PULL MY HEARTSTRINGS (COMPLETE)

69

                               

     

Dr Motsepe discharged her after a stern warning to avoid stressful situations because she might not be lucky next time, but failed to give her useful tips on how to do that when she was facing the most stressful period of her life. Her stay at the hospital was tolerable because Anesu spent the night by her side, she was happy about seeing Khanya again but not about going back to Kamo’s house because the memories haunted her and brought forth a void feeling to settle in the pit of her stomach.
     
She had to use a wheelchair because Anesu was determined to keep her from lifting a finger, she complied because being on bed rest would be far worse. Anesu didn’t bother to turn the radio on so silence was their companion and it wanted to be noticed. Without the distraction of the hottest hits or an anonymous caller seeking relationship advice, Kgomotso was forced to tackle her thoughts and it was an unpleasant exercise.
     
“What’s going to happen to Petersen?”
     
She didn’t ask yesterday when he came back from making his ‘phone call’ because of the drama which unfolded outside her room. She wasn’t one to judge but it surprised her that someone as well-learned as Jabu got entangled with a married man named Romeo, but as a woman Kgomotso understood the implications of being dickmatized. She’d mop the N1 no questions asked if it came to parting with Anesu’s penis, she was hooked to the satiating orgasms it never denied her.
     
He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, keeping his gaze ahead. “Bab’Senzo will deal with him.”
     
“By doing what exactly? I deserve to know.”
     
“I don’t want you to worry about that right now.”
     
She scoffed, shaking her head. “Do I need to remind you that I’m burying my sister tomorrow because of what he did?”
     
“No, you don’t have to.” He was the one who had to tell Lwazi about his wife, so there was no need to remind him of the destruction Petersen’s actions caused.
     
“Then don’t patronize me, please.” Her voice trembled and he was worried Kgomotso would soon be back in the hospital because she wasn’t prepared to stop stressing about anything. He took a deep breath and slowly released it after a 5 second count.
     
“There’s nothing we can do at the moment because there’s no evidence to prove if Petersen was involved and the number he used to call you was traced back to New York. Getting him isn’t going to happen overnight, you’ll have to be patient because the last thing you need to do is raise your blood pressure over this.”
     
“He confessed to me, can’t we use that to get him arrested because I’m willing to testify?” She wanted justice and she wanted it now, whether it be prison or death both outcomes would work in her favour.
     
He shook his head. “That won’t work because Petersen will most likely deny saying that and there won’t be a case without tangible evidence. We have to do this right so that we don’t miss when we come for him.”
     
“Does Lwazi know?” she asked.
     
“No, his father thinks it’ll be best to tell him after the funeral.”
     
That was probably best after his reaction about Kamo’s death.
     
“How is he? I’ve been meaning to visit him but I don’t think I can stomach seeing him in that state.” Another reason Kgomotso was hesitant was because she didn’t possess the courage to look Lwazi in the eye, knowing Kamo’s death was her fault.
     
“He’s got a long road ahead of him but I have faith he’ll pull through.”
     
“Will he be discharged to attend the funeral tomorrow?”
     
He sighed and seemed agitated all of sudden. “He doesn’t know.”
     
Haibo! Her gaze intently searched his face with her mouth wide open. “What do you mean, Anesu?”
     
“He doesn’t know the funeral is tomorrow.”
     
For the love of everything holy, he can’t be serious!
     
“Why not?” she demanded.
     
“It’s something his father and the doctor agreed upon to not hinder his progress because he’s still fragile.”
     
“I think that should be his decision to make, denying him the opportunity for a final goodbye seems cruel. It will be important for him to get closure, considering how my sister was taken from him.”
     
“I get what you’re saying but there’s nothing I can do.”
     
“That’s not true, Anesu, wouldn’t you want to know if the situation was reversed?”
     
Something close to distress lurked in his eyes as they briefly darted in her direction and a sheen of sweat formed on the pucker between his brows because that was a thought he didn’t want to entertain, especially when it came so close to becoming his reality.
     
“I’d want to know, that goes without saying.” His deadpan expression concealed the emotions which were present in his eyes a moment ago.
    
Kgomotso held his hand and her gentle strokes offered him comfort because she knew it wasn’t an easy ask. “Then you have to tell him.”
     
“Okay, I will.”
     
Before she knew it Anesu was driving into Kamo & Lwazi’s yard and there was already a flurry of activity in preparation for tomorrow despite it being a cold morning. A cow and two goats were tied to a tree (it was only a matter of time before the White neighbours’ cried animal cruelty) but there was no sign of a marquee in the backyard, which meant the lunch could be held at a venue like Prudence wanted. 
     
Since their traditional wedding took place in Nquthu, Bab’Senzo was determined to make it Kamo’s final resting place and the family feud quickly resurfaced because Sello was against it, and Kgomotso was happy she missed the drama.
     
She squeezed his hand, stopping him from getting out of the car. He was in a rush to go home, shower and sit through a meeting with Andrews he couldn’t talk himself out of attending.
     
“What’s wrong?” he asked, looking at her and it became obvious she had a pressing matter on her mind.
     
“There’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”
     
It was equivalent to saying ‘we need to talk’ and it had him slightly nervous.
     
“I need to go home and get ready for a meeting.”
     
“You’re leaving? After I just got discharged from the hospital.” She tilted her head, eyes narrowed as they scanned his face.
     
“I’ll be back as soon as it’s over.”
     
Bitch, don’t be ridiculous! He spent the night with you at the hospital and made sure to drive you home.
     
Was she being ridiculous? It was hard to tell because her hormones were still off-kilter but she hasn’t had a major outburst since the day she threw his phone in the toilet, which was something to be proud of.
     
“Okay.” She sighed and the tension eased out of her body without a fight. “Do you have time to come in for something to eat?” 
     
He smirked, shaking his head. “If Nolitha’s father sees me then I won’t leave anytime soon.” 
     
She forced a scorching lump down her throat as tears clung to her eyes.
     
“Hey?” He gently caressed her cheek with his thumb. 
     
“Argh, don’t mind me, these stupid hormones have me in my feelings.” She tried to smile but failed dismally.
     
His eager lips replaced his thumb, trailing along her jawline down to her neck and a jolt of pleasure surged through her body when he made contact with her collarbone.
     
“Niyenzani?” The question was accompanied by a loud knock on the passenger side window, Kgomotso’s heart almost stopped. “Amanyala!”
     
Great! Well done, Kgomotso!
     
She gave the crazy aunt another reason to dislike her. It would’ve been the perfect time for the ground to open up and swallow her to never see another day of sunlight again, but nothing in life ever happened the way she wanted.     
     
Her hands were firmly planted on her waist as she glared into the car and they didn’t dare move. “Sizilile la ekhaya, but you two are out here busy with nonsense, don’t you have any self-respect, ntombazana ndini?”
     
That was an exaggeration.
     
“Haibo, aunty Sthembile, I’m asking with the utmost respect, that you not speak to my wife like that.”
     
If Anesu thought he could get away with calling her his wife to avoid doing the right thing then he had another thing coming because she wasn’t going to let that slide.
     
Her hostile gaze landed on Kgomotso and instantly made her feel insignificant, she usually didn’t let aunty Sthembile’s stunts get to her but this particular attack was too personal to sweep under the rug.
     
“Mxm. I would’ve chosen a better wife for you, one who has morals and won’t allow to be fucked in a car.”
     
A montage of her riding Anesu all those months ago flashed in her mind and she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry because the memory now left a bitter taste in her mouth.
     
“And she better come inside and help the others to start preparing because people will be arriving soon,” she said, before storming off.
     
“I’m sorry about that, baby, aunty Sthembile was way out of line. She has no right to boss you around, my mother doesn’t even do that and Dr Motsepe said you must take it easy so that’s exactly what you’re going to do.”
     
“It’s fine.” She grabbed her bags from the backseat and got out of the car.
     
He followed her and covered the short distance between them with quick strides, his arms automatically went around her waist and held her close, making her heart soar. But he was just asking for trouble because they still had an audience.
     
“No, it’s not, because you’re the one I intend to spend the rest of my life with no matter what anybody else says.” He brought his lips close to her ear. “And I want you to know that the day you rode me in my car is a day I’ll cherish even on my death bed.” His seductive whisper sent a direct line to her clitoris.
     
He was standing too close and the heat radiating from his body disarmed her, she drew in a sharp breath and filled her deprived lungs with much needed air. He dipped his head, coming in for a kiss but she pulled away from him.   
     
“What are you doing, Anesu? You know she can see us, right?”
     
“Let her watch, she won’t do anything.” He cupped her face and kissed her, gently probing her lips apart with his tongue and she dissolved against his solid chest like sugar on heat, and her moan came out spinning as his erection brushed up against her thigh.
     
“Haibo! Didn’t I make myself clear that you two must stop your nonsense?” Everybody else minded their business but not aunty Sthembile, treating them like teenagers who were in a forbidden relationship.
     
“You’re going to get me in trouble.”
     
Her eyes fluttered open and Anesu stared into them like they held the secrets of pleasure he couldn’t wait to explore. They were in no hurry to part even though they were under aunty Sthembile’s radar.
     
“I wish I could open up my heart so you could see how much I love you.” He stepped back, releasing her from his embrace. “I’ll see you later and give Khanya a kiss for me.”
     
“You’re not going to walk me inside?” She wasn’t feeling brave enough to face the crazy aunt alone.
     
He chuckled, shaking his head. “I have to go, Andrews will kill me if I arrive late.”
     
Mxm! What a coward.
     
She found Nolitha in the kitchen and everything was ready for the influx of people who would start arriving soon. There was an assortment of scones, biscuits and miniature sandwiches without the crust assembled buffet style along with a beverage station, which included expensive brands of whiskey and wine something Kgomotso wasn’t expecting to see.
     
It was all done to match the opulent standard the Buthelezi family was known for, meanwhile the Diphoko family wasn’t allowed to do much or contribute anything money wise or come up with suggestions and Prudence was fed with being undermined. Bab’Senzo took offense when Sello offered to pay half for Kamo’s coffin.
     
“I’m making coffee, do you want?” asked Nolitha.
     
It was easy to pick up that her speech was still not perfect yet and she wasn’t using the cane Kgomotso saw her with at the memorial but she got around with little difficulty because she used her surroundings to balance. 
     
And poison her? Kgomotso wasn’t going to take that risk.
     
“No, thank you, I’m fine.” She poured herself a glass of water and made her way out of the kitchen.
     
“Wait. Can we talk?”
     
Yho, why couldn’t she take the hint? Rehashing the past wasn’t going to do them any good.
     
“I should rest.”
     
“Please, I owe you apology.” She looked at Kgomotso expectantly.
     
“Okay, fine, we can talk.”
     
“Thank you.”
     
Kgomotso helped with the coffee after Nolitha spilled the boiling water on the counter and almost burned herself. Her right hand side was left paralysed after the stroke and she expressed her disappointment on the overall progress of her motor skills because she was working with the best physical therapist in the country. People often told her getting back to the person she was before this misfortune happened will be a process but she was becoming desperate because she could no longer stand to look at herself in the mirror.
     
“You look good.” Kgomotso tried to cheer her up.
     
She huffed, shaking her head. “Really?”
     
“Yeah, you do.”
     
A smile emerged from her lips. “Thanks.”
     
When was the apology coming? Kgomotso didn’t have all day.
     
She took a small sip and carefully placed the mug back on the table. “You seem happy with Anesu.”
     
“I am.” Kgomotso confirmed.
     
“I had a crush on him.”
     
“And what must I do with that information?” Kgomotso was annoyed and didn’t bother to hide it. One wrong word from Nolitha and she was leaving.
     
“Nothing happened. I was not his type.”
     
“I’m not in the mood for small talk because we’re not friends, Nolitha, and I doubt we’ll ever be so stop wasting my time.”
     
“Ouch.” She flinched.
     
“Are you even sorry for the things you said to me even after I told you I wasn’t having an affair with Xola?” asked Kgomotso.
     
Her gaze dropped as shame glazed her eyes. “I am. Did you read my letter?”
     
“I burned it.” It dawned on Kgomotso that Nolitha couldn’t have written the letter because she couldn’t even formulate a sentence at that time, and she didn’t feel an ounce of guilt for lying.
     
She nodded. “Okay, I understand. Thandeka, did you know?”
     
“No, I was in the dark just like you.”
     
“I loved him…so much and he hurt me.”
     
Kgomotso sighed and took a sip to calm down. “You hurt me, too.”
     
“You should read my letter, I did apologize.”
     
Wow! Changing after a brush with death only happened in movies because Nolitha was the same she-devil with horns, a tail and fangs.
     
Kgomotso stood up, pushing the chair so hard it fell. “I should’ve let him kill you, I’d have one less demon to deal with.”
     
Aunty Sthembile was standing at the entrance, ready to fire missiles at Kgomotso, judging by the frightening scowl on her face.

Her stress was about to go through the roof.