CHAPTER 13
VHUTSHILO MOUFHE

My girlfriend hasn’t been talking to me since I
canceled our movie date to go help my
daughter and her mother. I honestly don’t
understand why she thought a movie is more
important than helping my own child. I made
it clear to her that Bassie is my first priority,
that I’d stop the world from moving if she
needed me to.
That night after I escorted Naledi and Bassie
home, Karabo demanded that I take her to her
place. I respected her wishes and decided that
we will talk once she has cooled off, but she
has been ignoring my calls and not responding
to text messages. I decided to come wait for
her outside her apartment building so we can
have a convesation. I need her to tell me
what the actual problem is then explain to
her again that Basetsana comes before
anything.
I honestly love this girl, she has amazing
qualities and I’d like to spend the rest of my
life with her. But if she doesn’t understand
and accept that my daughter will always be a
priority then it’s going to be a problem. I hope
and pray that we can settle this matter and
be on the same page with everything. I’d hate
to loose what we have but if it came down to
choosing, my decision is pretty obvious. I’d
rather have casual relationships than tie
myself to one person who doesn’t understand
that my child is important in every aspect of
the word.
My phone rings, bringing me back from my
train of thoughts. I take it from the passenger
seat, it’s my mother calling. She’s going to
want to chat away and I’m honestly not in
the best of moods, I won’t be as invested in
the convesation as she needs me to be. I take
a deep breath then answer the call.
“Mme anga,”
“My first born, how are you?” she’s always so
jolly. My mother never let’s things get to her,
I wish I took that from her.
I heave a sigh, “I’m good, how about you?”
“What’s wrong baby? You sound troubled,” she
knows me well, very well.
I don’t like talking to my mother about my
relationships but I think her advise would help
me in dealing with the situation at hand.
“Karabo is mad at me,”
“What’s wrong? What did you do?” she asks
and I shift uncomfortably on my chair.
“I canceled our date because Naledi called me,
she needed my help. She and Basetsana had a
puncher on their way home from her school
play,”
“That’s why she’s mad? That was an
emergency, my grand baby was in the middle
of the road, you had to go there. She wanted
you to abandon them for a date you could
have had the next day?” my mom understands
perfectly. It’s not like I canceled to go have
fun with them.
“Exactly mama. I honestly don’t understand
why she’s not seeing things in that light,” A
door closes on my mother’s end, she must
have moved for some privacy.
“I think she has a problem with you and
Naledi being close to each other. Women are
very jealous beings, maybe she’s just being
insecure,” that’s absurd.
Naledi and I are friends, great friends. We
haven’t even looked at each other
inappropriately. We don’t want to cross that
line and end up ruining the friendship we
have. If we mess that up it’s going to
negatively affect our child. We could never do
anything that will change the healthy
environment we have established for
Basetsana, that little girl means the world to
the both of us.
“She has absolutely nothing to worry about
though, I told her Naledi and I are just
amazing friends raising their beautiful
daughter,” she clears her throat.
“Reassure her, Vhutshilo. Every chance you get
make her understand that Naledi is just the
mother of your child and she’s the one you’re
with because you love her,” so I have to live
my life babying her into trusting me? What’s
the point of this relationship if there’s no
trust?
“Naledi is not just the mother of my child,
she’s my friend. Karabo needs to understand
that,” I see her car coming down the road.
“Ma, I need to go. Let me call you back later,” I
end the call.
I quickly climb out of my car and cross the
road to flag her down before she drives
through those gates. She parks on the curb
side and rolls down her window, she doesn’t
look happy to see me.
I open the door and climb inside instead of
talking to her through the window. Our
relationship is not something irrelevant that
we can discuss it in the streets.
“Hey, babe,” I greet her.
“Hello, Vhutshilo,” just like that huh?
“You’ve been ignoring me, what’s wrong?” she
chuckles.
“Are you serious?” I narrow my eyes at her.
“Yes, babe. I want to know why you’re not
talking to me, I’m not happy with the
situation,” she is giving me the death stare.
“I’m the one who’s not happy about the
situation Vhutshilo,” it’s pretty obvious that
she’s mad about something, I just don’t know
what exactly.
“Karabo, what’s the problem? Talk to me so I
know what’s going on, I cannot fix things if I
don’t know what’s wrong,” I’m very calm.
“You and your baby mama are what’s wrong,”
she says and I heave a sigh.
It seems like my mother was right.
“What did Naledi and I do?” she scoffs.
“Come on, Vhutshilo. Do you think the
situation between the two of you is normal?”
I nod vigorously.
“Definitely. I believe the world would be a
better place if people who share a child and
aren’t in a relationship become friends; for the
sake of the life they created. Drama is not
healthy, being happy and at peace improves
the quality of the child’s life,” I explain my
stance and she exhales sharply.
“But does she have to call you for everything?”
I snap an eyebrow.
“Naledi doesn’t call me for everything. She is a
very resourceful, independent woman. She
called me to come help her with her tyre, she
wouldn’t have called if she didn’t need to. I
rushed there because that’s what we do, we
have a child together. I need to be able to help
her out, the situation was serious, Karabo,” I
close my eyes, I don’t want things to get
heated. Nothing will be resolved if we are
both on a hundred.
“It was at night, the area wasn’t safe. Do you
think I should have left them strunded to
watch a movie? What if something bad
happened to them? Do you understand that I
wouldn’t be able to live with myself if
something happened to my daughter and her
mother?” she’s blinking rapidly.
“I understand that you guys are close and
share a daughter, but it’s uncomfortable how
she can just call and you jump. Vutshilo,
there’s nothing we do without you
mentioning her name. Things happen around
us and before you discuss or laugh about it
with me, you call Naledi. It’s like she has this
spell on you,” Mama was definitely right
about the insecurities.
“It sometimes makes me feel like you’re in
love with her and you’re waiting for the
opportunity of a relationship to open up so
you can jump in it. It scares me that I might
just be holding the position for her,” I take her
hand.
I love Naledi, she’s important to me but I
don’t have romantic feelings for her.
“Baby, you don’t have to worry about that. I’m
not going to get it on with my daughters
mom. What we had happened 10 years ago
and it ended shortly after she fell pregnant
and some truths came to light. It wasn’t
always this good, we had problems in the
beginning, but when Basetsana was born we
sat down and put our differences aside and be
good for the sake of our daughter,” I pause.
“Naledi doesn’t know her father and has a
difficult relationship with her mom, I watched
my mother being abused by my old man. Our
upbringing is what made us give each other a
second chance and become friends. We want
Bassie to have present parents who are in a
healthy space with each other. Our friendship
is based off on the love we have for our girl so
it’s not something I can end. What I can do is
assure you that nothing is going on between
us,” she’s relaxing a little.
“I love you, Karabo. You’re the first woman I
introduced to the most important person in
my life. That has got to show you that I am in
this and I want it to work out. Please, try and
understand the dynamics of my life where my
daughter is concerned. Naledi and I will tone
down some things to accommodate you as
my girlfriend, but babe things cannot
completely change between us, please
understand that,” I have laid down my truths
to her, it’s now up to her to decide on what
she wants.
“I’m sorry for acting like a child. It’s just that I
love you Vhutshilo, and I’m scared of getting
hurt. I thought I should just pull myself back
to avoid a heartbreak,” I nod my
understanding.
“Nothing is going on between me and Bassie’s
mom. I promise you,” I lean in and kiss her
lips.
“I missed you,” she says and I smile.
“We should drive in so you can show me just
how much,” she giggles.

NALEDI MOLETSANE

This is the first time I’m seeing my friends
since I left Kat’s house in a hurry after her
husband hit on me. I feel bad for keeping the
truth from my friend, but on the other hand I
cannot imagine being the reason their
marriage faces troubles. I’m gonna have to
find a way to live my life without it affecting
me, I just hope and pray that he doesn’t have
other women on the side. Katherine is an
amazing wife who deserves a faithful
husband.
I want to believe that the devil was playing
with Thabo that day and that he now regrets
his actions.
I look at my wrist watch and it’s a little after
8pm. I didn’t plan on being here, Mongezi
called me when I got off work and begged me
to come. He and Kat had already started
drinking when I arrived, they are in the mood
to club the night away but I just want to go
home. I want to be cuddled up with my
daughter and listen to her telling me story
after story until we fall asleep.
“You cannot be yawning at 6pm,” Kat says and
I roll my eyes.
“Dude, it’s past 8pm and I had a long day at
work. I just want to go home, Bassie is
waiting for me,” I say and they both groan.
“You used to be so fun, geez!” Mongezi says
and I laugh.
“I’m still fun, friend. I’m just tired,” I answer
and Kat clicks her tongue.
“Oh please. The Naledi who is fun would be
dancing on this table right now,” and the
other people will be taking video’s of me and
posting them online, then my mother will see
them and start fighting.
I don’t need more of Maswabi’s drama in my
life.
“Why don’t you want to go home?” I ask and
she gulps down her drink.
“I don’t want to face my husband. We are not
on good terms. He’s mad that I bought my
parents a new car,” I frown.
Why is he mad? Kat used her own money,
Thabo needs to chill out and get a job.
“Hello,” we look up and find a tall buff guy
holding a glass.
“Hey, gorgeous man,” Kat says and I titter. She
is tispy and naughty this one.
“You’re still married Katherine,” Mongezi says
and Kat throws her head back.
“This is uhm… Don Julio with lemonade, it’s
for you my beautiful lady,” he says and I
furrow my forehead.
“How did you know what I drink?” I ask and he
flashes me a smile that has me cringing. Is he
trying to hit on me?
“I asked the waitress,” I shake my head.
He is a brave guy.
“What makes you think I will accept a drink
from a complete stranger? I mean you could
have slipped something in there,”
He bites his lower lip, he should stop trying to
look irresistible. I don’t find him attractive at
all.
“Uhm, you’re right. I can ask the waitress to
make you another one and bring it through,”
“Please don’t bother, I’m good,” Kat clears her
throat.
“You can buy me a drink, gorgeous,” what’s
wrong with Kat this night?
“Hai! Behave yourself,” -Mongezi.
“Can I please have your number. I’d like to
take you to lunch sometime,” God, remove
your creature from me please.
“I don’t eat,” he swallows hard then turns and
walks away. At least he can read between the
lines and doesn’t throw a fit when rejected.
“I bet you would’ve jumped on him if he was
twice your age,” I chuckle. Katherine is stupid
It’s not illegal to like my man older and wiser.
“Why did you turn that man down Naledi? You
said you wanted to date guys in our age
group, he was perfect,” I roll my eyes.
“I could never. I just said that because of the
whole Jimmy situation,”
“Your daddy issues just cost you a very good
looking man,” everyone thinks I date older
men because I have daddy issues. My mother
was a lot to deal with, I didn’t even have time
to realize I was missing a dad in my life. Like
every other child I asked Maswabi who my
father is during one of our fights and she shut
me down real quick. I let the topic go and
never thought of my father.
“I am going to have to love and leave you
guys. I will text you when I get home,” I push
my chair back and get up, taking my handbag
from the table.
“I don’t like you,” she says, pinning open
another bottle of savanna.
“Love you too best friend.