Noma and Kea

CHAPTER 38

I know I said, I was never gonna drink again, but we both knew that was a lie. We got Lindy Home safely and got to bed just before midnight.

Its 17h00 and I’m still waiting for Thobile to come over, I said, 3pm but you know Black Time. Kea’s at work, so it’s me home alone. Ohh and GOOOD NEWSSSS, I finally moved in, yes this is my permanent residence, Ntokozo moved out and is living with Simphiwe. So we gave up the old apartment and divided everything. Well she mostly took everything, but big appliances like Washing machine and Fridge we sold to cash crusaders. We split the money, but we are still as thick as thieves we still call, although not all the time like we used too but enough.
The doorbell rings, I walk and I see its Thobile, I open the door and she’s looking down and forces a smile and let her in.

She walks in and waits for me, “Is Don here?”
“No, he’s at the club, you know you don’t have to call him Don right, your practically family” I say.
“Yeah, I don’t know how long that’s gonna last” she mumbles, but I could hear it clear as day. “Hey, what do you mean, by that?” I ask.
“You know what, I should just go” she says.
“No you not going anywhere, until you tell me what’s going on” I say.
“Noma, please just let me go” she says.
“No, go sit” I say gently and we move to the dining table. She sits down and I come back with 2 wine glasses and pour her a glass.
“Thank you” she says.

I sit next her and she looks away. She starts sipping and so do I, we sit in silence. I want her to come to me, not the other way around. She’s hurting, I wanna be here for her, that’s what sisterhood is for, whether its blood related or not, we should always be there for one another. She takes a deep breath and releases a heavy sigh that almost sent chills down my spine.
“I admire your strength Noma,” she starts, I give her a confused look, she sips again, “You know, I always wonder, how long you would stay if you were in my position, the more and more I see you. The more I realize how much, you wouldn’t stand for what, I’m going through” she sips again.
I hold her hand and squeeze it to let her know I’m here for her. If she’s starting like this, than Mandla must be cheating, I move my chair closer towards her.
“Look I’m sure its ok, whatever you and Mandla are going though, I’m sure you can get through it” I say.
She nods and a tear falls from her face, “You know it’s easy for you to say” she says a bit snappy, why do people keep saying its, ‘Easy for me to say?’
“How can it be easy for me to say?” I ask.
“Your life is perfect; you have a loving boyfriend. You don’t have to worry about putting on Make-up, so people don’t realize what’s going on at home” she says. I squint my eyes and look at her confused, there’s no way she just said that. She looks at me and shakes her head although its small I can see a bit of purple mixed with Black on her face, “Mandla hits you?” I ask sternly and angrily.

She just full on breaks down and drops her head on the table, I comfort her as she sinks deeper into me. I can’t even feel angry, to think Mandla, the youngest one of the 4. If it wasn’t for him moving into my building me and Kea wouldn’t be together. I wanna punch something, “Noma please don’t tell anyone, Ok I’m just gonna break up with him and move on” she says. Eh mara men, know how to destroy beautiful things, when we met Thobile she was this pretty thing bubbling with energy, always polite and smiling, she’s one of those people, I feel like she would get sad if you step on a bug. Ohhhhhh I wanna punch Mandla and his stupid face.
“Don’t worry” I say and cradle her, “Listen you are stronger than me, the fact you are choosing yourself and wanting to leave sends a strong message. You don’t deserve to live with such an animal” I say.
She snivels, “I should go home” she says.
“Noo, you are spending the night” I say.
“What about Don?” she asks.
“I live her too, this is my home as much as it is his” I say, hopefully he will see it that way too.
We sit on the couch feet on the table and watch a movie, I don’t wanna push more than I already have. I order Pizza for Dinner, as I sat the pizza down and watching ‘The Best Man’ I keep sneaking glances at her and she’s sniveling. I move her closer to me and wrap a blanket around us. Tears start rolling down her face, I hug her closer and dish her some pizza. She starts eating, at least she’s eating.