LOVE BEYOND MEASURE

06

LOVE BEYOND MEASURE
06

MENZI

He didn't mean to say it to his face, but sooner or later, he had to find out that Sthoko has a boyfriend and she's happy with him. Ronnie fainted thirty minutes ago, he doesn't know if he has woken up or not. He left Sthoko's ward and went outside for some fresh air.
He's frustrated about Sthoko's accident, and is glad that she is alive. He heard about it on the news, and it was broadcasted.

This just made him realize that he loves her, and wants to make an honest woman out of her. Yes, he wants to marry her. He has been thinking about it for weeks, now he's sure that it's the right thing to do. Sthoko is everything you want and need in a woman. She's honest, respectful, cooks amazing food, he would be lucky to actually marry her.

He's not worried about Ronnie, his time is up. Sthoko will divorce him anytime soon. It's clear that she doesn't love him, and he will make that possible. He can't believe Ronnie let a gorgeous woman like her go, he really fumbled with his chances. Now let him watch as he takes his wife in front of her, he will be left fainting non stop.
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RONNIE

Someone has to wake him up, this must be a dream. No, it has to be a dream. He doesn't want to believe it. His wife? A boyfriend? When he heard those words, he felt like he couldn't breathe, and he just collapsed. That's how stupefied he was. He has been catching his breath ever since he woke up.

He asked to see Sthoko, because the doctors were saying they are worried about his stress levels. He will be fine.
He gets inside the ward, and he sighs relieved. The sound coming from his lips as he moved towards her, was like the sough of a breeze in the branches. He never thought he would be this scared of losing her. That Menzi guy seemed confident and sure of what he was saying.

He pulls the chair and sits next to her.

Ronnie:Hello.

He doesn't even know what to say. He just holds her hand and keeps quiet by her side, waiting for her to wake up.
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NOTHANDO

Like her dad said, Sakhile did arrive in the morning. Things have been awkward ever since. When is he leaving?

Ndlovu:Erh, my dear family, Sakhile will be staying with us for a while until he finds a place of his own. He's here to look for a job. He just got his degree in engineering, people who are serious about their lives and know what they want.

He gave Nothando a side eye.

Sakhile:Thank you once again for letting me stay here.

Ndlovu:Don't worry, you are family. This is your home. Feel free.

She doesn't know how this will end. They still have unfinished business with Sakhile, and now he just saw her with a big belly. *sighs* If she had money, she would be moving out. Her dad is just making her life difficult.
So typical of him, he's angry that she's pregnant, but wants her to be with Sakhile.

Ndlovu:Show him to his room, MaMkhize.

They follow each other out of the room.

Ndlovu:Do you see Sakhile?

Nothando:I see him.

Ndlovu:That boy was good for you, I wouldn't be too angry if you were pregnant with his child. Maybe you two can still fix things.

She knew it! He brought him here for this!!

Nothando:No, me and Sakhile are done. I'm not looking for a relationship, I just want to raise my baby and go back to school.

Ndlovu:Go back to school with whose money? So you can drop out again after two years? I don't think so, young lady. You're a mother now, you need to look for work and work for your child. This is what you wanted, right? There you have it then. I don't have money to waste on undecided people. Money doesn't grow on trees, Nothando.

She laid back on the couch, a bit sad. She gets where he's coming from, two years of paying tuition fees down the drain.
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THEMBELANI

He was driving into the dusty roads of Eshowe by midnight, it was now in the morning, and he just went to see his mother. He didn't want to wake her up at night.

MaNgcobo:I still can't believe you're here. You should have called.

Thembelani:I wanted to surprise you.

MaNgcobo:So, what brings you here? You don't look okay.

Thembelani:What do you mean? I'm perfect.

MaNgcobo:You are shaking, and you keep looking at the door. Is everything okay?

He can't hide this from his mother. He tells her what happened.

MaNgcobo:*Shocked* Are you serious?

Thembelani:Yes,I'm scared ma. I will rot in jail should they find me. I just panicked and ran away.

MaNgcobo:If you had stayed with the woman in the scene and waited for the ambulance, things wouldn't be this bad. Now it is considered a 'hit and run'.

Thembelani:I know, I just didn't know what to do. Running seemed to be an only option.

MaNgcobo:You need to go back to Durban and fix this Thembelani.

Thembelani:They will arrest me ma.

MaNgcobo:They will find you eventually, you can't hide here forever. You need to own up to your mistakes, my son.

He can't go back to Durban.

Thembelani:Why does it seem like you are happy this happened? Are you jealous of my success?

MaNgcobo:Whoa! Hold it there young man. I'm your mother, and the same way I brought you to this world, I can take you out of it. You will not speak to me like that. I have been supporting you through everything. Did you expect me to throw you a party when you told me that you ran over someone and ran? Do you even know if that woman is still alive or she died after not getting help? I didn't raise you like this Thembelani. You must have gotten this trait from your father’s side of the family. My own son wouldn't do this!

Thembelani:I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I will go.

He said with a low tone, and got out of the room, banging the door on his way out.
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NOTHANDO

It hasn't even been a week, but he feels suffocated with Sakhile being here. When is he leaving? Right now they are alone in the kitchen, and she just wants to leave, but he has already seen her.

Sakhile:So…you are really pregnant?

Nothando:Yea. 8 months.

Sakhile:I don't believe it.

Nothando:What don't you believe? Did you think I would wait for you while you were herding cows eMnambithi?

Sakhile:I didn't say that, but I don't recall you and I breaking up.

Nothando:We were in a long distance relationship, Sakhile. It wasn't going to work out.

Sakhile:You made that decision alone, you didn't care about how I would feel. I thought relationships were about including your partner in everything you do. But, you didn't care about that. You just ditched me after meeting new people. And you got pregnant. So basically, you cheated on me.

Nothando:I don't know what my dad told you, but you and I were done a long time ago, Sakhile. Stop being delulu. Maybe you thought you'd come here and ask for love back, but no, I am over you. I am pregnant, and my baby comes first in everything.

Sakhile:I'm only here to look for work, and I'll be out of your way. If I had money to rent, I wouldn't even be here. I also don't want to stay with a woman who broke my heart, and acts like she didn't do anything.

Nothando:Oh, come on. I broke your heart now?  Get over yourself man!

She rolls her eyes. He keeps quiet and leaves the room. That's the problem with him, he never wants to talk, he just leaves and walks away. She expected him to shout, throw a tantrum, and be angry. But he just became cool.
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To be continued