CH14

BURNING BLUE.
BY BELLA ROYALTY.
14

[NTANDOKAZI NGEMA]
Have you ever had such a great nap that you wake up thinking you're late for the bus to school but then you remember that it's a Sunday and you're 30?

I hope I am making sense, that's the kind of nap I just woke up to, if I remember correctly it was around 11 when I took a nap, I feel so ashamed now as I look at the time, 7pm, what the hell did Shaka feed me that took me to such a deep sleep?

It was dark outside, honestly if it wasn't for the cold breeze that had invaded my bedroom coming from the open balcony, I doubt I would have woken up.

I slowly made my way out of the bed, wincing to the bathroom because of my swollen inner thighs, it even burnt when I peed down there, as I took a shower, flashbacks of what happened between Shaka and I came flooding, I still can't believe that happened actually, like I've envisioned it a couple of times but the actual encounter exceeded my expectations.

Dr. Karen and I had entered the intimacy part of our sessions and she told me some rape victims take time to participate in sexual activities, some don't enjoy it even when they do it, but you know what? I just had the best sexual encounter, I don't know whether it's because of who I was with, or the way he was handling me, making sure I'm comfortable, I don't know, I just know that he gave me the best memories of what making love should feel like after Leano had scarred me.

As I was taking a shower, a realization hit me hard, we are related and we've just crossed the line, what does this mean for us? Are the ancestors going to punish us? Of course I don't believe in that, will God punish us?

By the time I was done taking a shower, I wasn't in a good mood anymore, I ruined my own mood by overthinking.

I made my bed and then went to greet everyone downstairs, the parents were back and it seemed like a full house as I walked down the stairs.

Aunty Mandisa(smiles): Oh! There you are! Finally! How are you?
Me: I'm good aunty and how are you?
Her: I'm good sthandwa sami, Shaka told us you were feeling under the weather so that's why we let you be.
Me: Yes, I'm okay now though, how was your trip? Do we have guests?
Her: Oh yes, come and meet everyone.

We walked to the living room, Shaka wasn't there though.
Aunty Mandisa: Guys, my eldest daughter has woken up, this is Ntando, Ntando that's my bestfriend Nothando, that's her husband Sandile and their daughter, Slindile, I'm sure you recognize Sandile, his face has been plastered all over the city, he's just been named the Premier of the region.
Me(smiles): Its a pleasure to meet everyone.
Nothando: Wow, Mandisa you never told us she was this beautiful.
Aunty Mandisa: Do I look like I give birth to ugly children Thando?

We laughed.
Aunty Mandisa: I was blessed with a womb that produces beautiful kids, if that wasn't the case, you wouldn't be here trying to get my son to wed your daughter.

Excuse me? I couldn't help my cough.
Me: Shaka is getting married?
Uncle sfiso: You seem rather shocked?
Me: I wasn't aware he was even seeing anyone, isn't he like the player of the school?
Aunty Mandisa: Not anymore, he is going to marry Slindile over there after graduation.
Me: Like an arranged marriage? Aunty we are in 2025, do people still do that?

Uncle Sfiso: Shaka will be marrying Slindile to strengthen the bond between the Zwanes and the Khumalos, as you know we are in the construction business, we deal mostly with public and private tenders, having an inlaw who is a government official who can award tenders to us, will be beneficial, not only to us but to him as well and what better way to seal the business deal, with pleasure?

To say I was shocked would be an understatement, I didn't think they still did things like that even in 2025!

Me: And Shaka is okay with this?
Aunty Mandisa: He didn't take it well, hence he left but he will come around.
Me: Mmh.
Uncle Sfiso: Ntando can you help me with something upstairs?
Me: Yes Malume.

I followed him upstairs, we went to his office and he sat me down as he closed the door behind him, he pressed on his tablet and handed it to me.

Uncle Sfiso: Is that the reason why you're against Shaka having an arranged wife?

I gasped in shock, it was a video from the pool, when Shaka kissed me.

Me(stuttering): Malume…I can explain.

Uncle Sfiso: We welcomed you after your father chose another woman and abandoned you, we took you In after your mother drowned herself in alcohol, we took you in and gave you a roof over your head, treated you like our own daughter, paid for your fees, feed you, you drive a fancy car and this is how you thank the hand that feeds you? Is Shaka not your cousin? Are your mothers not sisters?

I swallowed.
Uncle sfiso: Does this seem right to you? Is this what they teach you in Joburg? That it's okay to exchange saliva with your brothers and sisters as long as they don't use the same surname as you?
Me: Malume I…
Uncle Sfiso: Do you know what this would do to your aunt?

I looked down, ashamed, if he were to find out that we actually slept together, he's flip out.
Uncle Sfiso: How long has this been going on? When did it start and who approached who? I know it's not my boy, I raised him better than that, it must you right? Usuka nokungcola kwaseGoli uza nakho lana!
Me(emotional): Malume, I'm so sorry.
Uncle Sfiso: Not as sorry as you'll be when I put you out in the streets, when I stop paying for your mother's bills at the mental asylum, when I stop paying for your university fees!
Me(pleading): Malume please don't do this! I'm just 19, a child, I wasn't thinking straight! Please don't even tell my aunt!
Uncle Sfiso: Whatever is happening between you and Shaka, ends today do you hear me? You will not look at him, breathe the same air as him do you hear me? He is your brother! You are a beautiful young woman, I assume you have guys flocking your DM's if you have an itch that needs to be scratched, reply to your DM's, Shaka is your brother! Do you understand me?

I nodded while wiping my tears.
Me: I understand.
Uncle Sfiso: I will be watching you Ntandokazi, yazi uyanginyanyisa lapho akuve ekuthanda u-Mandisa! As we speak she's planning your 19th surprise birthday, planning to go all out wena ubhizi wenza amanyala noBhuti wakho emzini wakhe! Sies!

He actually spat on the floor.
Uncle Sfiso: Let me speak a language you youngsters would understand, this is not an episode from Game Of Thrones where brothers and sisters impregnate each other and fathers make their daughters their wives, this is the Zwane household and we don't tolerate nonsense uyangizwa?

Me(crying): Ngiyakuzwa.
Uncle Sfiso: Let this be the last time we speak of this, get out of my face sfetshana sase-Goli!

I literally ran out of that office and went to my bedroom, I locked the door behind me and threw myself in bed and cried.

This was all a big mess, I've never seen Uncle Sfiso as a testifying man, but today I met a different side to him, a side that terrified me! What the hell was I thinking?

Did I actually think Shaka and I will ride off to the sunset together? We are related! I'm currently staying at his house, being fed, being clothed and educated by these people, I need them more than they need me, what happens when they cut me off? My father chose his other family instead of us, my mother? She turned to alcohol and went crazy, as for her family back in Joburg, they said she should have accepted the polygamous marriage dad had proposed therefore she was on her own, I can't go back to Joburg, there's nothing for me there.

I have to bury whatever feelings I have at the bottom of the ocean, there's no Shaka and I, we don't have a happy ending.

There was a knock at the door.
Me(sniffles): Yes?

One of the twins spoke, I don't know which one.
Elihle/Esihle: Dad said I should call you, dinner is ready.
Me: I'm coming.

I got up and went to wash my face in the bathroom, my eyes were still red and my cheeks as well, I wore my eye glasses and went downstairs, if I had my way, I wouldn't have had dinner, but I was summoned by the man of the house himself.

Everyone was seated at the table, casually conversing.
Uncle Sandile: Ntando, your aunt tells me you're doing your first year in civil engineering.
Me: Yes.
Aunt Nothando: I would figured you as the type for media studies, you have the face, body and voice, I could have sworn I have seen you somewhere.
Slindile: TikTok mom, she's a tiktoker.
Me: Content creator is the word I'd use.
Slindile: What is the content you create?
Me: I do song covers, I dance, I do vlogs.
Slindile: How original.
Me: Excuse me?

Slindile: You can't call yourself a content creator when the content you're creating is already being created by millions of other people, you're a tiktoker, an impersonator, a fraud, people follow you because you have a pretty face.
Aunt Nothando(warns): Slindile!
Me: I'm sorry, did I ever fuck your boyfriend perhaps?
Uncle sfiso: Ntando!!!
Me: No, I have to ask because its the first time we are meeting and you don't seem to like me and I'm trying to figure out, what could be the reason Princess?

I asked looking straight at her, I am the one who hated her actually, she was going to be Shaka's wife, the same Shaka that folded me a few hours ago like his life depended on it, the same Shaka who told me he loved me as he made love to me, so excuse me if I don't like bivth that much.

Besides, I am in a very bad mood, I was just summoned to the Principal's office and scolded.

Everyone seemed shocked, I was shocked myself.
Aunty Mandisa: Ntando! Apologise!
Me; She started it first, I'm not apologizing, how's that for authenticity Princess Slindile huh?

I got up and walked away from the table while Uncle sfiso was calling me, I grabbed my car keys and phone and left.

Aunty Mandisa: Ntando baby please don't go I don't know what happened between you and your uncle but please… I'm sure we can talk about this.
Me(crying): No, Aunty there's nothing to talk about, I need some air.
Aunty Mandisa: Baby please, you're angry, tell me what happened!

I shook my head, he's the man of the house, I don't want to cause any more troubles.

I got inside the car and drove off, I didn't even know where I was going honestly it's not like I knew a lot of people here except Shaka, Tumelo, Nandi and Buhle, those two stay at res, Shaka is a no go with his apartment. The fact that he hasn't even sent me a text, says a lot, that leaves none other than Tumelo.

As I was driving while reaching for my phone, a buck appeared out of nowhere, causing me to swear to the side of the road to avoid hitting it.

[TUMELO MORAKE]
"Tumelo! Your phone is ringing!"

My mother shouted, I had left it on the couch and went to pour my father a drink in the kitchen, I was at home today and not at my apartment.

I gave dad his drink and then attended to it, it was a missed call from Ntando, at this hour? Maybe Prime told her that I was there to see her earlier.

I excused myself and called her back.
Me: Babe hey, I was in the kitchen thank you for unblocking me wh—

There was someone crying.
Me: Ntando? Ntando what's wrong?
Ntando(crying): Please come and get me.
Me: Where are you?
Nrando(crying): I don't know, I almost hit an animal so I drove into the woods, I think my car is stuck, Tumelo ngiyasaba!
Me: Okay, okay share me your location because your tracker has been disabled on your amulet for some reason
Ntando: okay.
Me: I'll be right there baby it's okay, I'm coming.

She sent the location and I grabbed my car keys.
Mom: I thought you were spending the night?
Me: Something came up, a friend needs me!
Dad: Be safe!
Me: Okay Dad!

I got in my car and drove off, I am just grateful I'm the one she thought of unblocking and calling honestly in her time of trouble, she could have called anyone, Prime, her aunt and uncle…

I tried to call Prime but it went straight to voicemail, I finally arrived at the location and spotted her car, I got out indeed her car was stuck in the mud, it needed to be towed or pushed.

I knocked on the window and she opened the door and got out, wiping her tears, she must have been so scared.
Me: Hey, hey come here, it's okay, you're safe you're alright.

She just cried while hugging me, I rubbed her back.
Me: It's okay, I got you.
Ntando: I'm sorry, there was no one else I could call, can you help me?
Me: I might have a rope, I'll just tie your car to mine and drag it out if that doesn't work, we will have to call a tow truck.
Nrando: Okay.
Me: Let me get the rope.

She nodded, I went to the rope.
Me: Where were you going or coming from?
Ntando: Anywhere but at the Zwane household.
Me: Did something happen?
Ntando: They have surveillance cameras outside as part of their security systems, Shaka's father saw Shaka kissing me by the pool and he's convinced I'm Cerci Lennister from Game Of Thrones.

Oh shit! That's not good and it's kind of my fault!
Me: Ntando I dont—

Ntando(crying): He threatened me Tumelo, threatened to strip me of everything! Had I known I'd be reminded about where I come from everytime I made a mistake I wouldn't have agreed to come here, I would have remained in my father's house, I would have found a job and saved up for tertiary now I am being reminded that my own father left us, my mother is a drunk and lunatic, I am being fed by them, they gave me a roof over my head, they are paying for my varsity fees, he called me disgusting, me? Tumelo all because of a stupid kiss with someone I don't even share a surname with!

She was really angry now.
Nrando: And then there's Shaka's arranged wife or whatever the hell she is, I suspect she knows something because she was undermining me at the dinner table and I just lost it Tumelo, like when will I have peace? I should have never confessed my feelings to Shaka because you wouldn't have dared him to seduce me and none of this would have happened.

I felt really bad now, this was all my fault, I hooked our cars.
Me: I'm so sorry Ntando, my actions have caused trouble for you, I'm so sorry.
Ntando: It's okay, I'm to blame I shouldn't have allowed the kiss to happen, we wouldn't have been caught.

I exhaled.
Ke: Let's try to see if this will work, you'll reverse and I'll pull.
Ntando: okay.

She got in her car and so did I, we started the cars and she reversed and so did I, we were able to pull the car out of the mud it was stuck on.

I got out of the car.
Me: Do you want to go home or you can sleep at my apartment, I'll go back home or I can book you into a hotel?
Ntando: The apartment seems okay thank you Tumelo.
Me: Please don't thank I'm partly to blame for this as well, follow me okay.

She nodded.

We drove to my apartment, I tried to call Prime but his phone was still off, he has an arranged wife? That's why he probably has his phone off, he's pissed off wherever he is.

We arrived at the apartment, thank God I had cleaned.
Me: Can I get you anything? Order you something to eat?
Ntando: Do you have wine maybe?
Me: No, unfortunately I have something stronger, first watch, Hennessey oh there's Jaggermeister.
Ntando: Okay.

I pulled out the bottle and a glass.
Me: Are you mixing it?
Ntando: Who mixes Jaggermeister?
Me(laughs): I have seen people mixing it.
Nrando: That's just weird.

We laughed, she drank from the bottle.
Me: I'm sorry Ntando, really I am.
Ntando: It's okay, what's done is done, all I have to do now is focus on my studies and stay away from my cousin, that way I'll get to have a place to sleep, have something to eat , a car and have my studies paid for.
Me: I've always known there was something off about Malome Sfiso.
Ntand: I could have sworn he was a good guy, what I saw in his office is no good guy, because what do you mean it's 2025 yet you're still making business arranged marriages? Shaka is meant to wed a premiere's daughter so that they get rewarded with government tenders.
Me: Word? Premier Sakhile Khumalo's daughter?
Ntando: Something like that.
Me: Well it shouldn't be hard for Prime, they have history with Slindile.
Ntando: History?
Me: Jeah, she was doing her final year at school last year, they had a fling so atleast it's not a stranger.

She choked.
Me: Don't kill yourself.
Nrando: It went to the wrong pipe
Me(laughs): Okay, that's enough.
Nrando: I intend on finishing it actually.
Me: You know what? I won't be leaving you, not in this state you're in.
Nrando: I won't kill myself if that's what you're worried about.
Me: Oh I know you won't,people slip and fall when they are drunk, they get hungry in the middle of the night and decide to cook and end up burning the house when they are drunk.

She laughed.
Me: It's going to be okay Ntando.
Ntando: I don't see how.
Me: I can rent you an apartment and you can stay there, I can get my father's company to pay for your school fees, you can get a part time job…

Ntando: I can't hurt my aunt, you should have seen how hurt she was when I left, she knew her husband had said or done something to me to make me angry, she was so concerned with me driving alone at night while angry, she's the only person I care about in that house, pity she married a devil

I squeezed her hand
Ntando; I have to stay away fron Shaka that's all I have to do and I shouod be fine.
Me: I am here for you.