Silent Wounds(on hold)

chapter 4| The sweet boy

Nontsikelelo

Vusi came looking for me during my lunch break, walking into the servants' quarters like he owned the place-well, technically, he did. He looked as polished and charming as ever, completely out of place among the staff huddled around the small table. I was about to sit down with the others, including Mrs. Mdlalose, when he made his grand entrance.

"Hey, beautiful, I wanna take you out for lunch. Let's go," he said, flashing a confident smile that made my heart race, though I couldn't ignore the tension in the room.

I froze, my eyes darting to Mrs. Mdlalose, who was already glaring at me. Her face clearly screamed disapproval. I had only been here for a week, and now I was about to get into trouble because of Vusi. The last thing I wanted was to make enemies, especially not this early.

Mrs. Mdlalose didn't waste time. "She has a lot of work to do, Vusi, and she's not allowed to-"

"I give orders, not you, Nombulelo. Let's go, Ntsiki," Vusi cut her off, his tone sharp and authoritative. His words hung in the air, leaving no room for argument.

I was caught between the two of them, unsure of what to do. Everyone's eyes were now glued to me. I could feel the weight of their stares, and my palms began to sweat. I was scared of Mrs. Mdlalose's wrath, but I was also nervous about defying Vusi.

Before I could respond, Vusi grabbed my hand, pulling me up from the table. "She'll be back before you know it, and don't give her a hard time when she does," he said, his gaze locking onto Mrs. Mdlalose's, daring her to argue.

I hesitated but followed him, glancing back at the table as Mrs. Mdlalose's lips thinned into a tight line. I could almost hear her thoughts-this girl is trouble.

Vusi led me outside to his motorbike, and I stopped short. A motorbike? Really? My heart dropped at the sight of it. He must have noticed the hesitation on my face.

"Never been on a bike before?" he teased, clearly amused by my discomfort.

I shook my head, feeling out of place and nervous. "I... I don't think this is a good idea," I mumbled, my eyes darting between the bike and my maid's uniform. I was dressed in a plain, dull uniform, hardly the outfit for a lunch date-if this was even that.

Vusi smirked. "Oh, you're worried about that?" He looked me up and down, his eyes lingering on my outfit. "Okay, go change into some jeans. You'll find me here."

"I... Mrs. Mdlalose won't let me come back out," I stammered, still hesitant. I could already imagine the lecture I'd get if I dared to leave without permission. I wasn't about to make things worse for myself.

He waved his hand dismissively. "It's settled then. We're leaving, and you're wearing that. Don't worry, we'll get you something nice once we're out. Come on."

"But-"

"No buts. Come on, Ntsiki, trust me," he said, stepping forward and helping me onto the bike before I could protest further. His hands were warm and steady, giving me a sense of strange comfort despite my rising anxiety.

Once seated, he revved the engine, and I held on tightly, the roar of the bike drowning out any last-minute objections I might've had. As we sped off, the wind rushed against my face, and despite myself, I felt a sense of freedom that I hadn't experienced in weeks. The air was fresh, and the speed-though terrifying-was exhilarating.

I had no idea how much I needed this. To feel something other than the weight of my grief. To escape the suffocating reality I'd been trapped in since the accident. The sensation of riding on the bike was thrilling, and for the first time since I had arrived at the Mbatha estate, I felt something close to joy.