Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

Lethabo Zulu

"Hambani!" I snapped, my voice louder than I meant, but I didn't care. "Go, guys. Go—and don't you dare come back without Ntando. If he's dead, go raise him from the dead! You know the rules. If one of you goes missing, the rest of you must go missing too."

They froze, stunned, but I wasn't done. I shoved at Nkululeko's chest until he stumbled back a step. "Go!"

No one argued. They knew I was right. They filed out quietly, heads low.

Nkululeko Zulu

We stood by the cars, still hearing the echo of Lethabo's voice in our ears. I rubbed my forehead, exhaling hard.

"Let's go to where he was admitted," I finally said. "We'll chill with him there until he's cleared to go home."

The brothers nodded. It wasn't even a question. We drove off into the night, heading back to where our blood was lying on a hospital bed.

Ntandoyenkosi Zulu

It's been about a week. Seven long days without her. God knows how much I miss my Hlelolwam. Her laugh, her stubbornness, even the way she clicks her tongue when she's annoyed—it's all I've been thinking about.

Today, I'm finally getting discharged. The doctor said I'm not completely healed, but I begged him. I need to go home. I need to see her.

The boys were with me, of course. Nkululeko signed my discharge papers like a responsible brother, and we walked out together. They looked tired but relieved. I knew their wives hadn't let them breathe in peace until they promised to bring me back alive.

We climbed into the car, and I felt the city rush past the window. My heart beat faster the closer we got to the apartment.

When we arrived, laughter floated through the door before I even stepped in. I pushed it open and froze for a second.

There they were—my whole world in one room. The wives giggling softly, the smell of food lingering in the air. Nkululeko's twins rolling around on the carpet, their squeals filling the space with life. And then—something that didn't fit. A small baby boy, chubby cheeks, fists waving in the air, right there between the twins like he belonged.

As soon as I walked in, chaos erupted. They all jumped up, running to embrace me. Hands patting my back, voices overlapping: "We missed you!" "Welcome home, grootman!"

Everyone—except her.

Hlelolenkosi didn't move. She sat quietly, pretending I wasn't even there. She kept her eyes on the baby instead, as if I were a ghost walking through the room. That cut deeper than the bullet ever had.

We sat, we talked, laughter bubbled around me, but the silence from her side burned holes in my chest.

Eventually, it was time for everyone to leave. They gathered their things, the children bundled up, smiles plastered on their faces. As they reached the door, I stopped them.

"Ohh, wait—you're forgetting the baby."

They froze. For a moment, the whole room turned heavy. They all glanced at each other, unsure who should speak.

Sizwe finally cleared his throat, smirking like he didn't know how else to handle it. "Yincosi wakho leyo, grootman." That's your problem, big man.

I blinked, puzzled, the words sinking slowly. My eyes darted from him to the baby, then to Hlelo, who still hadn't said a word.

The brothers and their wives slipped out quickly after that, leaving me alone. Alone with the woman who makes me feel foreign things I can't control…

And this strange little boy who apparently belongs to me.