Keep your eyes open

 

After 5 days since Ntokozo came back home after 12 years of being away things between him and his sister are still very much rocky. Lungile doesn't seem to want to be anywhere near her brother as she leaves early to drop her daughter Mbali off at school and comes back a little late after dinner. She usually works in the house in most days and only goes to sites when there's a need to but clearly she is trying to avoid having to bump to her brother throughout the day. She and Ntokozo have been on the same dinner table at the same time only twice since the prodigal son returned which has obviously made it difficult for the family to discuss Ntokozo's suggestion that the rape cases be re-opened and Dora had warned Ntokozo to not go ahead with it until he has spoken to his sister first.

Dora has worked from home since Ntokozo's return so they have become farmiliar once again and she is getting used to the idea of her son being home. They still haven't spoken about Ntokozo's mysterious dissappearance but Dora doesn't want to push him too hard lest he leaves again, for good this time. She figured she will wait for him to open up about it.

So today is a Friday, which happens to be a holiday so Lungile had a short day at work and decided to have a date with her friends at a restaurent in Gateway. Anything that will make her not go home she will take it but the only people she can vent to are her friends if her boyfriend is not around.

"So how is the gorgeous Ntokozo Gumede doing? Hahaha..." Lindiwe Ngcobo asks with a naughty tongue out which leads to laughter from Lungile's other friend Nompumelelo Mbutho as she says, "You know what I really also want to meet him as well my friend, I bet he is very hot...hahaha..." but Lungile rolls her eyes and says, "Anikameni guys(guys please don't start)...I can't stand being in the same room with him, that house has turned into a bore" as she takes a sip of her dry red wine. She is not necesarily offended by her friends because she knows they are just jokimng and trying to cheer her up.

32 year-old Lindiwe has been friends with Lungile since childhood and she knows Ntokozo very well and years later she has become a teacher in one of the schools in the townships. She also lives not far away from Lungile's home in Umlazi BB section. A very talkative individual, unlike the 33 year-old Nompumelelo who met Lungile in University and they have become best friends ever since. She is a lawyer working for a very well-established lawfirm.

"You guys don't know how angry I am at this guy hey...I actually didn't even realise it myself until I walked into him sitting in lounge with mom on Sunday afternoon." Lungile says with an irritated face as she takes another sip of her wine. "Alright friend, but what does he say? Surely if he explained himself to you guys you will have a better understanding about why he left while you were still in school in highschool?" Lindiwe asks as she looks at Nompumelelo who nods in agreement with the question. Lungile thinks for a second before saying, "No actually...he hasn't said much of anything about why he did what he did or whatever"

"But did you ask him? Did you atleast give him a chance to explain himself?" Nompumelelo asks as she raises an eyebrow but Lungile just shrugs without uttering a word. "You see? It's important friend that you really down with him and find out before you and your mom drive yourself mad making assumptions when the person with answers is under the same roof as you guys..." Nompumelelo says as she also takes a sip but Lindiwe interjects, "Speaking of which, where does your mother stand with all this?" she asks curiosuly as she takes a sip of her drink.

"Arg you know how mothers are like..." Lungile says as she looks a little annoyed. "But you guys are right...I can't live like this forever. I need to know why Ntokozo left and why he wasn't there when I needed him the most but part of me is terrified of finding out the truth. I suspect it's something very terrifying guys, I don't know..." She suddenly looks a little worried but Lindiwe interjects, "But babe, it's better the truth than assumptions hey. Assumptions can really drive you crazy because you will always think of the worst case scenario, whereas the truth can hurt but very liberating at the same time" she says as she shrugs her shoulders while taking a sip.

This makes Lungile think for a secoand before sheruging her shoulders as well as though she's got nothing to say to it. "What I want to know is...what does he do now? Has he joined the family business or, does he wake up and go to work somewhere? I don't want a broke guy, hahaha..." Nompumelelo asks as she bursts out laughing just to throw in humor into a thoughtful question.

Lungile shakes her head in disbelief as she smiles. "First of all, you two better stay away from my brother okay? Find your own men, Hahaha..." she says with a laughter. "But seriously though, I really don't know hey. I usually leave him in the house when I go to work in the morning and I find him there in the evining, so I don't know what he does. And no...he is not working for the family business...mama and I haven't discussed Ntokozo since he came back. But you know, he is driving a very beautiful car so I'm asuming he has money...as long as it isn't drugs or some proceeds from crime"

"Anyway enough about that, so on Tuesday it's Mbali's birthday party right?" Lindiwe asks with some level of excitement. "Oh yes guys and please I expect presents from you hahaha..." Lungile jokes. "Ofcourse friend and...I will get to meet your brother hey, hahaha..." Nompumelelo says which makes Lungile shakes her head as she calls on the waiter for a re-fill.

***

 

Meanwhile, at the Gumede mansion, Ntokozo seems to be a little bored as he has nothing to do during the day and he doesn't want to ask his mother if he cn help with the business. He has been gone for a very long time 5 days is not a longtime for one to re-intergrate themselves in the family, so he figured he would start with little things like doing house chores and be available for whatever his mother needed.

So after a long day of working the garden he decided to stretch his legs and go to the nearest tuckshop to buy a few things. This gives him time to see people of the area and maybe bumped into a few that he grew up with. Now, as he comes back from the shop he hears a voice calling out from behind him, "Hey Ntokozo..." it says softly. When he turns around to see who is calling his name, his eyes immediately brighten when he sees the most beautiful woman smilling at him. 'Oh my God...this is probably the most beautiful woman I have ever seen' he thinks to himself as his eyes pop out.

This light-skinned woman wearing a beautiful floral, short summer dress has the most beautiful eyes and smile. Her huge afro that is styled very well makes her look very authentic and grounded. "Uhmm...hi, how are you?" Ntokozo responds with a smile. "I'm okay thank you...so it's true...you are back to the land of the living?" the beautiful lady asks with a bright smile but Ntokozo quickly interjects, "Oh uhmm...I'm sorry, do we know each other?" he asks with a polite voice as he looks a little embarrassed by that question himself. The lady thinks for a second before saying, "Oh well, I suppose we don't because growing up we were not close but I used used to see you from a distance..."

"Oh really?" Ntokozo says as he tries to recall. "Yeah I'm from Dlakodle street that other side..." the lady says with a smile as she points to the other road paralell to this one. "Oh uhmm...sorry, I'm Pearl Ngubeni..." she says as she extends her hand, which Ntokozo accepts as they both shake. "Yeah I don't think there's a girl that didn't know Ntokozo Gumede here in these streets, so I was no different hahaha..." Pearl says with a blush.

"Oh wow, so uhmm...so how come I never noticed such a beautiful girl in my neighbourhood?" the clearly smitten Ntokozo says as he holds on to this beautiful lady's hand. "Oh well I don't know really...maybe I wasn't really your type hahaha...or maybe cause were other more beautiful women in this area at the time hahaha..." Pearl says as she also doesn't pull her hand away. She seems to be enjoying the fact that this man is taken by her. "Oh doubt it really..." Ntokozo says with a blush as he finaly lets go of the woman's hand. "Hahaha...you are so kind. Nothing a bath can't fix hahaha..." Pearl jokes.

For a second there they just stare at each as though they are in the world of their own. They seem to have forgotten that there are other people passing by them. "Uhmm...so you dissappeared from the area...are you now back?" Pearl asks as he fixes her eyes on him. Ntokozo thinks for a second before saying, "Uhmm...yeah i believe I am...for now, that is" Ntokozo says with a smile as he snaps out of that little heaven he had created.

They then begin to slowly move towards Ntokozo's home. Both of them have their hearts pounding at this moment as it is clear that there's chemistry building. "So...a lot has changed in this place huh? Some faces I don't recognize hey..." Ntokozo says as he looks at people in their yards and those who are moving pass them. "Oh yeah some people you grew up with moved out of this place. You know what they...'if you live in the same place for too long you won't be able to see your growth', so people move for a better life" Pearl says with a smile as he takes a look at Ntokozo who nods and says, "But you didn't move out and judging by how you look life turned out just fine for you hey...."

"Well, they also say 'if you are going to stay in the same place, you better grow yourself'...so that's exactly what my family did I guess" Pearl says as she looks pleased with herself. "Well that's true..." Ntokozo says as he nods. "So miss Pearl Ngubeni, after many years later what are you known for in this area besides the obvious fact that you are the most beautiful woman here?"

"Uhmm...well, uhmm...I'm involved in the family business. And you? What are you known for after so many years, besides being a charmer? Hahaha..." Pearl says jokingly which makes Ntokozo blush for a second as he looks at the passing people. "Well, uhmm...I'm a curious traveller...I think that what best describes me hahaha..." he says as he jokes back. "A curious traveller? Wow I don't think I have ever heard that before...what does a curious traveller do?" a visibly charmed Pearl asks. Ntokozo thinks for a second before saying, "Uhmm...I guess, I'm just a person who doesn't like to stay in the same job for too long, or the same place for too long, so I travel a lot all around the world...to experience different cultures."

Pearl seems to love this as she think about it with a smile. "That sounds really interesting..." she says, "Ive always wanted to travel as well, but time just never allows. But I hope that one day you will allow me to tag along...so that I enjoy the beauty of the wolrd like you"

They then stop and look at each other in eyes when they reach Ntokozo's home gate. It seems as though they have a lot they are saying to each without uttering a wowrd and understand each other as well. They are these close to risking it all and just kiss each other right there on the street. Ntokozo never felt this about any other he has met before and Pearl feels like this man is the person she has been waitng for all her life. They stand so close to each other that a slight move forward from either of them will bump their chests...and their eyes are fixed on each that they don't wanna look anywhere else.

But that instense moment is interrupted by Lungile's car which slowly passes past them. When Ntokozo realises that his sister has her car window down and looking at them in a way that suggests she doesn't like what she sees, he snaps out of it and says, "Uhmm...well I guess I will see you around Pearl Ngubeni" with a smile.

"Yeah uhmm...I guess I will see you around Ntokozo Gumede..." Pearl says as she smiles back at Ntokozo who stands there and watch this lady walk away. After a few metres out Pearl turns around and notices that Ntokozo is still looking at her. She smiles and waves at him and he waves back. She then turns and walks away and Ntokozo opens the gate and gets inside.

***

Later on during supper the family is all together on the table but Ntokozo mind is still on Pearl, the lady she met earlier on his way home from the shop. He himself can't discribe how and what he is feeling inside but all that keeps playing in his mind this beautiful woman's smile and her beautiful eyes. He can still feel the warmth of her palm when he held her hand and couldn't let go. While he can't be certain about it, he can assume that Pearl felt something too but now one thing he regret is not not getting her number. But since she doesn't live far from his home they are bound to see meet again. 'We shall surely meet again' he thinks to himself.

His thoughts are interrupted by his sister who calls out, "So uhmm...do you know the girl you were talking to at the gate earlier?" she asks with a straight face as she takes a sip of her dry red wine. Ntokozo thinks for a second before saying, "Uhmm...you mean Pearl? Uhmm...not really, but she said she knew me from back then. I don't remember her though..." as he takes a sip of his juice.

"Well, I suggest that you paly far away from her big brother..." Lungile says as she looks a little annoyed but Ntokozo quickly cuts in, "Uhmm...why?" he asks curiously as he raises an eyebrow. "Well, where do I start? How about the fact that her family is dangerous?" Lungile says as she raises her voice a little bit but Ntokozo's eyes pop out as he is a littpe shocked by that. When Lungile sees that she continues, "Yeah they are drug dealers..." she says as she looks at her mother who looks down as though she doesn;t want to be part of this conversation. It's a good thing that Lungile's daughter Mbali is sitting in the lounge watching TV because this conversation is going to be tense.

"Oh well uhmm...that's not the sense I got when I spoke to her...she was very nice" Ntokozo says with a low voice but his sister quickly interjects, "Oh...is it becaue you are such a good judge of character? You don't know her Ntokozo...you just met her." she says as she throws her hands in the air. Lungile is always irritable.

"Oh well, why don't you tell me?" Ntokozo says as he puts his glass down, clearly he is also becoming irritated by her sister who is always triggered. "Well, your new friend's father is a drug dealer..." Lungile says as she looks at her brother in the eyes trying to read his reaction. "His drugs has hooked so many youths here in the area and many people have died at his hand around here. His people sell drugs to young school kids and we have seen many of them turning into pharas as a result. So there you have it, is that good enough for you? That girl that you were with works for her father so I don't want her near my child because of you."

"So if Pearl's father has killed many people or hooked the youth into drugs, why isn't he behind bars?" Ntokozo asks curiously as there seems to be a little shock in his eyes but his mother interjects, "Your sister is right mfana wami(my son)..." she says politely. "Jabulani Ngubeni is a very dangerous man and, making friends with his daughter is not a good idea"

"Yeah and why he isn't behind bars? Who will make him when he has police in his pockets?" Lungile adds. "Who can snitch on him when he kills everyone who talks? Do you remember Qaqamba Magubane? You used to play soccer with here on the streets...he was your childhood friend. Well, he tried to report bra J to the police and he got a bullet in the head. There are many others like Qaqamba who have been killed for talking. So who will have that man arrested then? Geez that man kills even the police who investigate him...Everyone is scared of him, so I say to you befriending his daughter is dangerous...not only to you but to this family"

Ntokozo is in disbelief of what he is hearing here in this table because the picture of the woman he met erlier is still in his mind and she looked like a very kind and warm lady. But he also knows that he's been away for too long to dispute what his sister and mother are saying. He is a little dissapointed because he was looking forward to seeing Pearl again.

"Excuse me guys, I need to make a call..." he says as he leaves the table goimng upstairs to his room, much to the shock of his mother and sister.