C3 EPISODE 3

A trip home is always tiring ad hell being in a bus for eight hours is no child's play I was tired but I found them home already waiting I noticed that ever since I got a better paying job my aunt loved me more and it must be because she was also getting lot of money from Monde too for Lihle my son although she thought the money was from me. Being illiterate is hard. Monde really loved Lihle like his own I remembered when we were still together whenever he went shopping he would buy clothes for him too come to think of it maybe he was buying clothes for all his kids I just never noticed thinking about this just made it less special.

I found Lihle outside playing with my cousin's kids he dropped everything as soon as he saw me and ran to me this I had missed. Aunt came out too and smiled when she saw Lihle and myself.

"You are just in time for breakfast" she said smiling and opening her arms for a hug. The warmth.

"And I am starving" funny I had eaten on my way.

"Come on get in"

It had always been the three of us, my aunt was unfortunate enough in having kids so I think that is why she had taken me as her own, Nokwakha who was also my aunt's niece visited every now and then with the kids since my aunt complained about being lonely a lot I had tried to take Lihle so he can stay with me but she plainly refused of which I understood because that would mean her being alone.

One thing about Mandeni is that it's like an armpit of the country there is just nothing exciting about it. It is a small town; most people would go to Empangeni or Richards Bay for shopping but since we never really had enough at home i never noticed this. I cherished the days I spent with my son they were just priceless I always felt like my holidays were short lived. The week I spent at home was really amazing I was planning on extending my aunt's house. I believe as a person on needs to fix their home first before impressing the streets, I wanted people to see me as that child who made sure that her aunt lived

a comfortable life not as a child who went to Joburg and never came back.

"You are lying" I said failing to hide my shocked expression as Sandile was telling me that he was out of the closet. We were having lunch at Tasha's as we had somehow found ourselves at Gateway. Sandile was originally from Durban Kwa Mashu as he had asked me to visit him before going back to Joburg like I said we had became close.

I am telling you well I always knew it but I just never acted on it" no ways!

So the time you were pursuing me?" I questioned trying to register this on my mind.

He laughed

I never really wanted to be in a relationship with you I guess I went about it the wrong way, why do you think I never pursued you into getting intimate with me" I thought he was a gentleman.

"I should be offended by this" I said smiling

"I wanted friendship with you but you got it all so wrong" he said

"No Sandile you made me think you were in love with me and besides I didn't know you were gay"

There was something he was saying but my attention had shifted I saw him with his family he was holding a baby that I suspected was one or two years with two boys who were a bit older than Lihle. We were inside Tasha's and they settled on the chairs outside which gave me a better view of them. The wife was beautiful like beautiful you know if she wasn't it would have made me feel better but no she had to be petite figure yellow person who you wouldn't believe had three kids. You could tell that she was the working type the independent yet spoilt type you know. She was the type that made the world stand at her feet and worship her this made my stomach turn.

Sandile snapped his fingers in front of my eyes bringing me back to him.

"Did you even hear what I was saying Minz" he said irritated.

"Uhm I am sorry"

"You look sour what did you see?"

"Come sit next to me" I said patting a space next to where I was sitting

"Now you are being weird"

"Come on I want to show you something" he shifted his chair and came sat down next to me.

I showed him where Monde and his family stayed I hated that I couldn't find anything wrong or bad to say about them. They were just perfect but that didn't make me love the wife. Isn't it funny how men cheat on us and we forgive them then hate the next other woman.

"So that is my ex with his family" he gasped.

"He has a family?" he asked still in shock

"Yep I only found out few weeks back"

"Shut the front door" he said with his eyes popped out "So the whole time you were the side chick" I slapped his shoulder.

"Don't say it like that it sounds so wrong" I said frowning.

I looked at him "not me though"

"So, he says that he wants me to be his second wife" he gasped

"This guy just keeps on getting worse every day I hope you showed him where hell is" I looked away.

"Oh no you love him don't you"

"I do and I hate it. I should be hating him after what he put me through you know"

Love is like that Minz don't hate yourself for it, it happens to be the best of us but I'm not surprised why he wants to make you his second wife I mean look at skinny maBonez she can't be giving it all to him" I laughed I couldn't believe what he said.

"Don't be like that please"

"But don't let them ruin our day we are here to have fun and I am taking you shopping after this" I smiled at him.

"You would have made a better boyfriend you know" he gave me a stare

We spent the day shopping I could see he was trying to cheer me up of which he succeeded and besides I could never say no to being spoilt he was paying after all and yeah he had money loads of it. Imagine if I had fallen for him I would've ended up with a miserable gay guy, love life was really not on my side.It was just after six pm everyone had deserted the office I was the only one left in the building or so I thought. When I felt these footsteps in the corridor I didn't get worried because I knew that the security system was very high. I was surprised to see Mr Johnson's at the door looking at me

Sir" I acknowledged him surprised to see him there because he had gone for a conference in Durban.

"I need to get my file and get back to work" he said still standing in the same place making no movements to leave.

"Okay" I was desperate for him to move to his office something about him made me uneasy but he did the opposite and got in. He came and stood behind me. I was rehearsing on my head as to how can I tell my boss to move and not sound rude and disrespectful at the same time.

You are such an asset in this company I would hate to lose you" I nodded trying to register where this was going.

"It's a pity that I have to let you go because of your lack of experience" I thought my work was satisfactory what was this man bluffing about.

"But I know ways that can make me convince the management otherwise" if only he could stop speaking in riddles.

Am I getting fired" I asked. Is this how one gets fired in this corperate, interested.

"It depends" okay this was getting irritating, I stood up and went a bit further from him.

"So, what exactly are you saying Mr Johnson's?" I enquired trying to hide my irritation.

He came closer to me closing the gap that was between us, he moved his arm and it rested above my head I was now under the scrunity of his venomous eyes to say I was terrified would be putting it lightly. I tried to control my breathing which was becoming uneven this can't be happening again. His hand touched my bare arm and I flinched.

"We can do this my way or the high way"

"Do what sir"

Oh, please stop acting like an idiot, can't you see what I want here" he snapped I was taken back by his tone.

"I don't understand" he collected himself and then took my arm brushing it lightly I snatched it away.

"I would like to leave" I said my voice firm making it clear that I wasn't enjoying this.

"Don't play hard to get Minenhle"

"Please Mr Johnson's I am tired I want to go home"

Quit the formality and call me David" his voice was now audibled. He chuckled as he saw the panic on my face.

"It's just you and me today, even if you can scream no one will hear you so let's just get this over and done with"

My phone was far and I couldn't get to it fast enough. I couldn't believe that was about to happen again.

Please sir I just want to go home" I didn't want to fight him I didn't have energy at all. He held my hands-on top of my head I couldn't do anything with them by now I was really crying trying to beg him to leave me alone but they fell on deaf ears. My top was ripped exposing myself he was about to touch them when I heard a familiar voice shouting by the corridor. I screamed even louder and he slapped me trying to shush me and even closed my mouth. I don't know where I got the nerve but I kicked him on his balls, took my handbag and ran out of the office.

Monde was running after me telling me to stop but I couldn't I kept running, running until I couldn't feel my legs I was running out of breath. I was losing myself.

Minenhle you don't have a top on!" he shouted. I tripped and fell on the ground it's a good thing it was at night otherwise people would have looked at me thinking I am losing my mind. Tears couldn't stop coming out. He picked me up and embraced me this closure felt familiar but it wasn't comfortable I didn't want any guys hands touching me.