Shrivelled Roses 2: Iyana Kleinbooi

27

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑻𝒘𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒚-Seven

-Iyana-

When she woke up the following morning, Zwelethu was not in bed.

She didn't make much of that, but just rolled over, and slept on his side of the bed for a while before getting out of bed to go and shower. She had to go to work, and she already knew that she was going to skip her class. After taking a bath, she removed her phone from the charger and called Zwelethu who didn't answer his phone. By the time she was dressed and ready to leave, she spotted his phone on the kitchen counter and wondered if he was still around the house.

A quick run to the empty rooms including his study, then she picked up the phone and tried to unlock it. The password had been changed, she tried three different ones and then gave up with a huff wondering why he would leave his phone behind, and why he would change the password. He normally would use names and numbers that she could crack, this time around felt like he was hiding something from her. She walked out, leaving the phone on the counter, and went to work. After lunch, she called him again and he didn't respond. So she figured that his phone was still at home. Siyasisanda called her, but she didn't answer the phone. She just sighed, put the phone on silent and carried on working.

In the late afternoon, she returned Sanda's call but the phone went straight to voicemail so she just went back to Zwelethu's place hoping to find him home. She found the found, in the exact same place where she had left it in the morning, she walked around the house and realized that Zwelethu had not returned home. She frowned, it was unlike him to not try and communicate. After getting into comfortable clothes, she decided to cook and then about two hours later, a fleet of cars drove into the property... startling her. She peeped through the kitchen blinds and saw Clive's brothers, and friends getting out of the cars. Her heart sank... she was not going to have enough time to talk to him. They were probably still celebrating the success of the launch. A few minutes later, Nairota walked in and frowned at her...

"Hawu, sawubona Madabane" he greeted, putting a bag of raw meat on the kitchen counter.

"Molo bhuti" she greeted back faking a smile.

"Uyaphila kodwa?"

"Ndiyaphila bhuti unjani wena?"

"Hayi, ngiyaphila. Is he here yet?" he asked looking around, and that was her turn to frown. She didn't know that Clive wasn't with them... she thought he was maybe outside with the others.

"I thought he's outside with the other people, kanti anihambi naye?" she asked confused.

"Cha, he said we'd find him here. I'm sure he's on his way though. Uhmm... if you don't mind, we will be using the kitchen and most of the front yard" he said, taking the big braaing tongs and a large Tupperware not necessarily expecting an answer from her, he was not asking, he was modestly informing her of their presence.

"I'll disappear once I finish here" she chimed in not looking at him and he laughed.

Two ladies walked in, asked for glasses and before Iyana could answer them, Nairota directed them to the cupboard. They rinsed about eleven glasses and then walked out. Iyana plated up for herself and went to the room with her food, phone and book. A huge part of her couldn't wait to see Clive, but another part of her knew that he wasn't going to pay her much attention especially with so many people at his house. Unfortunately for her, she couldn't even throw a gasket because she went to his place uninvited.

Zwelethu arrived an hour later... he parked his car and everyone started cheering as he stepped out of with a brown envelope. His brother, Kuriyata, walked up to him and embraced him. Nairota splashed them both with a beer and they all hugged.

Kuriyata: I told you to trust Nyambose, he is good with these things.

Nairota: So, we have the land? Is that what you have there?

Clive: Yebo Mbulazi, the land is now in our name. I see y'all have almost gathered everyone here.

Kuriyata: Well, we wanted it to be a real celebration.

Clive: Eish...

Nairota frowned at Clive's sudden somber mood.

Nairota: And that sigh?

Clive: Nyambose couldn't help me with the Xhosa chief... he is loyal to the royal house. He wouldn't dare do anything that would upset u Bab'Mzimela. Apparently the royal households go way back, gathering from what he said, I think Buhle may have been groomed for the chief from a young age, just that we acted faster.

Kuriyata: Ay mina I don't care about the grooming part bafoza, what I want to know is that would he rather betray us? How many times did we come through for him? How many people did we betray to get him where he is today? uNyambose kanti ubhema yiphi insangu?

Clive: Aw'kahle Mntungwa, he did not betray us, he just can't be involved. That is not betrayal, especially since he also gave me pointers.

Nairota: Pointers?

Clive: Yeah... first one being Iyana... I need to call her and see if she will agree to it. If she does, then we will be good to go.

Kuriyata: And you're not going to tell what the plan is?

Clive: Not until I speak to Iyana first.

Nairota: Oh well, you won't have to call her. She's here. In your room.

Clive: You found her here?

Nairota: Yup, she was making dinner.

Kuriyata: Seems like you have your work cut out for you Mbulazi, and we might as well just promise you that we will not get involved until you rope us in kodwa ke unganikezeli. She could be our only hope.

Clive: Yeah... I know. Let me go and greet, change and then join you guys.

Kuriyata: Shap!

Clive walked away from the two brothers, went inside his house and saw his phone. He unlocked it as he made his way to his room and browsed through the messages and missed call notifications. He tried the door knob and it gave, he found her sound asleep, cuddling a pillow. He put the phone down, and covered her with the blankets before kissing her forehead and walking out with the dirty bowl and cup of half-drank green tea.