Chapter 13

IQANDA LE GROOTMAN
CHAPTER 13

ZOBUHLE ZWIDE

There was no way I was sharing a bed with Manqoba. Yhoo! Just the thought made my skin crawl. On top of that, I couldn't stop sneezing — all because of that cursed, smelly chicken that woman forced me to kill

"Mama, come to bed," he said, patting the space beside him.

I folded my arms tight. "I won't share a bed with you."

He sighed, rolling to face the other side. "Suit yourself, at least I tried."

Mxm. This man. These people. This whole house! I curled myself up on the couch, sneezing until my head felt like it would explode. At some point, exhaustion won and I drifted into sleep.

When I woke up in the morning, I almost fainted. I was no longer on the couch. I was in his bed. In his arms. My head resting on his chest like we were lovers.

Yhooo!

I bolted upright, pulling the fleece off me. My pajamas were still intact, thank God, but that didn't help my panic. I ran straight to the corner of the room

"I told you I don't want to sleep in this bed with you!"

He rubbed his eyes lazily. "You were sneezing nonstop."

"You should've just put a boundary between us!"

"I did," he replied, stifling a yawn. "But you removed it, coming to me."

"You're lying!" I snapped.

He chuckled, deep and smug, before sitting up. That laugh… it irritated me more than his lies.

I stormed into the bathroom, washed my face, and put on a long dress with my slides. Anything to feel covered, Then I made my way downstairs.

The smell of breakfast hit me instantly. My stomach growled. People were already at the table eating happily. I forced a smile.

"Morning," I greeted.

The brothers answered back. I went straight to the pots, opened them, and… nothing. Empty.

My chest tightened. This woman. This devil's twin. Khanyisile. She had deliberately made sure there was no food for me.

I sat down quietly, pretending it didn't sting. My stomach, though, betrayed me with a loud growl.

Just then, Manqoba came downstairs. Fresh showered,tucked neatly into his Brentwoods, towel draped casually over his shoulder, Carvellas shining. Confidence dripping with every step.

"Babakhe, here's your food," Khanyisile said sweetly, sliding a plate in front of him like the perfect wife.

But he noticed me. Sitting there with nothing.

His face hardened.

"Khanyisile," his voice cut sharp across the room, "are we out of food in this house?"

Silence.

Every eye turned to her.

"Why isn't Zobuhle eating ?"

"Babakhe I can't be cooking for another woman "

"Hello I'm here...I don't want your food "I said

"Angeke ngikudle lokudla kwakho till you learn everyone in this house is family Zo asambe"He clicked his tounge and he pulled me toward the car [I won't eat your food..Zo let go ]

We went out and he opened the door for me

"Ngyaxolisa Mah"he said sincerely [I'm sorry]

"Stop acting like I'm special to you "I said rolling my eyes

"Kanjani Mama uneskhala enhlizweni yami...ngyazi ukuthi izinto zithathe ngamawala kodwa what I told you before is still it Ngyakuthanda Mama [how when you have a space in my heart...I know things happened drastically but i love you]

Why I'm so touched with his fake speech I rolled my eyes and scrolled my eyes

We reached the Mall and he asked me where I wanted to eat so I will always choose McD the woman approached us

"Mama angizijwayele lezinto kodwa ngifuna inyama"he said [I'm not used to these things but I want meat]

"Can we have steak and burger with fries and two coca cola"i said as he kept glancing at me

Our order arrived and we ate and he was struggling to eat with fork and knife Weee I'm never going out with this out he ate using hands

After eating we went to the rank

"Mama I can't accompany you home I have things to do...and you can go back to work anytime"

"What if Sihle hurt me there?"I asked panick rush over me

And his Jaws clenched

"Mama ngizoyilungisa indaba yaSihle yezwa"he said and I nodded as he touched my cheeks kissing my forehead [I will fix Sihle's issue]

He opened the door for me in the rank as always there was noise

He opened the taxi door for me and I went in there was no passengers

"Mandoza take my wife home"he said
This Mandoza guy entered

"Sawubona madam"

Madam?!yhoo babazani this person can double my age why with the formalities

"Ungangibiza ngo Zobuhle baba"[you can call me Zobuhle Sir]

"UBhovungane ukhethe kahle"[Manqoba chose well]

I chuckled slowly

We arrived at the hell hole as I was about to enter Manqoba called me

"Usufikile Mama?"he asked

"Safe and sound there is no need to check up on me I'm grown up"i disconnected the call