Oyama: Her Story

CHAPTER 6

I stare at his phone number, it’s 3am. I press it.
It rings twice, “Hello” he answers, I keep quiet. It sounds like he was asleep, well given the fact it’s 3am. That should be given. Part of me was hoping he wouldn’t answer. I don’t know why? Maybe it’s, because I’m scared he might call me a whore.
“Oyama…” he calls.
“I just called,” I say.
I’m a bit emotional. Silence. I think about hanging up but I didn’t come all the way here to call him and hang up and go back.
I can hear him breathing, “I love you” he says softly.
I’m taken back. What am I supposed to say now? I didn’t expect him to say that. Why is he saying that? Tears start falling, from my face, “I’m here” I say.
“Did you hear…?”
“I’m here Qhawe, I’m in Gauteng”
It sounds like he’s shuffling out of bed, “Where?”
“I don’t just some road near a highway, there’s a Shell Garage, in front of me” I say.
“OK go to the Shell, ask to pour petrol, then ask the attendant where you are” he says.
“OK” I turn into the garage and do as he said. I move the car and head inside the shop.
I probably smell, it rings once, “Yes” he answers.
“He said Parktown” I say.
“OK” he says and hangs up.
I buy some snacks and sit in my car. What was the plan here? What is the plan here? I can’t tell Mxolisi, because he’ll kill Ayanda and I can’t let that happen because he has a child on the way. It starts drizzling, I didn’t even bring anything to wear, I should at least buy at least buy Colgate and a Toothbrush. I walk out and run into the shop, I grab a box of Colgate and a Tooth brush. Is that Ice Cream, I see? A Magnum nonetheless calling my name. Why, yes I will buy you little guy. I pick up 4 and walk to my car. A Black car comes speeding in. It starts slowing down when it reaches the petrol attendants, who give somewhat of a bow as it slowed towards me. I can see why they are bowing, the car that is speeding is a Bentley not any, Bentley too a Continental GT.

He steps out and walks towards me, he’s wearing black pajamas with slippers and a white shirt. That was really quick.
He looks at me and I look back at him, “What happened?” he asks. How does he know something happened?
He places his hands on my shoulder, “Talk to me” he says. Where do I start? I don’t know why I’m here, but I know I want to be here, with him.
I just wanna cry, my eyes start welling up, now it’s all coming out, “OK get in the car” he says walking me to his car.
“Give me your key” he says, I hand him my key and he locks my car and makes sure it’s locked. He gets in and reverses.
We start driving, he pulls out his phone, “Lee… meet me at my place, I’ll be there in 10” he says and hangs up. He continues to drive, the only thing making a sound is the constant frizzle of the Magnum ice creams. I open one and hand him another, he looks over and grabs it. We continue eating, while I snivel between bites. We keep driving in silence, I keep sneaking glances at him, he looks tired. Well again it is, 3am.

We are driving through Sandton, how do I know it’s Sandton? The building with Sandton City is right next to me. I thought he said he lived in Alexandra. So what are we doing in Snadton, we continue driving and end up on a street called Maude street. There’s a tall building in front of us. We drive underneath. When we reach inside, there’s a white man on a motorcycle. Qhawe parks, and he steps out. He talks to the man and walks back to me and opens my door. I look around and there’s the Rolls Royce he came in. The parking is written Q.Mahlatji. We walk to the elevator; he presses the top floor. The elevator moves up. It actually moves at an impressive speed. It stops, he pulls out a card and swipes, it opens. He steps out and holds out his hand. I grab it and he guides me forward. I look down and it’s a penthouse, with black tiles and a big balcony. We take a few steps and we are standing in the middle of the penthouse. I look to my left and their a White and Gray kitchen counters.
I look up at him, “Did you bring any bags?” he asks. 
“What you see is what you get” I say.
He nods, “You hungry? I can whip you up something really quickly.”
NO I’M NOT FUCKING HUNGRY.
I take a deep long breath, “Apologize” I say, he looks at me confused, “I’m not a whore” I say teary eyed, “Say I’m not a whore” I say breaking down. He stares at me, “Say it”
“You not a whore” he says softly.
“Now apologize” I say, he looks at me, I shove him, he stands still, “Say you’re sorry, please. Say you are sorry” I cry.
“I’m sorry” he says softly.
I fall onto his chest, and ball my eyes out, “Why did you leave me, Why did you fucking leave me!” I shout hitting his chest, he looks at me confused, “You just left me like some….” I shout in Xhosa.
“Your boyfriend was there” he says in a whisper.
“He’s not my boyfriend!” I shout, he looks at me like, he realized he made a huge mistake.
“You didn’t call! You didn’t do anything! You just left! You were lying, you lied that you wanted me! You lied!!…..” I start hitting his chest. He walks towards me; I take a few steps back. PTSD. He pulls me closer he just holds me, I cry into his chest and the more I cry the tighter he squeezes.
“I’m sorry…I’m sorry” he keeps apologizing.
“Why did you do this to me, I was fine before you” I shout, “Why did you make me love you?” I cry, but I’m not fighting his hug or comfort.
I’m mad at him, but he’s so gentle, “I’m sorry” he says again. My tall walls with anti-RPG capabilities have fallen, because of one man.
“He’s not my boyfriend, I haven’t been with a man since… He’s just a friend we work at the same hospital”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asks.
“Like you gave me a chance” I say.
I’m sitting now. I still feel a bit drowsy but at least I’m functioning again. I don’t know what happened there, I don’t have temper issues. I don’t know what got into me. He sit’s next to me. He stands up, comes back with bottled water and hands it to me.
“I missed you,” he says, I turn to look into his eyes, “Why didn’t you call?”
Why didn’t I?
“I don’t know, I thought you didn’t want me to call,” I say. I wanted to, but I didn’t. He shifts closer and puts his arm around my shoulders. I put my head on his chest, he looks down.
He leans in to kiss me, “I haven’t brushed my teeth” he smiles and kisses me the same way he did, the first time.

“Did I hurt you? On Saturday when I just left, were you hurt?” I ask. He clears his throat and squeezes my shoulder.
“Yes,” he says. What kind of man is this? He was supposed to say ‘no,’ so that I don’t feel bad. Doesn’t he know that?
“I didn’t mean to,” I say. I really didn’t mean to hurt him; I was just scared.
“When you left, the girls hosted a mini-gossip column about you and your family, they told me some things, I kept comparing you to him, because you are so similar, only difference you seem to be way richer” he chuckles, “And this isn’t Alexandra”.
“Alex is like a 5-minute drive from here” he says, he looks me deep in the eyes dropping his smile, he’s serious now, “I’m not him though”
I know, but the feeling can’t be shaken. We sit looking at the blank Mega TV in front of us. The elevator dings, he stands up and immediately I’m shaking.
I peep around the corner, it’s the white man from earlier, “It’s downstairs boss” he says.
“Thanks Lee, I owe you one” he says.
“I want a week off” he says smiling.
Qhawe chuckles, “You got it, see you tomorrow” he says and daps him up, for a white boy he’s got some soul in him. He walks back to me.
I walk to the open balcony and stand outside, “Is this your place?” I ask.
“Yes” he says standing behind me.
“A Penthouse in Sandton, but you crying for R400” I say, he laughs.
“I needed a reason to see you” he says, he holds his hand out, “Come, its late, let’s go to bed”

We start walking upstairs, “Which one is the Guest bedroom?” I ask, “I’ll sleep in there”.
“Why would you sleep in a guest bedroom?” he asks.
Because I’m a Guest duhhhh, “I’m a guest”
He pulls me closer, “Says who?” he asks.
ME DUMBASS, “Me” I say softly.
He looks me, up and down, “Not in my house you are not” he pulls me as we head up another flight of stairs, he opens the door. There’s a huge bed with pillars and a headboard, there’s a couch, TV and Balcony too. I’m not sleeping in here no ways, I turn around and he’s blocking the door.
He’s smiling again, “Can I please pass?” I ask.
“Be my girlfriend” he says.
I keep quiet, “I’m not moving until you answer me” he says.
“NO” I shake my head, when I step to the side he follows.
“You drove from PE, to make me apologize for something, you could’ve made me do on the phone?” he asks.
What is wrong with me?
“I’m not him, don’t think I’m him” he says gently, “Be my girlfriend”.
I stand there defeated, I walk to him and wrap my arms around his waist, “I need to use the bathroom,” I say.
“Let me call you Mogatsaka, for real this time” he says.
I look up at him, he’s not smiling, “Smile for me please” I say, he does so, I kiss him, “Can I please pass Myeni wam” a weight is lifted off me.
He starts chuckling, “Bathroom is through that door” he says. I look back, oh there is a door.
“I’ll sleep on the couch if you want?”
“NO” WHAT THE FUCK DID I JUST SAY.
“No take backs” he says and jumps on the bed.
I walk into the bathroom, and splash cold water on my face, my hands on the White Granite. I look at the mirror. He nearly had me today, he could’ve killed me if I didn’t realize that my spotlight was on, he would’ve killed Xolani as well. Enough of that, I walk out and he’s in bed already sleeping. I walk closer to the bed, he rolls over and opens for me to get in. I take off my Crocs and get in, I shuffle closer to him. He wraps his arms around me. I find comfort in hearing his heartbeat. It’s so gentle and calming. I have heard in families with a lot of money, they prefer arranged marriages, because it joins 2 powerful families. If they say he must marry another womea, Uzonya. I’m not leaving him, not again. This time if he leaves he must kill me, because I’m not going through this again.
“Go to sleep” he says. How did he know I’m still awake?