Random encounters

21. The wedding

"Grant's up, he's surgery was a success. However he won't walk by himself for a while." Candy says to me
"Babe, Thiko is a fighter. He'll survive this surgery" she continues
It's been 7 hours, no updates nothing on Thiko. Im tired of crying and my prayers have been the same.
"Luke wants to see you..." she stop
I don't want to scare her anymore so I look away.
"I'm guessing he feels guilty since he was the one driving..."
"He was the one driving?" I cut Candy off
"Yes...but"
I am already on my feet.
"Where is he?" I ask
"Wanga please listen..." Candy pleads
"Where is he?" I stop, shit I didn't mean to raise my voice and grab this much attention to myself
"125" Candy
"Please look after Denzhe for me" I say and then walk away
I look for the room number and in a minute I'm standing by the door. I open the door and walk inside. Luke has bandages on his left hand, and head. He looks weak but tries to smile as I make way to him.
"Did you do it on purpose?" I ask
His smile disappear but his eyes don't leave mine, the same uncomfortable feeling I get overwhelms me.
"A truck doesn't lose control and run across you on purpose..."
I cut him off "You know what I mean..."
"Clearly i don't. I wouldn't kill myself or two of my best friends on purpose..." Luke says
"Best friends huh? It's surprising you still refer to him as that" I try to hold back my tears
"I love you so..."
"Stop!" I exclaim
"I can't be praying for Thiko to be okay and be here listening to you say that to me. How selfish can you be? Your friend is fighting for his life and you're here confessing your love to his fiancee..." I say
"That's not a confession, you know by now how I feel about you. Even if I were to tell you the truth, you wouldn't believe me. Your hatred for me has blinded your judgment and I'll always be crucified for loving you not only by you but by everyone else. Thiko will make it, I can't stand to see you hurt and I'm sorry for being the reason why..." Luke apologizes
I swallow.
"If anything happens to Thiko, I'll never forgive you." I say and walk outside

I'm so angry that I'm now outside, I have no idea how I passed everyone and ended up outside. I need fresh air, I must think.
"Wanga"
You've got to be kidding me!
I look back, it's Khumo.
"Thiko's surgery is over, he's in a ward now" he says
I close my eyes and bite my lower lip emotional, I feel exhausted.
"Thank you" I walk back inside
Thiko is alive, that's all that matters. I'll love him regardless, so the odds don't really matter.
I opened the door and there he is lying on his bed. His face is bruised but he's alive and I'm relieved. I walk to him and stand beside him leaning towards him.
"I'm glad you're here babe" I kiss his forehead

*

You won't believe it but five months passed. It took Thiko six weeks to open his eyes from coma and the first thing he said was Nkhumbuleni. He's fine and he still remembers everything, we are getting married next week and I've been busy planning the wedding.
"I still can't believe you're having a wedding now, when I'm this fat" Thabile
Yes, she kept the pregnancy and for the record she's been happy since. Khumo looks at Thabile in a way every girl desires to be looked at. It's like she's the only thing that exists to him, I think a love like that rarely happens in a lifetime.
"It's overdue, besides I'd marry Thiko from this life to the next" I smile
"Nchooh" Thabile says
I laugh
I don't know where khumo came from but he already has Thabile in his arms.
"Where did you come from?" I ask
"Under the table" he smiles at me
I laugh.
"I believe that, he's crazy like that" Thabile chuckles
"You like that about me right?" He bite her neck playfully and she cries
"Thank you for inviting us here Khumo..." I say
"Anytime, where's your husband?" He asks
"Outside with Grant" I say
He nods and walk out.
"He's your fiance not husband" Thabile corrects
"Try telling Thiko that" I laugh
"Guys Cupcake is sleeping, she's just the cutest most adorable baby ever" Candy dramatically
"For real, who's the mother between the two of you?" Thabile sarcastically
"Hahaha, very funny" I roll my eyes
The guys get in laughing.
"If you stop, the market will crumble down" Grant chuckles
He's the first in, followed by my man then khumo...Shit!
"I'm serious, the least you can do is support me" his eyes meets mine, I look down.
I can't believe he's here, infront of me after four months. The last time I saw him, I fell apart. Since he never came by at our place I thought I'd never see him but I was wrong. He's here making me uneasy again.
"I support you Luke" Thabile smiles at him
"Thanks, I appreciate that" Luke
Thiko's arms are around me so tightly, I feel safe in them but there's something wrong with me because I'm thinking about Luke. I can feel his eyes on me as Thiko rests his head on my shoulders, looking at my phone. The guys conversation moved from Luke's drug recovery to Thiko and me. How I changed him, how lucky he is, what we've been through and how perfect for each other we are. It's not true, all of it. I love Thiko with everything in me, I'll say that even in my sleep but there's a feeling I get when Luke looks at me which is bigger than me. I can't explain it but it's different, it's definitely not sexual.
"Get ahold of yourself Wanga" that's the inner me waking me up to reality. Thiko's arms are still around me but his laughing with his friends, everyone looks happy, except me. I've never been this puzzled.