12
TWO QUEENS IN MY CASTLE 12[EARLIER]
YOLANDA
I had to drop everything and attend to Ora. My heart was on my throat the whole ride and I couldn't really understand the situation. I get there and find her crying on the couch, still in her school uniform.
"What's going on?" I wrap my arm around her.
"I messed up. I messed up big time, sis Yolanda," she continues to cry.
"Talk to me. I can't help you if you don't tell me exactly what happened," I wipe the tears off her face but they're still coming out. She narrates last night's events and I'm appalled. I can't even begin to put together a picture of what went down and I'm disappointed in her. I understand Kabelo's frustrations even though I don't know him to be violent. I just wish he could have handled the matter differently to avoid this.
"You can't go to school. I'll need you to be here and help me with Ma and we also need to open the stall. Kabelo needs the money so we have to help him."
"I agree. Let me go get changed so we can see what to do," she disappears into the room and I sit thinking about everything she told me. We get Ma bathed and changed then she cleans her room while I prepare her breakfast. She keeps mumbling Kabelo's name but there's no way I'll break her heart and tell her that he's arrested. What if she relapses? I just tell her that he had to attend to an urgent matter and hopefully she didn't hear Ora cry.
I feed her and set up the stall to get the business running. I know for a fact that he needs every cent and I'll do everything that I can to assist. Ora fills me in on the price list and fortunately the customers are coming in. Bongani later arrives and I explain to him what happened. He's in disbelief and clearly not a fan of Ora. I'm sure Kabelo Complains to him about Ora every single day. He promises to go see him and make a way to get him out through bail.
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[MEANWHILE]
KABELO
I'm still in the holding cell and no one has come to check on me yet. I'm cold, hungry and thirsty but those are the least of my problems. I'm worried about my mother since she's in the hands of my brainless sister. I wish I could make a phone call and ask Bongani to check on her. I don't regret hitting Jimmy but had I known he'll do this, I would have just controlled my anger for the sake of Ma.
I left my phone at home and hopefully Thandeka will drop by like she usually does and does something. I've never never been stranded before and I hate it. I hate it more because all this was caused by Ora and not being able to close her legs to men much older than her.
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YOLANDA
After everything that Oratilwe told me, I shouldn't even be lending my hand but I'm doing it for Ma and Kabelo. She's a spoilt brat that is ungrateful and I wonder how she'll survive independence, that's if she's ever going to be. I'm working tomorrow morning so I need to go back to my place and get some rest. Now I understand why Kabelo is forever stressed, what he does on a daily basis without assistance is tough and I applaud him for manning up.
"I'm leaving. Are you sure you're going to be alright?"
"I should be fine. Thank you so much for assisting me with everything today. I honestly wouldn't have done it without you," she says.
"Then now you should see how hard this is for your brother. Instead of supporting him you're stressing him with unnecessary things. That's not fair, Oratilwe."
"I regret everything that I've done or said to him. Today I've put myself in his shoes and it's not easy at all."
"Please lock up. I'll call and check on you tomorrow and hopefully I can go see him. He must be worrying wherever he is and I'm not sure why he hasn't called yet," I heavily sigh. He should have been permitted a phone call and I'm getting worried by this silence. Hopefully Bongani can tell us the update tomorrow since he promised to follow up.
"Is your Uber here already?"
"No I have to go check on my irresponsible sister before I leave," I grab my bag and head for the door. Before I could even open it, I feel a hard knock across my face. Someone has pushed the door roughly and now my nose is bleeding.
"Step back," the man points at me with his gun. There's no man in the house to protect us so tonight we'll have to fight tooth and nail when given a chance.
"What's going on? What have we done please don't hurt us," I step back as instructed. My knees trembling and my hands shaking.
"You, sit down," he points at Ora who quickly throws herself on the couch without question.
"Is there anybody else in the house?" He looks around, fishing with his eyes. I shake my head no to the fear of him harming a defenseless woman who's immobile and innocent in whatever this is.
"Nice try," he locks the door and cocks his gun. I cover my mouth with my hand, tears rolling down my face. I know if I scream I'll end up with a bullet across my face. He roughly pulls Ora from the couch and drags her to the bathroom and locks her inside after hitting her head with the back of the gun. Now it's me and him, I'm terrified to the thought of what's going through his mind.
"Kabelo messed with my brother and I won't let this matter rest," he says. He takes the bag hanging from his shoulder and places it on the couch to search it. He takes out two cable ties and ties my legs together. He then forces my arms back and ties my wrists together very tight.
"I won't cover your mouth. If you still value your life you'll be silent," he drags me to the floor.
"I've got no business with you because I don't know you. I'll deal with whoever Kabelo loves the most," he says with a smirk on his face.
"No please. Please don't hurt her," my heart is in pieces. Ma doesn't deserve any of this. He unties his belt and winks at me before walking into Ma's bedroom and shuts the door. I'm just lying on the floor silently praying. After what seems like forever, he comes out of the bedroom zipping his pants. My fears have come true and at this point I can only hope she's still breathing.
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