IQANDA LE GROOTMAN

IQANDA LE GROOTMAN
CHAPTER 3

ZOBUHLE ZWIDE

Weee! My phone has been stuck for hours, the screen is just blank. How am I even supposed to request a ride now? Kanti is this my life? Always struggling? Sometimes I really think I should just buy myself a car... ngyadlala, where would I even get the money?

I dragged myself to the bathroom, washed my tiny body under the cold water, and got dressed in my uniform. I stared at myself in the mirror for a moment — tired eyes, lips dry, but I still had to push through.

Then, wheeeh, Sihle arrived! My so-called saviour. Honestly, he came at the right time, saving me from the lion's den because walking to work passing those guys in the rank was going to finish me. I hugged him, not because I wasn't angry, but because sometimes comfort comes from the very person who hurts you.

We drove off, the silence between us heavy at first, but soon enough, we were talking like normal. I almost allowed myself to forget the cracks between us... until my lip gloss fell in the backseat. I bent to pick it up, only to feel something strange. A soft, silky fabric. When I lifted it — yooo! It was lingerie. Red lace, smelling faintly of perfume.

I froze. "Yini le, Sihle?" [what is this Sihle]My voice was shaking.

He didn't even glance my way, just kept his eyes on the road. "That must be yours."

"Ungangihlanyisi, mina? I don't even know the price of lingerie. You think I'd wear this?" My voice cracked from anger and humiliation.

"Zobuhle, ngiyindoda yomZulu. You can't make a fuss over something so small."

The way he dismissed me — as if my pain meant nothing — it boiled my blood. My chest tightened, and before I could stop myself, I reached over and grabbed the steering wheel.

The car swerved violently, tyres screeching. "Ufuna sife? Uyahlanya wena?" he shouted, wrestling control back.[do you want us to die?are you crazy?]

But I'd already had enough. Tears blurred my vision. My heart was hammering. "Stop the car!" I screamed.

He slammed the brakes, the car jerking to the side. Without another word, I opened the door and got out. I didn't even know where I was. I just stood there, watching him drive off, leaving me stranded like I was nothing.

The road felt endless, my footsteps heavy, the tar burning my bare feet because I'd slipped off my crocs while crying. The tears wouldn't stop. They flowed harder with every step, soaking my face, making my chest ache.

My phone's weak light flickered back on, and the first call that came through was from Khwezi. I answered immediately, my voice trembling.

"Zobuhle! What happened? What the heck happened?!" she shouted, panic all over her voice.

"Sihle... he's cheating on me," I whispered, my throat closing as the words left my mouth.

Before she could even respond, my phone collapsed again. Dead. Darkness. Silence.

I clutched it in my hand, useless, and kept walking. My legs felt like lead, but I pushed forward. I didn't even know where I was heading — but all I knew was that my feet were taking me to Sandton, barefoot, broken, betrayed.