The cost of loving you.

*Chapter 1: The Beginning**

My name is Andiswa, born into a Christian family, which naturally means I'm the daughter of a pastor. For most people, that label conjures up images of a quiet, boring nerd. They couldn’t be more wrong. I’m 20 now, studying to become an investigating officer. You see, crime has always been close to home. I watched as it consumed my brother. We still don’t know who killed him or why, but I’ll change that. Once I’ve got my badge, I’m going to find his killer. I’m going to bring down the world of criminals that took him from us.

I’ve been lucky in a few ways, though. Getting into varsity was one of them, and the best part? I got in with my three best friends—Zintle, Busi, and Precious. Now, when I say I’ve fallen in love for the first time, I don’t mean a guy. I mean these girls. Life without them is unbearable. They are my ride-or-die crew. We’re always together, whether it’s studying or just having a good time.

But the real adventure started when our lecturer, Mr. Smith, gave us a special assignment. We were sent undercover to do a story in Mlazi—a quiet town that looks perfect for a vacation, but beneath the surface, it’s teeming with crime. Our mission? Investigate a gang called Killer Nation. This gang is feared by everyone, and no one dares speak ill of them. Even the town’s mayor is corrupt, so the people who are supposed to protect Mlazi are the ones destroying it. And that’s where we come in.

The mayor’s assistant, Mr. Banda, reached out to us for help. He found out about the mayor’s dirty dealings but failed to get the police involved because they’re on his  payroll too. His plan? To work with our university and expose the mayor’s corruption through our investigation. I know, I know—he could have hired professional investigators. But professionals can be bribed. We, on the other hand, are students, and we’re harder to buy off. At least, that’s what Mr. Banda thinks.

Everything was going according to plan, but that was before I fell in love with the mayor’s younger brother, Sanele.

**Trouble in Mlazi**

When we first arrived in Mlazi, Busi, of course, suggested we explore the place and have some fun before starting the investigation. I didn’t think much of it at the time—what could go wrong, right? So, we found this club, and as usual, Busi dragged us in. It was risky, walking right into a place likely crawling with criminals, but that’s Busi for you—fearless and always looking for excitement.

We were having the time of our lives, dancing and laughing, when a group of boys swaggered into the club. I noticed them immediately, especially one guy who looked like he wanted to cause trouble.

“Whoo! Look over there, boys—a group of cuties,” I heard him say. “Why don’t we go say hello?”

His friend, a tall guy with a calm demeanor, tried to stop him. “Bro, leave those girls alone. Let’s just buy what my brother sent us to buy.”

But the other guy wasn’t having it. “Shut up! What do you know about girls, you fool? Do what I tell you, or what? Are you going to cry to your brother?”

The calm guy looked embarrassed but didn’t say much after that. His troublemaking friend swaggered over to us.

“Ladies,” he said with a smirk.

Busi turned to us and said, “Girls, do you hear something?”

Zintle raised an eyebrow. “Nope. Do you?”

“Yeah, it’s this fool thinking he can talk to us,” Busi shot back, glaring at the guy. We couldn’t help but laugh.

The boy wasn’t laughing, though. His face darkened as he pulled out a gun. “Are you calling me a fool?” he growled. “Do you know who I am? I’ll kill you right here, right now, and no one will do anything about it.”

I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. But not Busi. She just stared him down, her eyes filled with fire.

“You think I’m scared of you?” she scoffed. “You’ve obviously never met me before.”

The guy seemed to respect her boldness. “I’ve got to admit, you’ve got guts, girl,” he muttered.

But before things could escalate further, the calm guy—the one who had tried to stop him—came over. “Bro, my brother is calling. He needs to talk to you.”

The troublemaker shot Busi one last look. “Your ancestors just saved you, girl,” he sneered. “You’re one lucky bitch.”

As the guy walked away, the calm one stayed behind. “Hey, I’m sorry if my friend caused any trouble,” he said. “My name’s Sanele.”

Busi rolled her eyes. “Is he always that rude? Doesn’t he know how to talk to a lady?”

Sanele smiled apologetically. “Yeah, I’m really sorry. And I suggest you leave before things get out of hand.”

“I’m not scared of him,” Busi replied defiantly. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I stepped in before things got worse. “No, she’s joking. We’ll go,” I said quickly. “Thanks for your help, Sanele.”

He smiled again, a softer smile this time. “Nice meeting you all. Now get going.”

As we left the club, my mind raced. Sanele seemed like a good guy, but what was his connection to all this? And why did I feel drawn to him in a way I hadn’t expected? Whatever it was, I knew one thing for sure: our mission in Mlazi had just become a lot more complicated.

**Unraveling the Web**

Back at the mayor’s office, the troublemaker faced his brother. “I’m sorry, boss. I won’t do it again.”

The mayor looked furious. “Do you know who those girls are? They’re here to investigate us! Why don’t you think before you act? Now, get back here—I’ve got another job for you.”

The stakes were higher than ever. We had to uncover the truth about Killer Nation and the mayor, but with Sanele in the mix, things were getting personal.