𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠|𝟏𝟖+

016

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 16

"Good morning" He pecks my lips. I smile, slowly opening my eyes. "Good morning" I stare at his face. "Yini?" He frowns. "Nothing" I softly reply. My phone buzzes, cutting our conversation short. I pick it up, squinting my eyes. Oh damnit.

Tata:
Minentle, Uphi?!

Mama:
Heyi! Nwana ke wena! Bua gae! Your dad's angry.

Ona:
I hope you're praying wherever you are, The house is a mess. I'm on my way back to Limpopo, I'll see you soon Mosadi.

Omphile:
O ko kae?

I sigh, with a little groan. I decide to call Omphile since he's the less judgy one. He can probably calm them down before I get back.

Me:
Hey

Omphile:
Nwey, o re nywey?! O ko kae?

Me:
Phile, I'm fine. I'll be back by midday.

Omphile:
Why aren't you wearing the necklace? I told you to wear the necklace Minentle.

Me:
I'm sorry, I forgot but I'm safe. I promise.

Omphile:
If I get to the house and you're not there, O tla ntseba botse.

Me:
Omp-

He hangs up. I facepalm myself, quickly getting out of bed. "Uyaphi manje?" Samkelo sits up. "I need to get home, I'm sorry. I'll call you when I get settled" I hurriedly pick up my heels and purse. I swiftly peck his lips before rushing out of the room. My feet carry me all the way to my car. I get in, starting the ignition and fixing my face making sure I look decent.

I speed home, my eyes gazing at the time from time to time. Yoh, modimo. I park outside the garage, grabbing my stuff and walking into the house. I walk in to find Tata pacing the living room as Mama keeps on trying to calm him down. "Dumelang" I clear my throat. They both stop with what they were doing. "Uvelaphi ngelixesha?" Tata's voice booms throughout the room. "Ta?" I wince. "I'm not going to repeat myself"

"I was at Wandi's house and I lost track of time so I ended up sleeping there. I'm sorry" I cast my gaze onto the floor. "And you couldn't bother to call us?" Mama angrily asks. "I'm not a child, I can't be informing you of my whereabouts all the time"

"Heyi wena! Ke tla go-" Tata cuts her off. "Thula wena! I've let you raise this child for way to long, clearly you're failing. Wena, go change those clothes and meet me in my office" He storms off. I hurriedly go up to my room, bathe and change before anxiously walking down to his office. I know and get in, I find him sitting on hia chair, buried into his work. "Tata" I call out.

"Hlala phantsi" He says without looking up at me. I clench my fists before sitting down infront of him. "Ubuphi phezolo?" He's still focused on his work. "Uhm... I was with Wandi" "Minentle... Is there anything that I haven't done for you?" His jaw ticks. "No" I mumble. "I sent you to school, thousands of kilometres away from here, I got you that little job of yours didn't I?" He adds. "You did" I agree.

"You asked for time right?" He closes his laptop. "Yes" I lowly mutter. "Well your time is running out, you have two years left. Business is going bad and the Shezi family needs a bride" My throat goes dry. I knew it, that's why he's been so nice to me for the past few weeks. Tears clog my eyes. "N-No" I voice out. "We don't have a choice" He argues. "I don't want to do it"

"Why? Huh? I've provided everything for you, it's time for you to start paying back all those traumatic years I spent raising you! I'm your father, I know what's best for you" He nearly shouts. "You didn't raise me! Mama did" He scowls.

"You don't love me Tata! I'm happy and you want to marry me off? Wa gafa ntate ke wena! If you loved me you wouldn't try to force me to marry a stranger. I'm leaving and I'm not marrying anyone!" I storm out of his office, heading up to my room. I quickly pack my necessities and rush down to my car, loading my bags into the boot. "Mama!" I call out. "O ya kae nwanaka? Huh? You've barley been here for two weeks and you're already leaving." She tears up.

"You know how your husband is. He's trying to marry me off again" I hug her. "Mara o tlo bua neng?" She frowns. ''I don't know, I'll try squeezing a visit in every now and then" I shrug. "Minentle... We can sit down and talk about this as a family" I shake my head no. "I'm sorry, I have to go. Kea go rata Mama" I wave before getting into my car and drive off. I sent Omphile a quick text.

Me:
I'm leaving, I'm sorry but I couldn't stay much longer in that house. I'll see you when I get to our apartment.

I switch off my phone and park outside his driveway, grab my handbag and walk in. My eyes skin around, searching for him. I end up finding him in his study. "Samkelo" I fidget with my fingers. He lifts his head. I walk closer to him, placing my handbag on his table. I swallow the lump, sitting on my throat. "I'm leaving" I announce. His face harderns as he stands up, towering over me.

"uHamba Uyaphi?" I avert my gaze from his. "Western Cape" I clear my throat. He softly chuckles, as if he doesn't believe me. "I'm being honest, I'm leaving" I repeat.

"Why?... Cause I know that you aren't supposed to leave for anything two weeks" He wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him. "My father wants to marry me off, leaving is the only way I can show him that I'm not doing it" I partly lie.

His grip tightens around my waist. "O a nkgobatša!" I hiss, prying his hands off of me. "Ngiyaxolisa" He pecks my lips. "I have to go, my flight leaves in an hour" I try walking away but he grabs my wrist, pulling me back into his arms. I heavily sigh, resting my head against his chest. "I don't want you to go" He murmers. "I don't want to go either" I blurt out. His hand rubs soothingly circles on my back. "Then come stay with me" My eyes widen.

"I-What?!" My eyes indistinctively close as a breathless sigh leaves my lips. He doesn't say anything. "I'll get one of the guards to bring your things in'' He clarifies. "Ha-eh, Samkelo. I can't" "Yes you can" He pecks my lips. I look up at him, frowning. "This is not going to end well"