Shrivelled Roses 1 (Intro)

Chapter 40

-𝑶𝒏𝒆𝒍𝒆 𝑴𝒛𝒂𝒚𝒊-

The following morning Onele woke up to the smell of burnt oats, she knew Cassandra was home. A part of her wanted to immediately rush to her so they could talk kungekavukwa, but a part of her just wanted to stay in bed. One thing about her was that she was hurting... the whole cheating thing Ginger had resorted to, the lying... that hurt her. She may have tried to brave it out before her friends but deep down her heart was torn. How could he do that to her? How could he betray her like that?

She sighed, got out of bed and went to pee before going to her mother's room to look for Milli. He was the only "thing" that made sense to her, only thing that brought her peace too.

"Yhu, wena ibekanti sewuvukile?" her mother exclaimed and she just rolled her eyes looking around. Her mother caught on and answered the unvocal question, "he's with his mother in the lounge". She nodded and walked out, she found Cassandra feeding Milli but they looked like they were on their way. They were fully dressed, and smelled good.

Onele: Good Morning.

Cass: Morning.

Onele: Uhm, I went looking for him in mom's room. Niyaphuma?

Cass: Yeah, but I will be back before him. His father is fetching him for a date with some of his daddy-friends.

Onele: Oh okay, thought nawe uyahamba. Like, nawe uzothathwa ngu Ta Nko.

Cass: I have a breakfast "thing" with his cousin's wife, but I'll be back before lunch time.

Onele: Sure.

She kissed Milli's forehead and then took two steps walking away from them before stopping with a sigh.

Onele: Cass uhm... I told oo sisi about what transpired between us.

Cassandra frowned...

Onele: I thought you would have at least told u sis Siki by now, I was shocked to hear that none of them knew. So uhm, thank you, for keeping your word.

Cass: Keeping my word?

Onele: Yes, you said awungeni ndawo an-

Cass: That's not keeping my word Onele, that's me minding my own business.

Onele: Well, enkosi either way.

Cassandra just shrugged and continued feeding her son.

Onele: You were very clear about your stance in the whole thing, but I do want you to know that I miss our relationship. I miss sharing things with you, I miss calling you in the middle of the night. This... where we are right now hurts more than anything. I know you have always been close with Aphiwe but I am jealous of the time you spend with him...

Cass: You chose a man Onele over your own sister? What did you expect? Oh wait, you expected me to congratulate you and when I didn't, I was the selfish sister.

Onele: I am not fighting with you Sandra, I am just opening up because I am hurting...but I guess uzenzile akakhalelwa. Right?

She gulped, a lump had formed in the middle of her throat and she was fighting with her tears to not embarrass her any further.

Cass: What has he done?

Onele: Huh?

Cass: What has Ginger done to you? Ndiyayiva yonke lento uyithethayo but I know you, you're not hurting because of our relationship. What has he done?

Onele blinked, and wiped away the tears with the back of her hand.

She took a minute, contemplating whether to be honest in her response of just shut her sister out. But Cassandra didn't wait for the response, she also knew she may not get an honest answer anyway.