LESEGO: HER TRAP

Chapter 23

KGOMOTSO

SEPTEMBER

Tlhalefo: "Imagine what a perfect world it would be if the world wasn't so violent."

It's just us two in the lapa area at 7AM. I've figured he's an early bird like myself, though these days I wake up later than I should, except when I have to go to work which I can get so lazy to do sometimes. I smile at him. I guess he's the only sane Kunupi in the family. I'm teaching him how to draw furniture. He brought his sketch book with because according to him, he heard I was also coming so he came with it because he wanted to draw with me. He loves drawing and I love drawing too.

Kgomotso: "You should take EGD as a subject when you're in Grade 10." I say as I watch him draw after that statement he made.

We were talking about history because he told me that besides drawing, he also loves history. I found that subject boring whenever we did Social Sciences. It was always just about Apartheid and all the other things that add no value to my life, but he, he takes that thing seriously. Just like Mantwa, whom I haven't seen a long time, or any of my girls for that matter.

These past eight months of 2016 have just been so hectic with so much going on at once, that I never got see my girls as much as I used to. But at the same time it's like they'll have to understand. I've been single the whole of 2015 and that's why I could have more time with them.

Tlhalefo: "EGD? What does it stand for?"

The frown on his face makes me want to laugh.

Kgomotso: "It stands for Engineering Graphics & Design." I say with a chuckle.

Tlhalefo: "Is it that subject where people carry those cool side bags?"

He seemed pretty excited about the bag part.

Kgomotso: "Yes, it is."

I'm glad I got that scholarship from Saint Martins because they were the ones that paid for all that expensive stationery needed just to draw those lines and houses and house plans and isometric drawings that were so difficult to draw.

Tlhalefo: "You'll help me when I'm struggling, right Ma?"

Kgomotso: "Of course I am. I'm always here to help." He comes towards me and hugs me.

Tlhalefo: "Thank you."

Kgomotso: "For what?"

Tlhalefo: "For showing interest in what I love."

And just like that, my heart warms up even more. I'm beginning to embrace this 'mother' thing and love him like my own son though we're only 12 years apart.

He breaks the hug and sits back and he leaves me wondering if Felicia also shows interest in thing he loves. Maybe she thinks it's just another hobby he'll get over and doesn't entertain it much because by the looks of things, she seems to be occupied with a lot of things, 90 percent of it being the one managing this crazy family.

He goes back to drawing while I watch him and then I look around at the yard. It's very peaceful, tranquil and serene. Who knew that a crazy family like this is into something that's the opposite of them? I want to live in a place just like this. Away from the city.

I remember telling my friends 10 years ago that I wanted to live in Cape Town one day, but things have changed. They've changed the very moment Lesego took me out. That day I had to make last-minute plans and dragged my girls to go shop for a dress. I should've known from that moment on that things were about to be weird. Even the fact that he found me jogging a week after that whole incident in the bathroom, or that night he kissed my cheek. The fact that he calls me his wife though he's never asked me to officially be his girlfriend is even weirder.