34

BURNING BLUE.
BY BELLA ROYALTY.
34.
SEASON FINALE.

[NTANDOKAZI NGEMA]
I have just had a talk with the doctor and from what I gathered from the conversation we've just had, is that the next coming weeks are going to be really hard.

I will be confined to a wheelchair because I was shot on the thigh, once the doctors are sure that my wound is healing, they will recommend physiotherapy, basically I will be a vegetable for a while and I don't know how I feel about that honestly, I'm used to moving around and doing things for myself and now I will have to rely on Shaka, I mean he won't mind but I've taxed the poor guy a lot already and the last thing I want is for him to be taking care of me at my big age.

I mean I won't even able to take a bath on my own, he has to bathe me, and I know he's seen every part of my body, but giving someone a bath is a different thing, he has to help me use the bathroom as well, it's a lot and I don't think that's fair on him at all.

This is the time where I really need my mother, she should be the one taking care of me but she still has a couple of weeks left to complete her programme in Cape Town, my father and his wife are a no go as well, Aunty Mandisa is even worse.

I threw my head back on the pillow and exhaled.
Shaka: What's wrong?

I lifted my head up and forced a smile as he walked in.
Me: Hey babe.
Shaka: I asked you a question baby, what's wrong? I know the doctor was here, what did she say?
Me: The next couple of weeks are going to be hard.
Shaka: I know Peach but I will be right by your side, I've spoken to my sister as well and she's agreed to help whenever I'll be at school writing.

I exhaled and he held my hand and kissed it and I looked away.
Shaka: Peach?
Me(smiles): Babe.
Shaka(exhales): I know this is going to be difficult for you, having to rely on someone else for basic things, things you're used to doing for yourself.
Me: Shaka—

He warned me with his eyes and I stopped and collected myself.
Me: Baby, you'll have to help me use the bathroom, get in bed, sit on the couch, wash my own body and it's just….
Shaka: And what's wrong with that? I don't mind, I'd be more than happy to help you baby, infact I'd rather be the one who helps you with all of that.

I bit my lip and he smiled a little.
Shaka: What is the part that gets to you the most? Because I've seen every inch of you sthandwa sami?
Me(laughs): It's just going to be weird, that's all sthandwa sami.
Shaka: Haibo, you're overthinking this.
Me: Babe married couples are expected to take care of each other to that extent.
Shaka: So uthini? Ufuna sishade?

We laughed.
Shaka: I mean that can be arranged, sthandwa sami, nothing would make me happy than to make you mine.
Me(laughs): Babe, I'm only 19.
Shaka: And I'm only 23, what's your point?
Me: I'd love nothing more than to be your wife but… give us some time, I'm not going anywhere, are you?
Shaka: How much is that time?
Me: I don't know but I'm not ready for that particular step.

He nodded.
Shaka: I hear you, there's absolutely no rush at all baby, I mean getting married would be just for formalities, I've regarded you as my wife from the moment you agreed to be mine, I mean we do everything that a married couple does anyway.

I laughed.
Me: Exactly, besides there's a lot you still have to do as well, you still have to meet your biological family, talk about you being introduced to the underground gang, change from a Zwane to a Miya.
Shaka: I know baby.
Me: I also still have to find my feet, figure out what I want to do in life, I mean the princess treatment is amazing, not worrying about the bills and stuff, but that's not the kind of woman I want to be, I don't want to be a housewife baby, I want to be a working woman, a working mother, a working wife.
Shaka: You don't have to.
Me: I know that but baby, I want us to travel the world, and you can't be the only one always footing the bill.

He looked at me for a while.
Shaka: You feel like it'll give me the right to control you?
Me: I just need my financial independence, that's all, I want to have my own money so that whenever I walk into a store and I see something that I think would look good on you I can buy it and actually feel good about it because I would have bought it with my own money.
Shaka: Ngiyakuzwa sthandwa sami, I guess at some point the mature conversation was going to happen.
Me: Yes baby.
Shaka: Speaking of that, I came back late last night and you were already sleeping, we caught Ty.
Me: That's great, I'll sleep better at night knowing that he won't be pouncing on me any of these days to finish me off when you're not around.
Shaka: He won't be bothering you anymore baby I promise.
Me: And you double checked that he doesn't have an even crazier brother?

He laughed.
Shaka: I can assure you, nobody will be bothering you ever again.
Me: That's good to hear, so when are we going home?
Shaka: As soon as the doctor gives us the go ahead baby.
Me: Okay.

I caught a glimpse of his bruised knuckles, he must have really given Ty, the beating of his life.
Me: Thank you.
Shaka(confused): For what now, babe?
Me: For loving me the way you do.

He smiled, trying to act like that confession wasn't getting to him, this guy and his rizz.
Me: I'm being serious, how many 19 year olds do you know that would tell you that they met the love of their lives at that age? Most people would say, in your early 20s you should be getting your heart broken and breaking hearts as well, you shouldn't be doing anything serious or even committing to anyone.
Shaka: I know a lot of people who fell in love in high school at 16 or 18 and they've been choosing each other ever since, people who are now married with kids and are still happy.
Me: Yeah I know.
Shaka: For me you're the main factor Peach.
Me: When that changes will you tell me?
Shaka: Bold of you to assume we are ever living apart you and I, sofa silahlane mina nawe.

I laughed.
Me: People grow, people change, people go into work spaces and meet the love of their lives, next thing you come back from work and I bore you because I don't speak about coding yet Lisa from work does.

He laughed as well.
Shaka: Wow!
Me: I'm being serious, baby, so just tell me when I no longer excite you and you don't find me attractive anymore.
Shaka: That will never happen, you and I are bound together by something very strong, something that can't be easily broken sthandwa sami, but if God forbid that ever happens, I will tell you, I will not string you along.
Me: Thank you.

He kissed my hand.
Shaka: I've just realized something.
Me: What?
Shaka: I haven't kissed your lips in 24 hours.

I laughed.
Me: I'll need a bath first.
Shaka: Done.

________

Shaka got in with the wheelchair and helped me sit on it and then took me to the bathroom, where he had already set the bathtub, he helped me out of my hospital gown and it was then that I could see my whole body and how the heat affected me, I wasn't burnt but I looked baked, some parts of my body more pale than the other parts like I've been sitting under the sun for hours.

He put paste on my toothbrush and handed me a glass of water and a bowl to brush my teeth because I wasn't going to be able to use the sink since it was way too high, I brushed my teeth while he fiddled with the medical bag and he took out what looked like a water resistant sleeve which he carefully slipped on my leg and pulled it over my thigh.

Shaka: The doctor said every time you take a bath this should be on your thigh covering your bandage and wound because it shouldn't get wet.
Me: That's really helpful, I was wondering how we were going to do this without getting my bandages wet.
Shaka(smiles): I got you babe, ready?
Me: Yes.

He picked me up from the wheelchair and placed me gently inside the tub.
Me: Thank you.
Shaka(smiles): It's a pleasure baby.

He wore the exfoliating gloves and grabbed the soap and began to bathing me very gently and carefully.

This was the most romantic gesture I've ever experienced, him just taking care of me this way, I really won here, he was just so careful even on my head.
Me(laughs): I'm sure I can do that myself baby.
Shaka(laughs): I'm sure you can but let me do it.

He wanted to wash my cookie.
Me(laughs): Angifuni.
Shaka(smiles): I was not asking Peach.
Me: Baby that's just weird.
Shaka: You're afraid you'll be turned on? I know phela what my touch does to you.
Me(laughs): I mean… there's that as well.

We laughed.
Shaka: I see well that's too bad because I'm still washing you either way.
Me(laughs): I bet that is what excites you about giving me a bath, right?
Shaka(smiles): I mean I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to dipping my fingers in you.
Me(laughs): Must everything be sexual about you though?
Shaka: You cannot blame me, I have an irresistible girlfriend, baby I don't even have to touch you in order for you to turn me on, that's just the power you have over me and it's just a matter of being able to control myself, obviously I won't take advantage of you while you're in this state even though there are styles that we could do that wouldn't hurt you.

I laughed while shaking my head.
Me: Is that so?
Shaka: Babe you were shot on your thigh not on my kush.
Me(laughs): Oh my God!
Shaka: I'll be a gentleman for at least two weeks tops, after that I'm making love to you, even if it means I have to overdose you with morphine.
Me(smiles): That's going to be the longest two weeks.
Shaka: I know, but we will manage, baby, now open up for me a little so that ngizogeza into yami yobumnandi.

I smiled and opened up for him while he took off the glove and I felt his hand over my cookie, my breathing changed and I bit my lip.
Shaka(exhales): This is going to be difficult.
Me: It won't if you're quick.
Shaka: Now why would I do that when watching you fall apart brings me so much joy?
Me: Babe…

He looked at me with a smile and pushed his fingers even deeper and I held on to the sides of the tub.
Me(moans): Babe.
Shaka: Hey baby.

He kissed my lips, his other hand holding my unwounded thigh separate for deeper access, I held his face and deepened the kiss as he finally reached my sensitive spot, I pulled out of the kiss.
Me(moans): Oh God!
Shaka: Who said you should stop kissing me?

I kissed him as he picked up his pace a little, driving me insane. I felt an orgasm hit me hard and it was only then that he pulled away from the kiss.
Shaka(smiles): You look beautiful.
Me(breathless): Thank you.
Shaka: For the compliment or the release?
Me(smiles): Both.

He chuckled and pecked my lips.
Shaka: You're all clean now.

___________

Shaka and I were both snuggling on the bed and I was falling asleep on his chest. I felt like a little baby, I mean he gave me a bath, fed me and made sure I took my meds and now he was snuggling me so that I could fall asleep.

He was focused on whatever was playing on the TV and I was struggling to keep my eyes opened because of the meds.

Shaka: Uyalala?
Me: Mmh-mmh.
Shaka: Okay baby, give me a kiss before you sleep.

I looked up to him and he kissed my lips passionately.
Shaka(smiles): I love you.
Me: I love you more.
Shaka: Goodnight.

[SHAKA PRIME ZWANE]
Peach's doctor has given me the go ahead to take her home, I mean there's no reason for us to be cooped up in here anymore, we destroyed Ty and his crew, so we are safe.

Speaking of Ty, I had a field day with him, basically he's joined his brother in the after life and life for us goes on.

Now that Peach was coming home I needed to head over to the apartment and get it ready for her.

There's nothing that needed to be done in the apartment but I wanted to make sure the things she used the most were easily accessible for her for the days when I'm not around, I had to replace the phone as well with Ty's money of course, Ndalo and I met at the mall and she helped me pack up some groceries.

Ndalo: I thought you'd just go to your house in La Lucia.
Me: I thought about it but then it's a double storey house and there are stairs.
Ndalo: Oh yeah that makes sense, the apartment is wheelchair friendly.
Me: Yeah, anyway how are you?
Ndalo(smiles): I'm great baby bro, the family can't wait to meet you on Sunday, are you still coming?
Me: Yes I am, I will have the gents keep Peach company for a while till I return.
Ndalo: Okay, our brothers cannot wait to meet you, they can't believe that they have an older brother, they think you are cool.
Me(laughs): I wonder what gave them that impression.

We laughed.
Ndalo: I told them that you're studying information technology which means you can fix phones, hack into them all that stuff, I even told then your nickname, Prime, Sbonelo is obsessed with Transformers so he's just happy and excited.
Me(smiles): I can't wait to meet them as well.

We were setting up a little welcome home dinner for Peach, the balloons, welcome home banner, snacks, drinks, food.

There was a knock at the door, it must be either Sean, Lungelo or Tumelo or all of them.
Me: Let me get that.
Ndalo: Okay.

I went to open and the last person I expected to see was standing there with a…
Me: Snethemba?
Sneh(smiles): Hi.
Me: Hi, what are you doing here? God, I haven't seen you in, what? Months? I last saw you last year around…
Sneh(nervously): September at the party at Steven's.
Me: Yeah, yeah, girl you just disappeared.
Sneh: I had to.

The baby cried a little.
Me: Uhm… you have a baby now?
Sneh: Yeah, that's actually why I'm here.
Me(confused): Oh?
Sneh: Can I come in?
Me: Sneh…
Sneh: She's yours, Shaka.
Me(stunned): Uh, who's mine?
Sneh: The baby.
Me(firmly): No.
Sneh: You're welcome to do the necessary tests.

I needed water.
Me: Come in.

She followed and Ndalo looked at us stunned, I needed water first, I gulped the whole bottle down and stole a glance at Snethemba, fuck! I remember that night, that bloody condom broke and I wanted to tell her to get some emergency pills, but I had exams and Elihle broke her arm after falling at the tree house and it completely slipped my mind and she just disappeared. I heard she and her parents moved or something.

Ndalo: Shaka?
Me: Oh Peach is going to have my ass for dinner, I have a freakin' child!
Ndalo: And you're sure it's yours?
Me: Oh it's mine alright, you don't forget the night you spend the night with someone you've wanted to smash for a long time.

She gave me the look, she's overprotective of Peach, I love it actually.
Me: I was a player before Peach, Ndalo it's shameful but yes that was me, half of the school probably knows my dick and that it's pierced
Ndalo: I did not need to hear that.
Me: Well you're an aunt.
Ndalo: Ntando is going to be gutted.
Me: I know, we are being weird right now aren't we?
Ndalo: You finally noticed?

I laughed and returned to Snethemba.
Me: Sorry about that.
Snethemba: Never thought I'd see the day the great Prime being in a relationship.
Me(chuckles): Ndalo!

Ndalo came to us and Snethemba gasped.
Me: Exactly, she's my sister, Ndalo this is Snethemba and Snethemba this is Ndalo my sister, it's a long story but yes I am in a relationship now.
Snethemba: It's nice to meet you Ndalo.
Ndalo: Likewise, let me give you guys some space.
Me: Thanks sis.

She left us and I sat next to Snethemba.
Me: Can I see her?
Snethemba: Sure.

She handed me the baby and I removed the blanket and I was met by the cutest little girl I've ever seen, my heart immediately melted.
Me: You are daddy's girl aren't you? Azange ngikuphike nje, I didn't even know about you.
Snethemba(laughs): Right?
Me: It's weird, I bet this is how Ndalo looked like when she was a baby.

She laughed and I held the baby up and watched as she was in a cute scrunchie.
Me: She's beautiful Sneh.
Snethemba: Which shouldn't come as a surprise.
Me(chuckles): Of course I mean… look at her parents! Hey baby girl, hello love.

She blinked her big eyes.
Me: I'm your daddy.

She made a sound like she was agreeing and I smiled and covered her up with the blanket.
Me: I'm assuming she's 4 months old.
Sneh: Yes.
Me: Why wait this long to bring her to me though Sneh?
Sneh: My parents didn't want me to tell you that I was pregnant, as you know my father is a healer, he said he didn't want your father sacrificing her.

I swallowed, he saw that?
Sneh: He said your father was into something dark and that thing liked young girls, so when we heard that your father was dead with his dark entity he was open to us meeting.
Me: Oh, can't say I'm not disappointed, I mean I missed out on a lot, Sneh.
Sneh: I know Shaka but I was protecting her.
Me: I get it, so what's her name?
Sneh: S'nakhokonke.
Me: Cute name.
Sneh: I was hoping you'd give her, her second name.
Me: Thank you, I'd like to do right by her but there's just a lot currently happening right now.
Sneh: Of course, I mean the burial, I heard your house burnt down as well.
Me: It's not only that, I recently found out I wasn't a Zwane, I was switched from birth, I'll be meeting my biological family on Sunday.
Sneh: Oh my God, Shaka really?
Me: Yeah, so before I can do anything for her I will have to sort myself out as well, I am just glad that she won't have to use a surname that's not rightfully mine, you are giving her my surname right?

She laughed.
Sneh: I don't know anything about culture Shaka, you'll discuss that with my father.
Me: Okay, another thing, I am seeing someone now, it's kind of serious so I need to prepare her as well.
Sneh: Who is she? I need to give her a little bow, she was able to do what most of us couldn't.
Me(laughs): Whats that?
Sneh: Tame you.

We laughed.
Sneh: Boy, you were wild.
Me: Ey I probably have more kids out there I fear Ntando might leave me if another person comes forward with my child.

She laughed.
Sneh: You were safe though, we were also safe I don't know what happened, I always told you about that piercing of yours.
Me: But Sneh I had the most expensive and quality condoms always with me, that night was just unfortunate and we had to use the cheap ones, I did ask to remove the piercing, you refused.

We laughed.
Sneh: I have never had sex with you without it, I was scared it would feel weird.
Me: Haibo! That would mean I can't f****
Sneh: Angeke sazi, when you start doing it with someone who has accessories, doing it with someone who doesn't have them feels weird, probably the reason why I've been stalling being intimate with my boyfriend, he doesn't have any accessories and I fear the sex might not be fire.

I laughed.
Sneh: Which is your fault.
Me: I'm sorry, but it's been a while, I doubt your pussy still remembers me.
Sneh: You'll never know.
Me: I should try to make love to my girl without the piercing, and see how that will go.
Sneh: Yeah, let her feel you without your enhancements.

We laughed.
Me: So are you working?
Sneh: I am currently on maternity leave, I will be returning this coming month.
Me: Okay, please send me your account details.
Sneh: Okay.

I looked at Snakho and she was falling asleep in my arms.

_________

"WELCOME HOME!!!"

She laughed and hid her face with her hands.
Ntando: Oh you guys! Thank you so much!
Ndalo(smiles): I'm glad you're still alive babe.
Ntando: Not for long!

And then?
Ntando(laughs): Oh my God! You should have seen the look on your faces! I'm joking hawu bakithi.

We laughed.
Ndalo: You'll give us heart attacks wena!

They laughed and shared a hug.
Ndalo: These are my friends Olwethu and Asante.
Ntando: It's nice to finally meet you, I've heard a lot about you guys.
Asante: We've heard a lot about you as well babes.
Olwethu: And Ndalo wasn't lying, you're really beautiful.
Ntando: Even with a bald head?
Me(smiles): Still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.
Ntando(smiles): Thanks baby!

Sean poured me a drink and Lungelo handed Peach a glass of juice, I cleared my throat, grabbing everyone's attention.

Me: The past couple of days have been the hardest, I don't think Peach and I would have made it if it weren't for you guys, my brothers, Cybertron, you really came through for Peach and I, I won't dwell much on the visuals, but you really did me a solid, and Peach and I are really grateful to have you as friends and brothers.

Tumelo: We are family.
Me: We chose ourselves.
Sean: Yes sir!
Me: My big sis, all my life I've had to be the eldest, it feels good to not be.

We all laughed.
Me: It feels good to just pick up the phone and vent to my older sister. I have my lovely Peach here to thank because she's the one who is responsible for us finding each other.
Ndalo: Asibonge iPanic attack.

We laughed, I looked at Peach and she shook her head. She didn't want to say anything, I understood, I didn't want to overwhelm her either.

Me: Guys please help yourselves with drinks, snacks and food.

They nodded while I squatted infront of Peach.
Me: What's up?
Peach: I could ask you the same thing.
Me(sighs): It's not a good time.
Peach: So there is something that's bothering you?
Me: Yes.
Peach: What Is it?
Me: Right now?

She gave me the look and I exhaled.
Me: Turns out I have a 4 month old baby.
Peach: Oh.
Me: Oh?

She bit her lip, and made a face thing I didn't understand, that's new, what is that and what does it mean?
Me: I didn't know about her I swear, she just rocked up here earlier when Ndalo and I were setting the place, I swear.
Peach: I believe you.
Me: Okay, so…

She shrugged.
Me: Baby… react.
Peach: I am.
Me: No, not like this, like go crazy or something, tell me you're disappointed, ask me what this means for us, anything, maybe tell me how hurt you are that you won't be my first baby mama or something.

She laughed a little.
Me: Something baby.
Peach: Are you happy?

I was caught off guard.
Me(confused); Huh?
Peach: Are you happy that you get a chance to be a father, something that Khanyi robbed you of? I know how hurt you were when she aborted your child.
Me: I would have preferred that I be given a second chance at fatherhood with the woman I love.
Peach: Well this is real life baby, we can't have everything that we want, and I mean you ought to have expected something like this, you were a player and condoms aren't reliable.

I took a deep breath, I don't like this new version of her at all, she's not allowing herself to feel and react.
Me: Peach.
Peach: Baby?
Me: Are you planning on leaving me?
Her(shocked); What? Why?
Me: Oh my God you are planning on leaving me!
Her: Because you have a child? A child that was conceived way before I landed at King Shaka International Airport?
Me: Then why are you like this?
Her: Like what?
Me: Like this Peach!
Her(smiles): You worry too much, I'm kind of hungry yazi.

She pushed herself towards the table and I got up and went to sit on the couch and looked at her as she was laughing and holding down conversations like I hadn't just thrown a bomb at her.

Ndalo: And then?
Me: She doesn't care that I have a child.
Ndalo: That's good.
Me: She should be mad, she should have asked me about condoms, she should have expressed her disappointment for not being my first and only mother of my child, anything but the reaction she gave me.

Ndalo sighed.
Me: And that's not all, when she woke up, she didn't make a fuss, crying about why all of these things are happening to her, she just told me that she doesn't want to talk about what happened ever again, she thanked me for saving her once again and that was it, am I going to lose the love of my life Ndalo? Is she going to commit suicide? Is she going to leave me?

Ndalo: I suggest you don't leave her alone for the next couple of weeks, if you have to be somewhere, call me.
Me: Ndalo?
Ndalo: Did she ask you when they were letting her go home?
Me: She did, I had to persuade the doctor to discharge her.
Ndalo: And did she say, she doesn't want to attend therapy for a while?
Me: She said she's taking a break from Dr. Karen.
Ndalo: You have every reason to be worried, bhuti.

No, no, Peach can't do this to me.