Uyangijabulisa

chapter seventeen

My mom calls me. It's my day off and I'm at Thabo's place. He actually left me all alone because he has business to attend to. I have cleaned the entire house upside down and I'm bored.

"Hello mama," I say, but my heart immediately drops when I hear her whimpers.

"We're at Hammanskraal station, how do we get to your place?" she asks.

"What's wrong? What happened?" I ask, worried for the worst.

"He chased us out. Right after he beat me to a pulp for defending your brother. I'm in pain my child, I know you've warned me and you probably want to gloat about it, but I need your help right now." I could never gloat, especially not when she's in pain.

"Wait at the taxi rank neh, I'll call someone to come get you," I say and hang up. I immediately call Thabo, silently hoping he's not too busy.

"Yes my love," he answers. At least he's in a good mood.

"Baby, can you please fetch my mom and brother at the taxi rank? It's kind of an emergency, I'll meet you guys at my place," I tell him.

"Okay. How are you going to get here? Should I Uber for you?" I was planning to use taxis, so his option sounds better. I agree and call my mother back.

"Someone is coming to fetch you guys there, please don't move until he gets there. I'll meet you at my place," I instruct and she agrees. "Please give Mororiseng the phone," I ask her.

"Sesi," my younger brother says meekly. My heart breaks a second time that day. He confirms what my mom said, and that yes they are okay for now. I get off the phone when my Uber arrives. It's a woman, which makes me happy because I feel uncomfortable when a man is the one driving.

On the way, Thabo calls to tell me he found them and they are at my place. I had given him my mother's number so he could communicate with her when he arrived at the station. I arrive after thirty minutes of driving. I thank the sister and go to Thabo's car, which is parked outside.

He gets out of the car and opens his arms. I crash into them and he holds me tight.

"Where are they?" I ask, heart in my throat.

"Inside, your mother looks terrible baby, you should go inside. I will come back later, I have to go back to work," he says and my heart drops again.

"Okay baby, thank you so much," I say, referring to him picking them up.

"You're welcome, you know I'd do anything for you. Nsune mothowak'," he says and I manage a smile. I lean up and kiss him. He doesn't deepen it, just softly kisses me back before letting me go.

I rush inside the yard and head for my room. Mororiseng is sitting down on the couch, watching TV. I can hear the shower water running, so I know my mom's in there taking a bath.

"Nana," I say softly. My brother's neck almost snaps from how fast he turns. He gets up and runs straight into my arms. I hug him tightly and we both immediately break down.

We quiet down eventually and mom comes out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her body. The sight of her makes my knees go weak. The bulging of her left eye, her busted lips and the blue and yellow colours covering her face and exposed body, all of it looks painful.

She immediately tears up and mine come back too. I walk towards her slowly, afraid to approach her but also needing to be near her.

"Promise me you won't go back," I beg her through choked breath.

"I won't, never," she says, firmly but weakly.

"Good." And then I put my arms around her and hug her as gently as possible. She hugs me back and we stay like that for a while, my tears silently falling while she rubs my back, when I should be the one comforting her.

Eventually, I let her go and she goes back in the bathroom to get dressed. On the counter, I realise there's a plastic bag full of groceries and I nearly cry again. I just know this is Thabo's doing. Once I'm ready, I'm giving that man as many babies as he wants!

There's macaroni and mince inside, so I decide to cook that. I make them a snack with some juice while they watch TV and I cook. No one says anything, it's a bit awkward now, but I appreciate the silence because I hate small talk.

I dish up for us all. My mother and I eat on the little kitchen table I have while my brother eats while watching TV.

"You guys will stay here for now," I tell her.

"I am sorry for intruding my child, and for a whole lot of things. For being a bad mother, for being horrible to you, everything, I'm sorry for all of it," she says. I reach out for her hand and squeeze.

"You're not intruding at all, you are my family. And I forgive you mom, I truly do. Anyways, tomorrow we will go to the clinic to check for internal bleeding, he really hurt you, mom," I say.

"Okay, we will go to the clinic. And thank you so much for taking us in," she says.

"Anything for you, you are my family mom, I can never turn the other cheek when you need me." I know it sounds contradictory to what I said the last time we spoke. But even then, I hadn't stopped giving her the monthly allowance allocated to her and Mororiseng from my monthly budget. I refrain from asking a lot of questions about what happened, partly in fear of hearing the full story, another because I want her to open up when she's ready.

We finish eating and Mororiseng goes to shower too. Thabo calls and I go outside to take the call.

"Hey babe," I say.

"Mothowaka, le shap?" he asks. It's been about two hours since we spoke.

"Yes, we're good. You still at work?" I ask.

"I'm glad. Yes, but I'm about to knock off. You coming back to my place with me?" he asks. In any circumstance, I was going to stay with them. But my place is too small and I'd rather sleep in Thabo's arms after the emotional day I had.

"Come fetch me baby," I tell him. If my mother has a problem with this, I'll deal with it then. But for now, I need my man with me.

He tells me he'll be here in 10 minutes so I head back inside and dish up for Thabo because I'm not cooking when we get to his place. Mororiseng is done in the shower, already wearing his night clothes.

"I'm going to Thabo's house for the time being," I tell my mom.

"Okay. Is he your boyfriend?" she asks and I nod. "Is he treating you right?"

"Yes, more than right," I tell her honestly.

"Good, as he should. I'm glad you found someone who loves you my baby," she says and I nod, smiling in return to her smile.

Thabo calls when he's outside and I say my farewell, informing them that I'll see them tomorrow so we can take my mom to the clinic. In the car, Thabo's hand immediately goes to my thigh and he squeezes lightly.

"Let's go home baby."