Shrivelled Roses 2: Iyana Kleinbooi

3

𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 THREE

-Buhle-

Two months after Buhle's wedding, Angelo came for an impromptu visit. This took Buhle by surprise because the last time she spoke to Angelo they had agreed on reporting Kuriyata to the cops. Buhle had attended a couple of therapy sessions then and Angelo was convinced that Buhle could go through the whole ordeal by herself.

"I am not sure whether to congratulate your or what..." Buhle could taste the bitterness in Angelo's voice. She nodded knowingly and exhaled.

"You don't have to do or say anything you're not comfortable with" Buhle answered and her friend frowned.

"You married the same man that molested you and you didn't think I deserve to know?"

Buhle sighed, getting up from her seat.

A huge part of her was glad that she didn't have to entertain Angelo at her own expenses. He booked himself a hotel room, he knew exactly what he was doing because the very few times that he visited KZN she had had to entertain him, and cater to his every other need. He was more like a brother to her. Her family knew about their friendship. Angelo wasn't your typical white boy from the rich suburbs with racist tendencies and whatever nots. Yes he was a white boy, average height with broad shoulders and ruffled hair above his semi-freckled face. But, he was the kindest white boy she had ever met. He studied psychology but his mother wanted him to study medicine and his father wanted him to study MBA. Very opinionated, and very influential... but not everyone knew that influential side of him because he preferred to remain in the background. All the time.

"Buhle?" he pressed on after a minute of her just gazing at the backyard of his third-floored room. She turned and smiled at him, she could see the visible frustration on his face but there was nothing he could do. She had made a decision and she had to stick by it.

"I am sorry I didn't tell you about the wedding" she spoke softly.

"This is not about the wedding Buhle, this is about you switching up on yourself. Are you sick? Is it Stokholm Syndrome?" he asked fuming.

"I am not trained to give a diagnosis on anyone my friend, I wouldn't know but what I do know is that I am not sick"

"All mentally unstable people say that... but when you trace their paths and thoughts you will see that they are sick"

"Well, you are the psychologist here... are you perhaps diagnosing me Mr. DeWart?" she now folded her arms across her chest and looked him straight in the eyes.

He huffed and sat down.

There was a big gap between where she stood and where he sat, but she could feel the flames coming out of his ears.

"I am working on a plan Angelo... I am not sick friend" she assured him and he looked up at her, confused.

"What plan?"

"I cannot give you much details but trust me... Kuriyata will pay for what he did. It's a pity that he dragged innocent Clive to this mess"

Angelo frowned...

He stood up and went to stand infront of Buhle...

"Are you sure of this plan Buhle? What if it backfires? Do you have a plan B?" he asked taking her hand into his.

"I am sure bro, were you not the one who always preached that if we ever wanted to win on anything in life we ought to learn and master the art of operating from the inside?" she asked cocking her head cheekily to the side.

"I am but not like this... you are playing with fire here and I do not have paramedics on standby" he answered looking worriedly at her.

She smiled at him...

"If and when I get stuck, I will call you" she said.

He nodded, and pulled her close for a hug.

That was the first embrace since he arrived, when she walked into his room he was too occupied on his anger and confusion that he forgot how fragile she was underneath all that "strong woman" façade. He quickly detached from the hug and pulled her towards the couch on the other end of the room... as she sat down, he brought the Woolies cookies and cream ice cream tub with two spoons and put it between them. She smiled at his kind gesture and dug in.

"So, when last did we speak to mCosa?" he asked nosily and Buhle laughed, almost choking from the ice cream she had just scooped.

"You're going to kill yourself Miss Princess" he exclaimed rubbing her back as she coughed.

"Whoah ha.a Angelo, can we not talk about Phathuxolo please?" she finally gathered her breath and managed that sentence between coughing and wiping her tears.

"Why not? In fact, I don't care. Answer the question, when last did you speak to the Cosa prince?"

She sighed...

"We speak regularly"

"Then why the long face?"

"Argh... it's nothing" she tried to brush the conversation off.

"Was he invited to the wedding?"

"Yes, and he attended the wedding, Angelo. Yho ngaze ngaz'faka ku Interrogation Room nkos'yami"

"Then why the long face? What happened between you two?"

She pursed her lips, playing with her spoon in silence. Angelo squinted his eyes at her...

"Bubu?"

"I feel like I owe it to him, more than I owe it to myself ... the vengeance thing"

"Oh, why? Did he say anything?"

"No"

Angelo put his spoon down and crossed his left leg over the right... just looking at her. She put her spoon down and sighed, for the hundredth time.

"Okay, talk" he urged her and she knew she had to spill the beans or they would sit there on that couch till the next day.

"I feel like he..." she breathed and Angelo frowned looking at her playing nervously with her fingers.

"Bubu... you never told him?" he asked.

"He knows about the rape"

"No... you never told him about you felt?"

She looked down.

"Babe... you had every opportunity to, you still do and I know he loves you too. Don't do this to yourself Bubu... tell him, be honest with him" he sounded so sincere.

"What if he doesn't love me the way I want him to... and besides, I am married to another man Angelo. He can never be my first now... maybe that's why I feel so much hatred for Kuriyata. Not only did he rob me, but he robbed Phathu too"

"That's fine, the Phathu we both know will not mind you not being a virgin anymore. He supported you when you came out as a lesbian, he didn't judge you so what makes you think he would love you any less now that he knows how you lost your virginity?"

Angelo's question stuck on Buhle's head... but she still couldn't bring herself to tell Phathuxolo how she felt. Anyway, she had a plan to see through. Kuriyata had to pay!

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