Oyama: Her Story

CHAPTER 73

We reach Brooklyn Mall and walk inside. I kiss her temple, my arm around her, “You wanna know something?” She nods, I lean down into her ear, “I love the way you make me feel”
“How do I make you feel?” she asks.
“Like I won myself a trophy” I admit.
Asemahle laughs softly, her cheeks glowing as she tucks a braid behind her ear.
"You're so smooth, Keabetswe. I swear, it's dangerous."
"I mean every word," I say, tightening my arm around her, "You're my peace, Ase. When I'm with you, everything feels... lighter." She looks up at me, her eyes searching mine, and for a moment, the noise of the mall fades into the background.
"You make me feel safe," she says softly, "Even when you're acting all mysterious and dodgy."
I chuckle, leaning down to kiss her forehead, "That's because I got you, no matter what. Now, what are we eating? Spur ribs or that massive burger you always finish but swear you're too full for dessert after?" She nudges me playfully.
"Don’t act like you don’t eat half of my fries, Kea. Let’s just call it even."
We walk hand-in-hand into Spur, the smell of grilled meat and sizzling onions wafting through the air. A waiter leads us to a booth near the window, and I pull her chair out for her before sitting across from her.
She looks at me suspiciously, a small smirk on her lips, "What now?"
"You’re too charming," she said, shaking her head, "It’s like you’re trying to distract me from something."
I raise an eyebrow. "Distract you? From what?" She leans back in her chair, arms crossed. "You’re always dodging questions about what you’re up to when you’re not with me."

“Can’t I be a bit mysterious?” I ask smiling.
“I guess you can” she smiles.
I smile back.
Our waiter takes our order and we head into a conversation, she’s talking about why she wants to be a Corporate Lawyer, she’s really just doing it for the money. I love that she’s honest about and isn’t hiding it at all. I’m just dotting on her as she’s talking. I smile when she mentions having kids, she wants to have 2, a boy and a girl. I wanna have 4, I don’t care the gender, but the first one has to be a boy so he can protect the others at all times. We are having our dinner and she’s making me laugh.
What woman can make me laugh?
Its not even a cordial laugh, nahh it’s a full on laugh. She’s actually funny. Someone taps my shoulder.
SHIT!!
“Kea” said my little brother Tshepisho, my breath freezes. I haven’t seen him since I was in grade 8, before his father kicked me out.
“Sorry” I say.
“Your my older brother right?” he asks.
“Sorry young man you have the wrong person” I say keeping my face calm.
In the front, I see a white man stand up and reach into his jacket. I raise my hand softly, that’s one of James’ guards I’m guessing? He’s the one looking out for me.
“I have… I mean I had an older brother who looked just like you” he says.
“Sorry, you have the wrong person” I say.
Asemahle looks at me and the boy, she wants to say something but keeps quiet.
“You sure, you look just like him” he said.
“I’m positive, I have 3 brothers” I say.
He nods, “Sorry for the confusion” he apologies.
I nod and he walks off, “Kea…” I raise my hand cutting her off. I call a waiter and order some Buffalo wings for the road and pay the bill.

When we get home we head to separate areas, she heads upstairs and I stay downstairs and play a few minutes of Call of Duty, before I head upstairs and walk into a dark room, the lights off, but she’s not asleep, she’s scrolling on her phone. I walk into the room and turn on the light, she looks at me, and back to her phone.
I clear my throat, she looks at me, and clears her throat and makes a sassy face.
“I’m guessing you wanna talk about who that was?” I ask, she looks at me for a split second and back to her phone, “Put the phone down” I say.
She looks at me and I stare at her until she does so, “My father kicked me out when I was 14, Lucas’ mother took me in until she passed away when I was 16” I say, her expression changes. “Kea I didn’t…”
I raise my hand again, there’s no need to get sentimental, “Its fine,” I say, “Lucas’ mother is my mother, Lucas, Thapelo and Mandla we may not share blood, but they are my brothers not that kid, yeah we share blood but we not brothers” I take as step forward, “Now I need to know, as your man, will that be enough to let this go? Because I’m not gonna go deeper than that” Asemahle’s face softens, but there’s a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. She sits up, crossing her legs under the oversized tee she’s wearing.
“I hear you, Kea,” she said, her voice quiet but steady, “And I respect your boundaries. But…” She pauses, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt, “It’s not about going deeper. It’s about understanding who you are, because I care about you. I’m not asking for details to pry—I just want to know the things that make you, you.”