Love, Guns & Kayise

10.

10.

NTANDOKAYISE

The brothers are going clubbing today. It's Friday, and Musawenkosi invited me. My beautiful mother-in-law and father-in-law are out of the country along with Owami, which means that I'm rocking my sequined mini dress because I dress to please. Magazi was the one who bought this David Koma dress for me. It's black and short and compliments my skin. It's worth the money it costs.

I brush down my braids and fall in love with the girl in the mirror. I feel lighter nowadays. It's like I'm slowly going back to the cheerful girl I used to be when Amahle was still alive. Even with my mother out of my life, my life never stopped flourishing. I love going out, getting wasted, and dancing on top of tables. It reflects who I am. A free wild girl.

I hear a knock on my door and ask whoever knocked to walk in. It's Musawenkosi. Muzi went straight to his apartment when he knocked off. We barely see each other and I can't say it hurts but it makes me feel so sad that he'd rather move out of his home rather than form at least a friendship with me but I'm not going to beg him. I'm a catch myself, and it's time I show him that I won't wait for him to make a move while there are plenty of fish in the sea.

"You look exquisite." Musawenkosi compliments me and swirls me around. I've grown fond of him. The only Zikhali that makes sense.

"Thank you. Are we leaving now? I just need to grab my bag."

"I'll hold it for you." He picks it up from the bed, and we interlock our arms as we walk downstairs. Mandlenkosi whistles when he sees me. He's just being too much because he thinks I look good in everything. Even when I'm not wearing anything. His words, not mine.

"Let's go," MK says, and we all follow him to his car that's parked outside while I laugh at Musa's jokes.

MK plays the old amapiano songs and even increases the volume so that nobody talks in the car. He's not a talker, and he doesn't even try. It's like he has a stick shoved down his aṣs. I feel sorry for the woman he's going to end up with.

We finally reach the club and walk straight to the VIP section. We find Muzi already partying with a bunch of girls to keep him company. One of those girls is sitting on his lap. Okay, I'm not feeling jealous.

"You can sit on my lap," Mandlenkosi whispers behind me. Maybe that won't be such a bad idea.

We all sit down, and I grab a cider before plopping on Mandlenkosi's lap. MK glares at me, silently telling me to get off, but I'm not going anywhere until that girl with a red mop of hair gets off Muzi.

"What the hell, man?" Muzi pushes off his girl and stands up. He pulls me off Mandlenkosi and drags me outside. This had become a habit of his.

"Let go of me. What is your problem, Muzikayise Zikhali? Do you have a problem with people showing interest in me?"

"He's my fuckin brother!"

"So what? I'm just a piece of furniture camping inside your room every night and you don't even make an effort to get to know me!" He starts laughing.

"You came inside my home with a mission and I'm supposed to fall in love with you? Forget it. You're a poisonous snake Ntandokayise Vilkazi." He must never. I chuckle.

"And I hate you." We both go our separate ways with me heading to the parking lot and him going back inside.

The parking lot is very dark but I never go anywhere without my gun so whoever tries anything with me, will get to know me very well. I'm not a damsel in distress, I'm the distress itself.

"Ntando?" Someone calls out behind me and I'm surprised to see Mr Mbhele.

"Hi. Didn't expect to see you here." He may like flirting but from what I heard, he's a family man with two kids the lastborn being a newborn. His wife might need him now more than ever.

"Why are you walking alone?" He walks closer to me. I could smell the alcohol on him. He's even holding a glass of Amarula.

"I'm going home." Muzi ruined my mood.

"I'll drop you off. Come." He points to his car but he reeks of alcohol and looks drunk. He may also be high with how red his eyes are. It's only 8 pm. For how long he's been drinking?

"It's fine. I'll call a cab."

"No, I insist. I can't let a pretty lady like you catch a cab while I'm available." He grabs my wrist and tries to pull me but I pull back my hand.

"Please refrain from touching me. I respect you because you're my boss at work but outside, we are strangers and I'm not getting in a car with a drunk stranger." I don't know what I've said that infuriated him but he threw his glass on a wall behind me. The action alone startled me with tiny pieces of glass piercing into my back, especially on my neck.

"Why do you always play hard to get? I know you want me. I've seen it in your eyes." He grabs my waist forcefully then the next thing he's lifting me.

"Let. Me. Go!" I scream but he unlocks his car and throws me in the backseat before getting inside. I open my bag and take out my gun and shoot him from the back twice, on his neck before he could even start the car. My gun has a silencer so it doesn't attract any attention but now the fact is, I have a dead body on my hands.

I've always shot people with my aunt and dad and I never had to clean up anything or dispose any body.

I move to the front seat to check his pulse and indeed he's dead. His phone rings from his pocket and the loudness of it makes me end up taking it out of his pocket to check the caller ID. It's his wife because the contact is saved as 'Wifey' with a picture of a woman and a little boy.

I switch off the phone but it requires a pin so I smash the screen with my gun until it switches off. I may not look like it but I'm panicking. My fingerprints are all over the car and I just can't leave because I'll get caught. I need to call my dad and aunt. They know how to dispose of a body very well.

My dad doesn't answer the phone call and my aunt's phone is out of reach. What am I going to do?

"Ntando?" A voice calls out from outside the car. It's Muzi. After he called me a snake he has the guts to call out to me like we are friends.

Before I could process anything he takes a peek through the car window and our eyes meet. He looks shocked to see me here and I'm terrified of his next action. How did he know I was inside this car because this parking lot is very dark?

@MillicentAmbrose note: How are you finding the novel so far?🫶🏾