29
TWO QUEENS IN MY CASTLE 29YOLANDA
Akulaleki, I can't sleep. I'm facing the ceiling and drowning in my own thoughts. How did I even get here? Just a few weeks ago, my life was looking up. For a change I thought I'm back in this relationship game but now I'm nursing bruises and crying non stop. I can't say I've made the wrong choice by letting Kabelo go because he wasn't going to let Thandeka go.
I stay awake until around 04:00am and I'm pretty sure I'll have a massive headache when the sun comes up. That two hours of sleep is interrupted by the door opening. My body hurts, I think I'll need to see the doctor today.
"Good morning," he comes in and closes the door behind him.
"Hi," I sit up straight.
"Did you sleep well?"
"I hardly slept while over thinking plus my body is just painful all over."
"I'm sorry you had to go through all that. I've spoken to Ora and she said you can use her toiletries to bath. She'll borrow you a dress when you're done," he says.
"That's so sweet of her. Let me do the bed first," I get off bed.
"No leave it I'll do it for you. I can see that you can hardly bend over so I don't want you to strain yourself. Just go get ready and I'll prepare breakfast then we can go to the police station."
"I've decided not to press charges," I say.
"What?" He stands in shock with his hands on his waist.
"I don't want to go through court and everything. I'm done with Raymond and I don't want to put myself through a lot of things."
"You can't be serious. Look at your face," he lifts my face with his fingers on my chin.
"Kabelo please. I'm going home after this so don't worry I won't burden you."
"I never said you're a burden."
"Thanks for your concern but I'm not changing my mind," I leave the room. Ora hands me her bag of toiletries for me to refresh. My clothes are untidy from falling when he hit me and also sitting down on the pavement when I waited for Kabelo to come pick me up. She gives me three options of dresses and I pick the one I like.
I join them for breakfast, which is kind of awkward. I'm back where I never thought I would all because of an unfortunate situation. I just want to finish eating and leave, I feel like I'm suffocating in here.
"There's more bread if you want," says Ora.
"No thank you. I think what I need is to go home and rest. I'll have to go ask my previous landlord if my room is still available."
"You moved out of your place?"
"Kabelo please don't judge me. I honestly thought Raymond and I would work," I say.
"I didn't wish you any bad luck but I just didn't trust him the first time I saw him. I just wish you hadn't rushed things the way you did," he says.
"It's all in the past now. Men are just the last people I'll think of. I need to get my ducks I'm a row and focus on the future. There's nothing beneficial from these men anyway."
"If there's something you want to say to me just say it."
"I don't want to say anything but if you must know, I'm not regretting leaving you either. I know Raymond is a jerk but what you wanted to get me into is as equally unfair. I don't deserve such treatment and that's why I'm saying I'll stay away from men."
****
THANDEKA
"There's someone here to see you," my mom says.
"Who? I need to finish packing," I close my suitcase.
"It's Kabelo," my heart skips. I didn't think he'd be back and I honestly didn't want him to, especially not today.
"Please let him in," I sit on the bed. He comes in and his eyes fall on the luggage.
"Hi," he says.
"Hi."
"Are you going somewhere?"
"Yeah. I got a transfer and I'm moving to Limpopo."
"What? So you're only telling me this now?"
"Woah! I don't owe you any explanation about my life," I get up and resume the packing.
"Despite everything, I deserve to know at least that you're relocating," he says.
"You're not my man nor are you my friend anymore. I thought leaving quietly would do us both good."
"So you're deciding for me? That's unfair if you ask me."
"Life was never fair, Kabelo. If you had made a better choice for us then I wouldn't have considered the transfer."
"So this is it? You're just going to up and leave and let me pick up the pieces of my broken heart?" He chuckles.
"Broken heart? Your heart was never broken. If anything you broke mine because I was already in love with you but you just couldn't let go of the other woman," I click my tongue.
"If you must know, I'm single."
"Good for you. I'm sure you'll find someone suitable for you along the way. As for me, I'm leaving and there's nothing that will change my mind."
"A goodbye would have been better. Not this," he gets closer.
"I'm leaving tomorrow morning so I'll come say a proper goodbye to you and Ora."
"Alright. At least let me take you out for dinner tonight, one last time."
"I'm spending my last night here with my mother and we already have plans," I brush him off.
"Can I at least continue calling you?"
"Sure. I'm not mad at you or anything. I'm just never falling for your tricks again," I push him away gently and continue packing. I've made up my mind.
****
YOLANDA
I left my key inside the house last night, I'm hoping Raymond is home. I knock a few times on the door and fortunately he opens.
"What do you want?" He asks.
"Stop being a d*ck. I need my stuff," I force my way inside. He doesn't even feel bad about the bruises he left on my face.
"Everything is in there," he points at the already packed bags against the wall.
"You didn't waste time but thanks for saving me the time. I'll have to check if you didn't leave anything behind."
"You were with him, weren't you?" He follows me to the bedroom.
"What are you talking about?"
"That ex of yours. Did you sleep with him?"
"Are you stalking me?"
"I tracked your phone."
"You did what?" I'm shocked.
"So you were still seeing him while with me?"
"I don't answer to you, especially after everything that you did to me last night. I can't believe you'd stoop so low and track my phone. You're such a creep," I say.
"And you're a gold digger. Did you actually think I'd let you walk into my life and milk me dry? I've loved you for so long when I was down and out but you treated me like a disease. Now that I can afford things you're suddenly eager to spread your legs for me. You're a gold digger and I wanted to show you that I'll not be played. Get your rags and get out of my house," he says.
"You're a piece of sh*t but it's okay I'm leaving. I'm never gonna be with an abuser anyway, I deserve better."
"Better? Where was the better before I came along?"
"You think I'll beg you just because you have some cash? Think again," I chuckle.
"But don't worry I won't get you fired at work. It'd be evil of me seeing that you're already struggling."
"Your day will come and I can promise you that," I drag my bags and walk out. Tears fall before I could even reach the door.
****
KABELO
My love life didn't work out but at least I still have my sister and my friend. My financial woes are over and I can shift my focus on something else rather than stressing. I've planned a weekend getaway for Ora, Bongani and I and we're heading to Cape Town. I need a breather, I need to see different people and forget about all the bad things that happened in my life. I've accepted defeat in some parts of my life and I'm ready to embrace what the future holds for me. I thank God for seeing me through and I'll continue praying for more better days. Life has more to offer and I'm ready to experience it. I wish nothing but the best for both women I failed to bring into my life. At least now I've learnt that being selfish doesn't pay. The next woman to come into my life will definitely be treated better but for now, I'm focusing on me.
**END**
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