PULL MY HEARTSTRINGS (COMPLETE)

78

The tyres screeched as Anesu parked the car and he got out without opening the door for her, she tried but her efforts to calm him were in vain because he wouldn't listen to reason. He was hectic and seemed prepared to scorch everyone by lashing out.

They didn't stick around after Jessica's revelation and Jabu called once their disappearance was noticed but it was easy for Kgomotso to blame her swollen feet and endless hunger for their hasty departure.

"Ma!" He shouted, running up the stairs like he was trying to break a world record. The anguish in his voice reverberated through the walls and she was sure it would wake the kids up.

Pumped on adrenaline she didn't think twice about following him, Anesu had to be stopped because confronting Celiwe in his frantic state could only make matters worse.

Kgomotso didn't believe that Jessica wanted to clear her conscience, she knew Anesu wouldn't confront her because they weren't together anymore so her main objective was to throw Celiwe and Lwazi under the bus, and watch the mayhem play out. Jessica didn't care who else got hurt, she was happy to run them over as long as she settled a score with Celiwe for forcing her to leave Anesu.

"Ma!" He banged on her bedroom door, it wouldn't be long until the neighbours called security if he kept this ruckus up but that was the least of their problems. Kgomotso had to find a way to stop him from killing Lwazi, she only cared about what happened to him because he was Khanya's father.

The door swung open and Celiwe looked less than impressed at the disturbance, she expected to find Tinashe because he was the unruly one most of the time.

"What is going on, Anesu?" She quickly tied her robe and closed her bedroom door, assessing him with motherly concern.

His breathing was ragged and he clenched his hands but that didn't stop the shaking and he was close to punching something, the physical pain would be better than what he was feeling at that moment.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he fired the question in a trembling voice.

"Tell you what?"

"You knew Lwazi and Jessica slept together and didn't tell me."

It wasn't lost to Anesu that his mother hid the truth to protect him but that didn't make it hurt less, because all this time he thought Lwazi was someone he could trust.

She turned pale in an instant, Kgomotso was worried she would faint but not Celiwe Dlomo-Luthuli that woman was imbokodo.

"You were in the hospital fighting for your life, what else was I supposed to do?"

That made sense but Kgomotso wasn't sure it justified keeping this from her son.

"Then why didn't you tell me when I got better? Why keep it a secret for so long?"

She sighed, holding on to her resolve. "Because you needed Lwazi and I couldn't let you lose another person you cared about."

It was funny how men weren't treated with the same contempt after these situations while women were left to hang dry.

"That wasn't your choice to make, I would rather have died alone then have him by my side everyday acting like he cared after stabbing me in the back. She was my wife and he crossed a line we can never come back from." He was fighting back tears.

"Ngiyaxolisa mntanami, I'd take it back if I could."

"How am I supposed to trust you again, Ma?"

He wasn't sure he'd be able to move past his mother's betrayal. Trust was a fickle thing therefore it was hard to gain it back once broken.

"I..." She was the first to break and tears streamed down her face. "I was-"

"Cha." He raised his hand. "I need time so I'll really appreciate it if you'd give me some space."

"Space, Anesu? For how long? Will I be able to meet my grandson?" She looked at Kgomotso, pleading silently for her to intervene but Kgomotso knew it was best to stay out of it for now.

"I don't know but when I'm ready to talk about this I will reach out."

It was far from over because she was still going to deal with Jessica for messing with her family.
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