KEPT

11. THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.

KHANYISA

The dinner table is very loud tonight. Nkosi and Mdu are having the time of their lives and if I hadn't had that interaction with Mdu earlier I'd actually find him very funny, he's a good story teller and entertainer too.

I get up and clear the table when we are all done wanting some space.

"Thanks for the food, sisi. I enjoyed it," Mdu humbly says offering a smile.

"You're welcome," I respond with the same tone.

"Now I see why this guy has gotten bigger and fat, it makes sense now," He laughs.

"Ngiyakukhohlwa unje uma ususuthi, Ukhuluma umbhedo" [I forget you're like this when you're full, you speak nonsense, " Nkosi says but clearly he hasn't taken offense.

" Ngiyadlala bafo, phela wena uyi'sgora, uMr Muscle wangempela" [I'm just joking, bro. You're a tough guy, the real Mr. Muscle] he acts out a muscle man and we all laugh.

I leave the two men and go to do the dishes, My feet hurt from all that walking I did in heels so I think I'll have an early night. That and the fact that I don't think I can survive any more hours with Mdu, it just feels awkward.

"Can we talk?" He says joining me on the kitchen with a hushed voice and I turn to look at him, I look behind him just to make sure Nkosi isn't behind.

Now that my heels are off, he's a little more taller than me compared to earlier, he's about the same height as Nkosi and almost the same body type, only he's a little skinny but now that I've seen them together, there is some resemblance between the two of them.

"About?"

"Earlier, I don't think there's a need for Nkosi to know I was making moves on his wife," he says, not bothering to beat around the bush.

"So you want me keep this from him?" I raise my eyebrow, I obviously wasn't going to tell Nkosi but it feels good seeing Mdu in this position. He's not being arrogant or forceful, humbleness does suit him, he should practice it more often.

"If you tell him then he will think I'm trying to hit on his wife and that will cause tension, "

"You were trying to hit on me, " I remind him.

"There's a difference, "

"Oh really? How so because you knew I was married even then, "

"There's a difference koti. A huge difference between a married woman and umfazi ka bhut'wam [My brother's wife]"

"So you're saying you'd still feel no shame if I wasn't Nkosi's wife?" I ask and his smirk makes its way back.

"I guess we will never know... Look, I don't want to make things awkward, uNkosi indodana ka bab'omkhulu [Nkosi is my uncles son], he's practically my brother and you are his wife. I'm not looking to start any trouble and honestly had I known from the beginning who you were, I would have never tried anything, "

"I hear you."

"Can we just start on a clean slate and get to know each other in a complete different way compared to what I had in mind earlier? Who knows, we might even become friends, I mean we already are family," he actually sounds sincere and I can tell he's very worried about Nkosi finding out, I'm also not trying to cause any tension here. I know it won't go down well if I tell him and I believe it's a good thing that Mdu sees his wrongs.

"You won't be a jerk?" I ask.

"I won't, I promise to behave and not even mention that other thing, " He says.