Oyama: Her Story

CHAPTER 2

I’m driving home and Ayanda is on my mind. Why is he on my mind, it’s not this isn’t the first time he has done something like this before. Hai, only God knows why he brought a psychopath into my life. In all honesty when we first met, he wasn’t like this, he was charming and kind, then 6 months later, we had sex… no I don’t care what anyone says, I will never count what we had as sex, it wasn’t, there was no love there. But, anyways after we had sex, he changed, like a lot started being more controlling, at first I thought it was because, he cared then, he was telling me stuff like, why was I talking to some of my male colleagues. In all honest, I was just stupid and young, I think it was the power he had, that I found so attractive, who would’ve known it would come with such strain and problem. I mean the Mzamane family are known all over the Eastern Cape, they are a Transport Tycoon family, they own everything from Taxi’s to Trucks and Busses. Oyama you said you were done being a victim, you are done sisi.

I finally get home, pack all the groceries and now it’s time to unpack everything. I heat the burger, and head to the living room. I sit down and turn on Netflix, I need something that’s gonna make me laugh. There we go, The Big Bang Theory. Alright if anyone or anything can make me smile it’s Sheldon Cooper.
I start eating, my phone vibrates, Xolani texts me, “You okay? You know after that idiot, Ayanda showed up”
I sigh, glancing at the message. He’s always been protective of me, more like a big brother than just a friend.
I quickly type a response, “Yeah, I’m fine. Just had a run-in with some idiot in the parking lot. Nothing to worry about.”
“OK, text me if you need anything” he texts. I smile at the message and toss my phone to the side and continue watching The Big Bang Theory. I just love Sheldon’s cluelessness; he is like me sometimes. I don’t know, if I insult someone or what, until I see the reaction on their face and even then I can’t tell for sure.

My phone vibrates again, what does Xolani want now, he probably wants me to borrow some money.
I open my phone, and it’s a text from an unknown number, “Let me know when you free to teach me Xhosa, Mogatsaka” the message reads. I already fucking know who this is, there’s no fucking way. How did he even get my number, we only met 3 hours ago? He’s probably a serial killer. Great; Oyama, you have upset a serial killer, wait I haven’t gone in the message so he won’t know I read it. I throw my phone to the side, the minute it lands another notification, “I remember you said, you didn’t want any favours, please pay me my R400, I take all methods of payments, from Apple Pay to Lunches” he text.
I smile, why am I smiling? There’s nothing to smile about. I don’t think this one is gonna go away, I go to contacts and save his number, I have to come up with something, I drum my fingers on the couch, while I think, got it, ‘Pedi Dumbass with no respect’ that’s it. It’s long but it gets the message through.
I throw my phone again, then immediately dive for it again, what does Mogatsaka mean?
I go onto Google, “Mogatsaka Meaning?” I type.
“Bride, Lover,” Google replies. OH MY DAYS. I can’t believe it.
“I’m not your Lover or Bride” I text back. Oh no, no, no. Oyama what have you done? He’s typing, bubbles then it goes down. I throw, it drops and a notification pops up. I ignore it, then another notification pops through.
I pick it up, OH NO, “You can’t stay away from forever, you are mine” it has to be Ayanda, how he found me in PE, I don’t know. I ran away from East London because of him. Then Xolani left too, in his words, ‘Can keep an eye on me’. I never understood why, but it’s nice to have him around.
I block the number, and the next message, I can’t help but smile, “I knew that would get your attention, what would you prefer then, Phakade lam, Umtshakazi, pick and choose?”, “Goodnight” he ends; the message with a kiss emoji.
I close my phone, another notification, “I thought people in the Eastern Cape had respect, it’s really disrespectful for someone to say Goodnight, and not to reply with Goodnight as well” he texts.
I roll my eyes, “Goodnight ke” I text with rolling eyes emoji.
“Don’t dream of me” he texts.
I roll my eyes, “You wish” WHY AM I TEXTING BACK?
“You are right, matter of fact, please dream of me” he texts. I throw my phone again, I should go to bed, I take a shower. Then I get in bed….

After a quick shower, I slipped into some gym clothes, I need a good morning leg day that’s what’s gonna help clear her head. As I tie up my sneakers, my phone buzzed again. I look at the screen, half expecting it to be another message from the Pedi dumbass, but it was from Xolani.
“Morning! Feel like going for a run? I could use a workout buddy.” I smile, relieved to have a distraction.
I text, “How about a proper leg day, at the gym”
Xolani texts, “See you there, give me 20”. I get in the car and pull out, my phoned vibrates at a Robot, who could it be now?
“Good Morning” texts that Pedi boy. Hai man, it was funny yesterday, it’s not anymore.
I leave it and drive to the gym, when I walk to the reception, Xolani is already here, “You ready for this?” he asks.
“Always” I say and we chest pump.

My Leg Routine is something simple, of course some people would say it’s a lot, but I have gotten used to it. First warm up, Kang Squats. Now to the real work out. Standing Calf raises, then seated calf raises. Next Leg Extensions and Leg curls superset, NEXT, Hack squats, then Barbell Squats, Lunges, then finish off with a 5km walk on the treadmill.
As we are walking on the treadmills, looks at me as I’m concentrating, “You seem a bit off today. Everything okay?”

I hesitate, should I tell him about what happened at the mall.
Kodwa Xolani has always been a good listener, and I know he would understand, “Just some guy who got under my skin yesterday. Stole my parking spot and then had the nerve to act like I was the one in the wrong.”
Xolani raised an eyebrow, “Sounds like a real piece of work. What did you do?”
“I parked him in,” I say with a smirk.
Xolani laughs, “That’s my girl! Did he learn his lesson?”
“Not exactly,” I admit, “He ended up paying for a clamp on my car, and then somehow, he got my number and texted me.”
Xolani’s expression shifted from amusement to concern, “He texted you? That’s a bit much, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, but it’s not like he threatened me or anything. Just some playful banter, I guess. Still, it’s weird.” I say.
Xolani nodded, clearly not entirely convinced, “Just be careful, okay? You never know with people these days.”
“Yeah, look I need to go to work after this” I say getting off the treadmill.

I’m at the hospital doing my rounds. A nurse walks up to me, “Dr Mtyhobile there is a delivery man here” I walk to the reception. There’s a delivery man holding a giant Teddy Bear, and roses.
He walks towards me, “Dr Mtyhobile?”
“Who’s asking” I say. The delivery man gives me an irritated side look; I nod my head.
“Please sign here” he says. I sign and he walks off, leaving me with a giant Teddy Bear, flowers and a note. I walk to my office and open the note.

“Dear Dr. Mtyhobile, it’s been 3 days, I can see you are still holding onto my money. So I suggest an alternative form of compensation which, I think you’ll find most agreeable. Lunch 2pm at Spur in Baywest Mall, then as extra compensation, you can also teach me Xhosa. Kea Leboga. Q.M” then the letter has a little stamp on it. It looks like a Boar. What Pedi name starts with a Q. I don’t have time for boys, I chuck the roses in the bin and throw the Bear onto the bed.

In walk my next patient, a 4-year-old baby girl, can’t say her name HIPAA and all that. I check her chest, and prescribe her a cough syrup and anti-biotic.
“Mama, look what they got her” she points at the Teddy, “Daddy must buy you one as well, look how happy it made her” what is this kid talking about. They leave and I’m stuck looking at the teddy bear, stupid teddy bear. I punch it and it still looks at me.

It’s 5pm and I’m still at the office working, I didn’t go to that lunch, like I said I don’t have time for boys.
My phone vibrates, “Would you like me to bring you dinner?” he texts.
What is he doing? “NO” I reply. The problem is, It’s not that, I don’t have time for boys, in all honesty, I’m scared of them. I know I’m giving my abuser a lot of power by doing this, but I don’t know….