BROKEN PIECES.

CHAPTER 23| WE'RE EVEN

#NotEdited

Birds keep chirping outside waking me up and I don't feel like getting out of bed but I have to cause I have classes to attend. I make my bed then go shower and leave my room and go to the kitchen and there's only Eric and Tom on the breakfast table.
" Good morning " they greet back and I sit down and make myself some food.
" If that girl says something else tell us okay? "
" I will. "
We eat our breakfast and I listen to them talking about soccer and what not. I didn’t check my phone when I woke up cause I didn’t want to be disappointed when I find out that Raphael didn’t respond to any of my messages. I don’t know why but I feel so alone. Thando walks in and greets us and she doesn't look like she had a good night too.
" Rough night? " I ask her and she just nods. Eric and Tom get up and leave.
" Yeah didn't sleep well. Where's aunty? "
" I think she's still sleeping. You scared us thando "
" Yoh I apologized njena?. I don't need a lecture from you too "
" Don't be snappy at me thando okay. I'm just trying..."
She gets up and storms out of the kitchen. What is wrong with her?. I finish my breakfast and go check on mom. I knock on  her bedroom door but she doesn't answer. I hold the handle and push the door and it opens. I walk in towards her bed and she's sleeping. I kiss her cheek and she smiles.
" Good morning " She yawns.
" Morning mom. Did you sleep well? "
" I did but not good. Where's your sister? "
" She's not in a good morning "
" She hates me cause I grounded her for a month "
" That's why she was snappy. I came to see if you are okay. I'm leaving."
" I love you. Have a good day "
" I love you too. Sleep " She throws a pillow at me and I walk out laughing.
" It's nice to see some of us are happy this morning " Thando says walking out of her room.
" Don't be mad at me for your stupidity "
We both walk to the car not talking and I really don't like that. I don't know why she is taking her frustrations out on me cause I didn't ask her to do all of that stupid stuff. We get in and the car and it drives out. No one talks and that has never happened with us.
"  Why are you exactly mad at me when I saved your ass yesterday? "
" You know I'm in this mess because of you right? "
" What? Ungalinge ungihlanyele wena Thando! "
" Vele Jabu. I went there just to prove to them that we are not rich spoiled kids! "
" yet you did the very same thing. You got drunk, smoked and then blacked out and who came to save you huh? Me "
" Yeah I have saved you before and you did too so I guess we're now even " I suck in breath shocked. Never did I think I would hear those words coming from her. Ever. Tom turns and looks at thando frowning and Eric shakes his head.
" I can't believe you have just said that thando. I didn't know you were counting the number of times I needed you. Last night you needed me too and I was there for you " I am so hurt beyond anything.
" I would have been fine. I would have woken up later with my head cleared and I would have came home but now you got me grounded and I am going to be stuck there the whole month and be boring like you! "
" You could have been hurt thando. You don't know those people! "
" Those people are my friends. They wouldn't have hurt me but how would you know that cause you've always been a loner "
" Then keep your stupid friends. Next time when your high, drunk and passed out. I won 't be there! "
" I can take care of myself. I don't need you! " I burst into tears
" Eric stop the car. "
" What? you're going to kick me out of the car cause I hurt your feelings? "
Eric stop on the side of the road. I take my bag and step out of car. Eric and Tom also step out.
" Jabu where are you going? "
" I'll catch a taxi to school. I don't want to ride with her in the car "
" Thando is the one who'll take a taxi. Not you " Tom says.
" I don't want her to think....Just stop a taxi for me to drop me off " I wipe off my tears.
" You don't have cash on you " Eric says.
" Just give me money please. I'm going to be late "
" I'll go with her. Drive thando " Eric says.
" Jabu is our number 1 priority. It's our job to always make sure that she's safe no matter what. Thando is the one who should be riding a taxi."
" Tom please. Just take her to school."
Eric requests an Uber and within three minutes it comes. We get in and leave. 15 minutes later the car parks outside the parking lot.
" Are you sure you're okay? " He says as we step out. I nod. " We'll wait here for a while if you decide to come back."
" Thanks Eric "
I walk away and he walks to where Tom is parked. I go straight to my Sociology class and wait there. Other students begin to come in with our lecturer and begins his lesson. I try to focus on what he is saying but my mind is just not there. I am so hurt and I can't even concentrate. I just want to go home and cry my eyes out. Thando really hurt me and I was just looking out for her like a sister does.
The air is becoming too much for me. I feel like I am going to suffocate. I feel hot. I feel like I'm having a panic attack. I quickly run out of the hall open the door but I don't exactly see where I'm going cause my eyes are teary then I feel myself colliding with something hard and I pass out. I hear voices people talking around me but I can't hear what they are saying cause it feels like they are mumbling. I open my eyes and it looks like I'm in the nurses room. I try to sit up but fall back on the bed and I begin to panic again.
" It's okay. Take a deep breath then open your eyes." A voice says. Where do I know this voice from.
I slowly open my eyes and see a nurse and that guy who gave me my pencil case. What is he doing here?
" I'm the one you collided with and I brought you here. How long do your panic attacks last? " He asks me and I just look at him. He gives me a glass of water and I drink.
Someone knocks on the door and they come in.
" Hi, Um Jabu I came to give your bag and check if you're okay " It's a girl I go to class with. We take the same modules with another guy. I recognize him from around campus but I don't have any classes with him.
" Thank you Inga. I'm fine " I get up from the bed.
" Jabu. You need to see a doctor about your panic attacks and get medication for your panic attacks." the nurse says. " Cause they will get worse "
" No they won't get worse. " The guy says.
" I will tell my doctor. Thank you "
" You might want to put back inside that ice "  I frown. " Your necklace " I look at my chest and it is out. I put it back in.
" I looked for your sister but they say she didn't show up for her classes" Inga says. What is going on.
I take the bag from Inga but I realize I am not okay. I look for my phone but I don't find it on me or in my bag.
" Have you seen my phone? " I ask Inga
" No I haven't."
" Maybe it fell but it wasn't with you when I picked you up and brought you here " Fuck. I forgot it at home.
" I forgot it at home " I tell them.
" You can go to the reception and they will let you call your parents." The nurse suggests. No. Mom is going to be stressed.
" Thank you " I walk out.
" I'll save some notes for you Jabu. Give me your numbers and e-mail address " I tell her my email address and numbers.
" Thank you Inga. Very much "
" I'm just to help. I didn't even know you knew my name " She says shyly.
" I know it."
" I can take you home you know. It's not a problem " she offers.
" I'll...."
" I'll take her home. You have classes to attend " She nods and walks away no questions asked.  What's with this guy.
" I can take myself home thank you "
" You're not fine and getting in a taxi looking like you can faint at any time is not good for you. Here, take my phone and call your driver bodyguards " He gives me his phone. I shake my head.
" I don't know their numbers by heart " I say embarrassed and he shakes his head.
" I don't know why you don 't want them to come and get you cause I know for a fact that they can't let you walk around with that ice around your neck without any other means to get them should you lose your phone. I'll take you home. Please come. You need rest your stressed and it is not good for your health. That is why you have panic attacks and that will lead to depression. Trust me. I know."
" I don't know you "
" There are cameras all over this campus and half of the campus saw me with you like now. Should I turn out to be a monster the whole University will know it was me and where to find me."
" Are you a lecturer? "
" No "
" A student? "
" Uhm no Come you've been standing for long "
" I can't...I won't leave with you....What if you...."
" Hey...Hey calm down. Sit down and breathe. Put your head between your thighs. " I sit down and do what he says.
He brushes my back and I almost scream then he moves his hand.
" I'm not going to hurt you Jabu. I just want you to be able to breath. Can I touch your back " I nod. He brushes my back, soothing it until I come down and see clearly.
I take out my necklace and press the button. He stops soothing my back.
" What is that? "
" My....They will come...."
" Have you ever been to therapy? "
" I am on therapy "
" Is it helping you? "
" It is...I..."
" I think you need intense therapy. Really intense therapy cause clearly something is wrong "
I hear cars screeching parking then Eric and Tom come out running.
" Get the fuck away from her! " Eric says to this guy and Tom tries to grab him.
" Touch me and you're dead. I'm not playing " The guy says and I look at him and see the threat in his eyes. He means it. He gets up and looks at me.
" I will call you and find out how you're doing. Take care of her." He looks at me in a way I have never seen anyone look at me. He gets up and leaves. I watch him walk until he stops in front of a motorcycle, wears his helmet then gets on it and drives off. Who is this guy.
Eric helps me stand up and Tom takes my bag. They ask me what happened but I just shake my head. I look at the people standing in cars like they waiting for something big to happen or are expecting it. We get in the car and all of them do too and follow us.
" Tell everyone that is following us to stop. Tell them to go away " I tell them and they both look at me. I lay down on the backseat and close my eyes. I just want to sleep.
Someone calls my name and I open my eyes and it's mom. She looks worried. She doesn't deserve this.
" I'm fine mom "
" You're not baby. What happened? God you scared me " I get up and step out of the car. She hugs me tight.
" Can I sleep in your bed? " She nods.
We walk to the house and the aunties look worried too.
" Can I make you anything Jabu? " Aunty Julia asks.
" No aunty. I'm fine " She nods. I walk to mom's bedroom then take off my clothes and she moves the pillows off the bed and opens it and I get in and sigh. She sits next to me and brushes my hair.
" What happened? "
" I don't want to talk about it. They smell like you. Warm and homey. I love them."
" I love you " She says continuing to brush my hair. It calms me and makes me feel sleepy.
" I love you more." I tell her.
" Thato..."
" I don't want to talk about him too " I tell her and she nods.
" Here's your phone and I have to take your necklace to get it activated again." I take it off and give it to her. " Jabu. I know you don't want to talk about it but on your way back here I got a call from the university and they tell me you had a breakdown or..."
" It was just a panic attack mom. Nothing big and I don't want to talk about it "
" I know you don't but I just don't want to be any secrets between us okay? " I nod. " I'll be in the lounge if you need anything. Just shout okay? "
" I will but I would like to be left alone so I can sleep."
“ Ok baby ” She kisses my cheek then leaves.
I take my phone then see a bunch of missed calls, video calls and messages from Raphael. I delete all of them without reading any of them. I’m about to switch off my phone again and a call comes in. Who could be calling me now?. Inga with assignments and notes.
“ Inga hi ”  I answer.
“ That’s not my name.” It’s that guy.
“ How did you get my numbers? ” I ask him.
“ I have my ways. How are you feeling now? ”
“ It hasn’t been that lo ng since I got home”
“ I know but being at home must make you feel better”
“ Honestly seeing mom and her hugging me made me feel better. I’m in her bed now ”
“ Our parents bed are the most comfortable and when you sleep there. You sleep like a baby.”
“ Aren’t you too grown to be sleeping in their bed?”
“ Are you calling me an old man?”
“ Yeah you kinda walk like one” he chuckles.
“ Oh so you were checking me out”
“ I’m hanging up”
“ please don’t hang up. I’m worried about you”
“ You don’t know me and I don’t even know your name”
“ If I tell you my name will you let me know you so I can worry about you more?” I keep quiet.
“ Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”
“ You need intense therapy Jabu. Really intense therapy. Your therapist should have reccomended for you.”
“ What do you know about intense therapy? “
“ I know that it has helped many people. It will help you too ”
“ Are you a doctor? ”
“ I have to go now. I’ll check up on you later.”
“ I’m going to switch off my phone”
“ But I’m going to check up on you later”
“ Don’t do that. Thanks for your help today but please don’t ever call me”
“ Why don’t you want me to call you?”
“ My boyfriend won’t like that”
“ You have a boyfriend but you couldn’t call him when you...”
“ He doesn’t live here” It’s not his fault I had a panic attack.
“ You could have called your mom too but you didn’t.”
“ I didn’t want her to worry”
“ But she is.”
“ Thanks for help. Goodbye”
“ I’m going to call you later. Don’t switch off your phone or I might just show up there”
“ You wouldn’t dare”
“ Switch off your phone and see.” He hangs up. What the hell?!.
My phone rings and it’s Raphael. I still don’t want to talk him so I switch off my phone. I know he’s going to call mom so I cover myself with her comforter. 5 minutes later I hear walking in and calling my name.
“ She’s sleeping Thato and her phone is under the pillow I think. It might be on silent.......serves you right. How the hell do you ignore her calls?.......No you hurt her!........I’m not getting involved.” She says then she clicks her tongue hanging up and puffs.
“ Where the hell is thando!” She says closing the door behind her and I sigh. Does she know Thando skipped classes?.
I think of taking my phone to warn her but then I remember she said she doesn't want or needs my help. She told me we were even amongst other things. She hurt me pretty bad and I don't know why she's acting this way towards me. I hope she is safe though wherever she is.