𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠|𝟏𝟖+

006

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 06

"So?" Ona asks when I get into her room. "I got the job!" I squeal. "Yes! I start next week" We're now both jumping around the room. "I'm so proud of you" She squeezes the literal life out of me. "Yeah but it's only for the few months that I'll be here for... I'll have to quit when I go back. You do know that, right?" I fold my arms. "Uhm... Yeah?" I shake my head at her response.

"Soo?" I emphasise. "What?" She sits on the edge of the bed. "What happened to you this morning? Where are you from?" I wiggle my eyebrows. The small blush that coats her neck gives it away. "You slept with him?" I gasp. "Huh? Mhmmhm, Minnie... We didn't sleep together. We just..." She trails off. "You just what? Out with it" I nudge her. "W-We kissed!" She sqeals.

I laugh, rolling my eyes. "You just kissed?" I raise an eyebrow at her. "Yes. What did you think we did? Unless-... Wena, where were you? Who took you home?" She squints her eyes, which means she's thinking. She does this when she's trying to remember something.

Ona can drink all she wants but she can never be too drunk to forget what happened the previous night. "M-Minne! I did that?!" She gasps, covering her mouth. "Give me your phone right now!" She snatches it from my hold. "What are you do-" She cuts me off with a horrifying scream. "Ke eng? Onalerona!" I frown. "Look!" She hands me the phone. I try all I can by all means to stop myself from laughing but I can't.

My eyes skim through the articles talking about her being carried around all night by Sbonelo. There are even pictures of her and Wandi playing hide and seek at the venue. "You said you wanted to trend" I shrug. "My life is ruined. Koko can't see this, I'm not going back there" She dramatically cries. "You wanted to trend Onalerona" I laugh.

A loud dinging sound catches my attention. "Hey wena clever, ke mang o?" She points at the unknown but familiar number texting me. "Ga se motho" I try taking my phone. She pushes me away. "Minentle, wa jola?!" She goes through my phone. "Ha-eh Ona, e re ke hlalose pele" I try taking my phone once again. "No marn, this is Samkelo!" She looks back at me.

"Mang?" I scrunch up my face. "Sa-" She cuts herself off. "Nothing, I must be mistaken" She clears her throat. "Baby girl, dula fase" She pats the spot near her. I slowly sit down.
"Minnie, ke a go rata and I care about you because you're my best friend but you're also family. I can't loose you Minentle, these people you're slowly getting involved with are too dangerous. If they find out who you are-.."

"I've already told Sbonelo that I can't be with him. You need to do the same with this guy before your parents find out about him. You're young and I don't want you getting involved in any of their rivalry, please" She softly says.

"I-Ona... What are you talking about?" I dryly swallow. "You'll understand soon, but just stay away from him. They're using you to get to your father, keep that in mind" She taps my shoulder.

*
I anxiously wait while bouncing my leg against the floor. "Entle ka Tatomkhulu" I get up, immediately wrapping my arms around him. Tears unexpectedly stream down my eyes. "Sukukhala ndizophuma apha kungekudala, uyeva?" I nod in response while wiping my tears. "When are you getting out?"

"I'll be out on parole in six months, I'll be out before you know it" We sit down. "Tat'omkhulu... D-Do you know the Zungu family?" I anxiously bite the inside of my cheek. His expression turns sour at the mentioning of the name. "What do you want to know about them Minentle? Did they try anything on you?" His jaw clenches.

"No. Who are they?" I fidget with my fingers under the table. "They wrongfully put me in here. They framed me, they threw us out of our home. They took our businesses, they ruined everything for us, I'll deal with them once I get out of here" "Ha-eh. You can't afford to be put back in here. You have to stay away from them" I warn him. "Minentle" He sighs. "Promise to stay away from any illegal dealings, you can't be put back in here!" I lowly shout.

"I promise... you sound just like her" He laughs to himself. "Who?" I raise an eyebrow. "Olwethu, she used to shout at her brother all the time because of me" "Ma'Lwethu? You know her?" I frown. "Where do you know her from?" He frowns this time. "She's my godmother" I simply answer him. "Does your father know about this?" I shake my head no in response.

"Good. And make sure he doesn't find out" He nods. "Uphi umntakwenu?" He asks making me smile, even though Omphile is not his biological grandson he still cares about him. "He's coming back next week"

"Tell him I want to see him, immediately" He orders. "Even when you're locked up you're barking orders" His voice cuts off my response. "Ufuna ntoni apha wena!" I stay glued to my spot, trying not to get involved. "Minentle, yiya ekhaya" He softly says. I quickly get up and walk past the familiar looking man. "Let me ask you again, what do you want here Melokuhle!" I hear right before I exit the room.

Melokuhle?

I get into my car and drive home, I call Omphile while parking into the garage.

Omphile:
You do know that I'm at work right?

Me:
Yeah but your grandfather want's to see you 'immediately'.

Omphile:
I'll be there in two days. Is it that important?

Me:
It seems to be important. Do you know anyone by the name of Melokuhle?

Omphile:
Melokuhle?! That's the guy that put him in prison. Minentle, I want you to put on that necklace I got for you last year.

Me:
But it's ugly, no offence.

Omphile:
Please.

Me:
I'll see what I can do

Omphile:
Thank you, I love you.

Me:
I love you too.

I hang up and get into the house. "M-Mama!" I shout, kneeling down beside her. She has bruises all over her body and a cut on her forehead. I pull out her phone calling Ma'Lwethu knowing very well that Tata wouldn't give a damn about her.

Ma'Lwethu:
Hel-

Me:
It's Mama, she's bleeding and unconscious.

Ma'Lwethu:
I'm on my way, get her to the hospital.

I manage to get her to the hospital, the doctor's are still checking up on her. "Entle, where is she?" I immediately hug her. "T-The doctor's are still busy with her". "What happened to her?" She sits down beside me on one of the waiting room chairs.

"I got home and I found her on the floor, unconscious with bruises and cuts all over her body" I sniffle, wiping the lone tear that flows down my face. "I'll get to the bottom of i-" She's cuts off by Tata walking into the hospital.

"Olwethu?"