CHAPTER 2

8 years later……………..
I'm running in the forest, I don't know how I got here in the first place or what is chasing me but I'm running for my life. I trip and fall…….
I wake up. Oh it was another nightmare. I'm sweaty. These nightmares are going to kill me one day, that felt so real. I make my bed before praying . I go to the bathroom and bath. I come back and wear my open legged trouser, a black shirt and a black unbuttoned blazer. Last but not least , my red bottom stilleto heels. I bought them 2 weeks ago and I have been wearing them every day since .My phone rings, it's the landlord.
Me: Hello.
Landlord: Morning beautiful lady .
Me: Yes Sello. Can I help you with anything?
Sello: I wanted to see your pretty face and I was going to come there but what I want to say is rather urgent.
Me: Hmm what is it ?
Sello: I'm sorry beautiful lady but I'm increasing the rent, the economy is bad.
Me: But that's such a short notice it's almost month end.
Sello: I'm sorry beautiful lady but I had to do this.
I hate how he always calls me "beautiful lady" .
Me: Whatever Sello. You are increasing it by how much?
Sello: 50%
Me: 50? Woah!woah!woah!No. You can't do that. The rent was 25k and we were already struggling with paying for it. Just please atleast increase it next of next month. Give us time to get more tenants.
Sello: The three of you work very well and I'm sure you get paid real money. You'll manage.
Me: No we won't , I'm renovating my mother's house. Please.
Sello: We can talk if you, you know. Give me what I want.
Me: Ayi !no you know what it's fine we'll pay your rent.
He wants me to sleep with him by the way. I disconnect the call and sighs. Oh no what are we going to do? This is a disaster! Oh God. I pack my work bag and go downstairs. I go by the name Yikhokonke Masondo, a 23 years old candidate attorney at one of the biggest Law Firms in Durban, The Jackson Justice Law Firm. What a dizzy name for a law firm,I hate it so much. Once I'm done with my articles I'm out of there, quick as the lightning. Matter of fact I'm going to build my own law firm,phela I'm that girl I am the only child of my mother. My father? I have no idea , I never met the guy but I'm perfectly fine with that. My mother works as a cleaner, sometimes she bakes and that has been her work for as long as I can remember. She still managed to get me to one of the best schools. Schools where the richest kids go to.
I'm a light skinned lady, still beautiful though. I'm a thick mommy, a little short ,no ass!? Too bad , I still slay though. Confidence? 10/10, definitely there? I love everything about me, I'm that girl. The only thing I hate is how sensitive I am.
THIS IS MY BITTERSWEET TALE!
I arrive downstairs and take out three bowls, cereal and milk . Ibanathi comes in the kitchen.
Iba: Honey baby, good morning.
Me: Good morning, friend.
Remember my best friend from highschool?The rich one? Ibanathi Rhadebe?Yeah, that's her. We live together, and have been since the beginning of last year. She is a intern at Sikhona hospital now.
She sits down.
Iba: Are you dying?
Me: Dying?
Mnqobi:Good people,good morning,good morning, good morning.
Remember my other friend Mnqobi Nkosi? My male bestie from highschool, yeah we live with him too after his divorce last year June. He is an Accountant and he's good with computers . What do you call those people?IT or something, whatever that is. He grew up in the orphanage so after his wife took the house after the divorce, he didn't have a "home" to go to so he lived with us. He is topless, as always nothing new here. We can be literally shaking because of the cold and he would just be wearing a vest or just topless.
Iba: Someone is in a good mood.
He has been on and off since his divorce. He really wasn't taking it well.
Me:Hello bhuti.
That's how I call him because honestly, he is like an older brother I never had. He is 3 years older than us.
Mnqobi: Hello Queen.
He kisses my head.
Mnqobi: Mfondini!
He kisses Ibanathi on the cheek. He calls her that because she is Xhosa.
Iba: Hmm Mnqobi man! I'm sure you haven't even brushed your teeth. Eew.
Mnqobi:Mxm.
He sits down.
Iba: Do you have a t-shirt?
Mnqobi: Yes ,why?
Iba: You're always topless.
Mnqobi: You're too forward.
He pushes her forehead.She is right, he is always topless. Showing his six pack and bragging about it every chance he gets. I guess he goes to gym for us and not himself .I pour cereal for them.
Mnqobi: Queen , are you dying?
Ibanathi: I was asking her the same question.
Me: I'm dying?
Mnqobi: You never make breakfast. Actually you are never in the kitchen
He is telling the truth. I hate being in the kitchen with all my heart I'd rather sweep my mother's whole yard than be in a kitchen even if it's making coffee.
Me: No I'm not dying.
Mnqobi: Oh. What do you want?
Me: What? Nothing.
Iba: Are you sure?
Me: Oh come on guys. I'm sure.
Mnqobi whispers to Ibanathi.
Mnqobi: She definitely wants something.
Me: I heard that. I don't want anything especially from you Mnqobi.
Mnqobi:Haa!
Iba: If you say so.
They continue eating.
Me: I have something to tell you.
Mnqobi: Nakhuya! Ngitheni? Ngitheni?(There you go! What did I say? What did I say?)
Iba: Kusase early bro, wenza ingxolo. Yintoni?(It's still early bro, you're making noise. What is it?)
Mnqobi: Ayi Musa ukungphaphela wena Nathi.(Don't get overfamiliar with me, Nathi.)
Me: Guys will you stop? You're always fighting. Can I talk so you can fight after.
Mnqobi: Talk queen.
Me: The landlord is increasing the rent.
Iba: Maybe we will manage. To how much?
Me: 50K
Mnqobi: That old motherfucker is crazy!
Iba&I: Language!
Mnqobi: I'm sorry guys but that's just too much. I don't think we will manage.
Iba: We will.
Me: We won't Iba. I'm renovating my mother's house and you don't want to ask money from your parents, you literally disowned them.
Iba: Mnqobi has money.
Mnqobi: Haa I have needs too and it won't be fair for me to pay more money than you guys.
Iba: So what do you want us to do Mnqobi? Leave this house? Or Konke must stop renovating her mother's house or I must go back to my parent's house? If that's what you want, it's not happening.
Mnqobi: You have rich parents, just ask for money from them . They won't even ask anything.
Iba: Andifuni!(I don't want to.)
Me: Guys! Stop! You're giving me a headache.
They stop and look at me.
Me: I have a plan.
Iba: What plan friend?
Me: How about we get other tenants to share the rent with. I mean there's three of us and this house has five bedrooms so we can get two other tenants.
Mnqobi: I don't know queen. We have never lived with other people before.
Iba: There's a first time for everything.
Me: Well Mnqobi it's either you pay more money than us or kuza oroommate abasha.(Or we get new roommates.)
Mnqobi: Yooh.
Iba: One of the interns at the hospital has been complaining about where she lives. I can ask her if she's still looking for a place to live.
Me: Okay cool. I'll put the word out at my work place too.
Mnqobi: So I'm going to stay with women only?
Me: What?No! We will have one male and one female.
Mnqobi Fine.
Iba looks at her watch.
Iba: Oh no guys I'm late again. Let me go, Konke honey please wash my bowl. I'm so sorry. Bye love you.
Me: Bye Honey.
Mnqobi: Sure.
After eating I wash the dishes. And take my bag.
Me: I'm leaving now bhuti. Bye.
Mnqobi: Can I take you to work?
Me: Ahh really? I will never say no to that.
Mnqobi: Okay , let's go.
We get inside the car and he drives me to my work place. I play some music on the way. We sing together until we get there.

Ibanathi*
It's lunch time and I'm at the canteen eating. Noluthando or should I say Dr Dladla comes to me carrying her tray of food.She sits down.
Thando: Hey babes .
Iba: Molo.(Hi)
Thando: Dr X said you were looking for me.
Iba: Dr X?
Thando: Don't act dumb wena. I mean Dr Xulu.
Iba: Oh right.
Thando: Yeah so what do you want ?
Iba: Have you found a place to live ?
Thando: Not really babes. I'm still looking .
Iba: Well me and my housemates are looking for new housemates. Will you like to come view the house?
Thando: Oh that would be wonderful babes. Oh thank you so much. When are you knocking off?
Iba: My last shift is at 4.
Thando: Mine too so we can go together after our shift.
Iba: Okay that's fine by me. Let me call my friend.
Thando: Okay babes.
I call Konke and she answers immediately. She is on lunch anyway so I think that's why.
Konke: Friend
Iba: Hey chomi
Konke: Yeah what's up?
Iba: I have talked to my colleague, she will come to view the house later today.
Konke: Oh that was fast.
Iba: I told you she was already looking for a place to live.
Konke: Okay honey, see you at home.
Iba: Okay bye.
I disconnect the call.

*YIKHOKONKE*
I have just finished talking to Ibanathi. I hope her colleague likes the house.
Jes: Sis you look tense today, what's wrong?
This is Jessica my work friend. She's the boss's wife. She's older than me but we're very close.
Me: Our landlord is increasing rent and we need a new roommate. We might have found a girl roommate but I just don't know where we're going to get a male.
Jes: What kind of male are you looking for?
Me: Anyone as long as they can pay rent oe, this is not a work interview.
Jes: Well my father has been on my brother's throat about moving out of his house. Maybe I can convince him to come and stay with you guys.
Me: Really?Oh that would be wonderful. Why is your father kicking him out though?
Jes: He says two bulls can't live in one kraal.
Me: Yooh your father is so hard headed. It's a good thing he married a white woman . He wouldn't have survived a black woman asitshelwa.(We don't listen to anyone.)
Jes: Yes good for him and my mother is just so soft.
Me: That's why she is not defending his son from the monster that's your father.
Jes: He's not a monster, my brother is old and should get his own house.
Me: How old is he?
Jes: 25
Me: He's not that old plus he's the last born, he probably still thinks he's a child.
Jes: A child with a company? I've never heard of such.
Me: He already has a company at 25? He sure worked hard.
Jes: No he didn't , my father gave it him, thinking he'll read the room and leave his house. He didn't so now dad is telling him straight to leave his house. I'm sure they want to do nasty things anywhere in the house.
Me: Jes eew!
Jes: What?
Me:The fact that you even think about that.
Jes: I'm not wrong though, you know it too.
Me: Your parents are old, they don't do that anymore.
Jes: You don't know my parents.
I see Mr Jackson passing by the window, looking at us.
Me: There goes your husband.
She turns and looks at him. He stops for a while than shake his head and leave.
Me: What were you saying?
Jes: I was telling him that I'm coming to give him head.
Me: Uhm.Oh. Okay.
Jes:Why do you get weird everytime I talk about sexual things?
Me: No I don't .
She looks at me with a face that says "oh really?"
Me: I don't know, I just find it weird that's all.
Jes: Hmm okay, let me go to my husband.
Me: Don't forget to call your brother.
Jes: Okay. See you later.
She leaves. And I continue working.

*MNQOBI*
I sit in my room and think about Tracy , my ex wife. I really loved her. She promised me a family, children,love and peace. After I married her, she went behind my back and cut off her tubes. She than proceeded to cheat on me with my boss's uncle. When we divorced, she took 50% of my things , that time she was just a housewife. She didn't have even a degree but I still loved and took care of her. It's been 8 months since the divorce was finalized. I haven't been able to love any other woman. I keep bringing different girls over sleeping with them and never talking to them again. I am officially a player. I go the kitchen and take out 2 beers and sit down . My phone rings. It's work. Damn! I answer it.
Mnqobi: Boss.
Nkosana: Ufuna ukungbona nghlanya mfana?(Do you want to me go crazy boy?)
He's already crazy.
Mnqobi: No, I'm sorry. I woke up sick.
Nkosana : Oh so you decided that it's a good idea for you ukuthi uhlale lapho uneke amasende ungezi emsebenzini?(to stay home and not come to work?)
Mnqobi: Eish I forgot.
Nkosana: You forgot?
He chuckles.
Nkosana: He says he forgot. Listen to me Mnqobi, I'm giving you 20 minutes to get here. We have a heist to plan.
He disconnects the call. I take my two beers and my car keys. Nkosana can be very annoying. He treats me like his little brother,yes I agree but he stresses me out sometimes. I started working for him ten years ago when I was 16, doing grade10. I had ran away from the orphanage as I was mistreated so I met him and he offered me a job. The kind of job that requires one to work when the sun goes down. If you know, you know.
I love that life. I lost my accountant job after my divorce and I haven't told Konke and Nathi. How will I explain to them how I pay rent? They don't know about my shady job. When I started working with Nkosana, he was 22 and did everything for me. I even went to varsity and graduated with him by my side. I'm grateful that I found him honestly. I arrive at his office and it's only now that I realize that I'm topless. Nkosana is going to be very mad. I get in and find him sitting on top of his table.
Mnqobi: Ehh Nkosana.
Nkosana: Mnqobi wezitha zakwa Nkosi!
He's calling me by my full name? Okay, he's angry. Angry is an understatement, he is furious.
Mnqobi: Hi.
He turns to me as he was facing the other side.
Nkosana: And he is not wearing a shirt. He's not wearing a shirt!
Mnqobi: I'm sorry man, I didn't realize.
Nkosana: You didn't realize you were topless? Mnqobi what….? You know what? Nevermind.
Mnqobi: Where is the gang?
Nkosana: They left. You know we can't plan any job without you. You know how much I need you.
Mnqobi: I was sick.
Nkosana: Yeah me too. I'm sick. I'm sick of you pretending as if the world revolves around you! You're not the only one who has problems! We all have problems!
Nkosana never shouts. I guess I really pissed him off. He looks at me and huffs a sigh.
Nkosana: Sit down.
I do as he says.
Nkosana: You smell.
Mnqobi: Sorry man.
Nkosana: Mnqobi I care about you. You know that too but this is long overdue, your divorce was finalized 8 months ago. I know it hurts but you have to move on.
Mnqobi: Is Tracy still dating your uncle?
Nkosana: Hawu ngzokwazi ngani ke mina?(How would I know?) Mnqobi just forget about Tracy. She's not coming back to you even if she breaks up with Ngelengele. She's not coming back!
Mnqobi: I just wanted to know. That's all.
He looks at me and pity me. I can see it in his eyes and I hate it. Is this how everyone is feeling towards me?Pity? Well that's not good.
Nkosana: Take the week off. Come back next week Monday. Please. You can leave.
Mnqobi: Sure.
I stand up and leave.

*YIKHOKONKE*
I have knocked off at work but I want to pass by the mall and buy some cosmetics. I need to be quick so I can be at the house before Iba and her colleague get there. I have been waiting for my Uber for 30 minutes, he is late and I'm pissed off right now. It finally arrives and it drives me to the mall. I hate being late and now someone is going to be waiting for me at the house. Oh I'm so angry at this driver , I think hunger is adding to my anger. I'm very hungry.
I go to Dischem and buy, few stuffs I need, just as I'm about to pay I realize that I didn't buy body sprays. I go to the body sprays aisle and start looking around. I can't see the one I use now I have to taste the ones I see here. I see a purple one it's the only one left, I take it and someone holds my hand as if they were also taking it, maybe they are blind. I'm short but not that short ,how can he not see me.
Me: Ayibo bhuti , I'm literally taking this.
He doesn't let go of my hand , he takes off his shades. My heart skips a beat as our eyes meet. He's so handsome, damn!Who lost his chocolate? I'm kidding, I'm still angry.
Me: I said I'm taking this Mr.
Him: Ubuhle obungaka madoda. Awu Hlabath'zolwandle.(Such beauty. Yellow bone .)
He looks at me straight in the eyes as if he is impressed with what he is seeing infront of him.
Me: You're still holding my hand bhuti.
Him: Oh I'm so sorry. Sorry.
He lets go of my hand but continues staring at me. Okay? This is awkward.
Me: Can I pass please?
Him:Oh, oh yeah. Yeah, you can.
He moves to the side and I pass. He holds my hand. He has the softest hands . I turn and he smiles.
Him: Usungaze uhambe mama ungasanginikanga negama lakho?(You're really going to leave without giving me your name?)
Me: Why do you care what my name is?
Him: I just want to know you maybe you can also tell me why a beautiful girl like you is so grumpy on such a beautiful day. Wasn't your day beautiful?
Me: That's none of your business.
I look at him up and down.
Me: What do you want from me?
Him: Your time.
Me: I do not have time. I'm very busy as you can see, I'm rushing somewhere right now. They need me at my office.
Him: You can give me your number and we'll talk on the phone.
Me: No we will not.
Him: I'm not going to let you go until you give me your number or your name.
Name is better than my number, I don't want this man calling me.
Me: I'm Yikhokonke Masondo.
Him: MaNyambose.
I blush. I don't know if it's just me but there is something about a Zulu man saying your clan name.
Me: Can I go now?
Him: Nice to meet you MaNyambose.
He kisses the back of my hand.
Me: I wish I can say the same about you, stranger.
He chuckles. Oh no that wasn't supposed to come out. It was a thought. Oh no!
Him: Well , enjoy the rest of your day mama.
Oh Godddddd! He passes me and goes to the other aisle. He smells so good. I don't know, maybe it's these body sprays and perfumes. I go to the till and pay. I attempt to leave and someone holds my shoulder.
Him: My name is Nkosana by the way not stranger.
I turn to him and he leaves . Leaving his cologne behind. I get out too and request an Uber that takes me home. I arrive and see Mnqobi's car parked outside. He's the only one with a car anyways. I get in and go to the sitting room and see Mnqobi alone and he is drunk. This has kind of became a norm, I'm not surprised.
Me: Bhuti.
Mnqobi: Ahh , Queen.
Me: How are you.
Mnqobi: Qondile.(Perfect)
Me: Where is Iba?
I put my plastic bag at the table here and sit next to him.
Mnqobi: She's not back yet.
Me: Oh thank God.
Mnqobi: Do you want some?
He brings the bottle to my mouth.
Me: Uh-huh Mnqobi, don't do that man.
The door opens and Iba comes in with a dark skinned, slim thick girl. She's so beautiful. Her skin is so flawless. She looks like she came straight from the magazine.
Iba: Hey guys.
Me: Hey honey.
I stand.
Iba: How are you?
Me: We're okay.
Iba: This is Noluthando Dladla.
Thando: Hi guys.
Me: Hi babes, welcome.
Mnqobi gets up from the couch and put the beer down and stands next to me.
Mnqobi: Hey.
I turn and look at him. Noluthando giggles.
Thando: Hi.
Iba: This is Yikhokonke Masondo and Mnqobi Nkosi, my friends.
Me: We can start now if you don't mind.
Someone knocks at the door .
Me: I'll get it.
I go to the door and open it. I see a light skinned man, very light skinned. He looks like Jessica.
Me: Hi.
Him:Hi, I'm looking for miss Yikhokonke Masondo.
Me: That's me.
Him: I'm Newton. Newton Sikhosana, Jessica 's brother.
Me: Oh come in, please.
We get in and walk towards the others.
Me: I thought you were going to come maybe on Friday or the weekend.
Newt: I came as soon as I heard. I'm self employed so why not.
We get to others and everyone exchange greetings. They view the house and Mnqobi keeps following Thando, undressing her with his eyes. They leave and promise to tell us their decision tomorrow.
Iba: Okay guys I'm going to bath please order something.
Mnqobi: Include beer there.
Me: I'm not going to do that.
Mnqobi: You're such a party pooper.
Me: You're a pervert!
Mnqobi: What did I do?
Me: You were undressing Noluthando with your eyes.
Mnqobi: I wasn't .
Me: No don't be like that Mnqobi, hawu.
I get up and leave him. I hate when men do that. It's very disrespectful and that lustful look is disgusting.