When You're Bound To Love

Chapter 196

SPHO**

I'm pacing the floors clean. Chris has been in his bedroom quietly still and it made me even angrier. I went to check on him and he was still playing with his truck. Lakhe arrived and I closed the bedroom door. I wanted to smack Masilakhe so bad and I hate that I have to resort to that. I am not violent. Spho: "What is your fucking problem!?" I whisper yelled. Lakhe: "What are you talking about Spho?" Spho: "Oh now you're clueless?" Lakhe: "I thought you were talking about Sandile." Spho: "I'm talking about Christian. Why would you tell him to take off his nail polish?" Lakhe: "What nail polish?" Spho: "Please don't piss me off more than you have." Lakhe: "I'm not trying to. He has nail polish?" Spho: "Are you telling me you don't know that Christian has his finger nails painted? Do you not dress him?" Lakhe: "I do dress him. I didn't notice his nails. Where is he? Chris!" He yelled. Spho: "Don't you dare intimidate my child!" Lakhe: "I want to see his nails. I don't know what you're talking about Spho." Chris came out of his room with Mr Courage. Chris: "Hello daddy." Lakhe: "Hello Chrissie cakes. Mommy says you have polish and you didn't show me." He squats down to him. Chris: "I want to take it off." Lakhe: "Why? Is it something I said?" Chris: "No, daddy." Spho: "What happened sweetheart, please tell me."  Chris: "They laughed and said it's for girls." He sobbed. Lakhe: "Who." He hissed. Chris: "The others. At Tata Luks house." Lakhe picked him up from the floor hugging him. Lakhe: "Tell your boyfriend to get here." His eyes switched to black. Spho: "Lakh-" Lakhe: "No. You don't get to calm down now. Call him here or I'll go to his house and burn it down." I take my phone dialling for Lukhanyo. Luks: "Hi baby. Can I come now?" Spho: "Yes. Please come over. We have to talk about something." Luks: "That doesn't sound good." Spho: "It's not, Lukhanyo. I'll see you when you're here." I hung up. Lakhe rocked Chris in his arms, rubbing his back. Lakhe: "I'm sorry, baby. I like your nails. They look nice." Chris: "Boys don't wear pink nails." He hiccuped. Lakhe: "Says who? Anyone can wear whatever they want, Chrissie." Chris: "But they laughed. They say I'm weird." Lakhe looked at me with venomous eyes. My heart was broken too. I didn't protect my child and he hid himself instead of come tell. I felt horrible. Lakhe: "You're not weird, my son. You're a Sobekwa. They're jealous they cannot be as smart and cool as you are. What did Julie say about your nails?" Chris: "She likes them." Lakhe: "Exactly. And Julie is the smartest person we know. She's never wrong. Is she ever wrong?" Chris: "No. It's infuriating." Lakhe: "You know the word infuriating?" Chris: "Yes, she taught me." He sighed. The engine roared outside, Lakhe handed me Chris. Spho: "Lakhe please. Not in front of the child." Lakhe: "I'm offended that you think I would expose my child to violence when he is the one constantly doing so and you turn a blind eye! Constantly! This is not even about us anymore but good God Sphosenkosi what must first happen before you realize the danger this person brings in our kids' lives?" Lukhanyo walked in. Luks: "Good afternoon, I guess." Lakhe folded his arms staring at him. Spho: "Hello Lukhanyo." Luks: "What's going on?" He looked at Lakhe. Is he asking him? Lakhe: "What the hell do you teach your children?" Luks: "Excuse me?" Lakhe: "I didn't stutter." Spho: "Can I speak? I want us to have a calm conversation-" Lakhe: "Calm? My child was bullied for God knows how long and you want me to be calm?!" Luks: "Bullied? Where?" Lakhe: "In your house Lukhanyo. Again, what do you teach your children?!" Luks: "Spho." I was too hurt to speak. Spho: "Your children laughed at Christian's nails because he had them painted. What did they say to you, baby?" Chris: "They said I was weird and that it's for girls. Then they laughed and said I was confused about myself, I must decide if I want to be a girl. The girls said they'll give me a dress." I stared at Lukhanyo. Luks: "I am so sorry." He breathed. Luks: "I don't know where they would learn that behaviour. It is horrible. Chris, I am very sorry." Lakhe: "Well, it's too late now. They've broken his spirit. He hid and kept quiet for days until his mother had to dig this out of him. Do you want my child to hurt himself Lukhanyo?" Luks: "No, Lakhe. I'm sorry. I'm going to fix this." He knelt in front of me, kissing Chris' cheek. Luks: "I'm very sorry, little one. I promise you I will correct that behaviour immediately. You have beautiful nails. You're kind, you're brave and you're a happy boy. I'm going to call you later okay?" Chris: "Okay." Luks: "I'm sorry Spho." I nodded. He stood up. Luks: "Please excuse me." He walked out, driving off. Lakhe: "I'm sorry I lost my cool." He paced the lounge. I looked at my son, wishing I could erase the hurt he's been holding in. Lakhe: "I should have noticed. I didn't. I thought he was just biting his nails because of a new habit. All along he's trying to scratch the polish off with his teeth. I'm sorry Spho." Spho: "I also didn't notice Lakhe. I should have realized he was withdrawn the day we left that house. I didn't even spend time with him, I just let Sibulele take him to you and started my work." Lakhe: "Buddy, I'm sorry okay?" Chris: "It's okay daddy." Lakhe: "Do you still have it? The polish?" Spho: "Not the exact one. I have red." He looked bored with me. Lakhe: "Fine. Can you please get it?"  I placed Chris on the couch and went to fetch the polish. Why does Lakhe want to reapply this on Chris? I would just remove it honestly. I brought the cotton and remover as well. Lakhe: "How does it work? Can you show me Chris?" Spho: "What are you doing?" Lakhe: "I asked for him, I have no choice." He sighed. What is he saying? Spho: "Asked for him how? What are you talking about?" Lakhe: "I asked to have him as our own, Spho. So whatever he wants, he will get. I will never let my child walk around feeling different like he has no dad that loves him." He gave the lid brush to Chris and held out his hand. Chris painted his nails red. I folded my arms, holding back a laugh. Masilakhe Sobekwa? A whole CEO will have red nails? I kept my mouth quiet and let them be. Lakhe: "Sandile is going to be so jealous. Spho how does it dry?" Spho: "Just let it be or blow on it." He blew on it. Lakhe: "Okay but my hands have never looked so cool. Look?" Spho: "I'm almost jealous." He laughed. I could hear Lam wake up. I went to fetch him from bed, watching him stretch out his body and smile. Spho: "You had a good nap baby? Is that a smile? Come see what your dad and brother are doing." We walked out to the lounge.