Love, Guns & Kayise

01. Prologue

01.

NTANDOKAYISE

Sitting in the classroom full of ambitious students has always been my dream. As a kid I dreamt of being a teacher. Every child sitting down in a classroom has had a dream somehow. Some wanted to become doctors or lawyers and some of those dreams got fulfilled but some didn't. I went to varsity and today I'm a pedagogical practitioner but somehow dreams we have as kids aren't always what we want as adults.

"Owami spit out that chewing gum." I put forth my hand for the little girl to spit out her chewing gum, knowing me she stands up and spit in my hand. The chewing gum has some salivas surrounding it. I throw it inside the bin and take out a wipe to wipe my hand before throwing it inside the bin as well.

"I don't ever want to see you chewing a gum during my period are we clear?" She nervously nods her head repeatedly while looking down

"Good. Go sit down." She walks back to her chair and go back to her classwork. She's doing grade 6.

I'm what you call a substitute teacher in this private school. I'm not a permanent teacher but I'm more like an assistant teacher. If teachers aren't gonna be available for their classes I fill in. I don't get paid enough money like the other permanent teachers but it's enough to meet expenses.

The door opens and Philisiwe walks in. I can't say I get along with her because I get along with nobody but she's okay.

"Hey ma'am Vilakazi." She walks to me while smiling holding her white handbag. If happiness was a person it would be Philisiwe. She's always smiling.

"Hey." I continue marking the books while she sits down on the chair in front of me.

"I won't be available after lunch break. Can you please keep my class busy?" That's my job description. Holding the fort for teachers who are running errands.

"With pleasure. Have fun." I already know that she's going on a date. Her relationship is still in honeymoon phase and she receives flowers now and then or get picked up at the gate.

"Thank you Kayise. Don't overwork yourself. The grade 7 class can be overwhelming." She chuckles while standing up.

"Everybody listen to ma'am Vilakazi."

"True. I wonder what you do to these kids." I don't beat them up or intimidate them but I'm always authorative and I get straight to point. I don't give them even a small chance to get all friendly with me.

"Aren't you getting late?" I raise my eyebrow and bite the pen a bit while I wait for her to leave.

"Oh yeah. See you tomorrow-by the way don't forget to organise the snacks for the grade 4 trip tomorrow." She walks out. Of course I haven't forgotten. I take my job seriously.

---

"Ntandokayise, welcome home my child." My dad walks to me when I walk in and even take my bag. I stare at him curiously because this is unlike him.

"Are you dying? I'm still young to be an orphan." He laughs out loud while pulling a chair for me. Instead of sitting down I pull out another chair myself and sit on it.

"I'm still strong as an ox Ntando." He also sit down. "And what do you mean you're young? You're twenty two."

"Baba what do you want? You are never too nice to me." I point out.

"There's a reason I named you Ntandokayise. You're my favourite child." He grins. He shouldn't even smile, he's too dark skinned and ugly.

"Oh please we all know that Nkanyiso is the favourite. Baba if you're aging backwards that's fine but I have snacks I need to order for schoolkids." I stand up and pick up my bag but the old man stops me.

"You're taking your job seriously. I need us to talk." He go back to his serious self. This is the father I know not the one who acts all childish.

"Can we speak later? I'm busy." I walk to my bedroom and throw the bag on the bed before taking off my shoes but my father who doesn't respect privacy walk in.

"Ntando we need to talk, princess." He sounds urgent.

"What do you want to talk about?" That's an invitation for him to sit down on the bed besides me.

"About you. There's an important mission at task. A ghost that need to be killed." I stare at him waiting for him to clarifies his words but before he could say more,the door opens and Magazi walk inside.

"Did you tell her yet?" She ask but my dad shakes his head. I know whatever they want to say must be big for Magazi to even interfere.

"Kayise you need to get married." She says and I laugh out loud. What a terrible joke. It's a joke right because her face says otherwise?

"Are you joking?" I stare at them both and they are nod. My dad even shakes his head. I stand up and chuckles in disbelief.

"What makes you think that I'm going to get married? At the age of twenty even? To who?" I snap at them.

"To one of the Zikhali brothers." My dad announces and I stare at him in shock.

"No..." I shake my head. I'm not going there,no.

"One of them killed Amahle. The only way to avenge ourselves is to take that family down. Death is an easy punishment." Amahle was Magazi's only child. She was murdered a year ago. She was the only friend I had and after her death I saw life differently. I learnt to not attach myself emotionally with anyone. You'll lose them to death.

"So you're sacrificing me? You want me to die?" I can't believe this people. So much for being my family.

"I thought you're not scared of anything. What did I teach you?" My dad ask.

"I'm scared of death. There you have it and I'm not putting my life in jeopardy!" I yell.

"It's late. I already talked to senior Zikhali and he's going to talk to one of his sons and we-" I walk to the door and open it.

"Get out of my room. Both of you!" They listen to my order and walk out. I slam the door once they are gone.

I open the window and take out my cigarettes. I use my lighter to switch on one of them before smoking. Smoking clears my mind. Growing up with Nkanyiso as a brother made me learn all the bad habits boys did. I behaved like a boy and wore clothes like a boy. I still does but it's because I'm a tomboy. After smoking I take out my phone out of my bag and search for the Zikhali brothers.

The Zikhali brothers,the owners of the biggest construction site in KZN. They are pretty loaded. To the public they are hard workers but I know better. They are criminals in suits. They hijack cars,plan heists and rob banks. Each son is an asset, from Mkhuseli the oldest,then Muzikayise,Mandlenkosi and lastly their little brother who's still in high school,Musawenkosi.

Nobody messes with the Zikhali brothers,they represent death but the Vilakazis,the Nzimandes,the Jilis,the Bindas,the Mphephethwas we are the nkabis. I've been trained since I turned thirteen and we never shy away from a challenge. Whether a child or adult,if you say the word they die. We fear nothing and the Zikhali brothers should make sure the sun doesn't set because Ntandokayise is coming for them. They killed the most important person in my life and now it's their turn to lose theirs.

A/N: I'm not going to write this book now but I just wanted to put this first draft out here until I buy a new phone.