SCREWED★

•14•

So, Zama came over today, to make up for yesterday, I suppose?
We sat in for dinner and if there's one thing I couldn't help but notice, was her constant fidgeting.

"You good?", I found myself asking.

She smiled and breathed deeply.
"Family issues".

"Hey....you know you can always talk to me. That's why i'm here. Lest I forget, I didn't fly over eight hours from the west down to the south, just to watch a girl called Zama sulk. "

She smiled gazing intently at the floral painting on the wall and then back to me.

I looked on waiting for a plausible reply.

"Started off from the slums of Capetown, can't believe my efforts awarded me a "white- collar" American job. I'm here now and that's all that matters....
Technically I should be happy and proud that I'm finally out of the begging cycle but....its just not it. This new cycle, "the Saviour girl cycle" is just very demanding!
Coming to think of it, they're the hands that did most of the pushing, I just can't brush them off. It's just fatiguing how they see you as the 'Almighty'and upload all their issues on you. Tami I'm just fedup....."

Hearing this and my mind couldn't stop throwing tantrums.
I moved up closer and gave her an assuring hug

"Family is sure is everything! You know, the annoying part is, family is that one thing you can't cut off like friends. That's pretty much why they are everything. The highs, the lows, the uncertainties, the everything!
Babe, I know you'll be fine. God looked up that entire family and picked you, He knows you can handle it all that is why He chose you. Kpele! (Sorry)", I replied.

Like Zama I too had thesame problem.
Truth be told, all this wealth we are out there amassing is totally not ours but family's.

Now connecting the dots I realized why "the Mulapo affair". Honestly, I didn't want to bring it up but this stubborn part of me just wouldn't let go.

"Is that why Mulapo?", I asked trying to sound nonchalant.

"The affair...two days ago?...His office?", I clarified

Now I knew I got her right there in the spot. She had thus unreadable face that I could decipher whether she was shocked or nonchalant.

"Oh so it was you!,
You sure gotta learn to knock in doors you knos, if not you're gonna keep seeing things", She finally exclaimed after the short pause.

Seriously? Was this all she'd say. This girl was sure in her own world.

"Mulapo?, that's my Peter! What else would I be doing with a married man?
Paul....Family! Been in the theft business for so long, Robbing Peter to pay paul, finito!", Zama exclaimed making her way to the kitchen.

Zama, was a friend I grew to love as a sister. She was literally like the only family I had out here.

I get it that she has to make double the income to make up for her extra luggage, family!
My only issue is the "means of doubling."As I said she's a sister and I so wouldn't want my sister doing stuff like this.

With this motivation, I picked up my cheque book and signed a cheque of a suitable amount.

"Spare the Pipe for its rightful owner, His wife, c'est clair?", I sarcastically retorted placing it in Zama's palms.

She was Shocked. Not at the gesture, though!, it was definately the sum. Ask me how I know, well, like law people can be studied! All

She reached put for a hug.
Tears fell uncontrollably from her eyes. I had sure hit that spot.

Not every hard girl is hard after all.

With this Zama kept lecturing me on how her newly attained revenue was going to open and run an online store to feed not only hers but that of the whole of SA.