Maid For Marriage

7

"Thandi really? You couldn't call? You couldn't text? It's almost midnight. You literally had a whole virginity celebration just this weekend, and then you disappear with the neighbor's son for hours!" I just rolled my eyes. "We didn't have sex." I wanted to go to my room because she was just annoying me.

"That's not how it looks!" I don't know why she was making such a big deal out of this. "Nthombi, calm down. For the sake of the baby." I didn't know Thabo was still here. He never stays this long. "Fine, I'm going to leave it. Go sleep. Because apparently you start work tomorrow. A job that I didn't even know you already had!" I stormed off to my room.I got pajamas and went to take a shower before going to sleep.

On my first day working full time, Ma showed me all the medicine. I cleaned and made their meals and even prepped for the next day before going home. Senzo wasn't there. Apparently, he had work.

I went home and I wasn't looking forward to it. The last time I saw my aunt was last night. "Hey, Thandi!" I heard someone call me when I got to the door. It was one of the girls I went to school with. "I saw you leaving with that old man yesterday! You came back pretty late! Maybe the chief should come back so we can make sure you're still a virgin!" She yelled at me, and obviously, everyone could hear.
"Go to hell!" I shouted back. "You first you fat bitch! Fucking weirdo!"

Our door flew open and my aunt pulled me inside. "Why would you do that? You're giving these people more reason to talk. Thandi, what's happening?" She looked worried and I didn't understand why. Why was she going on like this. "That bruise on your arm will be nothing compared to what will happen when your father finds out the truth. When he's done with you, you'll wish you were dead. Believe me. Now get in here and act like you have some sense!"

I went to my room and fell on my bed. I wish I could be normal. My aunt and I were always living in fear of my dad. Every time we see him, all he does is hurt us. My aunt usually takes the beating, but she's pregnant, so this time it's me. I was so annoyed at myself because it wasn't even that bad.

"Thandi." My aunt came to sit on the bed with me. I didn't even realize I was crying until she wiped my tears. "Can't we just tell him? I know he'll kill me, but I don't care anymore. I don't want to keep doing this." She sighed. "Thandi don't say that. This test going wrong has been a blessing in disguise. Can't you see that? It buys you time.
Your father probably won't contact us for a few more months. You know how embarrassed he gets when he hurts us. 
Besides, this gives you plenty of time to find a husband, and then you can blame losing your virginity on him. If you get married, your father will probably no longer care about whether you're a virgin or not.

The next week, I went to work every single day. At least I was getting paid to do what I would usually do. I was getting used to their full routine, and Ma was starting to relax. Senzo didn't come by, but he kept in contact with me and I sent him daily updates.

I was sitting outside doing Ma's nails. "What's going on here. Can I be next?" Senzo joked. He didn't tell me he was coming. His parents always got so excited when he showed up. I made their dinner and went back to my house.

"Thandi, can I come see you tonight?" I smiled shyly and nodded. "Tell me when everyone is asleep and you can sneak me in." I nodded. "See you then."

This time, I got a little bit more dressed. I was wearing very short pajamas shorts. It was pink and basically see-through, and I wasn't wearing underwear. It came with a matching pink crop top. I waited for my aunt and Thabo to start getting it on until I texted him. I went to open the back door and came over the short fence that separated our houses. We sneaked into my room and hugged immediately.

"I missed you." I giggled. "You saw me today." I said while he held onto me. "Yes, I saw you but not like this. I love it when we're together like this." Did he say love? I know he didn't say he loves me, but he said love. "I understand. I missed you too." We went to go sit in bed. "I need to tell you something. I hope you understand and that we can still be together like this." I could kind of tell where this was going, but I acted confused anyway.

"Okay." He said nervously. "I have a wife and kids." I knew it, but I acted shocked. I moved away from him a little bit and avoided eye contact. "Actually, I had two wives. My first wife passed away three months ago." I looked up at him. He looked sad and nervous. I noticed his hands were shaking, so I held onto one. I still avoided his gaze as he carried on.

My first wife had trouble conceiving, and I took a second wife. We have two daughters. By some miracle, my first wife became pregnant last year. She was warned about her age and her heart condition, but she insisted on having the baby. Three days after my daughter was born, her mother passed away." I rubbed his hand with my thumb. "I'm sorry for your loss, Baba."

"Thank you. I felt you needed to know because I wanted to ask you if you'd be my girlfriend." I was shocked. I looked up at him and didn't know what to say. "So would you..? Be my girlfriend?"

I sat there speechless.