THE INCARCERATED STRANGER

 

chapter 18

 

MANGALISO

 

He looks deep into her eyes, searching for something he can’t quite name. She stares back, but the intensity of his gaze makes her look away after a moment, feeling vulnerable. 

"I don’t want to argue with you, Ayakha. Even if I wanted to, I won’t," he says, his voice calm but firm. 

"Of course you know that I’m..." she starts, her thoughts racing, but the words falter on her lips. Before she can finish, Mangaliso leans in and kisses her, silencing her protest. 

She freezes like snow beneath the warmth of his touch, his hand gently cradling her neck as he deepens the kiss. For a heartbeat, the world around them fades away; it’s just him and her in this moment. 

Slowly, she finds herself responding to the kiss, her initial shock melting into something warmer and more inviting. Her heart races as she starts to kiss him back, surrendering to the connection that pulls them together despite the chaos of their earlier words.

 He pins her against the wall, pressing his body against hers, and the kiss stretches on, filled with a mix of urgency and longing. Time seems to blur around them until suddenly, she pulls back and slaps her hand against his cheek. 

He looks up at her with a smirk, amusement dancing in his eyes. "What are you doing?" she breathes out, her voice a whisper, still heavy from the intensity of their kiss.

"I'm doing what I should’ve long done to shut that talkative, sweet mouth of yours," he replies, his gaze locked onto hers, a playful challenge in his tone.

"Never do that again!" She points at him, her expression fierce, but he gently lowers her hand, bringing it back to rest against his chest. As she tries to break free from his hold, he chuckles softly, finding joy in their playful battle.

Without warning, he kisses her again, capturing her lips with a mix of tenderness and determination. The world around them fades once more as she feels the warmth of his body against hers and the thrill of their connection igniting all over again.

His hands find their way to her body, gently rubbing her sides, and each touch sends butterflies fluttering in her stomach. He can feel how her body responds to his every caress and kiss; they are pressed together, heat radiating between them. 

He pulls away from the kiss, burying his head in the crook of her neck and planting soft, wet kisses that elicit a moan from her lips. A smile spreads across his face—he’s discovered her weak spot. He continues to tease her neck with his kisses, each one drawing out more of those sweet sounds from her. Her hands slide up to his shoulders, fingers finding their way to the back of his head, brushing through him as if anchoring him closer. She can’t help but lean into him, lost in the sensations he’s igniting within her. .

 He pulls away from the kiss, staring at her with his red, sleepy eyes, a smirk playing on his lips. She stares back, her own eyes half-closed, still dazed from their connection.

"I have to go ," he says, his voice low as he reluctantly pulls away from her. He turns, leaving her standing there alone, a whirlwind of mixed emotions swirling in her mind. Confusion and longing battle inside her as she watches him walk away, the heat of their moment lingering in the air. She feels a rush of uncertainty—what does this mean? What will happen next? The unanswered questions spin in her head as she stands frozen, wishing he would turn back and erase the distance between them.…

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RILEY

 

She wipes a tear escaping her eye and heads to her room, her heart heavy with confusion. How can he just leave her like that? She chuckles softly, shaking her head as she decides to take a shower. She hadn’t planned on it, but Mangaliso’s earlier touch has left her feeling flustered and messy in more ways than one. 

As she steps into the bathroom, she wonders what Mangaliso will do now that he knows his stepbrothers are after him—and after her life too. She sighs, leaning against the cool tiles. What do they want from him anyway? What beef do they have against their own brother, even if they don’t share the same mother? The questions swirl in her mind like steam in the air, and she can’t shake the feeling of unease that settles over her. The sound of water begins to fill the space, drowning out her thoughts for a moment, but the weight of uncertainty lingers as she tries to wash away the confusion—and the lingering sensations he left behind.

When she finishes lotioning her skin and slipping into her pajamas, she reaches for her phone and calls Pari, her best friend. It’s been two days since they last talked, and she misses her so much. She also misses her work; the thought of opening her laptop tempts her, but she hesitates, fearing the flood of emails waiting for her—clients needing a lawyer to help them fight their battles.As she paces the room, she recalls the thrill of wearing her lawyer uniform, standing in court, passionately arguing against another lawyer. A smile spreads across her face at the thought. Just then, she hears Pari's voice on the other end of the line, bright and familiar.

“Hey!” they greet each other, excitement bubbling up as they catch up on what happened today. She can’t help but feel a rush of warmth as they chat, sharing stories and laughter that bridge the distance between them. It feels good to reconnect, even if just for a little while, pulling her back into a world that feels so far away…

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 She is woken up by her phone ringing, and a smile creeps across her face as she fully opens her eyes to see her father’s name flashing on the screen. “Daddy,” she answers, her voice bright with joy. 

“My princess, I’m sorry for waking you up,” her father says, the warmth in his voice wrapping around her like a cozy blanket.

“It’s fine, Daddy. No need to apologize. How are you?” she asks, stretching slightly as she settles into the conversation.

“I’m okay, my princess. I just miss you so much,” he replies, and she giggles at his sweet words.

“I miss you more, Daddy! Are you back?” she asks eagerly, her heart fluttering at the thought of seeing him again.

“I arrived last night,” he says, and she beams with happiness. Her father works overseas and only comes back when he has days off to visit his family. They rarely get to talk because the network often fails them unless they’re lucky on a particular day. He drives a truck for a big company overseas, and every call feels like a precious gift. 

As they chat, she feels the distance shrink between them, each word carrying the love that keeps their bond strong despite the miles apart.

“How about you come this side for a week and spend time with Daddy?” he suggests, and she sighs, feeling a mix of excitement and hesitation.

“Well… I don’t know, Daddy. You know how Mother is with me, right?” she replies, swallowing hard as the weight of her words settles in.

“Are you telling me your mother is still treating you like she used to? I thought I talked to her,” he says, concern threading through his voice.

“Well, it doesn’t matter how much you talk to her, Dad. You know only she knows why she’s treating me differently,” she says sadly, her heart heavy. 

The conversation hangs in the air between them, filled with unspoken feelings and the complexities of LULAMA's dynamics. She wishes things were easier, but the reality of their situation looms large..

She continues talking to her father, her heart warming with every word exchanged. She promises to come see him, even if it’s just for two days. They say their goodbyes, she feels a sense of comfort wash over her.

 “I love you, Daddy,” she says before hanging up.

With a smile on her face, she gets off the bed. So far, her father’s call is the only thing that has made her happy for the whole week. The joy lingers in her heart, brightening the dullness of her day. 

Suddenly, a craving hits her—she feels like eating pizza for dinner. She opens her phone and begins scrolling through various apps, searching for the perfect one to order from. Her fingers dance across the screen as she browses the options, excitement bubbling up inside her at the thought of indulging in a cheesy slice of pizza while enjoying a cozy evening.

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