Church Chronicles: Part 2

Five: Broken Pieces

When I realized that I've really lost him to Yandisa, I started stalking him. I think my mind knew that I've lost, but my heart was too attached... Or the other way round but, I started stalking him. I wanted proof, and I got it on a silver platter when I "accidentally" bumped onto them having dinner by the beach. I could tell, in fact any sane person would take a look at them and know that they were on a date, not a meeting.

"Molweni," I said with a sneaky smile, knowing fully well that I caught them red-handed. They both lifted their heads to my attention and Yandisa smiled getting up to hug me. We hugged then she sat back down

"You guys look cozy up in here," I said with a chuckle.

"The weather demands so," Yandi responded with a laugh and I joined her., "You look good, better than the last time I saw you" she added.

"I feel better yazi"

"Queenstown treating you good I see?"

"Yes, oh my God they are such kind people"

We continued with our conversation and Mike just decided to be quiet and pretend like he didn't know me. Well until I directed the conversation to him...

"Mfundisi, unqabile"

"Mh, ku busy mtshana, you know how demanding the ministry is"

"Ministry you say?"

"Yeah hey,"

I smiled, he was taking me for a fool.

"It was good seeing you guys, let me leave y'all to enjoy your date"

"Date?", Yandisa asked surprised. Or acting surprised.

"Yeah... Isn't this what that is?"

"Haha, so... you think we're on a date?"

"Didn't you hear when he said we looked cozy? That's what he meant even then", Mike answered.

"Oooh really?", Yandi looked at me with a quizzical face smothered with a smile "Wait, you think Pastor Mike and I... ?"

"Well...?" I asked without even finishing the sentence and they both burst out in tears, laughing at me. I felt stupid, and in my mind, I had so many "what ifs" but I gracefully walked away from them and decided that moment that I'd walk away from him and everything he touches, that very moment.

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I rocked up at church wearing one of his t-shirts that he had left at my place some time ago, did he care? After church, he just came to shake my hand and said "it looks good on you, I wonder why it took you so long to actually wear it" with a stupid smug across his face. I smiled and responded, "well I thought your wife would finally realize that it's not at home, and send you looking for it... Look at her, I think she recognizes it." He laughed and called her towards us,

"Baby, look at how nicely this tee fits on him," he said.

"It really does, and I've been wondering where it disappeared to. I hadn't seen it in a while."

"I gave it to him a while back, I knew it would look great on him. Maybe we should add a pair of jeans yazi baby?" I couldn't believe my ears, he literally made me a charity case, right in front of my eyes.

She agreed that she would send me money to buy jeans that matched with that t-shirt, then she left us talking. I folded my arms across my chest and looked at him, I felt a bit of anger creeping in.

"And that?" I demanded.

"That, my dear son is how I deal with snitches. You thought you wearing my t-shirt would ruffle up some feathers? Really?"

"Why are you making me look like your charity case?"

"Well that's what you will be if you keep rocking up wearing my clothes," he laughed.

"You're evil," I spat.

"Really now?" he raised a brow.

I felt defeated yazi...

"Why are you doing this?" I asked.

"You seem to be losing your position Lakhe, I'm a married man in case you had forgotten about that. I love my wife very much, I might be giving you attention every now and then but I love my wife very much so whenever you feel like your want to explore on your mischievous side, re-think my dear. Re-think, because it will never end well... Oh, and smile, you're drawing attention to us with that face, "

With that, he winked and walked over to Mam'Hlangu who was making her way to us. At the far end of the church, I saw Mam'Sihlaba looking at me and shaking her head. I quickly grabbed my bag and walked out before my heart started failing me again. But as I neared the bus stop, Mam'Sihlaba was right behind me

"Mandi?"

I sighed and stopped, waited for her to reach me then we walked together.

"What's going on ngoku?" she asked, with a bit of sincerity.

"Nothing mama,"

"Mandilakhe?"

I sighed.

"You know you can talk to me right, about anything?"

"Yes, I know that... I just... I don't think talking about it will help in any way,"

"Okay..."

She walked me up to the bus stop and we waited in silence before I burst out, babbling.

"He made me look like a charity case in front of his wife... Like, could he be any cruel? Why would he do such a thing? As if ndisokola elohlobo mama?"

"Is it about this t-shirt?"

"Whoah, you know this t-shirt?"

"Yes, Mam'Hlangu's daughter bought it for him on his birthday two years ago, and besides, sometimes they do their laundry at my house so I do know quite a few of his clothing items."

"Yho!"

"Why did you wear it here?"

"I don't know..."

"Were you hoping for a reaction?"

"Andiyazi mama yazi, maybe. Andikho sure wethu ba bendisenzani at all"

"You have a good head on your shoulders Mandilakhe, stop what you're doing before you get messed up. You and I both know that this will not end well if you keep at it, he will always choose his wife over you and anyone else for that matter so walk away mntanam. Walk away while you still can,"

I took a deep breath and nod, a taxi stopped in front of us so she hugged me and watched the taxi until it disappeared. I had to walk away... I had to find strength and pray for the grace to walk away.

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