YEARS LATER!
Im packing all of my belongings with a broken heart as I think of what awaits me. This was my last week in the school's residents , I had received a notice two weeks back right after my graduation. I know I could still apply for postgrads studies or something but funding will be a problem. Everything seemed to be spiraling out of control , I couldn't find an internship anywhere ; it's either they've already taken interns or they haven't started taking interns. If my mother's supposed family didn't come claiming my mom's house after her funeral then I would be returning to Nongoma. I'm practically stranded here and I have no one to turn too not even Kuhle.
My phone rings , I wipe my tears and swipe to accept the call. I clear my throat
Me : "Hello?" It's an unknown number.
Caller : "Good day ma'am. Am I speaking to Miss Mbatha?" I nod.
Me : "uhm yes." I say after sniffing as my hand holds on tightly on my mouth to suppress any sob that may escape my mouth. I'm so scared that it might be the dean telling me to move out and if I move out now then my plans will be ruined , I wasn't about to use my savings ; they were for something else I had planned for.
Caller : "You speaking to Mr Mbatha too here , are you okay?"
Me : "I'm fine thank you." I say after clearing my voice.
Mr Mbatha : "I'm from the Pinetown high Court , please meet me in Musgrave mall , at Spur."
Me : "Uhm i don't think I'll make it sir."
Mr Mbatha : "Why?"
Me : "I don't have any transport here."
Mr Mbatha : "I'll fetch you , send me your location pin." He hangs up. Okay so what do i do , this is a stranger but what do i have to loose? Oh yeah my life maybe? I don't care though. I send it to him and rummage through my luggage that was packed neatly. I option for sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt , some sneakers then I'm good.
My phone beeps and a message comes through
'I'm here'
it reads , I take my phone then lock my room and jog down the stairs to the front gate. A white VW polo is parked by the gate with tinted windows. My phone rings in my hand , I answer with my eyes glued on the car and my feet stuck by the end of the stairs.
Him : "That's my car you looking at , come." Then a man in a Black slim fit suit gets out of the car and waves at me. I walk to him slowly , he smiles warmly when I'm close.
Him : "Hi " I guess he noticed how uncomfortable I was when he retracts his hand back to him after he offered a handshake I didn't welcome.
Me : "Hi." I greet back lowly. He smiles and nods before going to the gate and speaks to the security on duty , they then come back together. He takes his phone out of his pocket and another one then hands them to the security , the security puts them in his pocket.
Him : "The security will keep both my personal and work phone with him until I bring you back. He's also gonna take pictures of me and my car." I nod. I mean that's the most sensible thing to do nowadays with the extremely high rate of kidnappings and GBV cases.
When the security man is done and instructs him to bring me back before six o'clock we get in his car and he drives off to Musgrave mall.
Him : "Lets go to Circus Circus." We walk there and we welcomed by a waiter
Waiter : "Table for two?"
Him : "Yes please." The waiter leads us to a table , we settle and look through the menu.
Him : "Know what you want?" He asks smiling a little pointing at the menu with his eyes.
Me : "Not really." Honestly I'm just scared cause I don't even have money.
Him : "Let me order for you , is that Okay?" I nod nonetheless. He places both our orders then turns to me.
Him : "You so grown now , I last remember you as a little girl , I think you were 10." I smile a little.
Me : "I don't know you." This man looks like a young man but when you really look at him , he looks older.
Him : "I am your mother's lawyer."
Me : "Oh." He nods
Him : "I'm sorry for only contacting you now , I had been out of the country for the past 6 years and I only got the news of your mother's passing when I arrived back in S.A. last week." I nod.
Me : "mh m"
Him : "I am your brother , your mother was a mother to me too. She made me promise to look after you when she leaves this world and to make sure you never suffer."
Me : "I never knew."
Him : "So there are many things that we need to talk about. Today we just gonna have lunch and I wanna know my little sister more. I know you not okay so tell me what's wrong?" I sigh as more tears drop.
Me : "I have to move out of Res by Friday but I have no plan or place to go to. My bursary cut me off two months back , I was unlucky with finding an internship or Learnership even a job. So I really don't know." I say.
Him : "I'm sorry for being late , I promise everything is gonna change from now on. I'm here now." I nod , whatever that means. We eat our lunch with him tryna cheer me up and getting to know me. His name is Lwando , 32 years of age and is engaged to be married. He grew up in an orphanage.
