Shrivelled Roses 2: Iyana Kleinbooi

18

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 18

-IYANA-

*KHUMALO LOGISTICS LAUNCH DAY*

Their paths were crossing for the third time and Phathu wondered if there could be any meaning or significance to it. Because he was a man that believed so much in the spontaneity of God, he figured that it was either he made a move that instant or he would forever "loose" her and live a life filled with the most gruesome regret of never saying a word. It didn't matter that she didn't match up to who he really wanted, the woman of his dreams, the woman whom he knew really had the capabilities to build his lineage with him but the fact that their paths were crossing was prompting him to make a move anyway. Which also made him wonder... what if this was a trap. What if the whole invitation was a trap?

Why was he such a coward? When did he become a coward? These questions he asked himself as he calculated his move for the very last time....

"Iyana, hi" he greeted her and she smiled at him. That exact moment all his worries melted away, he stood there as a man captured and mesmerized by her beautiful teeth, her lovely aura and her sweet scent. She smelt really good, really expensive. But at the back of his mind, he could see the beautiful smile of his Zulu queen, inkosazana ngokwayo, laughing freely at his jokes.

"Hi," she answered back taking the hand that was already hanging in the air for a shake.

"My name is Phat-" he started and she finished the sentence off for him.

"Mr. Phathuxolo Zikithi, I know who you are,"

"Oh really... I would have never thought you notice my presence" he chuckled after letting go of her soft hand. Well, he wanted to hold on to it for much longer, but he didn't want to risk being labeled a freak.

"Besides noticing your presence, you're a chief... I should actually be on the floor singing you praises" she joked, but he just smiled wondering how she knew that he was a chief. He had tried to keep that part of his life as private as he possibly could. She must have sensed his emotion regarding the chief thing because she became serious too.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to" she whispered.

"It's okay, you didn't lie. I'm a chief, but ke I am here now and I am just Phathuxolo. Please, join me over there" he pointed at his table and she looked around as though looking for someone. He frowned quizzically, but she smiled and led the way. He pulled the seat for her, and then sat down after she had confirmed that she was comfortable. She already had her glass in hand, the place was filling up but the owners were still out of sight.

"I uhm... what are you doing here? I never pictured you to be a..." her voice trailed off and he nodded, with a chuckle.

"Well, if you must know, I am just a normal person like you who is interested in making money and building a legacy. That's why we're here, right?" for some reason, he didn't want her to know that he got the invitation from her "rivalry" and that he was actually there as the "rivalry's" ears and eyes.

"Well, you already have a legacy built for you. Unlike the rest of us" she argued.

"You must have been reading the newspapers I see"

"It's an interesting story... oh God, I'm sorry. I'm pretty sure you didn't come here to talk about your family issues. Nd'cela uxolo wethu" she quickly brushed the conversation off.

He took a sip from his juice eyeing her glass of Savanna.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at school or something?" he asked tossing his drink around his glands after asking that question.

"My boyfriend is actually the one launching this new business today so I came to support him" she smiled beautifully and he chuckled, shaking his head. He couldn't believe that Buhle was right about Iyana and his first instinct was to protect her. He obviously couldn't do much, unless she voluntarily left Clive, but he wished he could protect her.

"Why are you with him?" he asked putting his glass down.

"Huh?" she frowned.

"Why are you with Zwelethu?"

She shifted uncomfortably.

It didn't click in her mind that Phathu knew Clive "personally" when he asked her to sit with him, he thought he was just a chief from the rural areas who may have attended the launch to add some class and dignity to it. But him calling Clive with his tradition name sparked some fires...

"Are you with him because you really love him?" the young chief asked.

"I am not here to discuss my relationship, can we please refrain from that topic, sir?" she answered defensively.

"Love doesn't lie Iyana. Love doesn't cheat. Love doesn't belittle and love most certainly doesn't betray. Now please answer me... are you with him because you love him, vice versa or is there something that makes you stick with him even when he has proven to you from time to time that he will always choose himself and his family over you?"

She swallowed hard and looked away.

She knew that these were the same questions she kept ducking and diving when Uyabukwa asked her right after she went back into the relationship.

"I know I don't have the kind of money that he has, nor do I have the kind of charisma or whatever attracted you to him. But what I know is that I can offer you much more than what you have settled for." There! He did it. He laid the table for her, and now the ball was in her court. It was as if she had slow hearing, because only after a minute did she turn back to him with a frown.

"Don't tell me you think you could do better than u Zwe! Not wena kaloku" her voice almost hitched but he just chuckled, having gained his confidence in a split second.

"I won't lie and say I love you, because I don't. I only love one woman, and she is not you. But one thing I know is that I do like you, and I know that you won't feel the same ngoku. I'm grateful for this launch, because the few times that I have seen you around I just couldn't approach you because I respected your relationship," he confessed.

"Oh, so now you don't?"

"Not after what he did to you, no, I don't"

She softened up.

Not because he was making sense, no.

Only because she thought no one knew about what transpired between them... she thought that was a secret.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, looking at her glass.

"Buhle Mzimela. I know you know about her, I just don't know how much he has told you"

"He told me that he wasn't aware about Buhle and his big brother, and that all they told him was to just make an appearance at the wedding. Thereafter his brothers would take over"

"And you agreed to that nonsense" he asked.

"Obviously no, why would I?" she asked, again, her voice pitching.

"Mh, that means he went behind your back and married her then, because I was at the wedding"

She didn't believe him.

He could see it in her eyes that she didn't believe him, but what else he saw in her eyes was fear. He took his phone and showed her pictures. Tears rolled down her face as she watched her worst fear unfold. Zwelethu had once again betrayed her, and this time he was well aware of what he was doing. He was in his right minds. When he felt like it was enough, he took his phone and went to refill their glasses and just then, Zwelethu and his business partners walked in and everyone applauded. It was an incredible turn up, all the tables were full, the food and snacks looked great... it looked planned to the T.

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