PULL MY HEARTSTRINGS (COMPLETE)

53

                               

     

Two days felt like a lifetime without Kgomotso, it would be a miracle if he lived to see the weekend and not lose his sanity. The daily phone calls were a small comfort because their busy work schedules made it impossible to squeeze in a lunch date.
     
He missed waking up to the sight of her face resting on his chest and seeing her luminous smile whenever he walked through the door, coming home from work. He even missed her loud commentary when she watched The Real Housewives shows while he pretended not to care which one was Kandi or Karen.
     
The way she moved her hips whenever a Beyoncé song came on her playlist and chasing her around the house when it was done because watching her turned him on. And when she shouted at him in Sesotho because he forgot to put down the toilet seat, thinking he didn’t understand. 
    
She got clingy after their fights and would come into his office while he worked late and curl up on his lap because she didn’t want to go to bed mad. The house was an empty shell without her and he hoped all would go well over the weekend so she could come back home.
     
“Anesu?”
     
He turned around at the mention of his name, knocking over the cup of coffee on his desk.
     
“Fuck! Jabu! What are you doing here?” He jumped up from his chair and quickly moved his files and documents from getting soaked.
     
“You weren’t responding to my messages and we need to talk.”
     
He moved methodically, trying to remember where Elizabeth kept the paper towels while Jabu remained motionless as a statue like the spilled coffee wasn’t partially her fault.
     
“I didn’t respond because I’m busy Jabu.”
     
“I’m sure you can spare 5 minutes of your precious time.” She sat down, throwing one leg over the other.
     
Arguing with her was pointless because she had an annoying habit of always wanting to have the last word, he didn’t know if it was a lawyer thing or a character flaw she just wasn’t willing to work on.
     
He was relieved to find the paper towels and set out to clean his desk, arranging everything back in an orderly fashion. He didn’t like a cluttered space because it had a negative effect on his productivity.
     
“I thought Tinashe was lying when he said Kgomotso’s father punched you,” she said, looking closely at his face.
     
The blue eye was barely there anymore but he was still self-conscious because being punched in the face by his girlfriend’s father was humbling. He already got an earful from his mother and he didn’t need another lecture coming from her.
     
“It was nothing I couldn’t handle.” He shrugged. It would have been a whole lot worse if Kgomotso had seen what happened.
     
“Yes, because you seem to have a knack for pissing off your girlfriend’s fathers, the same thing happened after you eloped with Jessica.”
     
Anesu sighed, lightly scratching his head. “I’m sure that’s not what you came here to discuss.”
     
She straightened her shoulders and kept her head up, maintaining her poised posture she usually used as an intimidation tactic. “As you know I’ve been helping mamcane plan the gala dinner she’s hosting to honour your father, it’ll be 20 years since he passed in July.”
     
The day his father died was as vivid as yesterday in his mind because the pain of losing him at 15 never truly healed. Eventually time will erase the memories because there were certain things he was starting to forget but the pain remained the same, unbearable as the day he watched the ground swallow his coffin.
     
“Yes, and as far as I know everything is going according to plan.”
     
“Well, we’ve hit a snag but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”
     
His brows gathered in confusion because his mother didn’t mention anything about that and she’d managed to keep him in the loop since the initial stage of planning.
     
“What happened?” he said.
     
“Mamcane is butting heads with your father’s side of the family because they also want your uncle Bhekizwe to be honoured at the gala, but like I said it’s nothing I can’t handle,” she said the latter with a swift flip of her hair. It was long and straight, almost touching her waist.
     
“But why doesn’t Ma want to do it?”
     
She looked at him like he just asked a stupid question. “You know why, Anesu, he was radical compared to your father.”
     
“That’s not true—” 
     
“Let’s agree to disagree, my 5 minutes is almost up. What are you going to wear?” She asked, standing up.
     
“Where?” He tilted his head.
     
“To the gala, Anesu.”
     
She knew Anesu to be smart but he was definitely acting like someone who didn’t graduate cum laude.
     
“I already have suits, I’m sure I’ll find the right one to wear on that day.”
     
“Cha, that won’t work.” She shook her head. “You have to look the part because you’ll be giving a speech.”
     
“Haibo, why am I only finding out now about this speech.”
     
“Because I need to start finalizing the programme, so please don’t give me a hard time about this. Do you need me to set up an appointment with a tailor for you?”
     
“No, thank you. Worry about the programme and I’ll handle my suit.”
     
Her charismatic smile revealed a set of carved dimples as she hurried towards him with her arms outstretched. “You are the best.” She hugged him, pulling his face down for a kiss on the cheek.
     
“You owe me one.”
     
“Anything you want.” She wiped the lipstick print from his face.
     
“I’m bringing Kgomotso to the gala as my plus one.”
     
She chuckled, hitting his shoulder. “Hai suka, Anesu, you don’t even have to ask who else would you bring?”
     
“I miss her.” He sighed, sadness clouding his eyes. He’d faced some tough situations before but being away from Kgomotso was a test of wills. 
     
“I know.” Jabu smiled, fondly. “She misses you too but you’ll have to be patient because this won’t be fixed overnight.”
     
“That’s what I was afraid of.”
     
“Relax, there’s no need to get worked up bomalume know what to do.”
     
“It’s her father I’m worried about, he may be difficult just to prove a point,” he said.
     
She flipped her hair again, smiling. “You worry too much. I know it’s still early but I’d like to plan a baby shower for Kgomotso when the time comes, she doesn’t strike me as someone who likes over-the-top things, so it’ll be best to keep it simple.”
     
“That’s right but I can ask her just to make sure.”
     
Her smile quickly turned into a frown. “And why would you do that because it’s supposed to be a surprise. All I need from you is your black card and her close friend’s number, it would be easier to plan it with someone who knows her best.”
     
He checked his phone at the sound of the message alert and his mood lifted considerably when she saw Kgomoto’s name.
     
“Then call her sister,” he said, typing a response.
     
She pulled a face, her lips set in a grim line. “Hai, that one is too pompous for my liking.”
     
His loud laugh reverberated through his chest, shaking his broad shoulders as he threw his head back, howling out loud.
     
“You know what you’re doing is rude, right? Why are you busy on your phone when I’m trying to have a conversation with you?”
     
He raised his eyes from the screen. “Ngiyaxolisa.”
     
“Mxm.” She grabbed her handbag and sashayed to the door, each stride she took was effortless in those pencil heels.
     
“Hawu, but Kamo is not that bad.”
     
He knew she had a tendency to act out when things didn’t go her way, something therapy couldn’t help fix but he hoped becoming a mother would somehow soften those selfish parts of her because the next time she got into with Kgomotso he won’t just stand on the side lines and watch.  
     
“Bye.”
     
“What about the baby shower?”
     
“Call me when you get her friend’s number.” She threw the words over her shoulder.
     
“So, can I come?”
     
She turned around, looking at him with an amused expression on her face. “You want to come to the baby shower?”
     
“Yes.”
     
“Okay, but don’t come dressed in a suit.”
     
“I won’t.” He chuckled.
                                                                       ***********

     

“Come in.” Hazel called out.
     
Kgomotso regretted leaving her jacket once she stepped inside, the air-con was turned up like they weren’t in the middle of a cold front, which experts believed would last for a few more days.
     
“Is this an office or a mortuary?” asked Kgomotso, sitting down.
     
The design in her office was similar to Kgomotso’s, keeping the whole space cohesive.
     
“Yho, Chommie, I’m having hot flashes.” She picked up a file and started fanning her face.
     
“You mean that guy from IT who was in here before me, what was wrong with your computer this time?”
     
Hazel put the file down and laughed. “Argh, it just needed a reboot and before you start getting any ideas, nothing is going on between me and the IT guy. Justice and I are better than ever despite the distance.”
     
Yes, Justice, the guy from Durban. Kgomotso was pleasantly surprised Hazel stuck with him for as long as she did even though she still maintained they were not in a relationship  
     
“When are you seeing him?”
     
She sighed, wistfully. “I don’t know, we’ve just been so busy I can’t seem to get the time to get away.”
     
Kgomotso could relate because she hasn’t seen Anesu since Sunday, it didn’t compare to the length of time Hazel and Justice spent apart but it was still hard. There was also a bit of guilt on Kgomotso’s side because she left the office earlier than usual to beat traffic en route to Sharpeville because both her father and Anesu didn’t want her driving at night.
     
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
     
“What’s wrong, chommie?”
     
“I’m pregnant,” she said in a low voice.
     
“Haibo!” Hazel laughed, spinning around in her chair. “I already knew, I was just waiting for you to say something.”
     
She could act like such a child sometimes.
     
“But, how?”
     
She always dressed with care and tried very hard to hide her symptoms.
     
“It’s Yolisa, she spreads gossip faster than shwashwi. I warned you about her, anyway congratulations, chommie!” She squealed, pulling Kgomotso into a tight embrace.
     
“Thank you and I promise to come back after my maternity leave.”
     
“You better because I can’t run this empire without you.” She smiled, fighting back tears.
     
“Don’t you dare start with the water works because I’ll start crying too and won’t be able to stop.” Kgomotso warned.
     
“I won’t.” Hazel sniffed. "How did Anesu take the news?"

"He's over the moon, my only hope is that we'll get married before the baby comes. I cannot be a baby mama at my age."

"Are you sure you're ready, chommie, because marriage isn't a decision to be taken lightly. I know because I did it twice and got burned."

"I am ready and I know deep in my heart that he is the one. I love him, Haze."

They didn't have to prove their love to anybody else or conform it to fit anybody's expectations. It was the best kind of love that only a few people got to experience in a lifetime and she would know because she had a taste of bad love before.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to project."

"No, it's fine." Kgomotso held her hand and led Hazel to the couch. “Can you please do me a favour?”
     
“Anything for you, chommie.”
     
“I think I found a lump in my breast and I don’t want to tell Anesu anything until I’m sure because it could be pregnancy related or just a cyst. I’ve set an appointment to see a doctor but I don’t want to go alone.”
     
“Of course I’ll go with you, Kgomotso you don’t even have to ask me twice.”
     
“Thank you.” Her brittle smile carried a hint of fear as every worst case scenario played out in her head.