Chapter 20

WRITTEN IN THE STARS
20

SBANISENKOSI

Luyanda just woke up and she looks like she's carrying the world's weight on her shoulders. My friend does not look good at all.

“Lu please talk to us..” I say brushing her hand, she's shaking. I glare at Mbali and heave a sigh.

“She doesn't want to speak..” I say, maybe she's hungry. She just needs food to get her energy up.

“Let me go dish up for her. Maybe she's hungry..” I say getting off the bed and walking to the kitchen. Mbali made something for her to eat, I take out a plate and dish up for her. Once I'm done, I walk back to the bedroom and find Mbali consoling her. She's crying again..

“You're scaring us Luyanda...” She says hugging her, I wipe off my tears and get on the bed with the plate.

“I don't think she's gonna eat.” I say placing the plate besides her. Something definitely happened, she looks so broken.

“H..he touched me..I told him I didn't want to do it anymore but he did it..” She says shaking, Mbali and myself glare at each other in shock.

“Luyanda what do you mean?” Mbali asks her, she cries again. I think my ears are twitching, what does she mean he touched her? that means... Oh God.

“Luyanda were you râped?” I ask her, she nods crying and I feel my heart sinking. What is wrong with men?

“Tell me who is it now, I'll get him arrested Luyanda. Tell me !” I say getting off the bed, she shakes her head.

“I initiated everything, it's of no use.” She says, I shake my head.

“If you didn't want to do it halfway then he should've stopped. Luyanda tell me who that fùcker is!!” I say.

“I can't..” She whispers, what does she mean she can't? we're talking about a very traumatic thing here and she's telling me she can't? she's mad.

“Rape is a very serious thing Luyanda, that person dessrves to be arrested. Dod you see how you look? you're a mess.” Mbali says.

“I'll be fine...” She says, I shake my head and walk out. I can't deal with Luyanda right now. If she's been ràped then action should be taken. Why is she saying she'll be fine when she's not gonna be fine? we're talking about rapè here for God's sake! After getting enough fresh air, I walk back to the bedroom.

“If you don't want to tell us who the man that râped you is then I'll call the police here Luyanda. Tell us who that man is..” I say, she shakes his head.

“I'm the wrong one Sbani, I'm the one who started this whole thing. He just...” She cries again. I shake my head, she doesn't even see herself. She looks like someone who's in so much pain but she refuses to tell us the fùcker who did this.
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Some few hours later, Mbali decides to sleep over at her place since she doesn't want to be left alone. I have to leave because Christopher needs me back at home so..yeah.

It's evening and I'm driving there. I really hope Luyanda thinks about this hard enough to realize that the person who did this deserves to be in jail. I feel so bad for her but I'm also annoyed because she seems like she's protecting this person..

I continue driving till I reach "home", that's what he told me to refer it as. I jump off the car and walk inside. He's already here and he's cooking up a storm. I walk inside and he turns around..

“Hey..” I say closing the door, he's in an apron shirtless. It smells so good, I didn't even realize how hungry I am.

“Hey come..” He says, I walk towards him and give him a side hug.

“How are you?” I ask him, he shrugs.

“I'm just fine.” He says, I lean against the counter and glare at him.

“Glad..” I say, he nods and continues with whatever he's doing. Once he's done, he closes the pot and washes his hands before walking to me. He picks me up placing me on the counter and getting in between of my thighs.

“You seem stressed..” He says, I heave a sigh and it doesn't take a minute till I start crying.

“What's wrong? is Luyanda okay?” He asks, i shake my head.

“She's not, she doesn't look like herself. She...she...” I try speaking but fail. The words can't come out of my mouth. He wipes off my tears..

“Take a moment before telling me what's wrong.” He says, I give myself a moment before taking a deep breath.

“Luyanda went on a date yesterday and she comes back saying she wa..was raped.” I say whispering because I'm crying again. It's silent for a while, I think he's trying to gather his thoughts.

“Did she tell you who it was that did this?” He asks, I shake my head and wipe off my tears.

“She doesn't want to tell us. I had to ask her multiple times but she refused.” I say, he sighs and kisses my forehead.

“I'm sorry..” He says, thing is Luyanda is my sister as much as Mbali is my sister as well. We're sisters and to see one of us going through something like that hurts so much because we can't even reverse time and prevent it from happening.

We keep quiet for a while, while I catch my breath and try to forget that for a while. I also have problems of my own.

“I'm sorry for what happened yesterday..” I say, he sighs.

“I give you the respect you need and deserve but I feel like I'm not receiving the same respect that I give you. You're very disrespectful towards me Sbani and you think it's okay.” He says.

“This is my first time being in a serious relationship and I've been trying to be the boyfriend that you can lean on for support. I try cooking for you, buying you stuff. Emotionally being there for you and being your shoulder to cry on whenever you're down. Why do you have to be so..inconsiderate?” He asks, what do I say.. oh Sbani.

“I'm sorry but I'm beginning to see why you were single, because of your personality. You think the world revolves around you Sbanisenkosi and it doesn't. I'm your man and I'll tell you the harsh truth if I have to.” He says. As much as I want to get angry, I can't..

“You're not the man in this relationship, you don't shout at me and moreover, you don't disrespect me however you like. That hurts me, I didn't want to use the term I'm the man in this relationship but you're forcing me to use it. I won't tolerate the disrespect you give me. This is a relationship that we both agreed to be in, 50/50.. I'm expecting the same energy I'm giving you, not the bullshìt you keep on doing.” He says, my hands are shaking..he sounds so angry.

“If you don't fix yourself or your issues, then we're not gonna go anywhere. This relationship will end up in thin air and I don't want that to happen. I'm sexually, physically, emotionally and mentally attracted to you Sbanisenkosi. Don't push me to only use sèx as a way of punishing you. That's not supposed to be the case, we should have this conversation and talk freely. Even now, I don't know why you're quiet. Whoch clearly shows that alcohol has more effect on you that you end up telling me shìt.” He says

“Sbanisenkosi...” He calls me out and I snap out of my thoughts. I glare at him and wipe off my tears.

“I'm sorry...” I say jumping off the counter and attempting to walk off but he holds me back.Maybe I'm not cut out for relationships, I don't know what's wrong with me.

“Not while we're talking, do not run away from such Sbanisenkosi. You're bad at communicating and I'm telling you that from the bottom of my heart.” He says, I step back and lean against the counter.

“I'm sorry if I made you feel this way, I don't know what to do Nkanyezi. I don't know what being in a relationship like this one requires me to do.” I say.

“I'm telling you right now to atleast try, I'm also trying. I'm trying to be the man you need, please be the woman I need. I love you and I want you in my future. Please don't do this to me.” He says, I wrap my arms around his waist

“I'm sorry baby, please forgive me. I'm sorry for making you feel this way, I'm so sorry. I'm gonna push myself to be a better person because I don't want to lose you at all.” I say wiping off my tears, I listen to his heartbeat and he brushes my back. I glare at him and he plants a kiss on my lips.

He picks me up and places me on the counter, I wrap my arms around his neck and smash my lips onto his. He wraps his arms around my waist and I pull myself towards him. He pulls out of the kiss and kisses my forehead.

“Do you want me to dish up for you?” He asks, I nod.

“I only ate breakfast today, I'm very hungry..” I say, he nods and walks to the pots. I'm just glad we're fixing things instead of just giving up. I watch him as he dishes up for me.

“Can you take a few days off work after completing this project? I want us to go somewhere.” He says, I smile..

“Where do you want us to go?” I ask him.

“It's a surprise, where I think we're gonna be able to get some alone time from reality.” He says. I nod, can't wait..