Onesi

pho:
Thechosen

Aut
hornamedNqobi
leSet
hoga

Pr
ologue

Mam' Dlhami
nipushedharderasthunder
s
port
rayed.Shepushedhard,last
lyadaught
erwas
bornintheNkosiFamil
y.Outof4sonsadaughter
hasfinall
ygoti
nthefamil
y. Thefamil
ywashappy
tohaveadaughter.Fi
nal
ly!!

*
***

Theol
dgif
tedwomenfrom thevi
ll
agewentt
osee
Mam'Dl
aminiatt
hehospi
tal.
“
Ndumauf
ananil
ana,
”Mam'
Dlami
niasked
“
Thegr
eatoneshadsentamessage.
Yourdaught
er
i
singreatdangershehast ost aywi t
hmeunt ilshe
tur
ns18. Ihavetoleavewit
hher. I
t’
simportant,i
f
shegoest oyourhouse.Shewi llnotlast3days
.Bri
ngshert ome.Ihavetopr otecther.Ihavet o
l
eavewithher.There’ssomethingshehas. Thatcan
doalot.Saveyourdaughter.Saveher. ”
knowingt hateverythi
ngNdumasai distr
ue.She
hadtoagr eeorel seshe'sgoingt ofacethe
ancestorsandt heirbrutalpunishments“il
lhand
youmyonl yfemal echild.Butpromisemet hat
you'
llt
ellheraboutherpar ents.Promisethatyou’
ll
bri
ngherhomej ustaftershe’
s18. Don’tbelate.
I’
ll
tal
ktomyhusband, ”

Year
slat
er…………

I
t'
sshor
tIknow.
I'
m post
ing2mor
einser
ts.

#TeensChasi
ng4TheBest
#01
Onesi
pho
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Islowlyopenedmyeyesr ubbingt hem asIcoul dn’

t
sleeplastnight.
Iwasf i
nallygoingt oseemyf amil
y
aftersolong.Mygi fthadsepar atedmef r
om my
fami l
ybutIneverhat edit.Thegodsandancest ors
chosemeandI ’
l
lcher i
shandl ovei t.Ir
ubmybeads
forawhi l
ethenst oodupheadi ngt othebathroom
refreshi
ngmysel f.Idressedintoawhi t
ejeananda
pinkhoodi e.GogoNdumaent eredt heroom and
staredatmef rom topt otheground.
“
Onesiwhatar
eyouwear
ing?
”sheasked
“I
’m weari
ngclothesobviously,
”Ir
epli
edconfi
dent
ly
.Ihopeshedoesn’ tt
ellmetochangeinto
somethingelse.Butshewillact
uall
ysoletmejust
sayit.
“haiihai
igogowhyshoul dIchange.”
“You’
regoinghome.Whereyouancestor
sare
.Dressi
nsomet hi
ngdecent.
Youwillwearj
eans
butnottoday,
”
Ir
eleasedal
oudsi
gh.
“I’
m notsomepr
incess.”
Ndumasl i
ght
lychuckl
edli
kesheknewsomethi
ngI
didn'
t.“
wearyourdr
ess.Thebl
uedress.
It
’spr
ett
y
though,”
“
yeahiti
s,wi
thsomewhi
teSandal
s.Mhhhhyeah
I
’
llgowit
hit.
Nowgivemesomeprivacygogo,
”
Gogowentoutt
her
oom.Whi
leIdr
essedup.
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Att
heNkosihouse…….

Everywomenoft hefamil
yhelpedwiththe
preparat
ionsofthewelcomingceremony. They
werewel comi
ngt hei
rdaughterwho’sbeenhidden
foryears.Whi
lethe4br ot
herssatunderthetree
dri
nkingwhatevertheyweredrinki
ng.
“Whatdoyouthi
nkweshoulddof orher?
”The
secondbr
otherMhl
angeniasked
“
Asazi.
Weshouldmaybejustwel
comeher,
”t
he
f
ourt
hbrot
herUnat
hisuggest
ed
Thethirdbrot
herMnothoquicklyjumpedin,j
oini
ng
theconversati
on.“
wellIsuggestthatwetakeher
shopping.Iheardt
hatalotofgirl
sloveshoppi
ng.”
Thefi
rstbr
otherMandl
akhespoke.
“she’
snotany
gi
rl.
She'sagif
tedone,
”
“Herbeingt hechosenone.Doesn’
tmeanshe’
s
dif
ferentfrom othersandwhyi
shergif
ta
secret,”unathiasked
Thefourbr
other
sst ar
ted exchangi
ngwor
dswi
th
thei
rbi
gboldvoices.
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_"
Onesi
pho

Isteppedi
ntothecarinexcit
ement.Icoul
dn’twait
toseemyent i
refamil
y.Thoughtswereportr
ayingin
mymi nd.Li
kehowever yonewouldlooksi
nceI
nevergotachangetoseet hem .
Iwasoverl
y
exci
tedbutatthesamet
imener
vous.
Sot
her
ewer
e
mixedemotionsforme.
★
★
★
#02
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Onesi
pho

Themostsadt hingwasI ’
llbeleavingmygogo
behind.Thedr i
vet oKwaZul uNatalwaslongbutI
fi
nallyreached.I'
llmi ssRust enburgal i
ttl
e.Right
nowI ’mfocusingonuni versi
tybecauseI’l
lbe
star
tinginaf ewdays. I
'
llbet r
aveli
ngeveryday
becauset heuniversityiscl osetomypar entshouse
.Thecarst oppedi nf rontofabi ghouse. I
tseemed
l
ikeithadal otofr ooms, withroundelsbehindit
.Thecarpar kedbyt hegat eandever yonest ar
ted
ulul
atinganddanci ngar ound. Fourmenst epped
outtheyardandstoodi
nfrontofthecar.
allwer
e
brownishbut2weremedium masculi
neonewas
verymasculi
newithabeard.Whil
etheotherwas
justf
ine,nomuscl
esnoanything.Theonewitha
beardopenedthedoorf
ormeandIst epped.
“
Hey.
I’
m Mandl
akhet
hef
ir
stbr
other.
“
Mhl
angenit
hesecond,
”
“
Mnot
hot
hir
d,”
“
AndI
’
m Unat
hi,
”t
hemedi
um onesai
d.
“Sonogirl
s?”
IaskedbecauseIwasseei
ngguys
onlyher
e
“
Nope,
”Mnot
hor
epl
ied.
Theysai
dqui
ckl
y,nextbynext.
Ifl
ashedawide
smil
e.Act
ual
lyI
'
m happytobethelastone.
“YesssoI
'
llbetreatedl
ikeadi
amond.
It
’sagoal
anywaysI
'm Onesipho,
”
Weal
lshar
edal
augh.
Notl
oudones.
Justt
henasongdi
stur
bedusindicat
ingt
hatt
hey
shoul
dent
erwit
hthei
rdaught
er.Theyoung
maidenssangloudlyandbeautif
ull
ywhi l
ewe
st
eppedintheyard.ThemomentIgoti ntotheyard
,j
ustaft
erpassingtheli
neom thegate.Everyone
ul
ulat
edandcelebratedsayi
ng. “
sekafi
kil
e.”I
twas
i
ndeedbeauti
fulformeandIl oveditalot.
……….
Layingmyheadonmynewpi l
low.Thedayshad
passedfast.Igottolear
nsomeofmyf amily
member s.I
twast hebestmomentf orme. I
'm sur
e
tomorrowholdsmor egreatthi
ngstohave.OhhhI
alsofoundoutthatI'
m apr i
ncessandmyf ather
diedlongago.Idon'tknowhowt oreactsi
nceI
neverseem handspentt imewi t
hhim.Butit
's
OKAY! !
!

★
★
★
#03
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Onesi
pho

ThedoorswungopenandMnot
host
eppedi
n.
“
HeySi
pho.
”hegr
eet
ed
“
Mnot
hoi
khonai
kinga?
”Iaskedwor
ri
ed.
“Ha.
achather
e’snoprobl
em .Wearewatchi
nga
moviesowewer ehopi
ngforyout
oj oi
nus,”
he
off
ered
“
Sur
eI’
m onmywayandnextt
imeknock,
”Isai
d
Hechuckl
ed,
“Iwi
lldef
ini
tel
y”
Hewal kedout.Whil
eidr essedintoti
ghtsandat -
shi
rt.Isli
dintomyslippersanddr aggedthem t
othe
si
tti
ngr oom whereIfoundt hem si
tti
ngonthe
couches. Iwentonandsatnextt oUnathi.
“
Nat
hi,”
Isaidandwesharedaf i
stpump. Ireached
f
ort
hepopcor nsandMandlakhequicklysnatched
t
hebowlfr
om thetabl
ebefor
eIcouldt akeit.
“
aaaaahMandl
a.”
Isul
kedt
hreat
eni
ngt
ocr
y.
“
Crybaby,
”Mandl
akhesai
dteasi
ngme.
“
Mhl
angenipl
easet
alkt
ohi
m,”
Icr
iedt
ohi
m.
“
Hai
iangzi
ngeni,
”
Dang! hedi dn’tstandf orme. ButguesswhatIgot
ani dea. Iwentt ot heki tchenandopenedt hefri
dge
andt her ewer et wol astpi ecesofcake. Igently
placedt hem i nami l
kshakegl ass.Ispreadt he
Cust ardaroundi nt hegl ass, gratedthechocol ateI
gotf rom gogoandspr inkledi taroundint heglass
.Thent oppedupt hemi dnightdesser twitha
strawber ry. It
ookt heteaspoonandwentt othe
sitt
ingr oom . Wher et heyal lturnedtheirheadsand
facedme. Isatdownandt ookt hefi
rstbiteast hey
allglaredatme.
“
Aren’
twewat
chi
ngamovi
e,”
Iasked
“Forthi
soneyou'l
lhavetof
ini
sht
hatdesser
tof
yours.”
mandlakhesaid
“
NoI
’
llbef
ine,
”Isai
dconf
ident
ly.
Justt
henhechoseAnnabel
le.
Ohhhel
l.i
t’
sgoi
ngt
o
bealongni
ghtforme.
★
★
★ I
’
m bl
essi
ngyouwi
thonemor
e.Don’
tmove
#04
Onesi
pho

TodayIwokeupi nsomuchpai nandIj ustknew

theywereperiodpai ns.Luckel
ythepant ywasn’t
stai
ned.Idi
dmyr outi
neandwor eapad. Iopt
edfor
avestandtrackpant s.
That'swhereIfeelmor e
comfort
able.Ilaidonbedast hepaingotwor se.I
curl
edonbedcr yinginpain.Motherranintothe
room .
“
One!”shecal
ledmynamest
eppi
ngi
nther
oom
.“
areyouokaymybaby,”
“Mam’
Dlhaminitheper
iodpai
nsar
eki
ll
ingme,
”I
compl
ainedcryi
nginpain.
“Shhhmybaby. Letmegogetyousomet hi
ngto
help.I
’l
lbebackjustnow.”shewal
kedoutl
eavi
ng
met ossi
ng,cur
li
ngandcr yi
ngonbed.Shecame
backwi t
haverysmel l
ingdarkt
ea.
“
Dri
nkt
his!
”shesai
d
“HaiiMam’
Dlhami
niIshoul
ddr
inkt
hat?
??”
Iasked
disgust
ed.
“
itwi
llhel
pyou.You’
llbefi
newi
thi
n3hour
s.Take
t
hisandsleep.
”shesaid.
Ihesi
tant
lyt
ooki
t.Idr
anki
t.
“
Don’
tsi
pitl
iket
ea.
Gul
pthatt
hing.
”shesai
d
Icl
ear
edmyt
hroat.
Andgul
pedi
tin.
“Done!
”
Shetookt
hecupfrom me. “nowsleepbabygi
rl
.Whenyouwakeyou’llbefineandbeabletoeat
!”
shewalkedout.Iburpedt henl
aidmyheadonthe
pi
ll
owslowlydr
if
ti
ngt osleep.

Meanwhi l
etheNkosibrot
herswereinameet i
ng
.Aftert
hemeet i
ngtheyallwenti
ntoMnotho'
s
off
iceangry.Eachofthsatonthecouchotherson
thechair.
“He’
ssof ullofhi
mself.Hedemandseveryt
hing.
I
promiseitwon’tgowellwit
hmeandt hatMrKhan
,”Mandlakhesaidangry.
“
that
’showr
ichpeopl
ewor
k,”
Mnot
hosai
d
Unathispeaks.“heshoul
dbegivingusmore
respectbecausemyf at
heri
sthel at
eki
ng.Who
doeshet hi
nkhei s.I
’
m Unat
hikingNkosi.
Nxa,
”
Mhlangenichuckl
ed.“
woahguys. Youknowthatwe
gotthedealandmoneywillbecomingourwayso
whyar est
il
lcomplai
ning.
Kings,”
Theyal
lchuckl
ed.
“
HeyyIdi
dn’
tseeOnesi
phoonthebreakf
astt
abl
e
t
oday.
Wherewasshe?”Unat
hiasked
Mhlangenial
sonot
iced.
“yeah.
Letmecal
lmot
her
andask.
“
sur
edot
hat,
”
Mhlangenit
ookouthisphoneandcal
ledhermot
her
.Heplacedheronspeaker
“
Mam’
Dlhami
ni,
”Mhl
angenigr
eet
ed
“
King,
”sher
epl
ied
“
Wher
e’sOne.
Idi
dnotseeherdur
ingbr
eakf
ast”
“
Wel
lshehasp.
pai
nssoakhekhor
ight.
Igaveher
somet eaanditwi
llnumbher.Pleasedomea
favour.Ngi
cel
audluleeMallandbuyherl
ibr
esse
pads.Theoneswritt
ennight.
”
“
Okaymama.
”
“YouknowI’m proudtoseehersti
llgoingon
peri
ods.ImeanIt houghtshewaspr event
ingand
havi
ngsexbuti tseemst omeshe’
sst il
lavir
gin
.Herbreast
ssaidi tal
l,
”
“Woah,
toomuchi
nfor
mat
ion.
”t
hef
ourNkosi
brot
her
ssaid.
“
I’
m sor
ry.
Byebye,
”
★
★
★
#05
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Thef ourbr
other
sgotint
ot hei
rcar
sfoll
owingeach
othertothemall.
Theyfol
lowedUnathidowntothe
undergroundparki
nglot,parkedtheircar
sthen
eachjumpedoutwal ki
ngi nt
ol i
ft.Theywent
strai
ghttoShoprit
enotremember i
ngwhatthey
shouldbuy.Mhlangenidecidedt otal
ktooneofthe
stuff.
“HeyOrat
il
e,”
henoti
cedhernamef
rom t
hename
batchonherTshi
rt.
“
Hy,
howmayIhel
p.”
Orat
il
easked
“Wel
loursi
steri
sonherper
iods.
Sowehavet
obuy
her,
someneeds.pl
easehel
p.”
“
Okay,
you’
re?
??”
Orat
il
e
“
Mhlangeni,
that
’sMandl
akhe,
Unat
hiandMnot
ho
.”
heint
roducedthemsel
ves.
“
Greatf
oll
owmewi
thyourbasket,
”
Theyf
oll
owedher. Wheresheplaced2ni
ghtpads
i
nthebasket.Shealsopl
acedinsomesnacks
.“
That
’sall.
Howol disshe??”
“
18,
”Mnot
hosai
d
“Wowbutyetyoutreatherl
ikea14yearold.
You
canj
oint
helineoverthereandpay.
”orat
il
esaid.
Mnot hotookout3hundrednotesandhandedt
hem
toOratil
e,Orat
il
esecr
etl
yplacedthemoneyinher
breastsandwavedthem goodbye.

Onesi
pho

Iwokeupf eeli
ngmuchbet t
er.Iwenttomy
cosmet i
cbagandInot icedt hatiwasl eftwith1pad
.Nowhowam Igoi ngtoaskMam' Dlami nitobuy
somef orme. Howcoul dIbet hisreckless. I
changedi ntothelastoneandwentt otheback
roundelswher emy4br otherssleep.That ’sthei
r
roomsIwashopi ngf orthem tobor r
owmemoney
soIcanr unt othenear estshopbutnoneoft hem
wasar ound. Idi
sappointedlywentbackt othe
houseandopenedt hefridge.Ifoundnot hing
appeti
zingf orme. Isi
mpl ywentt othel ounge
,comfortablysatont hecouchwat chingTV. I
wonderwher eMam’ Dlhami niis??
★
★
★
[
01/
08,
09:
44] :#06
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Onesi
pho

Theysimplywalkedinfi
ndingmewat chingTv
.Eachofthem greet
edme. Mnot hopl
aceda
Shopri
teplast
icnexttome. Iopenedi
tandt her
e
weresomepadsandsnacks. Il
ookedatthem and
smil
ed.“Thankyouguys. ”
Mot
hercamet
other
oom .
“
IseeyougotwhatIt
oldyout
oget,
”shesai
d.
Shesatnextt
ome.Shehel
dmyf
ingerand
ever
ythi
ngwentbl
ank.
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Mam'
Dlhami
ni
Theyalllookedatherconf
used.Shefrozethe
momentshehel dherhandandi tgotherworr
ied
.Coulditbethatshe'
sseei
ngsomet hing.
Theyall
wantedtohearwhatwaswr ong.
“
Mama, ”
shef i
nall
yspoke.“
Don’
tgoanywher
e
t
omor row.Evenifit
’sver
yimpor
tant.
Don’
tst
epout
.Eyyyyy,
”shegroaned.
Tear
sf l
oweddownhercheeksandi
twasver
y
worr
ying.
★
★
★
[
01/
08,
09:
44] :#07
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Not
e:i
t’
sedi
tedr
eadal
loveragai
n

Thenextdaymam'Dlhami
nidi
dast old,
Whuushe
wasn’
treadyt
olooseherl
if
ejustyet
“
Koko,
”Onesi
phoknockedonhermot
her
’sdoor.
“
Comei
n,”
Onesiphost
eppedi
n.“
Ther
e’ssomeonewhoi
s
request
ingf
oryou,
”
“
Okay,
youcango,
ngi
yeza,
”
Onesi
phonoddedandj
oggedt
oherr
oom .
Mam'Dl
haminigotof
fherbedandwentt
othe
si
tt
ingr
oom wherehefoundgazi
ni.
“
Gazi
ni,
whatmessagedoyouhavef
orme.
”
“Theancestorssentamessage. i
nayeart here’
s
goingtobeawar. They’l
lcometot akeOnesi pho
.AndI’m sureyouknowwhoi tis.Tellherto
prepar
eher selfandtal
kt oherancestors.Thereare
goingtobe5ofhershi el
ds.Thefifthwillbeher
soulmate.Tellher,
sheknowshowt oprotect
hersel
f“

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Mhl
angeni

“Soshecanseethefutur
e,”Mhl
angenisai
d
speaki
ngwit
hhisbrotherUnat
hi.
“
Iguessso,
”,
Unat
hisai
d.
Justt
henmhl
angeni
'
sphoner
ang.
“Igott
oanswer
thi
s,”
Unathinoddedandwal kedoutofMhl
angeni
’
s
roundel.
Mhlangeniansweredthecal
l.
“Vuyelwa,”
Mhlangenisaidhewassuddenl y
i
rri
tatedbyVuyelwa'sbehaviourl
atel
y.Whatmade
him moreangryisthatVuyelwarefusestosl
eep
withhim.I
tsbeen6weeksnow . Hewasnow
thi
nkingoftaki
ngavi r
ginladyinhisvil
lage.
“
Hai
inomor ebabe??OkayI ’
mjustt
ell
ingyout
hat
I
’
m cancel
li
ngfortoday.
I’
llbebusy,
”
NowMhl angeniwasnowi r
rit
atedandrealmad.
He
droppedt hecallandhesatonthebedforsome
ti
me. Het henjumpedoffbedandgotinhiscar
.JustthenOnesi phoqui
cklywentoutandwaved
herhandsi
nfrontofthecari
ndicat
ingt
hathe
shoul
dstop.Mhlangenist
oppedandwalkedt
oher.
“Whateveryoudodon’
tfight.
Experi
encethet
rut
h
thenwalkaway.you’
l
ltakethenextdeci
sion.
You
don’twanttol
endintr
oubleplease.
”Onesipho
warned
Onesiphowast hegiftedonesohehadt oagr ee
eventhoughshedi dn'tknowwhathewoul d
expir
ience. buthewaspani cking.Henoddedhi s
headandwal kedbackt othecar. Wonderingwhat
Onemeant. Hear r
ivedatVuyel wa'shouse. He
parkedthecaront hesi deofther oad.Andwal ked
tothegat e.Sli
dingal i
ttlegapf orhimtoent er.He
wentinandopenedt hedoorandi twasn’tlocked
.Hewonder ed.Moansf il
ledthespace. Hedi dn’t
wantt othinkwhathet hought. Hewantedi ttobe
somet hi
ngel se.Hewentt othesi t
tingr
oom wher e
hefoundVuyel waunderanot hermanont hecar pet
.Hisangerboi ltup.
“
damnyouVuyel
wa.
”heshout
ed.
Vuyel
waf
rozeal
it
tl
ehear
ingMhl
angeni
’
svoi
ce
.Shequicklypushedtheguysoff.Andstoodup
.“Mhlangenipl
ease.It
’snotwhatyouthinki
tis
.Ngiyaxol
isaSthandwaSam .BekuyiphutaandI’
l
l
neverrepeat,
”
Hechuckledi
ndisbel
ief.“
entl
ekuyadelel
aNeh
.BukalakeWenaVuyel wa.Kuphel
il
ebetweenme
andyou.Don’
tevercallme.Iwouldhavekil
ledyou
onthi
sspotbutnxayazzinngyahamba. ”
Hewalkedoutwit
hVuyelwabegginghi
mt ost
op
.Hewenttohiscaranddrovear
oundthenwent
home.
★
★
★ Ther
ewer
eaf
ewmi
stakes.
Her
e’si
nser
t7
[
01/
08,
09:
45] :#08
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Mhl
angeni
Ar r
ivingathomehegoest hroughhi sphoneand
blocksVuyel wa’
snumber st hendel et edt hei r
pictur es.Rightnowhej ustneededsomeonet ocalm
him down. That’
st heonl yt hingt hatpassedhi s
mi nd. Honest lyithurtal ot ,
hemi ghtactal ltough
andhear tlessbutt here'sal wayst hatsof tpar t.No
mat terhowhet riedtoacthear tl
ess. Hehad
feelingst oo.Hesatonbedpul li
ngouthi sphone
aboutt ocal lRobi,Ahi ghschoolgi rlsher ecent l
y
met. Sheseemedl ikeal oyal ,humbl el ady, throw
back* Mhl angeniwasonhi swayof ftowor kwhen
hecameacr ossagi r
linschooluni form. headmi r
ed
herbeaut y. herdarkski n, shewasr eal lypr etty.Her
schooluni form suitedherbody. Mhl angenideci ded
tost opcl oset oherandgi veherar idet oschool
.Thef rownedseei ngacarpar ki
ngi nfrontofher
,shewasscar edsincei twast hefirsttime, she
hear dmanyst oriesofhowgi rlswest olenand
traffi
cked. Mhlangenir olleddownt hewi ndow. His
handsomenesscaughtt hel adiesat tending.
“
saubona”
hegr
eet
ed.
Thei
rconver
sat
ionwenton
andt hat
'showt heybecamefriends.*
endoff l
ash
back.hedi al
ledt henumber.Hedidn’tt
hinkshe
wouldansweri tbecauseitwaslateatnightbutshe
actuall
yanswer ed.
“
Speakfast,
myparentswillhearme, t
heyhateit
whenIanswert
hecalllat
eatni ght
.”shewhisper
ed
“
canIpi
ckyouupt
omor
rowaf
terschool.
”
“
coul
dn’
tyousi
mpl
ytextme.
”sheasked
Mhlangenichuckled.
“kadengi
funaukuzwai
li
zwi
l
akhobeforengilala,
”
“
Byebyebaba.
Wenaodl
hal
angani,
”sher
epl
ied
“
Lal
aKahl
e,”
Robidr
oppedt
hecal
l.
Mhl
angenismi
ledandsi
ghed.

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Onesi
pho
Ilookedathim passi
ngbyi nanger.
heseemed
reall
yhurt.Ineverwantanyofmybrother
’st
ogo
throughthat.
“saubonant omb'enhl
e.”someonesnappedmeout
ofmyt hi
nkingworld.
Iturnedandiwasmetbythi
s
hitcreatur
e. Hewasdressesli
kesomeonewho
wor ksinpiecejobsandIsimplyguessedt
hati
twas
thenewgar dener,
Zweli.
Ist
ret
chedasmi
le.
“heyZwel
i”
_
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Mhl
angeni

Aft
erworkMhlangeniparkedhi scaratt
hecorner
cl
osetoRobi’
sschoolwat chingstudent
spassing
byingr
oups.Hewasn’ tabletonoticeRobisohe
deci
dedtocal
lher.
immedi atelyRobianswers.
“
Babuukuphi,
”Robiasked.
“
nohel
lo,
anywaysBabui
swai
ti
ngf
oryouatt
he
cor
neri
nabl
ackcar.
IzaRi
ri,
”
Robir
aisedhereyebr
owst
il
lont
hecal
l.“
Rir
i?”
Thatcameoutasaquestion.Shesomehowdi dn’
t
l
iketheni
ckname.Mhlangenichuckled,“
Ichosei
t
becauseIknowyouwouldn’tl
ikei
t,phanyi
sa!
!”

Weeksl
ater
..
..
..
..
..
..
★

★
★
[
01/
08,
09:
45] :#09
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Onesi
pho

TodayIwokeupr eal
lyexcit
ed.It
’sbeen2weeksi
n
theNkosihouseastheprincess.TodayI
’
llbe
st
art
inganewdayi nuni
versi
ty.Iwasdressedint
o
bl
uehighwaistjeans,whi
tenonameki cksanda
whit
ehoodie.It
ookmybagandwentt othetabl
e
whereever
yonewashavi ngbreakfast.
“
Sani
bonani,
”Igr
eet
edever
yone.
Theyal
lgr
eet
edback.Mam'
Dlhami
ni'
sphoner
ang
andshest
oodupwalki
ngout.
“WeeehMhlangenii
zoloebusukuwhengoi
ngtomy
room Isawyoubri
ngingagirli
nandshewasnot
defi
antl
yVuyelwa.”
Mnothosaid.SomehowIf
elt
l
ikehewaslying.
Mhlangenif
rowned.
“Angaziukut
hiukhul
uma
ngani
!”
Ir
eleasedagiggl
ewhil
eMnot ho,Mandlakheand
Unathichuckl
ed.
Mhlangenishotaser
iousdeadly
l
ook.
“
ningangihl
olel
iNina.
Ningj
wayezayini
.”
Mhlangeniwarnedandweallkeptqui
te.
“Sanibonaniekhaya.
”t
hegar
denboyZwel
isaid
steppingin.Hewasonlyi
nwhit
evest
sandblue
worksuitpant
s. Hereal
lylookedhotwithhi
s
musclesout.Ahotguyl i
kehim deservedmore.
I'
m
surehehasgoal s.maybeheneedst ogetext
ra
cash.Weallgreetedhim back.
“I
’m her
etoinfor
m youallthatI’
vedonethegarden
earl
iert
oday.SoI’mleavi
ngf oruni
ver
sit
y.Ihaveto
passathomef ir
st.”
Zwelisaid
“
Okay.You’
llgetyourpaymentwhencomi
ngback
f
rom uni
ver
sity.
”Unathisai
d.
Zwel
inoddedandwal
kedout.
“
Won’tyourunlat
e,”
Mhlangeniasked.
“I
’m about
t
oleavesoufunaiLi
ft
??”
“
Yeah,
soi
mal
iyomkher
o??
”iasked.
“hai
imhloloYani.
Don’tyouhavepocketmoneyor
yourboyfr
ienddoesn’
tgiveyoumoney? ?”
Unathi
asked.
Igiggledpicki
ngupmybag.“
Hedoesn’tgivei
tfor
fr
ee. ihavetori
dehi
mthenhe’
llgi
vei
t.let
sgo
bhut'
mhl a”
Unat
hif
rowned,
hedef
iant
lydi
dn’
texpectt
hat
.
Ngi
mbambi
lemsunu.
MhlangenisroodupandIf
oll
owedhi
m outl
aughi
ng
atUnathi
'sreact
ion.
.
.

★
★
★
[
01/
08,
09:
45] :#10
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Onesi
pho

Aft
erschoolIwenttot het
axir
ank. TodayImet
Zweliatschool.
Insteadofcomingmyway, hejust
smashedasmi l
eatmeandwal kedawaywi thouta
si
nglewor dtome. TodayImetaf r
iendcall
edSi pho
.She'squit
ejumpyandbubbl y.She’
ssomeone
you'l
lneverbeboredaround.Icli
mbedt hetaxiand
paidthetaxif
are.Iaskedforaspecialsi
nceIdidn’
t
wanttowal kadistance.
Iwast ooti
redatthe
moment. Iarr
ivedathomeandmam' Dlhaminiwas
i
nt hekit
chencooki ng.
“
Saubonamama,
”Igr
eet
edher.
“
Yebo.
Unj
ani?
?”sheasked.
“
justf
ine.
IsZwel
icomi
ngi
n?”
Iasked.
“
N.no.
Utheuzoyi
that
aksasai
mal
i,
”shet
oldme.
“Mhhokay. I’
llbei nmyr oom.”Isaidwalking
throughthepassageandgoti ntomyr oom .Onlyme
andmymot hersl eepi nthehouse.Whi l
emensl eep
attheroundelsout side.Motherhadgivent hem a
pieceofland,they'llchoosewhent heygrowup
,whethertheyt ostayi nthecit
iesorvil
lages.Asfor
me, I'
l
lhavetost aywi thmyhusbandi nt hevil
lage
becauset hi
siswer emyancest orsare.Ilai
donbed
andgotonf acebook.
*
Zwel
iNkosanasentyouaf
ri
endr
equest.
*
Iskippedinjoyal i
tt
leseeingthatnoti
fi
cat
ion.I
accepteditandsenthim at extsayi
ngheyyou.I
checkhi sl
astactiveanditwas9mi nut
esago.I
placedmyphoneasi deandt ookoffmyshoes
walkingtothekitchen.Isatonthecounterwhil
e
Mam' Dlhaminicooked.
“Kant
iar
en’
tyouher
etohel
pme,
”mam’
dlhami
ni
asked
“
Haiinomam'dl
hami
ni.
I’
m hungr
yandt
ir
ed.
Sohai
i
,
”Ir
efused.
“
Hai
iuyi
vil
apha,
”shesai
dinbet
weenl
aughs.
Ij
oinedher.
“okayatl
eastdot
hiske.Takemoneyfr
om mybag
andbuymesomeoni onsattheshopbythecor
ner
.”
“Kancono, ”Isaidget
tingoffthecounterwalki
ngto
herr oom .It
ookthemoneyandwor eherslippers
.Thewal ktomyr oom seemedl i
kealongwal kto
freedom soIt ookhers.Iwalkedoutthedoorand
wentt otheshop. Onmywaybackf rom theshop
Zwel ipassedwi t
hagirlandmyhear tbrokeseeing
Zwel
iwi
thagi
rl.
Itr
ulydi
dn’
tunder
stand.
“
Hel
lo,
”Igr
eet
edt
hem asIf
acedt
hegr
ound.
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Zwel
i

Zwel
ilookedatherandsawsadnessi
nher.
Wai
t
wasi
tbecausehewaswi thagir
l.
“Ol
wethugohomeandt el
lmotherI’
llbel
ate.Si
s
wam tel
lherukuthishemusteat,”thathesai
dto
assur
eOnesiphot hathe’snotdat
ingOlwethubut
Olwet
huwasonl yhisyoungersister.Onerai
sedher
headwithherli
psst r
etchingi
ntoasmi l
e.
_
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Onesi
pho

“
Unjaninkosazana,
”heaskedwit
hhisdeepvoi
ce
.Hi
shandsi nhisbl
ueworksui
tover
all.
Hehadonly
onehandonwhil
etheot
herwasoutr
eveal
inghal
f
ofhi
svest.
Thather
dboystyl
e.
“
I’
mfi
ne,
”Isai
dwhi
lebl
ushi
ng.
“Iwanttoaccompanyyoubutmotheriswai
ti
ngat
home. Si
zachat(
a)kuf
acebooknh.”Hesai
d
Inodded. Hewalkedcloserandr anhishands
throughmywai st.Imeltedont hatspot.He
squeezedmecl osertohi m andIgentlyplacedmy
headonhi schestrunningmyhandsonhi schest
.Thiswasnotaf ri
endshi phugorani nnocentone.
Itcarr
iedsomuchemot ions.Ifelthi
smanhoodon
meandi tdi
dn'
tfeelcomf ort
able.What'shappeni
ng.
Ipul
ledoutandcl
ear
edmyt
hroatwhi
lehechuckl
ed
.
“
I’
lll
eaveyouher
e.Bye,
”hewal
kedout.
Il
eftandwenthome.
“HauIalmostthoughtyougotswal
lowedbythe
shop.Whathappenedt hatyout
ooksolong
.”mam’Dlhani
niasked.
“
Wel
lit
’sbecauseImadeaf
ri
end.
”Isai
d
“
Wellt
hat
’sni
ce.Bri
ngmyt
hingst
hen
,
”Mam’Dl
haminisai
d.
★
★
★
[
01/
08,
09:
45] :#11
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Onesi
pho

Ont
het
extwi
thZwel
i:
:
CanIpl
easeseeyounow.
:
Nowhati
foneofmybr
other
’scat
chme.
:
Comeont heywon’
t.Imeani
ts12midni
ght.
You
j
ustgot
tasneakoutandi'
l
lhel
pyoujumpthewall
andwe'
llgot
omypl ace.
:
OhhhnoZwel
iIcan’
tdot
hat
:
I’
l
lbr
ingyoubackat1pl
ease.
 :
okayf
ine.
Wher
ear
eyounow.
:
Out
sideyouryar
d.
Mxm sohewasal r
eadyhere.Inst
eadofwal kingout
themai ndoor.Ijumpedoutmywi ndowandr an
towardsthegatewi thmygownon. Iopenedt he
smallgateandi twasnotlocked.Isteppedoutand
hewasl eani
ngagai nstt
hewal lsmokingaci garet
te
i
nt hesamecl othesHewor ethisaft
ernoon. He
thr
ewi tonthefloorandsteppedont o.Thenwalked
tome.
“
Heyyoucame.
”Hesai
d.
“Ihadt
o.Sowheret o?”Iasked.Hesteppedf
orward
andrai
sedmychi nwithfingermaki
ngmest areat
him.Hebrushedhisli
psagai nstmi
ne.
“
what’
stherush.”
hesai
d.Iwant
edhi
m ki
ssmeon
t
hespot.“
sayit,
”
Thatmel
tedmeandIendedupgi
vingi
n.“
kissme
Zweli
,
”
FotshekmsunuwakhomlomoWakaOne.Didyou
havetosaythat.
Youar
emakinghi
mreal
isethat
youl ikehim.I
'l
ldealwi t
hyouwhenwer eachhome
.Ourl i
psmetandweki ssedf oronlyafewmi nut
es
,thatt ast
eofsmokeinhi smout h,wow.Wedi dnot
kisst hatl
ong,hethenpul ledoutandwewal kedto
hishousechat ti
ng.Ther ewasar oom atthebackof
thehouseandwewal kedt oit.Wewal kedinand
ther ewasamat tr
essandacl oset.Abucketanda
bat hingdish.
Isatont hemat tresstaki
ngof fmy
slippersandgown. Iwasonl yleftwit
hmypjTshi r
t
,shor tsandsocks.
“
whydi
dyoucal
lmeher
e??
”Iasked.
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Zwel
i

Hebattl
edwithhismi ndwhetherheshouldtel
lher
orgiveheranaction.Heleanedforwardandfrench
ki
ssedhim br
ushingherthighsslowly.Helai
dher
onbedwhilekissi
ng.Hewentdownt oherneckand
suckedi
t.Heranhi shandstohershortsandtri
ed
sl
idi
nghishandsinbutOnesi phostoppedhim.
“
ImaZwel
i,
”Onesi
phost
oppedhi
m.
“Mhhhwhybabe,
”heaskedashi
seyeswher
ered
andhal
fcl
osed.
“
I’
m avi
rgi
nZwel
i.”
“MaNkosana.Il
oveyouandIpr
omi
set
obegent
le
please.
”hebegged.
“I
'm notready.Idon’
tknowwhet hermeandyouar e
anitem ornot.Ican’
tjustgi
veawaymyvi rgi
nit
yto
youjustliket
hat.”Zweliwentbacksi
tt
ingup
str
aight
“OnesiphoIam yoursandyourmi ne.Iloveyouand
youonl y.Outofalotofgir
lsIsti
llchoseyou. You
don’tknowhowyoumakemef eel.Youdr i
veme
crazyOnesiphowami. Angfi
siukubanomonye
umunt ungaphandlekwakho.Ngiyacela.Ngidedel
e
ukuthinyi
kupheuthando.”
★
★
★
[
01/
08,
09:
46] :#12
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Onesi
pho

Ihesit
atedalot.
Iwantedhi
mt ohavei
tbuti
sn’
tit
toosoon.Buthelovesme.Ir
eall
ywanttoshowhim
thatIl
ovehim back.
“
Zwel
i,
”Isai
d
“
Mhhhh,
”her
epl
ied.
“Ngi
cel
aongi
boni
seut
hando.
Makel
ovet
ome.
”I
sai
d.
“
Usur
e,”
heasked.
“
Yes,
”Ir
epl
ied.
“
HowdoIknowt hatyou’
rer
eady,
Idon’
twantt
o
f
orceyou.
”heasked.
Iwentoverandsatontopofhim.Ourpri
vat
epart
s
at
tached.
“Trustme,
Iam”.Iki
ssedhi
m andheran
hi
shandst omyassandsqueezedit.Hemoved
hi
msel
fonmeandImoaned.
“
Zwel
i,
”Imoaned.
“
Myl
ove,
”hesai
dst
il
ldoi
ngi
twhi
leki
ssi
ngme.
Hef l
ippedmeoverandnowhewasont opofme
.Her eachedmyshirtandt ooki
toff.
Het hen
cuppedmybr eastsandsucked. Gent
lyRot at
inghi
s
tongueonmyt it.
Thef eel
ingwasreall
ygr eat.
_
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Zwel
i

Hermoansgothim crazy.
Hej ustwant
edtobein
her.
Hefinal
lyr
eachedherpant sandpull
edt
hem
down.Tohersurpr
iseOnesiphowasn’twear
ingany
pant
ies.
Zwelil
ookedupt oher.
“
Idon’
tfeelcomfor
tabl
einthem whi
lesl
eepi
ng
.”
sheconfessedwhil
egiggl
ing.
Zweli
kissedhercheekthent
ookoffhi
sshort
sleft
wit
hboxers.“
Wai tl
etmegetthepr
otect
ion.
,”
he
sai
dandOnesi pholai
donbedcoveri
nghereyes
.
Her eachedf
orashoeboxupt
hewar
drobe
.
“Bananaorstrawber
ry.
”
“
Hahaha,
”Onesi
phol
aughed.
“Bananawi
lldo,
”
Zwel i
tookt
heprotect
ion.
Rippedthecover
,r
emoved
hisboxersandsli
dthecondom onhisd*ck.Hethen
turnedbacktoherwit
hasmi l
eplast
eri
ngonhi s
face.
Heposi
ti
onedhi
mselfont
heent
rance.
“I
fyouf
eel
pai
nscr
atchmybacknh,”
Onesiphonodded.Ohhboyheknewthi
swouldher
hurtherbutshewil
lbefi
neasheconti
nues.
“I
’l
lbe
gentl
e.Iloveyouyezwa.
”
Onesiphonodded.Zwel ipushedinandshe
fl
inchedinpai
n. Hepushedt hesecondti
meand
Onesiphowasnowf eel
ingsomuchpai n.She
wantedtostopZwel i.
Sheplacedherhandson
Zweli’
schesttr
yingtopushhi m awaybutZwel i
pi
nnedherhandst ightonthemat tr
essandpushed
deeper.ThepainOnesiphowasf eeli
ngwasr eal
ly
hurti
ng.Hepushedagai nandf i
nall
yZwelibrokeher
vi
rgini
ty.Hehadhervi r
gini
tyandHewaspr oud.He
t
hrustsl
owl
yinher.
Theenj
oymenthewashavi
ng
i
nherwaswow. Thi
shel
dalotofemot
ions.
“Zwelimhhhh,Il
oveyou,
”Onesi
phomoanedf
inal
ly
enjoyi
nghersel
f.
★
★
★
[
01/
08,
09:
46] :#13
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Onesi
pho

Hethendroppednexttome. Thebothofust r
ying
t
ocat chai
r.Justt
hendropl
etsofraindrop.Thisi
s
l
ikeablessi
ng.Maybetheancestorsapproveus
.Justmaybe.Welaidonthatposi
ti
onf orafew
minutes.
“
Babel etmegopr
epar
ewaterf
orust
obat
h.Then
I
’
llaccompanyyouhome.
”
Inoddedal
it
tl
ewor
ri
edaboutt
her
ainandhe
walkedoutt
othemainhouse.Hecamebackwit
ha
bucketofwar
m wat
erthenpouredi
tont
hebathi
ng
di
sh.
.
.
“
Ngiyak’
thandaMaNkosana,
”hesai
dwi
thhi
shands
r
unningaroundmywaist.
Inoddedandhechuckl
ed.Ir
aisemyeyebr
owi
n
confusi
on.whywashechuckl
ing.
“Whydoyoul
ovenoddi
ngyourheadi
nst
eadof
sayi
ngi
t.”
hesai
d.
“Okayokay. Il
oveyout oobabo,
”Irepli
ed.Hepull
ed
mecl oserforahugandIhuggedhi m back.Aft
er
somet i
meIpul l
edbackandwal kedt othegate
whileheleanedagainstthewallwatchingmewal k
i
n. Isneakedtothesideofthehouseandj umped
i
ntomyr oom .
Ithenclosedthewindowandgoti nto
thesheets.

1yearl
ater….
.
★
★
★
[
01/
08,
09:
46] :#14
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Zwel
i

“Ngi
khat
hel
eukudl
hal
aumafi
hlel
ananawe
MaNkosana,
Iwantt
omakeyoumywi fe.
”Zwel
i
conf
essed.
Hehadbigpl
ansf
orthem bot
h.
“
Baberightnowwehavetof
ocusonourdreams
.Soonyou’l
lbeopeni
ngt
hesaf
ariandI
’
llbea
t
eacher.Pl
ease.”
“
Iam r
ichnow,Iownasafari.
Theywi
llacceptme,
I
meanyourbr
other
’s..
”herepl
ied
Onesiphosatupstrai
ght“Yeah.buttheyallwant
met obeindependentfi
rst.
Misuk'
jaga.”Onesi
pho
repl
ied.
“
Onewe’vebeent
ogetherf
orayear.Iwantt
odo
t
hingst
heri
ghtway.”
Zwelirepl
ied.
“Zwelit
hereareci
rcumst
ancest
hatareaboutto
comemywaybecauseofmygi f
t.Thatwi
lldi
stur
b
ourwedding.Canwepleasewai
tforsometime
.”shebegged.
“
okaykul
ungi
le.
”
Event houghOnesi phoact edlikeshewasst rong
andf earless.Zweli sawitinhert hatshe’ spanicki
ng
.Zwel ididn’tl
ikethef actthathisgi rl
fri
endhast o
l
ivet hi sway. Theyt houghtenemi esl ongmade
peacewhenshedi sappear edbutt heywer elayi
ng
l
ow, wai ti
ngf orhert oreturn.Theywant edtotake
theirown.Banduma, Bandumaabduct sand
possessgi f
tedpeopl esot heyal lcanwor kunder
himi nor derforhimt ogetweal t
hy. Hehasabout4
gift
edpeopl e.Bandumahasnor i
ghtbecauset his
peopl ewer echosenbyt heancest orstoprotect
theirvi l
lage.ButBandumadoest hingshisownway.
Ever yonecantdoanyt hingabouti tbecause
Bandumai spower fulandcaneasi lytakeonesl i
fe
.Hehadal readykilled10peopl ewhot ri
edtofight
him.Onesiphowassummonedbyt heancest orsto
savethe4chosenones. 1whohadt hepowert o
heal,
2whohadt hepowert oconnectwi th
ancestors,3whocant ellyoual laboutyourl i
f eand
whyyourt hingsar enotgoi ngther ightway, 4t he
onethatshoul dneverbeknown. She’sthespeci al
one,
it’
snotnor mall i
keot hers.4i stheonewhocan
simplyburnat hingjustbyt hi
nkingandst ari
ngati t
.
Onewhocant ur
nwat eri nt
oi ce.Onewhocan
contr
olr ai
n.Shewasdi fferentfrom all.Onesiphoas
thei
rpr i
ncess.Theirfut ureQueenhadt osaveher
people.Inordertof i
ghtBandumashehadt of i
nd
her5humanshi eldswhi char emen. Shehast o
hidebeadsi never ymal ear oundhi m sheknows
.Sheshoul dnotletthem know. Sheal readyhi d3
.Mnot hoandMhl angeniar etheonl yonesl eft.
“
Zwelimelengibuyeleekhayamanje.
ma'Dl
hami
ni
wil
lworrysi
nceeveryonethinksI
’
m notsaf
enow
.”
Onesiphoadmitted.
“i
lldriveyouhome,Sukumasi
hambe.
”Zwel
iwas
al
r eadyreadytol
eave.
Onesi
phof
oll
owedhi
mtohi
sToyot
acar.
Aft
er
sometimehepar kedatt
hebusstopandtheybot
h
gotout.Zwelil
eanedagainstt
hecarwhi
le
Onesiphostoodinfr
ontofhim.
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Onesi
pho

Ngi
yam'
thandauZweliandIwouldgl
adlyl
iket
o
mar
ryhi
m. I’
vebeentol
dt hatmysoul
matewillbe
myshi
eldtooandIhopeit’
shim?
“ZweliIhavetol
eaveyounow.
Ngi
zokbona
ngel
ingeilanga.
”
“
YeahIhavet
oleaveal
so.
Myf
ri
endi
scomi
ngover
.”
★
★
★
[
01/
08,
09:
47] :#15
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Zwel
i

Hisfr
iendMt hunziwait
edforhi
m out
sidei
nhiscar
.Zwelif
inal
lyarri
vedandjumpedoutofhiscar
,Mthunzial
sodi dthesame.
“Mfanawam,
”Mthunzisaidwit
hhisbol
dscaryvoice
.Thismanwouldsur
elyscareyouwit
hhisvoice
.Hedeser
vestoacti
nt hosescar
yhorr
ormovi es
notownabusi
ness.
“
Unjani.”
Zwelisai
d,hewashappytoseehi
sface
.Af
tertheyl
ongseparat
edinuniver
sit
y.
Thebothsteppedi
nthehousespeaki
ng.Theysat
onthecouch
,
speaki ngandcat chi
ngup. Af
terawhil
eZwel i
offeredhim adrink.HeagreedandZwel iwentt
o
theki t
chentogeti t.
MeanwhileMthunzifel
ta
presencenextt ohim.Helookedbesideshim and
sawbr acel
etbeadswhichwer eredandwhi t
e
.Mt hunzipickedthem whi
leadmi r
ingt
hem ,he
them shovedt
hem i
nhispocket.
Hefeltl
iket
hey
belongedtohi
m andnooneshouldeverknow
_
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Mt
hunzi

Aft
eralongdaywi thhisfriendhear rivedathome
andwentupst airstohistakingof fhisclothes.The
beadfelldownt hemomenthet ooki toff.Hepicked
i
tuponl yl ef
twi t
hhi sboxer s.
Het hensatont he
edgeoft hebedbr ushi
ngt hem . Heslowl ysl
idthem
onhisar m. Thenhest artedshi veri
ngcausi nghim
togroan. Aftersomet i
meever ythingwentbl ank.
_
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Mam'
Dlhami
ni

“
Eeeeyi
ii
i,
”shegr
oanedast
heancest
orssenthera
message.
Mam'
Dlhami
niqui
ckl
yrant
oOnesi
pho'
sroom
f
indi
ngherkneel
ingandgr
oani
ng.
“Mamait
’st
ime.
Givemeyt
hest
ickandgetoutof
her
e.”
Mam'Dlhaminir
eachedf
orthestickundert
hebed
andhandedittohert
henquickl
ywalkedoutthe
room cl
osi
ngthedoor.
-
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
-
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
-
Onesi
pho
Nar
rat
ed-

Onesi
phoGr
abbedt
hest
icki
ntoherhands
sti
ght
ly.
Thunder
soccur
redandeveryt
hingwent
bl
ank.
Wakingupther
ewere5peoplebesidesher.
Sher ai
sedherheads. Herseeingadi f
ferentperson
besidesherwasi nfactsur
prising.Whatmadei t
worseist heywereholdi
nghandst i
ghtl
y. Couldhe
bethechosenonef orher.Thet imeisnotont hem
.Sheneedst ori
seanddest royBandumaf or
ever
.Allofthem weredressinoldZul uatt
ir
esusedt o
gotowar s,
carr
yingoldobj
ects,spear
setc…. How
theygotint hem nooneknew. The6stood,his4
brotherswer et
hereandtheunknownguy. She
thoughtmaybei twasgoingtobeZwel ibutitwasn't
theywer einthemi ddl
eofabush. Notknowing
wher etheywere. Amaninblackappearedbehi nd
thetrees.Therewer e2ugl
yscar ymenbehindhi m.
“
it
sti
me.
”Onesi
phout
ter
ed.
“Whatam Idoingher
e.Timeforwhat,
”Mthunzi
askedconfused.Hi
svoiceamazedeachofthem .
“Youal laremyshi el
d.Youwerethechosenones
.Mt hunziyou’r
emysoul mateandyoudut yi
sto
forevershiel
dme. Weal ldi
scussital
llat
er.
The
ancestor swi
lltel
lyouwhattodo.”
“
Onesi
phoNkosi.Myown,
”Bandumasai
djustaf
ter
r
eachi
ngthem .
“I’
llneverbeyours.
Overmydeadbody. I’
m myown
rule,onlymysoulmateandancestor
swi l
lrul
emea
,theonewhodoesbadcanneverr ul
e.Iwil
ldest
roy
youBanduma, andfor
ever.
”Sheshoutedinanger.
Bandumal
aughedagoof
yloudgaggyl
augh“
We
shal
lsee,
boyst
akeher.
”
Theboyswal kedcl
oser.Mandlakhe,Mnot
ho
,MhlageniandUnathisteppedforward.
Theytook
thei
rspearsandthr
eatenedtostabthetwoscary
men.
“
Doi
t.”
Onesi
phoshout
edf
rom behi
nd.
Mandl
akheandMnot host eppedforwar
dthe
j
umpednightwiththespearsandstabbedthef
ir
st
me.MhlangeniandUnathididthesametotheother
.
‘
distracthim.I’
m gettingtheot hers.’
shesaidinher
mindandi tconnectedwi thallofthem andtheyall
castedt oBanduma. whil
eOnesi phor anintot
he
tr
ees. Therewer efourRoundel sbehindt hetr
ees
.Withnooneguar dingthem . Beforeshecouldstep
i
nt heyar d.Somethingdi stur
bedheront he
entrance. I
twasl i
keani nvisi
bledoor.
“NinaBakwaNkosi.Ninaenisibhekil
e.Ngicel
a
ningi
vul
elenii
ndl
hela.Ngifunaukubuyisaebakithi
.Abantwanabenu. Yi
minauOnesi phowenu. ”
she
beggedherancestorsfi
rstthenslowlysteppedin
.Shetri
edalloveragainandent
ered,
ther
e’swas
nothi
ngblockingher.Shest
eppedthr
eesteps
towardsthefi
rst.
“Wenzani,
”amanf i
guresai
dbehi
ndherandshe
stut
ter
edinfear.
“yeyydon’
tmove.”
Shewantedt
opeeonherselfr
ightont
hespot.She
sl
owlyt
urnedherhear
sand4menwer ebehindher
,2wi
thwhipsand2withspear
s.
Theotheronesteppedf
orwar
dandpai
nful
ly
grabbedherar
m
“aii
ihaaaWenahor roryouarehur
ti
ngme
,uyang'l
imaza, ”
shecr i
edinpai
n.Themandi dn’
t
care.Theywal kedbehindthehurt
s.ASquar ed
housewast here.Theypushesherin.I
nsideofit
therewasacage. TheythrewOnesiphoinit,
Locked
i
tthenwal kedout.
Onesi
phocr
ied.
“pl
easesaveme,
”shewhi
sper
edi
n
bet
weencri
es.
★
★
★
[
01/
08,
09:
48] :#17
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Onesi
pho

Icri
edrightinsidethecage. Bei
ngi nonepl ace
suddenlyranmecr azy.Lookingatt hesamewal ls
gotmeangr y. Icouldn’
tdoanyt hing.It
’sbeenway
toolonginher e,I’
mt hi
rst
yandmyst omachi s
growli
nglikeal ionthat
’saboutt ofeastonahuman
,I’
m hungrylikeal i
on.Isatonthef loorbalanci
ng
myselfagainstthecagebar s.
4mencamei ncarryi
ngMandlakhe,Mnotho,Unat
hi
,Mhlangeniandthatguywit
hascar yvoi
ce.They
thr
ewt hem i
ntothesamecageasmi ne,
wewer eal
l
gather
edinthesamecage. Theylockedi
tand
walkedout.Si
lencefi
ll
edtheroom forawhil
e.
“
Heywhat’
syourname,
”Iaskedt
hescar
yman,
wit
h
ascar
yvoi
ce.
“
Mthunzi!
”hesai
d.Icannevergetusedt
ohi
svoi
ce.
“Wel
lMthunzi.
Iwoul
dli
ketothankyouforagr
eei
ng
tot
his.
Thankyouforgi
vingt
heancestor
stouse
you,
”it
hankedhim.
“Igr
ewupbeingtaughtthatwhat
evertheancestor
s
sayImustdo,andthat
’swhatim doi
ng.”Mthunzi
repl
ied
“
whathappenedt
oBanduma?
”Iasked.
“
wellweki
ll
edhi
m, ”
mnot
hosai
ddr
aggi
ngt
hehi
m
l
iket
herewasabut.
“Butt
here’
ssomeonewi t
hhim.”mhlangenisai
d
angerbuil
dingupwit
hinhi
m, youcouldseeit
thr
oughhisf ace.
“Who?
?”Iasked.
Theyseemedl
iket
heyknowt
hat
per
son.
“Me,”afamil
iarvoicesai
denteri
ngtheroom .
I
l
ookedupt ohim, Icoul
dnotbeli
evemyeyes. I
foundtear
srolli
ngdownmycheeksr epeat
edl
y.I
shookmyheadr efusi
ngtoaccepti
t.
“
yesbabygi
rl.
itwasme,
”heconf
essed.
“
WhyyouZwel
i,
”Icr
ied,
sobbi
ngi
npai
n.
“
Mydadismyownerandhiscommands,
Imust
maket
hem t
rue,
”Zwel
irepl
ied.
“wait.
Ba….
.Bandumai
syourf
ather,
”Iwi
pedt
het
ear
drops.
“
Yeshei
smyf
ather.
Myr
uler.
”
Thefivewerereal
lyconfused.
TheyknewZwel
iwas
thegardener.
Butthedidnotknowwhatwas
betweenus.
“
soever
ythi
ngwasal
ie,
”
“Acompleteli
ebabygirl,
metakingyourvir
gini
ty
wasmehavi ngmor epowersoveryou.Idefeat
ed
yourbr
other’
s.Youwer esost
upidtogivemeyour
vi
rgi
nit
ysoqui ckl
y.Thatwasawr ongmove. ”
It
urnedt
omybr
other
sandt
heyhaddef
eat
ed
l
ooks.
“
Siphowhy,
”Mhl
angenicl
ear
lyaskeddef
eat
ed.
“Ngiyaxol
isabhutmhl
a,Idi
dnotknow,bekuyiphuta
eli
khulu.”
Icri
edcrawl
ingtohi
m.Ithr
ewmysel fin
hisarmesandheembr acedmeti
ght.
“
ShhhNana,don’tcr
y.Idon’
twantt
oseeyoucr
y
.Ever.
”mhl
angenisuppor
tedme.
“Enough,af
terafewdays,I’
lltakecontr
olofyou
both.Andyouallwil
lbemysl aves.Fairwell.”
zweli
walkedout.i
sthist
hemanIl oved.i
shet heone
whowant edtoputtheri
ngonmyf i
nger.I
'm hurt,
I
cri
edoutloudasmhl angenisqueezedmet ight.
“nenepl
easedon’ tcry,I
’m beggingyou.i
thurt
seven
thoughIdon’tknowyou.Youcr yingl
ikethi
scuts
deep.I
’m begging.”
Mt hunzibeggedme. Iseeanick
namealready'nene'
Iwipedmyt ear
swhilesnif
fi
ng.Hecameoverand
satnexttome.iwasinbetweenthentwo.Il
aidon
Mthunzislapandshutmyeyes.Ineededtosl
eep
tr
yingtoeasetheheart
break.Hebet
rayedme.
★
★
★
[
01/
08,
09:
48] :#18
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Onesi
pho

*
Spl
ash*

Wat
erwassplashedonmyf acewaki
ngmef r
om
myworstdr
eam .Idr
eamtofMnot howalki
ngaway
i
nwhit
eclot
hes.Thatonlyl
eadst oonet
hingwhi
ch
i
sdeat
handI ’
m notexpect
ingthat.
“youthi
nkthisisahot elandyou' l
lsleepasmuchas
youwant.Nonohoneyyougoti twrong. Eat,
”oneof
theguardssaid.Istaredonmyt highsandt here
wasapl at
eofwetbr ead. Thewatercamef r
om my
weavetothebr ead. Doesheexpectmet oeati t
.Unbeli
evable.Ratherlivewithhungert i
llt
hel ast
day.Youpieceoft rash. Mxm .
“I
lleat.
”Iassur
edhi
m andhechuckl
edandwal
ked
out.
“
Neneyoucanhavemi
ne.
”Mt
hunziof
fer
ed.
“
MthunziI
’
mfi
ne.
”
“
eatNene,
”hef
orcesme.
butwhatabouthi
m.
“
Okayl
etsdot
his.
Itakeone,
yout
akeone,
”
“
that
’sbet
ter.
”
“
areyoudoi
ngf
ine,
”unat
hiasked.
“
Imf
ine.
”Ir
epl
ied.
“buti
sMnothookay,”Mandl
akhenoti
ced,mnotho
hewaswayt ooqui
teformyli
king.Wejustspoke
abouthi
m andhedidn’
tmove.
“yendodazi
khi
phane.
”Unat
hisai
dshaki
nghi
m of
f
histhought
s.
“
ifanyt hinghappensknowt hatIl
oveyouall.t
hank
f
oral lofyoursuppor t
s.Youfourhadbeentherefor
meandIwi shyouthebestinli
fe.”
Mnothosaid
.Hellnot hatdream can’
tbecomereal
it
y. Ij
ustmet
mybr ot her.I
t’
snoteven3years.NoIsti
llneedti
me
wit
hhi m.
“Mnothowakhulumangat
hiuzof
a.Don’
ttal
kli
ke
that.
”t
ear
swer ehal
fwayaboutt
orol
ldownmy
cheeks.
.
.
.
Theguardsweredri
nkingtheirl
ivesout
.Maybeit
’s
becauseZwelii
sn’
taround.Thiscouldbeouronl
y
chancetoescapewhent heydozeoffbuthow.We
don'
thaveanyescapeplan.
“
Mthunzithi
scouldbeourchancet
oescape.
”I
whi
speredtoMthunzi.
“
Ithi
nkIhaveanidea.wai
tforaf
ewhour
s
.”
Mthunziwhi
speredback.
Inoddedqui
etl
yandl
aidmyheadonhi
sshoul
der.
Sl
owlyhour
spassedandt
heyf
inal
lydozedof
fin
sl
eep.
Ishookever
yonet
owakeup.
“
Mthunziwhat
’st
hepl
an,
”
“Gi
vemethatpinonyourweave,
IthinkIcoul
dtr
y
usi
ngi
ttounlockthel
ock.”
Mthunzisaid.
“
Wecoul
dtr
ythat
,”
Mandl
akhesai
d.
…………….

I
tsbeenminutesnowandMthunzii
sbusyshuf
fl
ing
t
hatpinonthelockandt
her
e’snomove.
“Mt
hunzijustl
eavei
t.I
twon’
twor
k.”
Iwhi
sper
ed.
I’
ll
qui
tever
ysoon.
“Havepat
ience.
Ahaaaaaaa.
Her
ewego,
”Mt
hunzi
sai
d.
“
Keepi
tlow,
”Mhl
angeniwar
ned
“
Opps.
Igoti
t,”
heshowedust
hel
ock.
ISoowant
edt
oscr
eam i
njoy.
Vict
orydance.
Hesl owlyopenedi tandonebyonewest eppedout
.Heal soopenedt hedoor, quickl
yIgrabbedt hebag
Icamewi t
h.Thedoormadet hat'
twi
i'soundandwe
skippedal i
tt
leinfear.I’
veseenpeopl esneaki ngout
i
nmovi esbutInevert houghtitcouldbet hi
shar d
.Heopenedi tandweal lsteppedout. Mthunzi
madeagoodmovebyl ockingthoseguysi nthe
room .Irel
easedasi ghi nreli
ef.
“
Nenzani!
”hespokest
oppi
ngusonourt
racks
Dang!
“
Zwel
ipl
easel
etusgo,
”Ibegged.
Hepul
ledoutakni
feandpoi
ntedi
tatus.
“nowgo
backi
nther
e.”
“noway!”mnothochargedt owardshim att
empting
tofi
ghthim butZwelir
aisedhisknif
ereadyt ostab
him,Mthunzipushedmnot hoasideandt heknif
e
l
andedonhi sshoulder.
Mt hunziki
ckedZwel it
ot he
groundandsteppedonhi sface
“
ahhhhhhhhhh!
”Iscr
eamed.
“
Endhi
m Onesi
pho.
”mnot
hosai
d.
Ipull
edoutablackpowderinmybagandkneel
ed
i
nfrontofhi
m andblewitonZwel
i’
sface.
“ahhhhh,”that
’st
helastthi
ngZwel
isai
dandthi
s
wast helastofhi
m. Lal
angocol
oSthandwaSam .
i
shedat earandsnif
fed.
“
It
sdone!
”unat
hisai
d.
“
Sowherear
ethepeopl
ewear
esupposet
osave
.”
Mandl
akheasked.
“
Ithi
nkthose4hutsinfr
ontofusar
etheir
s.Ihave
4keyswit
hme. I
’l
lhandthem t
omybrothersastol
d
.Youwil
lhavet
ounlockeachdoor.
”
Thenodded.Wewal kedtowardsthenandstood
i
nfr
ontofthem .
Ihandt hem t
hekeys.Meanwhil
e
meandMt hunzist
oodbywat chingthem .
★
★
★
[
01/
08,
09:
49] :#19
_
___
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___
___
___
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_
_
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___
___
Onesi
pho

“
Wel ldonebrothers.
”Isai
d.theyhavemanagedt o
f
reet hefourgif
tedmaidens.Therewasnomal e
wit
hint hem .
Theylookedbeauti
full
ikegoddesses.
“
Nowhowdowegetoutofher
e.”Mhl
angeniasked
.WowIal
sodon’
tknow.
Whydidn’
tIaskt
his.
“
Weknowhow.
”wezi
ntabasai
d.
Theysur
roundedusput
ti
ngusinthemiddl
e.Sl
owl
y
Ishutmyeyesandever
ythi
ngwentbl
ankforme.

…………….

Isl
owlyopenmyeyes. Hey!I’
minmyr oom .
Which
meanteveryt
hingwentsuccessf
ull
y.Sl
owlyI
j
umpedof fbed.I
’m dr
essedint
othesamedressI
worewhencomi nghereaft
er18years.Mt
hunzi!He
i
sinjur
ed.OhhMyGodIwonderwher eheis.
Isl
ippedint
omysli
ppersandrant
owardst
he
ki
tchenwheremam'Dl
haminiwasmixi
ngwateri
na
bowl,thenpour
edDet
toli
nit.
“
Mam'
Dlhami
ni,
”Igr
eet
ed.
“
Pri
ncess,
uvi
kil
e.”
sher
epl
ied.
“
Yebomam'
Dlhami
ni,
”Ir
epl
ied.
“
Congrat
sonyourvictory.I
’
m ver
yproudofyou
.Wher
everyourf
atheris.Heisal
soproudi
ncludi
ng
t
heancest
ors.
”shecongr
atul
atedme.
“
Thankyoual
ot.
Wher
eMt
hunzi?
”Iasked.
“
Theguestr
oom .
Hei
sver
yinj
ured.
”sher
epl
ied.
“
Ist
hatf
orhi
m.”
“
Yespr
incess.
”
“Givei
ttome.I’
l
lhel
phim. I
t’
smydut
ysincehe
helpedus.
”Isai
dstr
etchi
ngmyhandstorecei
ve
thebowl.
Shehandedi
ttome.
“begent
le,
”
“
Iwi
llmama.
”
It
ookthebowlandwal
kedtotheguestr
oom .
I
sl
owlyopenedt
hedoorandther
ehewasquiet
ly
l
ayingonbed.
“Goodmorni
ng.
”Isai
dst
eppi
ngin.
Ipl
acedthe
bowlont
heheadboar
dandsatont
hechai
r.
Hest
ret
chedhi
sli
psi
ntoasmi
le.
“hey,
”thevoi
ce
!t
hevoi
ce!t
hevoi
ce!
Iremovedt
hebandageandhef
li
nched.
“shhhh
shhh,”
Iwett
hetowelandgent
lypr
essedi
tonhiswound.
Hekeptf
li
nchi
ngandhemademef eell
ikeI
’m
hur
ti
nghim
“I
fyoust
opfl
inchi
ngandgr
oaningl
ikeababy,
I
promi
setogi
veyouakiss.
”Isai
d.
Het
urned.
“r
eal
ly?
”
“
It
’sapr
omi
se,
”
“
Okayf
ineI
’
llactt
ough,
”hesai
d.
Iat
tendedt
ohiswound,
thenpl
acedanewbandage
andhecooper
atedj
ustf
ine
“
okaymyj
obi
sdoneher
e.I
’
lll
eave,
”
Iatt
empt edt
ostandupbuthehel
dmyar m,pul
li
ng
mecl osetohi
sface,
mylipsi
nchesawayfr
om
his.“whataboutmyki
ss,”
Hi
sbr
eat
hhi
tsmyl
ipswheneverhespoke.
“
mhhhh?
”hespoke.
“
Uhhhm .
uhmmm ,
”wor
dsf
ail
edt
oexi
tmyl
ips.
“
whatpr
incess,
”hi
seyesar
eshutmeanwhi
leI
’
m
l
ooki
ngathim.
“
mthunziIhavet
oleave!
”Iut
ter
ed.
“
Notyet,
”
Heleanedoverandki
ssedme.
Weki
ssedf
or
minutes.
“
ouch!
”hegr
oanedi
npai
n.
Irai
sedmyfacer
eali
singt hatIwasrest
ingmy
handonhi
sshouldercloselytothewound.
“i
m sor
ry.I
’
lll
eave,
”Ipi
ckedt
hebowlandwal
ked
out.
★
★
★
[
01/
08,
09:
50] :#20
_
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___
Onesi
pho

Ever
yonewasgat
her
edar
oundt
het
abl
eaboutt
o
eatdi
nner.
“
Uhmmm I’l
leatwi
thMthunzi.
I’
m surehe’
shungr
y
.”
Isai
daddingmoref
oodintomypl at
e.
Mhl
angenir
aisedhi
seyebr
ow.
“ononepl
ate,
”
“
Yeah,
I
’m avoi
dingt
omakemor
edi
shesf
orme,
”
“
Yazi
oswak.
you’
rewayt
oeasy,
”Unat
hiut
ter
ed.
“Whatar
eyout
alki
ngabout,
”Iwasr
eal
lyl
ost,
what
doeshemeanKahl
eKahle.
“Youf
alli
nlovewitheveryguywayt
ooeasy.Notso
l
ongagoZwel ibet
rayedyouandnowyou’
realr
eady
onaboutMthunzi.”
headded
Wow!I
sitwrongtothankaguywhoj usthel
pedyou
.I
’
m athatweak.HowcanUnathisaythataboutme.
Myownbr ot
her.
“
Unat
hi!
”ma’
Dlhami
niwar
ned.
“
Kodwai
t’
sthet
rut
h.”
“
Unat
himf
wet
hu.
phol
a.”
Mnot
hot
oldhi
m.
“I
sitacr
imetotellmysistert
hetr
uth.Justt
het
rut
h
only.
YesMthunziishersoulmat
ebutsheshoul
dat
l
easttakeitsl
owly,al
readyt
heywantt
oshar
e
pl
ates.Dod’waniLo!”
“HeyyHeyyUnathiI
’
m oldenoughandI’l
lmakemy
owndecesions,
I
’m 21forgoodnesssake.”
I
shouted.
“Soyouwantt
obe21andmar
ri
ed.
”Unat
hif
ought
back.
“I
sitmyf aul
tthattheancestor
schosethisforme
.Theychoset hi
spathforme. Whycan’tyouaccept
me. Rat
hermakemef eell
ikemygifti
sabur den.I
neverchoseit.AnywaysI’
mf ul
l.”
Iwalkedoutt omyr oom andlockedmyselfint he
room .I
’
m Ir eal
lythatweakinfal
li
nginlove. I
si t
wrongt ogiveoneachance. JustbecauseI’vebeen
hurtbyZwel iIshouldbegluedtohimtil
leternity.
Never,I
’llneveragreetosuchnonsense.

ThenextdayIwokeupandref
reshedmysel
f.My
stomachwasgrowli
ngi
nhungerbutIst
il
lsati
nmy
room fi
ddl
ingwi
thmyphone.Aknockcame
through.
“
Comei
n,”
Ishout
ed.
Unat
hist
eppedi
nwi
thhi
shandsi
nhi
spocket
s.
“
One!
”
Ir
aisedmyheadandl
ookedathi
m.“
Bhut
’nat
hi,
”
Hesatnexttomeont
hebed.
“i
m sorr
yaboutlast
ni
ght.I
’mtryi
ngt
omakeyour
eal
iseasmylit
tl
e
si
ster,
”
“
it
sokaybhut
'nat
hi,
i
t’
snobi
gdeal.
”
“I
’m notreal
lyst
oppingyoufrom l
ovi
nganyone
.Youcanl eaveanyoneyouwantbutbemor e
carefult
histi
me,please,
”hesai
d.
“
Thankyoubhut
’nat
hi.
Iunder
stand,
”
“
Im sur
eyou’
rehungr
y.Comel
et’
sgohavesome
f
ood,”
Wel aughedlt
ogetherandwal kedt
ot heki
tchen.
A
wholeplatewasfulloff
ullengli
shbreakf
ast.6
sl
ices!!
“excuse,
6sl
ices,
”ipoppedoutmyeyeswhi
le
asking.
hechuckl
ed.
“Mam'
Dlami
niassumedt
hather
daught
erwaswayt
ohungry.
”
Hepl
acedaf
istonhi
smout
hlaughi
ng.
“mxm ,
didMthunzieat,”
wasIevensupposedt
otal
k
abouthi
m af
terthatargument
s.
Hepouredwat
erinaglass,
thegulpedthewat
eri
n
.andasmil
eplast
eredonhi
sf ace.“
yebo,
”

Af
ewdaysl
ater….
..
★
★
★
[
01/
08,
09:
51] :#21

Onesi
pho

“
Wewi
llnotr
estunt
ilyoubr
ingourki
nghome,
”
“
Gogonj
ani
?”
“Ngyathembaukut hiuzoyit
hol
aindlhel
a,i
cesha
seli
pheli
le,ngi
kuf
iselainhl
anhl
a.”shesl
owly
disappears.
.

Thebr i
ghtsunheat smyeyesandIj ustknewt hatit
wasal r
eadysunr i
se. Thedr eam gotmewonder ing
.HowmustIsupposet obr i
ngtheir“king”back.It’
s
beenaweekofMt hunzimovi ngout.West il
lchat
butwehaven’ tseeneachot hersincehehasbeeni n
Durban,wear enotevenani tem .Appar ent
lyhesai d
hewilldri
vebackt onight.Yeptonight.Ididtel
lhim
tonottravelatbuthedi sagreed.

Lat
ert
hatday.

Forthefir
stti
meisawUnat hiretur
ninghomedrunk.
MeandMam’ Dlaminiwer
einthekitchenwhenhe
st
eppedi n.Mam’Dlhaminiputthedrycl
othi
nthe
waterthenrunsherhandstoher.
“
WeehmtanakwaNkosi,
dod'
wanil
oo,ong'
boni
sa
wona.
Lwabi
shiwanil
oo.
”Mam’Dl
aminishout
ed.
Unathiburped.
“eyywehma.Leavemealoneplease
.I
’m notinthemode.”
hegavehertheeat
ti
tude
Hewascl ear
lydr
unk.
Ifhewasn’
tthenhewoul
d’ve
notspokentoMam’Dl
aminil
iket
hat.
Bef
oreIknewi
t.Hisneckwasmetbyawetcl
oth
.Doyouknowthatpai
n.Tj
errIhat
eit.
“
Mamaaa,
”hecr
ied.
I
’
m surehe’
snowsober.
HisshoutscausedMnot
ho
,
Mhlangeni,
Mandl
akhet
orunintheroom .
Shewhi
ppedhi
m agai
nonhi
sback.
“
Achuumamayoh,
”hef
li
nched.
Isidegiggl
ed.Whilethebrot
herskeptaserious
face.Howdot heymanaget okeepitser
ious. Thi
s
i
scl earl
yfunny.Theyarenowmaki ngmef eelguil
ty
.Itrytokeepitseri
ous.
Isni
ffandl
ookaway.
“
Mam’
Dlami
niyi
ma.
It
’senough.
”Mhl
angeni
st
oppedher.
“
Kant
iwhathashedone?
”Mandl
akheasked.
Mam'
dlami
nist
opped.
“
Hecamehomel at
eandgavemam'dlami
ni
i
Att
it
udeyokunuka.”Isai
dbei
ngser
ious.
NoPeepsIwannal
augh.

Ei
shyahNeh…
★
★
★
[
01/
08,
09:
51] :#22

Mhl
angeni

Mhlangeniwalkshandinhandwit
hRobiinthe
mall.Asmuchashel ovedher.Hewantedtowif
e
herthati
nstant.
Robihadalwaysbeenhisl
ove.
“
Hlangeni
,
”af
ami
li
arvoi
ceut
ter
shi
sname.
Theybothturn.AsRobi32i
nchal
sosways
.Mhlangeni
'seyesmeetswi
thVuyel
wa’s.Thel
ong
l
astexthatcheated.
Okaymaybenotthatl
ong.
Vuyel
waturnedfrom 100to0seei
ngMhl angeni
wit
hthebeauti
fulladyhere.
Whohadabagon. She
assumedthatsheat t
endedt
henearestUni
versi
ty.
“Vuyelwa,”Mhlangenisai
dwithasmil
ethoughhe
didn’twantto.Hejustwantedtogi
veherabad
atti
tude.butnotnexttoherwif
e.
NowVuyel
wadidn’
tknowwhatt
osay.
“wowunj
ani
,l
ongt
imenosee!”
“Haubutithasonl
ybeen2yearssi
ncewe
seper
ated.”Mhl
angenir
epl
ied.
“Myeniwami.Isshet
hesameVuyel
wayout
oldme
about.”
Robiasked.
“
MhhSt
handwa.
The“
it
snotwhatyout
hinkone,
”
Dang!Vuyel
wawassoembar
rassed.“
Yout
oldher
aboutus.”
“
She’
smywi
fesoasi
fi
hlel
ani
lot
ho.
UsuyoSal
a
Kahl
e,wear
erushi
ngsomewher
e,”
Vuyel
wacl
ickedhert
ongueandwal
kedaway.
Robichuckl
ed.“babehowcoul
dbethi
scold.
neer
marnbabe.Younotsupposetodot
hat,”
shespoke
i
nhercolouredaccent.
“
Arggbubanki
ey.
Shedeser
vedi
t.”
Theybot
hlaughed.

Unat
hi

Unathididnotgot owor k.Becausehedi dn’twantto

seethatempl oyeeshef ucked.ActuallyUnat hi
developedf eelingsf orthegir
lbutshewasj ustnot
i
ntohi m.Shesai ditwasaonceof fthing.Andt hat
brokeUnat hi,thathesur r
enderedtoal coholafterso
l
ong. Mphowasj ustperfect.
Al adywhoal ways
l
ikedherhai rnat ur
alandnotpl ait
ed. Shehad
dif
ferentwayst ost ylehernaturaldarkaf r
oneat l
y.
Shewasl ightski nnedandasl enderwi thsomeass
.Shewasj ustf ine.Mphocl earl
ymadei tclearto
hi
mthatt
hiswasn’
tgoi
ngt
ocont
inue.

Onesi
pho

Iwassitt
ingi
nthesit
ti
ngroom watchi
ngTVwhenI
recei
vedacallf
rom Mthunzi.
Iranint
omyroom
andanswered.
“
whydi
dyounotcal
l,
”iaskedi
mmedi
atel
y.
“
Ncese,
Idi
dn’tknowyouexpect
edacal
lfr
om me
,
youtr
ulyl
ikemeeyy.”her
epli
ed.
“
Keepf
ool
ingyour
sel
f,
”
EventhoughIknewthatsomedaywemightbe
husbandandwifebutIalwaysedl
ovedt
odenyit.
“
Haungempel
a,”
her
epl
ied.
“
Yes.
”
“Onesi
pho,”
mthunzical
mlysai
dwit
hhisdeep
scaryvoi
ce.Li
kehewasabouttoaskaquest
ion.
“
Baba,
”Ir
epl
iedngokuzit
hoba.
“
weneedtoworkonus.Howwewil
lmaket
hings
wor
kbet
ween.Ineedt
otalkt
oyou,
”
Dang!I
’
vebeeni
gnor
ingt
his.
“
Ial
sowantt
hesame.
Kumel
e.si
khul
ume.
”
“
Areyouatt
heschool?
”heasked
“
No,
I
’l
lst
artnextweek,
”
“
comeovermypl
acet
oday.
Ngi
yacel
a,”
Hebegged.
“
whyyourpl
ace?
”
“
Ngobangi
shonj
alo.
PleaseOne,
”
“
okayI
’
llcome.
”

Mnot
ho

Aft
eralongdayatwor k.Itwasabi thardsince
MhlangeniandUnathididn’
tpopi ntoday.I
twas
onl
yhim andMandl akhe.Hejustwant edtogoto
hergi
rlf
ri
endsflatandjustchi
llwithher.Mphowas
hergi
rlf
ri
end.shewasj ustperfect,
aladywhol i
ked
herhai
rnaturalandnotplai
ted,shehaddi
ff
erent
waytostylehernatur
alafroneatl
y..
Shewaslight
ski
nnedwi t
hsomeass. Mnot hometheratworkon
Mpho'sfir
stday.Theystart
edchatti
ngandthey
ki
ndafelli
nlove.
★
★
★
[
01/
08,
09:
51] :#23

Mpho

Shelaidonherbed, rel
axingherheadont hepil
low
.Herlegsspr eadingwide. Sheslowlysli
dhert wo
fi
ngersi nt
oherVi rgi
na.Shecl osedhereyes
i
magi ningUnat hifucki
ngt helivi
nghelloutofher
.Unathiwasgr eatatsati
sf yi
ngagi r
lthanMnot ho
.Mnot hodidknowhowt obutnotl i
keUnat hi.
She
rat
edMnot hoa89%meanwhi leUnathigota100%
.Mnot hodidknowhowt omakeal adyhappy,but
Unat
hishowshisl
oveinadi
fferentmanner.
But
shewasn’
treadyt
olooseMnotho.Mnothoisher
l
ove.
Shereachedheror
gani
sm andbr
eat
hedi
nandout
.Cat
chingair.

Onesi
pho.

Hemovedhi mselffasterinherandcummedi nher

.Somehowt herewasal readyaseedwhenhesl ept
wit
hher. Mnotho'
sseedwasal r
eadytrappedi nher
.Butthechil
dwasgoi ngt oconti
nuemygi ft.How
canMnot hoandUnat hishareoneVirgi
na. ShouldI
tel
lthem whatIsaworl etthem f
indoutthemselves
.
Myheadispacingwit
hthought
s.Apparentl
yIwent
t
oMnotho’sroom l
ooki
ngforachargerthenIgot
t
hevi
sion.Idon’
tknowwheretostart.
It
ookbackt
hechar
gerandgoti
nmycardr
ivi
ngt
o
Mthunzi
'
spl
ace.
.
.
.

“Onesipho.”
Hesaiddemandi
ngforananswer
cal
ml y,l
ooki
ngatmewhileIf
acedmyf i
nger
s
fi
ddli
ngwi t
hthem
“
Baba,
”Ir
epl
ied.
“
Ngi
khul
umangedwa,
”
“
cha,
”
“
Thenanswermyquest
ion.
I’
mimpat
ient,
”hesai
d.
“
Ngiyaziukut
hiyouandIaren’
treal
lyi
nl ovekodwa
I
’
m will
ingtogiveitat
ry.
Wemi ghtfal
linlove
t
hroughtheprocess.I
’
mready.”
“
real
ly,
”hel
itasmi
le.
“
Mhh,
”

Wecont
inuedt
heconver
sat
iont
il
llat
e..
..
.
Mpho

ThenextdayMphor anint
othetoi
letdi
ggingher
hearddeepint
othetoi
let.
Shevomitedallt
he
breakf
astshehadthi
smor ni
ng.Mnothowal kedI
n.
“
Honey,
”hesai
d.“
Areyouokay.
needanyt
hing.
”
“
ChaI
’
mfi
nebabe.
”
“OkayIgott
or untowor
k.I
’
llseeyouNh.
Cal
lwhen
youneedanything.”
★
★
★
[
01/
08,
09:
52] :#24

Onesi
pho

“
Nono,
”hecal
ledmyname.“
vuka,
”
Isl
owl
yrubbedmyeyesopeni
ngt
hem .“
Yin’
ndaba
,”
“
Youoversl
ept,
i
t’
s6am .
”
Ijumped,wakingup.OhhhgoshMam' Dl
aminiwil
l
disappoint
edinme. Ioversl
eptlast.Wel
lmeand
Mt hunziwerechat
ti
nghavi ngfunonMt hunzi’
sbed
thenIsuddenlyoversleptduri
ngt heconver
sati
on.
Mt hunzigotoffbed.Hisd*ckshowingali
tt
le.
It
seemedt hi
ckandlarge.Howdoeshemanaget o
hideit.Ibli
nkedacoupleoftimes.Hefi
xedhis
boxersandt urnedtome.
“I
khonai
kingaNono,
”heaskedr
aisi
nghi
sone
eyebr
ow.
“
Ahh….
.ahhh,
”
“
ahhI
ni,
”heaskedst
il
lconf
used.
“
Ayi
khoi
nki
nga.
Ihavet
oleave.
”
Igotof
fbedqui ckjumpingi
ntomyjeans.Ohhno
howlongwillitt
aketobedone.MaybeIwillt
ellher
Iwasataf r
iend’shouseandIki
ndasleptt
here
.Thatwil
ldothet r
ick.
.
.
.
Hedroppedmeatt hetuckshopt
hel
eanedovert
o
ki
ssme. HeFrenchkissedmeandwestoppedaf
ter
afewminutes.
“
IloveyouNono,
”
Iclear
edmyt hr
oatandsmi
ledathi
mthennodded
.“Igottol
eave,
”
ThatIsai
djumpingof
fthecar.
Iarr
ivedathome
andMam’ Dl
aminiwasint
hekit
chendrinki
ngtea.
“
Saubonamama,
”Igr
eet
ed
“
Unj
ani,
”sheasked
It
houghtshewasgoingtobitemyheadof
fandask
mewhereI’vebeenbuthai
ishedi
dn'
t.
“
Soooo….
.”
Idr
aggedi
t.
“Oneyou’
reol
denoughnow.Ican’
tkeepaski
ngyou
whereyou’
vebeen.
You’
llmakeyourowndecisi
ons
ntombi
,”
Inoddedandwal
kedst
rai
ghtt
omyr
oom .

Mpho

Mphophasedupanddownhol dingthepr egnancy

sti
ckandbi ti
ngthenai
lsofherfingers.Shewas
pregnantandshedidn’tknowwhowast hefather
.Whowi l
lshehavetochooseandpi nitagainst.On
theothershelovedMnot hobutwhatifit’
sUnat hi
’s
orMnot ho's.
“
Heybabe,
”
Shej
umpedal
it
tl
edr
oppi
ngt
hest
ickont
hef
loor.
“
Babewhat
sthat,
”
Hel
eanedoverandpi
ckedt
hest
ick.
Hesawt
het
wo
r
edl
ines.
“
Babewear
epr
egnant.
”hesai
dinj
oy.
Thati
rr
it
atedher,
shedi
dn'
twantt
oheart
hatf
rom
hi
m.
“
Unat
hiwhatar
eyoudoi
ngher
e.Andhowdar
eyou
cal
lmebabe,
”Mphot
urnedandl
ookedathi
m.
“
Mphocan’tyoujustbehappyandletuscel
ebr
ate
t
hist
oget
her.I’
m goingt
obeaf at
her.”
“Hel
lnoUnat
hi,
”sheshout
ed.“Thi
sisnotyour
baby.”
“
Whatar
eyout
aki
ngaboutMpho,
”Unat
hiasked.
“
YesUnat hi,
it
’sMnotho’sbaby.meandMnot ho
l
onghadbeeni narel
ati
onship.
I’
m goingtoruna
t
estsandseehowf arIam .
I’
m def
ini
telysur
eofit
.youcheatedwi t
hyourbrot
her’
sgirl
fr
iend.”
“Mpho!”hesowant
edtogr
abherbytheneckand
ki
llher.
“whydi
dyoukeepqui
teaboutt
his.
”
“
Meandyouj
usthappened.
wewer
eami
stake,
”
“
Butyousl
eptwit
hmeeventhoughyouknew
,
you’
reabi
tch,”
hesai
dtoher.
Mpho'shandscameacrosshi
sface.“
fuckyou
Unathi,
howdareyout
alktomeliket
hat.l
eavethi
s
i
nstant,
"
Unat
hichuckl
ed.
“im gi
vingyou20hour
stotel
lhi
m
t
hetrut
horelseI
’
lli
nter
veneandtel
lhim,”
Hewalkedout.
Mphosatonbedcr ying.
Shewasn’t
sur
ewhowast hefatherwas,
butshehadtocheck
bef
orehetel
lsMnotho.
Shepi
ckedherbag.Shedi
dn’
tcar
ehowmessyshe
l
ooked.
Shejustneededt
oseethedoct
or.
.
.
.
“Congr
atsyou’
re2weekspr
egnant,
”t
hedoct
or
announced.
Mphowidenedhereyes.t
hismeanti
twasMnotho’
s
baby.
Shewashappy. Butonet
hingshewor
ri
edis
wil
lMnot
hof or
giveher?
★
★
★
[
01/
08,
09:
52] :#25
Onesi
pho

It
sbeenalmost9mont hsnow.Thesituat
ion
betweenMnot hoandMphoi sn’
treal
lydoi
ngwel l
.Mnothoisinfuri
atedwi t
hangeratthesamet i
me
he’sbeeni
gnor i
ngandnott alki
ngtoUnathi.But
Mnothoaren’tfai
r.It
’snotli
keUnathiknew.Mnotho
l
ooksatUnat hiindisgusts.
It
iedmyshoes. Beep,myphonebeeped. Ipickedit
uptocheck.Mhl angenihadupdat
edapi cturewi t
h
Robi.Cabangaa34yearol dona19yearol d
.I
ndabazakhezi yanghlula.
ButIbel
ievethey’llget
marri
ed.Letsjusthope.OhhhMandlakhei s37
,Mhlangeni34,Mnotho28andUnat hi23.
AndI ’
m abouttot
urn21inafewdays. Ohhhyeah.I
nevercelebr
atemybir
thday.I
t’
sjustnotafeelf
or
me. ButHeyyfamil
yti
mei scoolwit
hme.
Myphoner
ang.
Thescr
eenf
lashedwr
it
tenMan
bear.
“
baba,
”Ianswer
ed.
“
Munt
uwami,
howar
eyoudoi
ng.
”Mt
hunziasked

Mpho

“MnothoI ’
m sorry. Younotf or
givi
ngmeKi l
ls.I’
ve
beencr yingt hosewhol emont hsnotbeingableto
enjoythispr egnancybecauseIl oveyouandi tki
ll
s
seeingyoul i
ket hi
s, can’tyouseeI’
m hurt.
Ican’t
eveneatpr operly.Thisal li
saff
ecti
ngour
baby,Don’ tbesel f
ish,considermei nal
lthi
s,how
wil
lIsur vive.Mnot hopl ease,”
“
Leavemyof
fi
cempho,
”

Suddenlyshar
ppainshi
ther.
Shegroanedinpai
n
herhandsonherknees.
War mli
qui
dsliddownto
herl
egs.
“
Mnothoit
’st
ime.
Thebabyi
scomi
ng.
IyoohJesu
.”
shecr
ied.
Mnothopani
cked.“
ahhhAhhwhatdoyouneed
,wat
eror??”
“
Sli
mandi
n.Takemet
othehospi
talyoust
upi
d.”
.
.
Everyonewai
tedout
sidewai
ti
ngf
ort
hedoct
ort
o
ret
urn.
“Ungawor
ryBhut
iMnot
ho.
She'
l
lbef
ine,
”Onesi
pho
said.
“Ngi
thuki
leOne.
Ifeel
li
kesomet
hingwr
ongwi
ll
happen.”
Mnothosaid.
Onesi
pholookedawayli
keshewashi
ding
somethi
ngMandlakhenoti
cedi
t.
“Onesi
phoyouknowsomet
hingandyounott
ell
ing
us,”Mandl
akhesai
d.
Inst
eadofOnesi
phosayi
ngsomet
hing.
Shebust
outint
ears.
“
I’
m sor
ry,
”shecr
ied
“
Sor
ryaboutwhatmychi
ld,
”Mam’
dlhami
niasked
“
Shewon’
t……..
Shewon’tsurvi
ve…”shecri
ed.
“
She’
scar
ryi
ngthenextpr
otector.
Shedoesn’
thave
thestr
engt
h.Herl
if
ewi
llendt
hemomentshe
deli
ver
s.”

Remembert
her
e'sadi
ff
erencebet
weenOneand
One

Aweekl
ater….
★
★
★
[
01/
08,
09:
53] :#26

Onesi
pho

It
sbeenweeksaf terj
ustburyingMphot ogether
withherfamily.
Mam' Dlaminihaddecidedthat
she’l
ltakethechi
ldandt akecareofit.Hisnamei s
Phakami l
e.Phakamilei
samal e.
“
Onesi
pho,
Let
haubi
si,
”Mam'
Dlami
nishout
ed.
I’
m usedtothi
s.Lethaubisi.Tomorrowismy
bir
thdayIdon’
tknowi feveryonesti
llr
emember s
causeonlyMthunzihadbeent alki
ngaboutitbut
noneexcepthi
m had. ButwhatcanIsay. Everyone
i
soccupiedwithstuffnow.
Iwalkt
othekit
chenandgr abthebott
leofmil
kand
thenwal
ktomot her
’sroom .
Inoutt
radit
iont
he
Babydoesn’
texi
ttheroom normustbeseenbefor
e
3months.
Igaveherthemil
k.Mnothowal
ksin.Hedoesn’t
l
ookcleanandokayatall.
Hehasn’
tbeentaking
thi
sverywell.
Youcoul
dseethati
t’
sallki
ll
inghim
.He’snothim.
“
howshedoi
ngmama,
”heasked.
“
He’
sfi
ne.
MeandOnegott
his,
”Mam’
Dlami
nisai
d.
Hegaveonegr
eathug.“
thankyousi
swami.
thank
you,
”

Thenextday…….
Shockingl
yint
hemor ningmybest
fri
endSi
pho
stepsint
omyr oom wakingmeup.ForamomentI
thoughtIwasdreaming.
“
Mogi
rl,
dressupmooh.
Todayi
syourbi
rt
hday.
”
Ifl
ashedmyphoneonandt
het
imewas07:
00t
he
fi
rstofNovember.
“
Ithoughtyouf
orgot.
”Isai
d.
“
Justt
akeabat
handl
et’
sgo.
”shesai
d.

…….

“
SowhatshouldIwear?”
Iasked.t
her
e’snothi
ngin
mywal
dropethatseemsgoodforabi
rthdaygi
rl.
I
nabl
inkofaneyesgaymenwal
kedi
n.
Theotherfol
lowedwit
hawhit
emer maiddresst
hat
hadaheartneck.Thesamedresst
hatItol
dherI
wanttowearwhenIgetmarri
ed.Howdidshe
aff
ordit.
“Ladies,changeher.
I'
l
lbeout
sidei
fyouneed
anything,”
Icoul
dhearwomenandmenspeaki
ngout
side.
It
soundswaytoobusy.
Thosegaysdidthei
rtouchupandhelpedmedr ess
.Thi
sdressisforawedding.Am Iget
ti
ngmar r
ied
.WhatifMthunziar
rangedthi
sal
linsecret.
okaylet
mejustco-
operateandseewhathappensnext.
Aft
eraf
ewhour
sSiphosteppedi
n.“
Wow
chommi
eyyoul
ookpret
ty.”
Shewant
edtogetemot
ional.“
don’
trui
nyourmake
up,”
Iwar
ned.
“Girlt
odayisyourspecial
dayandIpr
omiseyouwi
ll
enjoyitt
othef ul
lest,
Nowcomeonstandupweare
runninglat
e,”
Ismi
ledst
andi
ng.
It
’sdef
ini
tel
yaweddi
ngt
oday.
ThemomentIst
epoutt
hehousepeopl
est
art
si
ngi
ng:
“
Helammatswal
e.Mmat
swale.
Tlohel
adi
pit
satseo
.Mongwat
sona.
Mongwat
sonakeyowetl
a.Hel
a
mosut
ele.
Mosut
ele.
Mosut
ele,
Mosut
elekeyowet
la
,”
Ohhl ordmyweddi ngonmybi r
thday.Ithi
nkI’
m
gett
ingemot i
onal.OnedaymeandSi phohada
chataboutourfutureweddi
ngandshewr oteboth
ourwi shesi
nadiar y.
Idi
dn'
tthinktheywouldplan
thi
s.
ThecarIwi
shedf ori
sst
andri
ghtoutsi
det
heyard
.ma’
Dlhaminii
sbusysweepi
ngtheredcar
pet.
It
meansopeningtheway.
.
.
Thatmoment.Mydream ofget
ti
ngmarr
iedt
othe
oneIl
ovehashappenedbysurpri
se,
whoknewand
whothought.
“
Youmayki
sst
hebr
ide,
”t
hepast
orannounce.
Mt hunzil
eanedoverandkissedme. Mylif
ewasa
greatjour
neyfil
ledwit
htheunexpectedthings.
My
storyendshere.Iwil
lsti
llexper
iencemore.Thi
ngs
l
ikemybr other
sf i
ndi
ngtheirsoulmates,
Phakamil
e
growingupandmehavi ngafamilybutyouguys
arenotinvi
ted.Myjour
neywithyouallendsher
e
.Thankforreadingmystor
y.Buckleupforyounext
stor
ycalled'Il
oveyou'
.
Iwon’
tbewi t
hyouguysbecauseI
’l
lbebusywi
th
myli
fe.ThankyouandIl
oveyou.TheEnd.
★
★
★