14
TWO QUEENS IN MY CASTLE 14NARRATED
Kabelo got a R1500 bail which was paid by his best friend, Bongani. They're now inside Bongani's uncle's car, headed home. No one has told him yet about the passing of his mother, it would have been insensitive to break the news while he was still in the cell. Bongani is trying is utmost best to keep calm until they get home. Surely this will break him but his aunt asked to be the one to break off the news as soon as Kabelo gets home.
"Are you hungry? We can get something on the way," says Bongani.
"You've already done so much and I owe you. I can't expect you to buy me food on top of the money you spent on my bail," Kabelo says.
"I really don't mind and I know for a fact you would have done the same for me. We can grab some pies to balance out. I doubt you'll have any appetite when you get home," he almost runs his mouth but manages to keep quiet in time. He knows his friend will just refuse anything that goes into the mouth once he hears the news so it's best he eats now.
"Thank you, Bongani. I don't know what I would have been if you weren't here," he says with a smile. Their friendship/brotherhood goes a long way back. Through thick and thin they've always had each other's backs and it's not about to change now. They stop at the bakery and get some pies with drinks. It tends to get the car messy so they eat outside the car before continuing with the drive.
"Have Oratilwe been selling the veggies in my absence? I really need the money," Kabelo asks.
"Yolanda did. She's been of great help and I don't think you appreciate her enough."
"She did? Oh I didn't expect it from her but I'll make sure I thank her," says Kabelo.
"Do you think by any chance you two can fix things?" Curiousity has got the better of Bongani and he won't let this go until he gets the answer he needs.
"I believe so but it won't be easy. I've gotten close to Thandeka to a point where I feel something for her."
"So you want to have both women?"
"That's not what I said. I'm in limbo because I realised I never stopped loving Yolanda but at the same time Thandeka just softens me up. I just don't want to hurt anybody or myself."
"Well I think from today going forward you'll surely see who's the one for you."
"What do you mean?" He's now curious but Bongani remains quie. Is there some kind of a test that lies ahead or is Bongani just being his usual crazy self?
...
...
They've now arrived at home and something just feels weird for Kabelo. The house is too busy and it's unusual, given it's just the three of them living here. He climbs out, heading inside with Bongani tagging behind.
"What's going on? Why is my aunt here all of a sudden?" Kabelo is really interested in the sudden change of everything. He's a man of faith so his mom being seriously ill or dead is not even on his mind. They make their way into the house and it's cleaner than usual. That's not entirely surprising since his aunt is good with the house chores.
"Abuti," Oratilwe rushes into his arms and hugs him tight. She's never in a head wrap and hardly wears any long skirt. This is just too weird but he won't ask just yet, he needs to see his mother before he can do anything.
"Hey. We'll talk let me check on Ma first, she must be worried sick," he pulls out of the hug and heads to his mom's bedroom.
"Kabelo wait," she says in a soft voice like she's about to cry. He proceeds to the bedroom where his aunt is packing his mother's clothes inside a black refuse bag. The mattress is taken off the base, placed on the floor. His heart bounces, he knows the possibility but accepting it won't be easy. Thinking about it is already hard.
"Aunty what's going on?" He's hoping what's on his mind is not true.
"Kabelo I'm sorry," she says.
"What exactly are you sorry for, aunty?" He steps back, resisting the consolation hug.
"I know this is hard for you but you need to be strong for your sister. Your mother is in a better place now she's rested," she rubs his arm.
"You're lying. Aunty where's my mother? Where did you take my mother?" He walks out of the bedroom and Oratilwe is still crying. It can't be true, they must be mistaken because she wasn't on death's door despite her being ill.
"Kabza listen," Bongani tries to calm him down but he just won't have it.
"Don't tell me what to do. My mother was just fine when I left here. Was it because I got arrested? Is that the reason why she took her last breath?" No one is willing to say the truth, at least not now. He'll definitely lose his cool if he found out that Ora is responsible for all this.
"Please sit down I'll get you a glass of water," his aunt says. A glass of water is the last thing he needs right now. He goes into his bedroom and slams the door. All this is surreal and it won't be easy to just digest it. Ora walks in, sitting beside her brother on the bed. They have each other and it's only fair that they leave the past in the past and focus on the now.
"She just gave in," she says in between her sobs. He takes her hand and squeezes it. He's supposed to be the strong one but he just can't pretend. After all he's the one who took care of their mother so the pain is really unbearable.
"How? She didn't look like a person who'll just give in. She was going to be fine," he says.
"Things happened in your absence but I don't think right now is the time to talk about that. We have to be strong for her."
"What things? Did her heart stop because of me?"
"No. None of this was your fault and please don't dwell too much on the past. Let's focus on giving her a decent funeral and mourn. We'll discuss the rest after," she rests her head on his shoulder.
"Did she struggle before she died?"
"Kabelo please don't do this to yourself."
"I need to know. She at least deserved a peaceful death. Did she struggle?"
"She did," tears roll down her face as she thinks about how Chopper sexually assaulted her.
"Did she at least say something before she died? Anything at all."
"You know Ma struggled with speech so there was no way she would have said something. I'm really sorry, Kabelo. I should have done something to stop the attack but..." she stops halfway.
"What attack are you talking about?"
"I...I'm sorry I shouldn't have said anything."
"Mom was attacked?" He gets off the bed, fists clenched. She just opened a can on worms that can't be closed.
"Kabelo I'm sorry. This was all my fault," she gets on her feet, ready to confess and face the music.
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