Laced

CHAPTER TWELVE

Nambitha Zungu

I hate last minute problems that spring out of nowhere, especially now that I’m running low on cash and have to ‘spend wisely.’ I absolutely hate this life.
A pipe burst at the spot, and somehow, I’m glad it happened before the launch because that would have been absolutely embarrassing. I woke up and rushed there immediately after I got the call, I didn’t even get a chance to actually shower.
I had to wait for the plumber to finish the job so I could lock up. The place is a mess now, especially my office. His boys tried to help me clean up but there was only so much that I could do. The wall paint is also ruined from the pressure, and now I have to repaint it. These are the kinds of problems I don’t need.
I’m sitting in one of the chairs waiting for them to finish up. My phone rings, it’s Muzi.
“Is everything okay?” I’ve been holding back these tears since I arrived here.
“No, it’s not.” my voice cracks.
“Okay, don’t cry, how bad are the damages?” he asks.
As if he’s going to give me the money to fix it.
“My office furniture is ruined, so is the paint. I also still have to pay these people fixing it. How am I going to do that with your stupid limit.” he sighs.
“Calm down Nams. Just pay the guys, we will sort out the furniture after the launch right, no one goes into your office, it’s just you.” if the company wasn’t losing money, I wouldn’t be stressed about this so much.
In fact, new furniture would be on the way as we speak, but nooo, Muzi just had to put us in debt.
“Are you at work?” I ask him.
“Yes, I am, I might be back late today.” he adds.
I really don’t care.
“Don’t forget to pick up your suit today at lunch please. Yours and tata’s.” I can hear him fidgeting.
“I’ll get Zama to get them. Bye Nams.” he says and hangs up.
I’m having the worst morning ever!
My phone is ringing again, and I get irritated thinking it’s Muzi but nope.
I remember how I made a silly promise, she really doesn’t forget.
“Hi Nams.” so now everyone is calling me Nams.
“Hi Chrissy.” I hope she can hear that I’m drained.
“I hope you are good, I just wanted to remind you of our plans today, I also was thinking maybe you can take me shopping for an outfit for the launch.” what’s the point of getting excited over retail therapy when I’m broke as fuck!?
And I expected all my guests to wear custom made, what is this buying business.
“What time were you looking at because I’m still held up and I don’t know how long I’ll take.” she sighs.
“Maybe in the next two hours, but if you can’t, I understand.” she suddenly sounds disappointed.
She’s making feel like a terrible person. Now I’m obliged to go out with her.
“Meet me at my place, I’m hoping I’ll be done by then so we can drive together.” I humour her.
“Alright, that’s great! See you then.” I know I don’t know her like that, but everything about her screams desperate for friendship.
She picked the wrong one shame.

•••

I’m done doing my face and girly is still not here. Immaculate picked out a cute outdoor outfit for me that I’ve never worn before. She said she’s been waiting for me to wear it. Talk about having a personal stylist.
“Ma’am there is someone at the gate.” I’m guessing that is Mrs Mfusi.
We really flex with these surnames. I can’t believe I’m going to hang out with a Mfusi wife.
Nothing about her screams Mfusi wife though, maybe today she will put in a little more effort than she did the last time.
“Please open, it’s Mrs Mfusi.” she smiles, I’m guessing they know each other.
Or maybe she thinks I’m talking about Zuzile.
I pack up my handbag and also start making my way downstairs. And there she is, wearing a satin skirt and a crop shirt with no sleeves. She got her hair braided so she looks much cuter now. She put in just a little effort, but to no surprise, her eyebrows are still bushy as ever.
“Ooh girl look at you.” she compliments me.
Obviously, I always dress to impress and stand out.
“Thank you.” she pulls me in for a hug, and I don’t contest.
She’s so comfortable around me. It’s as if she’s known me for ages. Me on the other hand, not so much.
“Are you ready to go?” she asks.
“Yeah, let’s go.”
We are taking my car, it’s bigger and spacious. We settle inside and as soon as I turn it on, there’s a beeping sound.
“What is that?” I ask her.
My car has never ever made that sound.
“Petrol…” she whispers.
Petrol? My car never runs low of petrol. Muzi always fills all the cars in the yard up every Monday, maybe it slipped his mind, we were too occupied with the plans for the dinner.
“I’ve never even seen this before; I never thought it happened.” she just laughs.
“Oh yeah it does, Mvelo forgets to fill the car up all the time, I always do it myself.” well my husband doesn’t.
“Muzi never forgets, maybe he’s just been too stressed, we will go fill up.” I say searching for the petrol card.
There it is! Now we can be on the way.
“I still can’t believe you got Muzi to settle down.” she says fixing her shades.
I’m sure this has been burning her, she wants the tea.
“When you love someone, you do anything for them. He couldn’t stand to lose me, and he had to stop his shit to keep me. That’s how we ended up here.” she’s smiling.
“That is true though, Mvelo was just like him…not with the girls and stuff, but he was very much emotionally unavailable, and it took him a while to actually open up to me. They are good men, both of them, they make mistakes, but they are good people.” yeah sure.
One's a drug addict and the other is a serial cheater.
We arrive at the garage, and I ask for a full tank.
It’s so cute how much faith Chrissy has in her husband, the same man who told me in bold he thinks I’m sexy and he wants to bed me. Muzi also told me some of their dirty secrets the other day, how they almost got divorced three months after they got married because he cheated and gave her an STD. And she continues to trust that man?
“Ma’am it’s not working.” the petrol attendant says giving me the petrol card.
“Try again.” there is no way it’s not working, it always works.
“I’ve tried three times ma’am.” this is embarrassing me in front of Chrissy.
I pull out my credit card, praying and hoping it doesn’t decline.
“Insufficient funds.” he says hopelessly passing the card back to me.
This is so embarrassing; how could this happen to me.
“I’ve got it, don’t worry.” Chrissy pulls out her own card and taps it.
I didn’t even get a chance to contest.
“I don’t even…” I try to explain as soon as we leave the garage.
“It’s okay love, we all have bad months.” the moment I see Muzi, I’m throwing hands.
I don’t think I will ever recover from this embarrassment.