BROKEN PIECES.

CHAPTER 27 | YOU NEED THEM.

This man can't be serious when he says he's coming here. I told him that he shouldn't cause he will get me into trouble but obviously he didn't listen to me cause he's planning to come. He might gotten lucky yesterday bit tonight might be a different story. I left the sliding door unlocked so he can get in without being seen or make any noise. I wonder how he gets in and out undetected.
We are all sitting on the dining table having dinner but no one is talking. This is now happening almost everyday. I'm sure Tom and Eric are asking themselves what's going on. Aunty Julia was making conversation but when she saw no one was participating she stopped. I wonder if she took the phones to get it fixed cause I don't know if I can go to the bank and tell them I want to be the only one who can have access to my bank account.
Mom keeps looking at me and I can see she want's to say something but I don't want to talk to her right now. Not while I'm this angry. Thando's eyes keep bouncing off between mom and me. I bet she wants to know what happened or she already does. I don't care cause sooner or later she's going to be on my face about it.
" Uhm....Julia? "
" Yes madam "
" Can you please make sure Raphael's room is ready and...." She hesitates and looks at me before she continues. I frown. " .....and the rooms of two other guests." she says.
" Thato is coming home? " Thando asks.
" He is "
" With his dad and dimples? "
" Uhmmm...." Mom clears her throat ".....no he's coming with his friends. They are going stop here first before they fly to the USA and join their classmates " Wow. Just wow!. I shake my head and eat.
Thando looks at me with sadness. She must have seen the posts on Facebook and I damn well know she looked at that girl's Instagram page and saw Thato's pictures.
" Can I be excused? " I ask mom.
" I'm sorry baby? "
" For what? " She keeps quiet. " Can I be excused? " She nods. " Good night everyone "  The say their goodbyes.
" You forgot your phone Jabs " It's on the table.
"  Did you fix it? " I ask mom
" I will fix it tomorrow when Raphael comes. " Oh she's waiting for his permission? Okay.
" Why tomorrow mom? "
" Jabu please understand "
" Understand?....You know what. I don't want that phone any more. How do I know that you stop tracking my every move? You can come back with it tomorrow and tell me that it is fixed but while it's not and still the same. My laptop though is mine and I got it from my bursary and I want you to take out whatever tracking apps, or bugs and spyware you put there cause you had no right to do that and it belongs to me. It's the only thing I have that I worked hard for and I want it back clean." I don't wait for her to respond so I get up and go to my room.
The first I do is close the door and lock it. I take off my clothes and go to the bathroom and run myself a bath cause I didn't enjoy that one. I get in the bath, bath my body then relax. The more I think about what mom told me is the more I get mad. I can't believe he is coming here with her. Why couldn't he come alone and then join them later?. I guess they are flying in with his family's private jet. Does he even care how that is going to make me feel?. Why do I even care cause it shows that Thato doesn't give a damn. He just wants me on his leash so he can control everything around me.
When the water finally gets cold I get out. Dry myself then wash my underwear, open the drain while cleaning the bathtub. I take my towel, wrap it around me and brush my teeth. When I'm done I moisturize my body and my face. Comb my hair then walk out.  I almost scream cause there he is. Sitting on the couch comfortably like he has been waiting for me. I look at the clock on the wall and it's 10:00pm. When did he get here and how come I didn't hear him coming in.
" I'm sorry I scared you " He whispers. I clutch my towel tighter.
" When did you get here? "
" 15 minutes ago. I realized you were in the bathroom so I waited here for you " He stands up.
" I told you not to come here "
" I know but you said he's coming tomorrow and you don't know for how long and I..." He takes a deep breath " I had to come and see you cause I know I might not see you the whole weekend." I look at him.
" This is dangerous. You can't put your life in danger like this cause we both don't know what might happen if they find you here "
" No risk for you will be dangerous. If it is then you're worth every risk I am always going to take " God!. I shake my head.
" I can't let you do that...."
"  It's my decision he says." I sigh.
" I need to change, wear my pyjamas "
" I can wait..."
" No stay here. I'll change in the bathroom " he nods and sits down.
I go to my wardrobe and take my sleepers and pyjamas he bought me. Look for my underwear then walk to the bathroom. I close the door cause it doesn't have a lock then quickly wear my underwear and pyjamas. I hang my towel nicely then walk out.
I walk to the bed and move all the pillows and open the comforter then I'm about to ask him if locked the sliding door when I hear a knock on my door. I look at him freaked out and he quickly runs to the bathroom.
" Who is it? "
" It's me. Can we talk? " It's mom
" No. I'm tired and want to sleep "
" Baby please "
" Mom please. I feel angry towards you and I don't want to say something I will probably regret. So can you please just give me space at least just tonight "
" I know I hurt you and I'm sorry. Can you talk this remote for your aircon cause it's a bit chilly tonight " I get up and walk to the door.
I unlock it then pull it open. She gives it to me and we look at each other.
" Good night baby "
"  Good nigh t mom " she kisses my cheek then I close the door and lock it.
He comes out, walks towards me and takes the remote. He presses the buttons until the room begins to feel warm.
" Did you lock the door? "
" I did." he says.
" Thank you for these. I love them."
" You wear them beautifully."
" Cause they fit me perfectly. How did you know my size? "
" I just knew  it." I arch my brow. " Ok, Ok. When you walked your mom to her bedroom. I kind of looked in your wardrobe to see your size "
" Thought as much."  I yawn.
" Get in bed. You had a long day. You must be tired" He says.
" Are you leaving? "
" If you want me to " I look at him.
" Can I trust you? "
" Yes you can."
" Your clothes are dry but it's raining outside? "
He chuckles then walks to where the couches are and picks something behind it. He shows me a bag and it has we clothes.
" Oh my God you're crazy "
" Things we do for....uhm yeah "
I walk to the bed, get in and sit with my back against the headboard. He stands there and looks at me.
" Come. You can't stand there " He walks to the bed and sits on the side next to me.
" Why did you ask me if you can trust me? "
" Cause I'm alone with you in my room."
" I've been alone with you before "
" But not like this. Now it feels different."
“ Different how?”
“ I don’t know. It’s like something shifted between us since I was in your office ” He smiles.
“ How does that make you feel?” He shifts and looks at me. He is so big.
“ It feels like I’m cheating on Thato”
“ There are different kinds of cheating. Emotional and physical. So which kind of cheating do you think you’re doing? cause I haven’t touched you ”
“ I...I know....”
“ Do you feel something for me Jabu?” What? I look away and shake my head. “ Then why would you unless you feel something for me”
“ My boyfriend might be cheating on me, in the other side here I am with you here doing something behind his back. Isn’t this cheating too?”
“ Well you wouldn't feel like you are cheating unless you feel something for me. Do you feel something for me?”
“ I...uhmmm I don’t know”
“ Well I do. I told you that I will wait for you until you’re ready to have me. In your heart and life. I want all of you Jabu and I will not share you with anyone. I won’t touch you like that until you brreak things between you and him. I don’t know how long that is going to take but I am not going anywhere. I’ll wait for you and I’ll continue to show you that I am the only man for you.”
“ You can’t wait forever”
“ I know I can’t baby but other things are worth waiting for. You are worth it.” I smile.
“ Do you say this to all the girls?”
“ If this is your way of asking if I have a girlfriend then the answer is no.”
“ Why not? what’s wrong with you cause you’re so handsome”  I can’t believe I said that. I pull the comforter over my head and he chuckles.
“ So you think I’m handsome?”
“ You know you are” I tell him under the covers.
“ Please look at me?” I pull the comforter off my head and look at me. He smiles. This man is really handsome.
“ I find it hard to believe that a handsome man like you is single. What is wrong with you?”
“ I’m tired of meeting women who use me for financial gain and status. I need someone real in my life. Who’ll love me for me and not what I have. Someone like you. I know you don’t believe me but I have hope that one day you’ll come to my house and see where I live.” I sigh.
“ How do you know I won’t use you too?”
“ I’m putting my faith and trust in you like you did with me and if you are going to do that then that’s a risk I’m willing to take. I want a future with you baby and we can’t have that as long as you’re here.”
“ What do you mean?”
“ Jabu I know maybe you might not believe me but seeing and meeting you changed my life. I have something to look forward to. I get excited when I know I’m going to see you and I look forward to that. So I need your permission to do something”
“ Do what?”
“ I need you to allow me to help you look for your family. You need them baby and I hope wherever they are there's an explanation to what happened to you ”
Tears stream down my face as I look at him and see that he means it. He will really help me look for my family. I cover my mouth cause a loud sob was ready to escape my mouth. He crawls on the bed and pulls me to his chest and holds me. I fist his sweater and bury my head on his chest and cry silently.
He hold me until I calm down. He keeps soothing my back and tells me everything is going to be okay. He will be with me every step of the way. He won't stop until he finds them.
" What if you don't find them?"
" You're not an animal baby. Even if your family is all gone baby there has to be an extended family member. I will find them wherever they are."
" What if they decided that they didn't want me and still don't."
" We'll get that bridge when we get to it okay. Don't stress yourself, Okay beautiful? "
" Thank you for trying to help me "
" You'll thank me when we find your family. Right now. Sleep baby."
" When are you going to leave? "
" When you have fallen asleep " I nod.  I wrap my hands around his body and lay my head on his broad chest and sigh. He kisses my forehead and pulls me closer to him.
We stay like that until I feel myself falling asleep.
" Jabu "
" Hudson? " I sigh and look at him. He smiles.
" You're so beautiful you know "
" I know cause you tell me so."
" And I'll keep telling you everyday of your life "
" Yeah right " I yawn.
" Baby? "
" Yes Mr Hudson-Odoi "
" I'm Kwame Hudson-Odoi "
" Really? Man I thought maybe you'll tell me that you're the prince of Egypt or something " He chuckles.
" I'm not baby."
" I love your name Kwame. I am Jabu Mthiyane. Nice to finally meet you. " He chuckles.
" I love how you say my name. " he says and I smile. " I have to go now. It's 2am and I have a busy day tomorrow and miss have classes tomorrow."
" Ok." I pull away from him and get off the bed.
He gets off the bed and wears his sneakers. He takes my hand and walks with me. He takes his bag and pulls out a beanie then wears it. I feel so sad that he's leaving. I wish he wasn't. I sigh deeply.
" It's okay baby. We'll see each other when he leaves. Keep your phone safe where they won't find it.  When you get time call me but don't take any risks. I need you and I don't want anything bad to happen to you "
" I will keep it safe." I hug him but he pulls me up, I wrap my legs around his waist and we hug each other tight and stand like that.
" Kwame? "
" Yes baby."
" Be safe okay? "
" I'll do my absolute best."
He kisses both my cheeks. Puts me down, disappears through the curtains then the sliding door opens and closes. I pull the curtain aside and look outside and he's gone. I lock the sliding door, switch the lights off and get in bed.
It's the next morning and I can honestly say I am not looking forward to this day. If things were different between Thato and I would be on top of the world right now. I changed the sheets and bedding because I didn't want any lingers scent of Kwame. I love his name. It suits him. I didn't have breakfast cause I didn't want to talk to anyone in the house. Eric is the only one driving me today.
" Eric? "
" Yes Jabu? "
" Can you teach me how to drive? " He looks at me surprised
" That's great. I would love to teach you."
" Thank you " He nods and drops me off at school.
I meet with Inga like she's been waiting for me. We walk together to the classes and sit together. I explain to her that I don't have a phone and will give her my new numbers. We sit together in all classes and realize that Inga is my new friend. I promise her that I will take her out sometime but not this weekend cause I will be busy with something and she understand.
We are walking out of the halls to the parking lot. I'm expecting to see Eric or Tom but instead I see Thato. I'm not excited to see him. He's standing there smiling like he has won a lottery and I'm just walking slowly. I say goodbye to Inga and she walks away.
My walk to Thato feels like the longest walk I have ever taken. His face falls when he sees that I am not returning the smile. He meets me half way and I stop walking.
" Hi " He says nervously. " Let me carry this for you " He takes my bag.
" Hi. Where's Eric? "
" Uhm I told him I'll come and get you." I keep quiet and walk to the car. He opens the door for me and I step in.
He gets on the other side and drives out.
" I thought when you see me you were going to be excited " I look outside the window.
" Should I be? " I ask him.
" I missed you sunshine " I scoff. " Jabu...." I look at him. " I can explain " He says.
" Explain what exactly? "
" I messed up."
" How did you mess up Thato? "
" I cheated but it didn't mean anything to me "
I chuckle and shake my head.
" Is it her or someone else? "
" Jabu..."
" Just tell me dude "
" It's her but she's just a friend." Wow. I keep quiet. " I came with them and all I'm asking from you is to be hospitable baby please. I don't want them to feel like they are not welcomed."
" It's your house Thato. Do whatever you want to do and leave me out of it " He tries to touch my cheek but I move it away.
" Don't touch me."
" Sunshine...."
" Don't call me that too. Tell me something Thato..." I turn and face him. " What happened to the search of trying to help me find my family? " I see his body going still then he grabs the steering wheel tight.
" We're still searching " He says not looking at me.
" and you haven't found any lead or anything? "
" No. Nothing." Why don't I believe him.
" But mom said like you got a lead somewhere " I lie. I want to see his reaction and what he's going to say.
" She did? But I told her that lead led us nowhere and there hasn't been anything ever since." My heart drops. I cannot believe they hid this from me. What else are they hiding from me. My God!.
" Why didn't you tell me? "
" I didn't want you to get your hopes up." I nod." I want us to talk Jabu. I want to explain..."
" How you cheated on me? You want me to hear the glory details of how you did it and why? "
" I love you Jabu "
I shake my head and look outside. Tears stream down my face and it's not only because he cheated but also they lied to me. They kept something from me and they still are and I'm afraid of what is it that they are hiding from me and it makes me wonder if mom really loves me or she's pretending cause she's hiding something from me. I am so devastated.
I try to control my tears but they won't stop. He tries to comfort me but I just hate him right now. The moment the car drives in the yard. I take my bag, step out of the car and run into the house crying. I pass 5 people I don't know crying and running to my room. I get in lock the door and throw myself in the bed and cry.