Red Lace

Prologue

ADAEGO IYAZINKOSI IBRAHIM

My little sister and I grew up being treated as princesses, what am I saying? We are princesses, especially to our parents and our uncles; Adiche and Okoye. There are three of us with me being the oldest turning 18 this year, my brother turning 17; don't even ask how that happened and then there's our little sister, at least they were able to wait with her and she's only 14. My brother and I were originally born in South Africa and our little sister was born in the UK. My parents separated after she was born, til date, we don't know for what reason but they have both been equally present in our growth with our father doing the back-and-forth trips between SA and UK.

7 years ago we moved back to South Africa for whatever reason, I don't know the reason and our parents are not as forthcoming with the details of our relocation but I know it has a lot to do with my brother and whatever business he has going on with our father. Life has always been great, I've never needed anything, ever because our parents have always provided for us. This year I want to go to university but my father is a tough nut to crack. I've asked mom to come over so that maybe she can try and convince her ex-husband to let me go to university. Hopefully, it all goes well. Pray with me.

"Dad won't agree to me going to university. I've been begging him this entire week and his answer remains the same," I complain to mom who is just as adamant about me going to university as she did, eventually.

"Let me try and talk to your father again honey, okay," Mom says, she kisses my forehead before walking out of my bedroom. I wait for a few minutes before I walk out right after her wanting to hear the conversation for myself. I know the man that raised me and he will never agree.

"We need to talk about Adae." Is the first thing I hear from mom to dad who was working on his computer but stopped, the door is half open so I am able to hear the entire conversation.

"We don't greet anymore in this house? I understand you no longer live here but we still do things in an orderly respectful manner in this household. How are you, my love?" Dad asks, saying the last bit in the most condescending tone ever but looking calm as ever, resting back on his chair to give mom his undivided attention. Yes, they are divorced and yes mom is seeing someone but my father has made it clear that mom will always be his and only his despite their separation.

"Hello, Yemi. We need to talk about Adae starting university next month." mom says sitting down on the chair opposite him.

"How is that boyfriend of yours, is he still asking you to marry him?" Dad asks, deviating from the matter, not surprised by that. He will do whatever he can to annoy mom and look down on the man she is currently seeing.

"Yemi, stop it!" Mom warns with loud annoyance and frustration in her voice.

"Fine, you were saying?" Dad asks mom to repeat, not that he didn't hear her the first time but it's his way of pressing mom's buttons the best way he knows how to.

"Adae, she wants to go to university this year and I want that for her too," Mom explains with hopes that her ex will say yes.

"NO! It's about time Adaego learned the ways of a mistress. She has no time for university."

The fxck is a mistress and why am I innit?

NICHUME SIPHOSETHU MNGUNI

"I don't feel comfortable going there," I say to my friend Sisonke. She was our first friend when we first got to boarding school. By we, I mean my sister and I. There are three of us, we are triplets. Being Lwando Mbana's great-grandchildren, Bandile Tshawe's children, and Khayalethu Mnguni's stepchildren, Cape Town was a little too much. Not to say that Johannesburg isn't but at least in Joburg, we get to have a normal life.