STRING OF PEARLS
TWENTY EIGHT
ONEZWA
Did I overreact? Maybe. However, I didn't appreciate how the man I'm about to marry displayed his jealousy towards another man showing interest in his wife. He didn't sound like a concerned husband at all. He sounded jealous, and that ticked me off.
I just woke up and got ready to go to my store. As I stepped out of the shower, Mcedisi was standing by the door. We had a staring contest before he handed me a towel.
"I think you should bring back my key card," I say, walking past him into the bedroom.
"I thought you would be back to your senses by now," he says, taking the lotion from my hand and helping me apply it to my back. I hate how my little bean is already throbbing. His touch always has that effect on me.
"I don't think I can stand for you thinking or talking about your wife when you are with me," I say, and he heaves a sigh before turning me around to face him.
"You're right. I shouldn't have talked about MaSibiya to you. I thought...you know what? There is no excuse; I'm sorry, okay?" he says, looking into my eyes, and I couldn't help but nod.
"I love you," he says, and I smile.
"I love you more," I say, returning the smile. He captures my lips while untying the towel. He breaks the kiss and steps back, just looking at me from head to toe with nothing but lust in his eyes.
A couple of steamy rounds later, I'm laying in his arms, my head on his chest. He keeps kissing my forehead.
"Tell me about that Tiro guy," he asks.
"He is filthy rich. He has a daughter, and he is well-respected and connected. That's all I know," I say, and he nods.
"Can I still send my uncles?" he asks, and I giggle.
"Yes," he nods. "I know I was wrong, kodwa sthandwa sam, when I make a mistake, tell me, don't just threaten to leave me or break up our marriage because I'm human, and I'm not perfect. I will make mistakes or piss you off; are you going to break up with me every time?"
I shake my head.
"Good, tell me when I'm wrong. Don't lash out because I too will become defensive and retaliate, making the problem bigger than it really is," he continues.
"You're right, my love. I didn't know what came over me; I just saw red. I should find better ways to express my concerns. Thank you for just walking out instead of entertaining my tantrum," I say, and he smiles.
"As much as I'm enjoying this bonding session, I really need to go to the shop today. I'm waiting for a delivery from Ghana. I bought fabric there," I say, getting up.
"Are you going to join me in the shower?" I ask, making my way to the bathroom.
"I'll join you just now; I just need to make a few calls," he says, and I nod.
CAROLINA
Okay, call me nosy, but there was no way in hell I was going to let MaSibiya get away with lying about me buying her flowers without getting the juicy details. Could the plain Jane be hiding a scandalous affair?
She walks in and spots me before I can lift my hand. I invited her for breakfast.
"Hey," she says as I get up to kiss her cheek. She bends and greets Nonka in her stroller.
"Thank you for coming," I say as she takes a seat.
"Yeah, thanks for inviting me. I'm sure you want answers about why I lied about you buying me flowers," she says, and I laugh.
"Don't be silly. I always invite you to come out with me," I say, and the look on her face tells me that she's not buying it.
"Okay, fine. I'm curious. Who bought you those flowers?"
She chuckles while shaking her head.
"It's...I don't know his name, but the card is written T.R. I think it's the guy I met a couple of days ago at Mug and Bean. He knew Onezwa, and he was making some kind of threats to Mcedisi, and I kind of stood up for my husband. I think he's the one who sent those flowers," she says, and I frown.
"Babe, don't you think that's dangerous? If he threatened bhuti Mcedisi, then he might be using you to get to him, don't you think?"
"I know," she says.
"Then why did you lie and not inform your husband?" I ask, and she tears up.
"Because he made me feel special. My own husband has never bought me flowers. I felt special, okay? And for a moment, I felt beautiful and desired, even though it's not real," she says, and I kind of feel sorry for her. I will never understand why she chooses to stay in a loveless marriage. I think she just doesn't love herself.
"Don't," she says, and I frown.
"Don't look at me with eyes full of pity," she says, wiping her tears, and I decide to keep my mouth shut.
We order a full English breakfast and eat in silence while she plays with Nonka here and there.
"The food was delicious; you can bring the bill, thanks," I say to the lady who was serving us.
"Oh, the bill has been paid," she says, and I frown.
"By who?" MaSibiya and I ask simultaneously, and the waitress shrugs before walking away.
"Do you think it's your mystery man?" I ask, and she gives me a death stare.
"Sorry," I say, raising my hand.
"Let me quickly use the ladies' room before we leave. I need to change Nonka's diaper," she says, and I nod before walking into the ladies' room.
"I'll wait outside," she says, and I nod.
NARRATED
MaSibiya waits outside the ladies' room, busy playing Candy Crusher on her phone, when she feels a presence in front of her. She looks up and is met by Tiro Ramokala, smiling, and she frowns before scoffing.
"Can I help you?"
"Yes, can you find a home for my heart?" he says, and she rolls her eyes.
"Go back to the rock you crawled out of and learn new pickup lines, because that was just pathetic," MaSibiya says, and Tiro smiles.
"Did you like the flowers?" he asks.
"No, I threw them in the bin. Are you crazy? Why would you send a married woman flowers?" she says before clicking her tongue.
"Are you sure that husband of yours makes you cum? Because damn, you are so uptight," he says, and she gasps, attempting to slap him, but he is quick to hold her and swiftly pulls her closer to him, making sure she feels his crotch, and feel it she does.
"Let go of me," she says, trying to wiggle out of his embrace.
"Not before you tell me your name," he says, and she huffs, frustrated.
"I'm not letting go until you tell me your name," he says, looking down at her, and she heaves a sigh.
"It's Amandla," she says, and he smiles, letting go of her.
"A beautiful, strong name, just like its owner," Tiro says, smiling.
Carolina opens the door, and her eyes pop when she sees the man in an expensive tailored suit looking at MaSibiya as his most valuable jewel.
"Am I disturbing?" Carolina says, and MaSibiya turns, darting her eyes to Carolina before shaking her head.
"Let's go," MaSibiya says, already heading for the door.
"What was that?" Carolina says as soon as they're outside the restaurant.
"It was nothing. Are you going to call a cab, or should Thulani and I drop you off?" MaSibiya asks dismissively.
A few hours later...
MaSibiya arrives home and goes straight to her hut. She heaves a sigh when her eyes land on the flowers Tiro bought. She couldn't just throw them away after lying to her husband. She decides to get started on making ujeqe for dinner. As she's about to walk out of her hut to the main house, her phone rings, and she frowns when she sees it's an unsaved number.
"Hello," she answers.
"Amandla," he says, and she thinks to herself, "It's him."
"Are you there?" he asks.
"How did you get my number?" she snaps.
He chuckles. "Do you know how I became the only billionaire in Botswana?"
"I didn't ask you that," she snaps.
"I buy old abandoned mines and pay people to dig for diamonds. Even when the previous owners closed the mine because there was no value anymore. I take my time to look, even if it takes years of digging, I don't give up. Where there were once diamonds before, I have faith that they'll be there again, and so I persist until I prevail. Two mines that I bought from owners who gave up on them and didn't see their value anymore... Well, I saw their value, Amandla," he says, and MaSibiya finds herself tearing up.
"Let's meet, please," he begs, and she takes a deep breath while wiping her tears.
"Okay."