A WEB OF DECEIT

chapter 47

Thelani

After our intimate night together, I felt like I was floating in a dream. Nkosikhona had been nothing short of amazing—tender, attentive, and just what I needed. But as I settled into bed later that night, I couldn’t shake the nagging thoughts that kept swirling in my mind. I needed to talk to someone, and I knew exactly who that someone was. Mbali.

I picked up my phone and dialed her number, hoping she’d answer despite our recent distance. It didn’t take long for her to pick up.

“Look who’s calling!” Mbali’s voice came through, lively and teasing. “Miss ‘I’m too busy to hang out with my best friend.’ What’s the special occasion?”

I smiled at her usual playfulness, feeling a bit lighter already. “Hey, Mbals.. I know, I know. I’m sorry I’ve been MIA.”

Mbali scoffed, but I could hear the smile in her voice. “Uh-huh. Spill it, chomi. You only disappear like this when something’s going on. Is it work?Or...” Her voice dipped into a playful sing-song. “Is it a certain tall, dark, and handsome gentleman?”

I could practically see the knowing smirk on her face. “Maybe,” I said, my voice trailing off as a shy smile crept onto my face.

Mbali gasped dramatically. “Maybe? Girl, don’t play with me! Is this about Nkosikhona? What happened? Details, please!”

I bit my lip, unsure of where to begin. “Well, we... spent the night together.”

“Oh my goodness! Finally! I was beginning to think you two were playing some never-ending game of will-they-won’t-they!” she laughed, then quickly softened her tone. “But seriously, how do you feel about it?”

I let out a deep breath, lying back against my pillows. “Honestly, chomi, I don’t even know. It was amazing, but it’s so much more complicated than that. Nkosikhona asked me to be his girlfriend.”

There was a short pause on the other end of the line before Mbali responded, her voice quieter but still carrying that familiar warmth. “And how did that make you feel?”

I closed my eyes, trying to sort through my emotions. “It made me happy,” I admitted. “Really happy. But also scared. Like, what if this is moving too fast? I told him I needed time to think about moving in together.”

Mbali made a thoughtful noise. “I get that. Moving in is a big step, babes. But let’s focus on the real question—how do you feel about him? Not the logistics, not the practical stuff—just him.”

I hesitated, and Mbali immediately pounced on it. “Aha! You do have feelings for him!” she exclaimed. “Come on, just say it! Admit it to yourself at least.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her persistence. “Okay, fine. I do have feelings for him. Big feelings. It’s just... a lot to process.”

“nazo!” Mbali said, sounding ridiculous. “Now we’re getting somewhere. Look, Thelani, I know you’ve been through some rough stuff with guys before, and it makes sense that you’re scared. But Nkosikhona... he’s different, isn’t he? From the way you talk about him, it’s obvious.”

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “He really is different. He makes me feel... safe. Like I can just be myself around him.”

“And that,” Mbali said firmly, “is what’s important. But listen, babes, as much as I want you to follow your heart, you’ve got to be careful. I mean, we dont know if Nkosikhona has some skeletons in his closet—everyone does—but you need to make sure you’re not getting into something that could hurt you down the line. Protect your heart, you hear me?”