IQANDA LE GROOTMAN

IQANDA LE GROOTMAN
CHAPTER 2

MANQOBA KHOZA

I walked into the house, the smell of Nhloko and pap hitting me as I stepped into the living room. My brothers were sprawled across the couches, beers in hand watching soccer , laughing and teasing one another like nothing in the world could touch them.

"Zinsizwa," I said, grabbing a beer from the table, my voice rough from a mix of excitement and tension.

"Nsizwa enye… you went with that nurse and never came back," Ngcebo teased, smirking.

I shook my head, a faint smile tugging at my lips. "Eyy… yaze yayinhle, ingane yomfazi," [that girl is so beatiful]I admitted quietly, still seeing her face burned into my mind—the curve of her smile, the warmth in her eyes.

"Uyabona, ngingazishaya ziphelele,"[I can pay all the Lobola]I muttered under my breath, trying to shake the memory off.

Thunjana leaned back and laughed, his tone sharp. "She doesn't mind sharing with whores?"

"Uyazi ukuthi ushadile, unezingane ezinamakhanda amakhulu?" [does she know that you married and have children with big heads]Mqhele added, a warning laced in his words.

I felt my appetite vanish. The laughter of my brothers felt distant, like it belonged to someone else. I excused myself and rushed upstairs, shedding my Brentwood belt, my golf T-shirt, and chain along the way. My body felt restless, and my mind wouldn't stop replaying her smile.

I went straight to the bathroom, letting the hot water wash away some of the tension, but it couldn't touch the heat in my chest. I changed into boxers and sat on the edge of the bed, fumbling for my phone. My thumb hovered over Zobuhle's contact, hesitant.

When I finally called, it rang and rang… Ayybo, lentombazane is really ignoring Manqoba Khoza? My chest tightened with frustration and worry.

That's when I heard her soft voice behind me. "Manqoba?"

I turned to see my wife, Khanyisile, standing in the doorway, worry etched across her face. She was holding a tray with food and water to wash my hands,the way she always knew exactly what I needed without me saying a word.

"Khanyi … you didn't have to," I said, setting the phone aside.

"I know you, Manqoba. I can see when something's weighing on you," she said gently, placing the tray on the nightstand. Her hand brushed against mine, and the world outside seemed to fade away. "Talk to me."

I exhaled deeply, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease slightly. "It's… complicated,...it work stuff" I admitted.

Khanyisile sat beside me, her presence calming, her hand still holding mine. "I trust you...you will work something out" she whispered. Her eyes held a mix of concern and unwavering love, a reminder of everything we had built together.

I nodded, feeling the warmth of her care sink into my chest...if she knew I'm thinking of another woman she would go crazy...she is calm housewife but can be crazy sometimes