"Musa stop, please stop. I beg you. please spare my brother. He is not even retaliating back, please...". I grovel without knowing the reason behind Musa on top of Shudu and pounding his face. Musa is fuming with anger that all I can do is call out for mercy, I am scared, if I try to physically stop him, I might end up with a blow on my beautiful face. " Musa...please" my voice breaks with tears in my eyes. Musa then slowed down and get off the half-conscious body. He is heavy breathing and then a loud thump is heard on the ground. It's Musa. Hot tears just flowed down my cheeks. I wailed. Entourage surrounded us by the doorstep. I am helpless. Who do I help first? They are both precious to me.
************
" Thank you guys for helping me out" I show my gratitude to them. "We had to help, you would not have managed by yourself. I am sorry" Funi consoles me. "I have never seen Brian like this, this is the first" Lerato gives me a weary look like I am the cause of this mess. "Well...that's what happens when you move into a territory that ain't yours, you can't control the man" Lala retorts with a sense of pride and Lerato agrees with a curved smile. I give her an icy look, how dare she. I feel burning rage brews inside me. "Lala please do not push my buttons, this is not a time or place to start your pity and childish squabbles" I warn Lala. "What would you do? " Lala asks daringly. I release a scoff, this lady is behaving like the devil, stirring trouble where there's none. I turn to look at Funi who is looking at the guys pitifully. "Thank you. I think I will manage from here" I assure her. "Are you sure?... I can stay with you, I don't mind" asks Funi with concern.
"You can leave, we will manage" A quivering voice is heard. I lookup and Musa was sitted up on the bed. "Okay. get better guys" Funi and the girls take their queue and leave the room mumbling.
*******
"What do you think made them fight? Those two are tight. This comes as a surprise" Funi voices her anxious thoughts. "Funi...isn't it obvious. It's because of her" Lerato points out. "How? She called Shudu her brother. I doubt she is the cause" Funi protests Lerato's accusations. "More reason why she might be the cause. They fought when Shudu found out that Brian is now sleeping with her, his sister after breaking my heart" Lala plays the victim. Funi gazes at her with puzzlement. "What you said doesn't make sense, why would he sleep with her, if he knew they are related?" Funi poses a question and Lerato nods to the question. "Uhm...maybe he didn't know that Deya is his cousin's sister...argh!" Lala displays disgust on her face. she felt enraged. How can she touch Deya, if they are related, must she ass kiss her? No way she would do that. Deya is her worst foe and it doesn't matter where she stands, she can't take her man away from her. Yes, she slept with Shudu, but being Brian's girl is worth all the risks she's willing to take. Brian is mine. She thinks to herself.
" Then why was Brian the one giving blows to Shudu?" Funi asks with curiosity. "Isn't it obvious, Shudu is not a good fighter. He might have started the fight, but at the end, he was the one pounded" Lala burst a giggle. Funi looks at her suspiciously. "My gut feeling says it is about you and you are covering it up. Because your story doesn't add up. When Shudu arrived, he arrived in your room. Brian was not pleased to face him yesterday. Today they get in a fight. I think you called Shudu to talk his cousin out of the relationship he is having with Deya because you still want him. When Shudu talks Brian out of the relationship, he got mad because you cheated on him and his cousin is on your side..." Funi tries to analyse this crime scene. Lala was taken back by this storyline which was not entirely her intentions. "Who did you cheat with though...that he can't forgive you. I remember that one-time drunken night..." Funi's mind runs back to the past.
flashback
"I am sorry Brian" Lala is sobbing violently in Brian's arms. Brian snickers with tears in his eyes. "Why? Am I not enough? I give you all that you want. tell me why and I will think about us again" Brian replies in a flat drunken voice. "Is the sex" Lala replies in a shameful drunken voice. Brian grabs her and holds up her chin, stares into her eyes bewildered. His face turns into a smug and then he burst an evil laugh. How dare she? That is one department in which he ensures that he never gets comfortable so that she always receives the pleasure. "It is too much. I feel like you want me for sex only. it is good, but I want to feel loved without it. I feel like our relationship relies on it to survive" Lala continues with her protest, looking up at Brian with her sparkling and angelic eyes. My heart melts witnessing their love, even when they argue, they look so beautiful. Can I have that kind of love? "Why don't you say, honey...I Love you for you, sex is just the cherry on top." Brian caresses her face with love. "Do you forgive me?" Lala asks shameful of her atrocities to their beautiful love. "We will work it out" Brian caress Lala's face, but his eyes had low lying rage on the bottom of the eyelids. He is suppressing his anger for her. How sweet...This is real love.
"I mean he forgave you that night for flirting with Mulalo...After that, you guys did the three-month sex fasting to strengthen your relationship. You guys...were my ideal relationship goals #relationshipgoals" End Funi with her face reminiscing Brian and Lala's past relationship. "Oh well...it turned out that he was holding a grudge and when he could not breathe anymore. He dumped me" Lala explain her tragedy with a quivering voice, filled with emotions. Funi looks at her pitiful. Now she feels bad for revoking her hurt. "Sorry man. I am such a bad friend. let's leave the matter alone. it's not our business. as long you are not involved in that drama" Funi tries to comfort Lala. "Yah!" Lala goes in agreement with her. Deep inside Lala's heart brews a devious plan, no she won't leave it alone, Brian will be hers again and he will father her baby; and that brat Deya will go back to Giyani where she comes from. period!
**********
In Brian's room
The atmosphere is ice cold and tense, one could feel the fog in the room without having to ask a question. This mood makes me anxious and uncomfortable. Thinks Deya to herself. What can I do? I am the neutral party and I must try my best to maintain it and find out the truth of this matter. She bites her lower lip as she ponders how she can break the ice.
Brian is sitting on the floor with his legs up brushing his face with his arms wrapped around his legs. His eyes reddened from anger and hold back tears. I look at him pitiful and weary at the same time. Does he still love Lala that he wanted to kill his brother? Were his words ever true to me? I release a sigh.
I look at Shudu, lying on the bed like a corpse. His face is bruised and he looks like he is in pain. I wonder what did he say to provoke Brian. I thought Brian was a chilled person, but I was wrong. This is not the reunion with my brother I had pictured in my head, I am disappointed.
I take my seat next to Brian on the floor silently and quietly as possible. He turns his face towards me with teary eyes. "I am such a douche right now, I didn't mean to behave the way I did. I am sorry" He apologizes looking at me. Is he apologising to me or Shudu? "Do you hear that Shudu?" I softly call out Shudu who is lying on the bed. Waiting for correction from Brian, but he keeps his silence. Wow! Why are you making it hard to open up? just apologise to each other and life goes on. But Nah that's hard because your pride can carry the whole planet. I widen my eyes and pout. "Are you angry at me?" Brian asks innocently. I just give him an icy look, then again, it crosses my mind that I am the peacemaker and keeper. I pull a faint smile. "No...I am just in my head" I continue with my faint smile. I feel like I am drowning because of these guys. Darn it!
"I am sorry too. We cool?" Shudu pushes the words out of his mouth with a low vibrating voice. I look at Brian. He keeps his silence and keeps staring at me like I did something wrong. I feel uneasy. I touch my face like I am trying to remove something but only to feel my face. Oh, there's nothing. I move my tongue to feel my teeth, nothing is on my teeth. He tears a weak smile. I widen my eyes with a question. "There's nothing on your face. I am just admiring your beauty" He replies in a low and deep voice. He keeps his weak smile. Then he sniffs back his tears. Why is he getting emotional? Oh no, don't play that card. I am still waiting for answers, I am just trying to figure out a way to ask the question. Shudu sits up on the bed. Now it is my time.
I clear my throat to alert them that it's about to go down. Detective Bama is in place now. Alert! Alert! I smile to myself. that's funny. "So...." I get cut before I can finish my sentence.
"He punched me first" Shudu defends himself
"You provoked me" Brian justify his actions innocently
"You wanted the truth...and before I could say a thing, bro you came at me. That's not cool. I love my face. I am a brand...now how am I going to do my photo shoot tomorrow. Arg! I am mad at you bro right now. very mad. I lost a chance to earn extra bucks" Explain Shudu.
"You forgot the ladies, a chance to flirt around. At least I saved you from impregnating the third one" Mocks Brian
"I am careful...you know that" Shudu defends his case.
"Not enough, that you went into my ex and gave her a child" Brian voice rises with a deep and husky tone. He is becoming angry. I should...
"That child is not mine. I only acknowledge one, the one I am expecting with Maya" Shudu confidently says his mind.
"Oh like Father like son, is it mother like son. That's how they never acknowledged Bama as your sister? It runs in your veins bro, the unloyal kind" Brain drops the bomb and the room's atmosphere changed from solemn to angry.
"I get you mad. But mom and dad are not part of this. Don't act like yours are saints, at least my mom was faithful and married, my uncle found your mom and pitied her, a single woman with kids from different dads. I bet you don't even know who your father is. So don't shame my family" Shudu throws a nuclear bomb at Brian. Okay....this is getting very quick.
Brian snickers "I wonder how many kids did your father have? At least my mom tried to work things, that's how she is still with your uncle and there's love and loyalty. But your parents never had that taste. nonetheless, you are right your parents are not part of this yet" Brian snickers. Shudu is astonished and angry. What did Brian do?
" So please answer those questions I asked, I am calm now, plus I won't dare try to touch My lover's brother in front of her. I will show you some respect which you don't deserve" Brian lay back his back against the bedside. Shudu is low key fuming and holding his anger in. He keeps his silence avoiding taking part any further in this conversation.
A phone chimes. Followed by audible voices outside the door. A thump on the door is heard. "Brian it's Auntie" My heart froze. Is that Shudu's mom? I squeeze my eyes shut and do a silent prayer. Who am I in this situation? I am not ready and I bet she's not ready to meet the remainder of her husband's fatal mistake. How will she react? My body betrays me and sent out a chill of shivers. Brian gives me a concerned look "Are you okay?" Shudu rolls his eyes. "Bro when did you become this heartless. now you are ratting me out to my mom?" Shudu looks at Brian disappointed and disgusted by his cousin's actions.
"Musa! " His aunt calls out again. "I am with your dad" After hearing that sentence, Brian gets off onto his feet and lead to the door. He opens the door and greet his aunt with a respectful nod and stand by the door. They chat a bit. Brian calls out Shudu. Shudu drags himself out of the room with a bruised and gloomy face. On his way, I hop to the bed hiding from Shudu's mom.
Shudu's mom exclaims in horror when she sees her sweet baby in bruises and scolds Brian for putting his hands on her son. "Oh, sweety look at your face. My only son, you want to destroy the only thing I have of Edward with me. When did you become barbaric? Is it a girl? " She looks at the boys sceptical. They keep their guilty silence, there's nothing to argue. I hear a manly voice asking Auntie to keep calm and they will sort this out at home. Auntie demands Brian to leave with them, but he begs to remain behind.
"Why not? it's obvious that whatever erupted this conflict is a huge matter that you two are failing to solve" Auntie further explain and a manly voice is heard agreeing with her.
"Mom sister Deya Bama is here"