khwezi.
I blocked her number from calling and texting
me. I don’t want to get in trouble with my
dad, he made it clear that I should cut all
communication with Khwezi.
“Don’t hung up,” she adds hurriedly and I close
my eyes. I don’t want to deal with this.
“Say what you need to say and don’t call me
again, Khwezi. My father doesn’t want me
talking to you,” I say and she chuckles.
“Wow, so you’re in this with your dad? You
both agreed to ruin my life?” she asks
vehemently.
“What are you talking about?” I ask.
“Your damn father reported me to the
principal and she took it to the board
Nhlagano. I got suspended pending
investigation. Why are you doing this? We are
both adults and what we had was
consensual,” she says and I gasp in shock.
I didn’t know that my father went to my
school.
“I…Khwezi I didn’t know baba went there,” she
smacks her lips.
“You have to deny everything when they call
you in during the hearing. I can’t lose my job
over sex we both enjoyed,” my knees are too
week to carry me, I settle on edge of the bed
and pinch the bridge of my nose. This has
gone from bad to worse.
“I’ll try and talk to my father Khwezi but…”
My phone is snatched from my ear, I quickly
turn and it’s my dad. Fuck!
“Don’t call my son again you bitch,” my father
says through gritted teeth and I swallow
hard. He’s so mad, there’s even a vein popping
on his forehead. I’ve never seen him like this.
“What did I say to you?” he asks me after
ending the call.
“She called using a different number,” I
mutter, looking down. His gaze is too intense.
“Remove the password on this phone, I’m
taking it,” he says and my eyes threaten to
fall off.
“Baba, you can’t do that. I need it for the
internet. I’m starting exams next week,
remember?” he can do anything he likes to me
but not take my phone. What if Ze tries to
call me once she’s calm?
“You have a laptop, the wifi in this house is
uncapped. You can use it for whatever
research you have to conduct,”
“Baba I’m begging you,” I say, rubbing my
hands together.
“I can’t trust you Nhlangano. I told you not to
talk to that woman and I found you doing
exactly that. How do I know you won’t delete
the chats and pictures from her?” I close my
eyes, “We need those as evidence during her
case at school,” he really laid a complaint
against her. Why didn’t he talk to me about it
first?
“Baba I don’t want this thing to get big. Please
let it go, I promise I’ll leave her alone. I’m
almost done with matric, I’m going to
Johannesburg and I’ll never see her again,” he’s
not buying my story, I can see it in his eyes.
“You want me to leave her so she can do this
to another child?” he half shouts and I’m
startled.
“Screenshot everything you’ve exchanged with
that woman and email them to me right
now,” he hands me my phone and I try to
move away, “Stand right there Nhlangano!”
he’s not playing with me and I won’t even try
to do anything to make him lose his cool with
me.
“Everything is through,” my voice comes out
in a whisper. He pulls out a chair at my desk
and settles down before he opens my laptop
and powers it on. It requires a password, he
turns and gives me a look. I quickly go to his
side and input it. He logs into his email and
goes through everything I sent him, including
the nudes. I watch him print them and I know
there’s no turning back now. Khwezi is going
to be out of a job once my father is done with
her.
“You better not delete the original texts
Nhlangano or so help me God,” the seriousness
in his voice and the murderous look in his
eyes sends a cold shiver down my spine.
NALEDI MOLETSANE
I kill the engine in the driveway and take a
deep breath. I’m not ready to face Vhutshilo,
I’m still pissed at him for coming to my house
earlier this week and telling me how to live
my life. I didn’t appreciate the way he came
at me, I’m not his child but the mother of his
daughter. I am capable of making decisions
for my life and make sure that they don’t
negatively impact our daughter.
Bassie opens the door and climbs out, she’s
excited to be spending time with her dad and
Karabo. She was supposed to be coming here
tomorrow afternoon, that’s Saturday, but I
had to ask Vhutshilo to take her today. I have
to catch a flight this evening, I’m going to see
Shlobo. He’s not doing good, things with his
son have gone from bad to worse. He
mentioned how seeing me and holding me in
his arms would make him feel better and here
I am ready to fly down to Durban. He has no
idea that I’m coming, I’ll call him once I land
and tell him to meet me at the hotel. I’ll find
one once I get there, it won’t be hard.
I have been sleeping over at my mother’s
house just to spend some time with Bassie,
seeing I won’t be here this weekend. I don’t
want my relationship with Shlobo to take
time from my daughter, she’s still the first
priority. I just have to find a balance between
being a mom and a girlfriend to someone who
lives kilometers away from me. I’m planning
on moving my daughter in with me so we
spend almost everyday together and I don’t
feel bad when it’s time for my boyfriend.
Bassie left the front door open so I just walk
in holding her bag. I find father and daughter
laughing over something and Karabo looking
at them with a smile. I made the right
decision by moving out of Vhutshilo’s house;
their relationship seems to be in a better
place. I hope from here they go from strength
to strength.
“Hey guys,” I greet and they all turn to look at
me.
“Naledi, hey babe. You look nice,” that’s
Karabo, opening her arms. We share a hug.
“Thank you doll, you look amazing too.
Sleeping next to bae every night works magic
neh,” I say and she’s thrown into a fit of
laughter.
“Girl, you know mos,” she winks at me and I
smile.
“Thank you for taking her on a day we didn’t
agree on. I just have an emergency,” I say,
looking at my baby daddy. He doesn’t look
very happy.
“It’s no inconvenience. Are you headed to to
Durban?” oh she knows about Shlobo?
I wonder how he told his girlfriend coz he was
pretty mad when he confronted me about my
relationship.
“Yes, my flight is at 6. Shlobo is going through
something and he needs me there,” I explain
and she’s nodding her understanding.
“You’re such an amazing girlfriend,” oh that I
know hey. All my exes never want to let go
when things are over, that’s excluding
Vhutsilo. Me and him never had problems
moving on from each other.
“Do we take Bassie to your mom on Sunday or
you’ll pick her up?” Karabo asks, her boyfriend
is not even paying attention to me. He’s busy
talking to his daughter.
“Please drop her off, I’m landing at night on
Sunday,” she nods.
“Okay, let me take this to her room,” Karabo
mutters and walks away.
“Bassie, mommy is leaving now,” my daughter
comes to me.
“Okay, I love you,” we hug and I kiss the top of
her head.
“I’ll see you on Monday. You’re sleeping at
mommy’s house the whole week and if you
like it then we will stay together for good,” I
say and her eyes twinkle.
“I can’t wait,”
“Be good to daddy and aunty Karabo,” I say
and she nods, walking away from me.
Haibo! Just like that?
“Bye Vhutshilo,” I say and turn to walk away.
“So you’re dropping plans with Bassie to run
to your boyfriend? See why I’m not in support
of this relationship?” oh fuck him.
“I’m honestly not in the mood for this,
Vhutshilo,” he chuckles.
“No, Naledi. You have to see what I’m talking
about. Our baby girl used to come first in our
lives but look at what you’re doing right
now,” bathong! What is wrong with him.
“I’ve been with our daughter since Wednesday
after work Vhutshilo, because I knew I was
leaving. Please don’t stand there and judge
me. You can accuse me of anything but not
being a bad mother to my child,” I say and he
bites his lower lip.
“I’m not saying you’re a bad mom, Naledi,” I
roll my eyes. He’s confused.
“Then what the hell are you saying?” I ask,
throwing my hands in the air.
“I’m saying it looks like your priorities have
shifted,” that’s total bullshit and he knows it.
Being a mom doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have a
life outside of my child.
“What? Are you listening to yourself right
now?” he’s pissing me off even more.
“Mommy, is everything okay?” our daughter
asks, walking back in the lounge.
Damn, we must have been loud.
“Yes, baby. I was just saying bye to daddy.
Please walk me out.” I say, holding out my
hand.