Chapter 25

Chapter Twenty-five

Hlelolenkosi Hlophe

Tomorrow is our last day here, and honestly, this trip has been everything we needed. We laughed, we rested, we reconnected — it was worth it. Still, deep inside, I'm starting to miss my boy. His little laugh, his hugs, the way he calls out for me.

Tonight, all of us sat together at the dinner table. The air was filled with clinking glasses, quiet chatter, and the sound of the ocean waves not far away. But something was… off. The gents kept exchanging glances, like schoolboys plotting mischief. We, the ladies, just waited, forks in hand, giving them the silence they deserved.

Eventually, Nkosinathi cleared his throat.
"Uhmmm… the boys and myself were wondering if we could hit the club tonight, you know, since it's our last night."

Silence. We girls exchanged looks — those sharp, knowing looks only women can understand. Without a word, we voted through our eyes. Keabetswe finally voiced it for all of us.
"No."

The guys looked down like kids denied sweets, poking at their plates. Dinner carried on, the awkwardness hanging in the air until Nkululeko leaned back in his chair.
"Ohh okay, ladies. We are heading to the casino then. Don't wait up for us." He cleared his throat again, and just like that, they stood up and left.

We shrugged, finished our food, and headed to our rooms. I changed into my night maxi dress, ready to relax, maybe call my son before bed. Then, twenty minutes later, my phone buzzed — Lerato hosting a group call.

I answered, and so did the others. Lerato's voice was sharp, urgent.
"Girls. In my hotel room. Now."

Heart racing, I slipped into my sandals and hurried down the corridor, the maxi dress flowing behind me. When we all arrived, Lerato was already pacing, phone in hand.

Without a word, she turned the screen toward us. A Facebook live video.

The sound of loud music blasted from the tiny speaker. The video was shaky, taken in a dimly lit club, neon lights flashing. Then the camera steadied — and there they were. Our men. Drinks in hand, women circling them, one girl even sitting on Nkululeko's lap.

My stomach dropped. "What… madness is this?" I whispered.

The room went silent, only the video playing in the background. Lerato's face was pale with fury, Keabetswe's jaw clenched, and I could feel my chest burning with betrayal.

The girls looked at each other, anger bubbling. Tonight, paradise had just turned into a battlefield.