Shrivelled Roses 1 (Intro)

Chapter 31

-𝑳𝒊𝒚𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂 𝑺𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒐-

Liyanda and her siblings went out for dinner, her sister was leaving for the villages and so she wanted to spoil the other two before she left. Luckily for Liyanda, she didn't see her boyfriend's baby mama because she had apparently knocked off earlier. Sakhiwo chose the restaurant of choice, obviously with a bar, and so they allowed him to drive, because Liyanda was not familiar with the area.

Ncesh: So, how has East London been treating you, sis wase Goli?
Sakhiwo: Mnkq, akafasti nendoda lo!
Liyanda: Haibo bhuti!
Sakhiwo: Lonto ke uyandoyikisa... ungamithi Liyanda!
Ncesh: Unabazali u girl, bazokwenasa umntwana.
Sakhiwo: Sulahlekisa umntana wena, awukazali kodwa wa graduate'a kudala.
Ncesh: Wena uzele? Coz mna ndilinde wena.
Sakhiwo: Kodwa uthi ku Li-
Liyanda: Whoah bethuna, andizomitha. Rest.

The ride to the dinner located suddenly became muted.
But they had fun, the food was delicious and then after about two hours they headed out. As they stepped outside, Liyanda saw Ginger with a woman and so she thought it was Onele, she ran after them but at a few feet away she noticed that the woman was not her friend. She stopped and frowned, then dialed Onele immediately.

Onele: Sithotho?
Liyanda: Is Ta G in East London?
Onele: Yup.
Liyanda: Are you with him right now?
Onele: Nope.
Liyanda: Uphi chomi?
Onele: Mna or yena?
Liyanda: Wena, uphi right now?
Onele laughed... irritating Liyanda who started cussing at her.
Onele: Haibo chill, I'm at his house. Undithukela ntoni?
Liyanda: Are you driving?
Onele: Yes.

Liyanda dropped the call and ran back to her siblings, she asked her brother to drop her off at the house and promised she was safe. Well, she didn't know that, but what she knew was that Onele would need a backup because she suddenly felt like Onele knew what Ginger was up to. After trying very much to convince her siblings, they eventually dropped her off and she called Onele who opened the gate for her. As she walked in, she looked around and saw that the kitchen was still intact and so she breathed. Onele was sipping on wine in the lounge, looking at a confused Liyanda.

Onele: Uyaphi baby?
Liyanda: Why do I feel like you're up to no good?
Onele: Maybe that's because you kind of know me too well.
Liyanda: What are you doing here? Where is Ta G?
She got up, poured Liyanda a glass and then stood behind the couch looking at the blank TV screen.
Onele: Bongani is out with Siyasisanda.
Liyanda: You mean he is out with his ex? What? Are they back together?
Onele: Uhm, I assume they are.
Liyanda frowned, and put her glass down.
Liyanda: What are you doing here? How long have you known?
Onele: I came to collect my stuff... I walked in on them a few weeks after we came back from Pretoria. They didn't see me, but I took her phones and spent the little money I managed to access from her accounts.
Liyanda: What?!
Onele: I came with Claire.
Liyanda took her glass again and smiled, at least even if Onele was hurting, she wasn't crying.
That would be awkward.
Liyanda: So are we juuuust fetching izinto zakho? Qha?
Onele: We could fry some Pork sitye, they won't be home until after 10 pm.
Liyanda: Okay, I'll fry some pork. What are you going to do?
Onele: I'm going to change his bedlinen, imdaka man.

Liyanda nodded with a smile, and went to the kitchen while Onele went to collect every document she could find in Ginger's bedroom/study/safe. Everything. When she was done she changed the bed linen, put the dirty one in the washing machine but didn't wash it and then went back to the bedroom where she found a brown envelop under the bed, it belonged to Siyasisanda. She took that envelope, and a USB that she kicked on her way out. She picked it up, closed the door and went to put the things in her car then joined Liyanda in the kitchen. They made food enough to feed the entire neighborhood... they took every meat that was left in the fridge and left with it, leaving the dirty dishes under the sink where Ginger would normally keep them. As they got to Onele's car... well, not hers, but she was driving it, Liyanda stopped and looked at her friend.

Onele: And then? Ucinga ntoni?
Liyanda: So sizoshiya utywala sibubona?

Onele laughed, shaking her head.
They both walked back inside, they took every bottle from the fridge, and then a number of bottles from the cellar. When Liyanda was satisfied, they walked out, locked and drove to her home because that's where they were going to store the booze. In the old backroom she used for her painting stuff...
Once they were done offloading and packing or rather, hiding the alcohol, they went back to Onele's car and chat for a bit.

Liyanda: How are you?
Onele: Mh... numb? I mean, I thought after that day he would stop, but kuyacaca ba a leapord really never changes its spots.
Liyanda: What are you going to do now? Way forward?
Onele: I am not going to dump him...
Liyanda: Onele...
Onele: Uyandiqhela u Ginger Liya mfethu. Imagine being disowned by your own sister fighting for someone who will later on shit on your face? Uyandiqhela, and ndizomlungisa. I want him to dump me ngokwakhe so that angabe eleqeka emva kwam. When he really makes the decision he will stick to it, in the meantime, khanindiyeke ndiyotya imali ka Ntsika!

Liyanda frowned and asked, "Ntsika?" and Onele nodded, "Some guy who used to crush on me while we were in highschool. He lives up my street and he has asked that I accompany him to his cousin's party this weekend ndamxelela ba andinanto yonxiba even if I wanted to accompany him. Then he said we will go shopping ngomso".
Liyanda sighed... Onele was playing with fire, knowing fully well that Ginger would never hurt her but what about this Ntsika?

Onele: Relax, he knows I have a boyfriend.
Liyanda: I'm worried about what will that scumbag of yours do to lo Ntsika wakho mna. Uyamazi u Ta G akabhadlanga.
Onele: Akazomenza nix... watch and see.

Liyanda nodded, still not sure if she liked what Onele was doing.
It was a dangerous game, even for Onele.