"I am busy" He tries to close the door.
"Please… I am desperate that's why I came" the other begs. Musa releases a heavy sigh.
"I am not alone" Musa replies in a heavy deep tone with a frown. Then silence fills the atmosphere. "Give me two minutes". Musa closes the room.
He looks at my nude body and bit his lower lip.
"Sweet can you dress up quickly. You can take my nightgown on that wardrobe" He points out. I quickly went for the nightgown. Cover me and pick up our scattered clothes on the floor. I throw the clothes into his laundry basket. And he looks at me startled at my unthoughtful actions. I signal to him that it's all good. I sit on the semi-fixed bed like an innocent child.
Musa opens the door and steps back. His cousin comes in. My chest tightens up. I know this guy. He is….my, my half brother. He is the one who came to deliver the news about my inclusion on the will when his mother and his other family members hated the thought of talking to my mom and delivering the news. What they wished for was for me not to get a penny since I was born out of wedlock and a result of an unfaithful man to his wife.
He looks at me with recognition then he becomes baffled. He scoffs and Musa's face grows dark.
"Don't be mad cuz. I am just surprised that your new flavour is my half-sister" He drops the bomb in the room.
Did he just say I am a new flavour, that's an insult from a half brother? What kind of a brother is he.
Musa looks at me stunned and motionless.
"So you are practically smashing your cuz. Wow! Who have thought Mr goodie shoes would do such a crime" He puts fuel in the fire.
"I did not know" Musa defends himself. He walks to the bed and settles himself. He points the chair out for his cousin to sit.
"It does not matter, we are not of the same name after all" He snuggles up to me. His cousin gags.
"At least you won't fuck this one" Musa gives an evil smile.
"How are you, sis?" He changes the subject.
"let me introduce you nonetheless. Deya this Mashudu Mulaudzi, well cuz meet Deya Bama. Deya meet me, Musa Brian Mala" He fakes a straight line smile. I give a weary look.
"You are bad at acting, but your effort will be rewarded" I smirk and his eyes glisten with anticipation and dirty desires.
"Can I get it now? I can chase my cousin away" I blush. He is a crazy one. Mashudu sighs showing his uncomfortably.
"Can we talk?" Mashudu initiates the conversation.
"I don't want to" Musa bluntly replies
"Can I sleepover? Please… I can't go home tonight. It's messy at home" he pleads
"Not my fault, you messed up". I give Musa a reprimanding look and he shrugs his shoulders innocently.
"You can sleep in my room….." I suggest. Musa gives me an evil look.
"that's a good idea," Mashudu say jolly.
"NO!" Musa harshly objects to the idea.
"He is my brother after all" I convince Musa
"Family is more important than boyfriends" Mashudu presses on the matter. Musa gives him a dark disappointed look.
"You rather be in mine" he replies with hesitation. Mashudu grins. Musa rolls his eyes.
"I hope you ate because you were not included in the food". He stands up and picks up the food in the plastic bag and doggy bag. He then looks at me with unspoken words that he needs me to give them space so I can leave with the food to my room. I get up on the bed and head for the food. When I am holding the food about to open the door. He grabs my hand and says "I won't be long". He stares into my eyes with assurance. I smile in agreement and walk out.
************
I can feel the tension in the room. I wonder what is it about that Musa doesn't want to talk about. I am a little bit stunned that my half brother is responsible for Musa's heartbreak. My brother does not look like the player type, funny that Musa looks like the player type. Indeed you can't judge the book by its cover, it is deceiving. When Shudu aka Mashudu, I am going to call him Shudu from now on.
When he came to our house 3 years ago he seemed like a good guy, gentle and humble; with a sense of humour. He was respectful towards my mom and tried to keep tabs on me through the phone till it died last year, losing contact with him. I never thought we would cross paths again, especially this way.
Thinking about it, it is messed up. He's cousin with my potential lover or should I honestly say with the guy I have fallen for after Cavin. Oh, Cavin…I need to talk to him. What will I tell him though? Uhm…I am sorry I can't do this anymore, why? Because… I don't think this is working. Will he buy that though? Is it even wise to leave him for a messy situation? Musa is a messy situation, this entanglement between him, Shudu and Lala; am I ready for this. What if the baby turns out to be his, what happens? I know he said that he is over her, but nothing is guaranteed, we are not even in a relationship, we are in an entanglement. I release a heavy sigh.
"Why are you sighing? the intercourse was not good enough? Oh that's disappointing". Vexation starts fuming inside me. What's wrong with this woman. Can't she leave me alone, I don't want to get involved in stupid conflicts over a man.
She gives me a daring look. "It's personal issues" I avoid her question and try to walk away. She follows me slowly behind my back.
"I wonder what they are talking about in there, don't you wonder?" she initiates a conversation.
"No, I don't wonder. I don't have a reason to" I low key throw a shade at her. I hope she gets the message.
"Oh. How nice it is to be you. I am sorry about earlier, dropping the baby bomb on your face. But it's better to know about our baby now than later. I guess you now understand why I am adamant about wanting him to be mine. A kid deserves both parents" she releases a provocative sigh. This girl is testing my waters, she will drown.
"Oh. Okay," I answer lazily, holding myself from saying nasty things to her.
"I am glad you understand. So I guess. From now on you won't be wearing his nightgown walking around as you own him because he's mine" she gives a certain evil smirk.
I stop by my door. Open the door. Turn around and look at her pitiful.
"If he's yours, then why am I the one grinding on him right now". I smirk and close the door leaving her standing there and dejected. I hope that these words pierced into her heart and she will stop picking a fight with me from now on.
*********
Musa closes the door. "Dude! I thought we had each other's back" Shudu disapprovingly points out. "Back then…. Till you fucked the woman I loved, not once but countless times in a fucking month. All you needed was a month to ruin my relationship. I loved her. She was not random, but I guess you didn't respect my boundaries so why should I respect yours? Why should I protect you anymore? " Musa relieves the pent up energy on his chest. He releases a heavy sigh. His eyes reddened at the thought of this betrayal but his cousin, who he took as his brother and best friend. They grew up together in the same household. They were tight. He never thought Shudu would stab him behind his back like that, not him out of all people in his life.
"I know I wronged you, man. And I am utterly sorry for that. I can't give you an excuse for my reckless behaviour. But I did tell you the whole story. That your girl seduced me and I failed to control myself. I am sorry for that ". He explains himself with a pitiful face creating feelings of catharsis in the room. Shudu pauses and takes a deep breath. "but you can't say the baby is mine while we are not sure". He pleads his case.
Musa releases a scoff. "So you want me to say the baby is mine… knowingly that month you were busy exploring each other, I was keeping my promise to her, of being a celibate for few months. Dude! The both of you are screwed up. I am surprised you have the guts to show up at my door and whine that you are not guilty. It's about time you learn what responsibility is. I am not cleaning up after you. You are on your own". Musa's face hardened and become cold.
"Dude I can't take the fall….Maya is expecting" Shudu pleads his case. Musa looks stunned, then his face turns cold and he burst out an evil cold laugh realising what his cousin was asking him to do. Is he mad? Asking him to carry a burden that's not his to carry, plus he does not want Deya to go through this trauma, it's unnecessary. "I won't do it" Musa concludes.
"OK… let's do a paternity test" Shudu suggest with a disappointed face.
"let's do it. I want peace in my life" his eyes grew more dark and cold.
"Thank you. If the child is yours what will you do?" Shudu persists and convinces himself that the child is not his, but Musa's. He's not ready to be a father of two, neither have any relation with Lala, it was a mistake that should have stopped on day one. A mistake that he should not have made.
"The child is not mine, so I am not thinking of what-ifs. Are we done?" He is now fed up, he can't stand him anymore. All he sees right now when he looks at his cousin, a cheater and a betrayer, a liar, a man who does not respect Bro code. He gets off the bed and leaves his room without saying goodbye. He slams the door and walks towards Deya's room.
While walking he is thinking to himself, that indeed no one is to be trusted in life. He can't believe that sweet Deya is related to that lying and cunning brother of his. He can't believe he is convincing him to take the fall to save his relationship with Maya, whose fault is it that he can't keep himself to himself and his woman only. He sneers at the thought of it. You remain loyal and the ones you are being loyal to, go behind your back and cheat on you. He tried his best to be a good lover to Lala. He was understanding, supportive and available to her all the time she needed him. He made her his lover and best friend. He wanted to have a future with her. He thinks to himself some people are just never satisfied.
He knocks at Deya's door. She opens the door with a slit light silky short nightgown and a warm smile. All the weight in his heart eased and he felt light as a feather now. His eyes sparkle with passion. He gets in and pushes the door with his leg to close. He grabs her rounded waist and pulls her closer. He gives her a passionate kiss.
"I know it's too early for this. But I love you too… and more". Deya melts upon hearing these words. They embrace each other with a passionate hug. Whatever situation is, he is not going to give up on her as he did with Lala
*************
"Did it work?" the phone chimes and Mashudu releases a heavy sigh. His mood turns sour.
"No" he replies
"let's move to plan B" the sender replies
"Plan B is too cruel, I can't plot that against my cousin. He's my brother " He pleads
"He hates your guts. You got nothing to lose" the sender replies. Shudu growls. Darn it! What did I get myself into? Is this trouble worth protecting Maya? Maybe I should come clean to Maya... And soon enough tell my family there's another grandchild on the way. Oh, my parents will be disappointed in me. I pray that they do not disown me. All I do lately is bring shame to their prestigious reputation in the community. My mom works hard at maintaining that status thus why all of her children have to be mannered and disciplined. The thought of his family sends a huge pain on his forehand. I think I am coming down with a headache.
Phone chimes. "Are you alone? ". Is this an invitation? Resist Shudu, it's a temptation that will brew more trouble for you.
"Good night. I will text you with the progress. Ready yourself for a paternity test" He sends the message and switches off his phone. He lies on the bed and dozes off.
*cuz is a shortcut for cousin