Rose Colored Glasses

Chapter 10

*ATHULE*

I storm out of the office and run down the stairs making my way past everyone, I feel him grab my arm
“Athule” he calls out and I turn to look at him
“So much for no sleeping with other people. Ndiyeke Thabo” (Let go of me) I warn
“Athule It's not what it looks like” he pleads, I chuckle not because this situation is funny but he’s pissing me off
“Hay voetsek msun’wakho ndithe ndiyeke marn!” (Fuck you bruh, I said let go of me) I say yanking my arm away from his grip and the way he is looking at me right now shows that he’s in disbelief that I just swore at him the way I did. I gather myself and head back to Musa’s car and he looks at me
“Are you ok?” he asks and I nod
“I’m fine. Please just drive me home. Sorry for bothering you tonight when you could have been with your family” I say and he nods
“You don’t seem fine” he says and I shrug
“I’ll be fine” I say and then look outside, I can't believe I actually thought our agreement with Thabo would work. How niave of me. To think I actually liked him, it's such reasons I lock my heart way from these men, Xhosa men will hurd you!
I’m startled by the car halting to a stop and I realize we parked outside my complex. He doesn’t unlock the doors
“talk to me” he says placing his hand on mine
“It's nothing” I say turning to open the door but he stops me
“You can talk to me, I’m a good listener” he says and I sigh
“I’m an idiot that’s all and I might get arrested or killed” I say and he looks at me confused so I do the next best or worst thing without thinking it through and kiss him. I know I shouldn’t but it's the only way I know how to distract myself and him from digging things out of me. He doesn’t stop me, he cups my face and deepens the kiss, his one hand sneaks in under my dress and I break the kiss
“We can't. you married” I say and then click the unlock button and rush out of the car and make my way to the flat. I close the door behind me and just stand there trying to catch my breath as tonight’s events come rushing back to me. I stole money and I kissed a married man, oh and how could I forget, the man I was starting to like was making out with someone else.

I take out my phone and I have a dozen missed calls from my colleagues and a lot from Thabo. I make my way to my room passing the lounge where Imibongo and her boyfriend are watching a movie
“You back early” Mimi says and I get in and throw myself on the single couch
“I think I may have stole some money” I say and they look at me confused
“What do you mean?” Tshepiso asks, I take a deep breath and then open my bag and pour the money on the table. They both sit up
“Athule where did you get this much money? How much is it?” Mimi asks and I shrug
“I got it from these other guys we were with. They asked me to buy them a 40 year old glen-something bottle” I explain and Tshepiso laughs
“Glenfiddich? This must be 25K or more” he says
“Lets count it” he says coming to kneel in front of the table “Damn, I gat mad respect for you bruh! How did you make it out?” he asks as if I just robbed the bank undetected
“Ndine Mermaid” I say sarcastically and he laughs
“I’m seriously asking bruh. I mean surely if these men go around carrying so much money then they probably dangerous” he says and I shrug
“Lets just count this money please” I say annoyed and he nods while counting and Mimi comes down and helps us
“So what are you going to do with it?” she asks
“Send it home, it will help my parents out more than it would help me but I won't know how to explain it” I say because my father will ask all these questions if I showed up with this much money
“Invest it” Tshepiso says and I frown “Think about it, if you invest it wisely then you sorted and so is your family. Your father was an accountant, surely he must still know people in the field and places that are good for investing in” he suggests
“I’ll call him tomorrow” I say and Mimi shakes her head no
“Go home tomorrow. You guys need to have this conversation in person” she says
“I have to go to work” I say
“After work. Joburg is not 500km away” she says rolling her eyes at me
“How much is it?” I ask Tshepiso after a while of all of us counting
“R 70 788,00”
.
.
*MUSA*
I open my eyes and smile at the sight of Imi next to me. I don't even remember when did she get home since the plan to party was ruined. Whatever happened back there was really intense. Athule was livid, in fact she was spitting fire.