The phone crimes. He opens his eyes and reaches for the phone. He reads the message.
"I am taking this time to apologise through this text because I am failing to do it face to face. I have been wanting to share with you this, but something kept on holding me back. I didn't want to hurt you, but I guess I ended up doing it. I am sorry man. I am to blame for the fall of our brotherhood by betraying you when I found out that Lala was your woman, I should have respected you, I sincerely apologise for that part. But there's more to the story than what you think you know. This might open your eyes to this whole situation and hopefully find it in your heart to forgive me...
2013
" Come on Shudu, strike a better pose. Be free and blend in with nature" Instructs the photographer snapping pictures of a man dressing a matching summer colourful baggy shorts and t-shirt barefooted sitting on the big rock near the river. The surrounding of the photoshoot is verdant, natural with water falling into the river creating a beautiful harmonising song with the birds chirping. "One last one and you change the outfit. Oh yes! that is a good one" comment the photographer with delight. The modelling man moves from the rocky area at the command of the photographer letting the other male and female models get their chance too. His eyes are glued at the girl who is covering herself with a purplish bikini sarong. She looks beautiful in his eyes. What a gem! He wonders to himself and snickers. He walks away and heads to the changing camp room to change into a bikini brief. He walks out wearing board shorts to cover up.
"Mulaudzi why are you on that? I want to see the bikini brief. Hey you! lady in a purple sarong partner up with Shudu. hurry!" the director of the photoshoot is calling people and hailing his hand gestures at everyone to get in position. The girl in a purplish sarong follows Shudu from behind. Shudu leaps in his toe at the still river water and winces in hesitation. He puts in his leg and the water cools him down from the scorching heat, a perfect combination. The girl next to him watch him get inside the water, with the sun shining on him, it made him more handsome. He invites the nervous girl into the water to swim towards the rock by the waterfall. The photographer is watching the scene unroll impatiently by continuously looking at his wristwatch and the models.
They finally get on the spot and start posing for pictures like lovers. Everyone could sense their chemistry. Everyone mocked in devious eyes at the looks they were giving each other, where their hands were touching each other. When they finally finished the photoshoot, Shudu rushed to the girl before he misses his chance. This could be his soul mate, the mother of his kids.
"Hey! " He hails at her in a distance. "Hi!" She faces the voice that calls for her in delight. So she was not wrong with the steaming looks they gave each other, they had a motive behind them. "Lala hurry, it's late. We gotta go" A lady's voice calls out to her. "It's forward of me, but I would love for us to keep in contact. " Shudu gets straightforward with his motive. "I don't have a phone with me" the girl replies innocently. "Give me yours" He insists. "079 567 0000" the girl runs towards the moving car after hurriedly giving out her contact to him. The flash screen of his phone display saved a contact named Sweet La. He smiles to himself.
*
He types "hey there" and send the text. He leaves the phone in his bedroom and head to the kitchen where his cousin was with a laptop bag. "Bro I tell you she is super hot. she's more than a snack, she's a whole meal" He brags to his cousin while handing over the bag. His cousin grabs the bag with disinterest in his conversation. "Okay. Just be careful not to screw it up. Bye!" He turns showing him his back and leave. He shakes his head. His cousin is a bummer and acts all grown up like a married man. He needs to loosen up and have fun. He fills water in a glass and heads to his bedroom.
His phones buzz as he gets in the room. His face relieves a sinister smirk. He reads the message. He types "It's the bikini brief guy. Shudu is my name. I am glad these numbers work. awkward laughing emoji" he sends the text. phone chimes. He bites his lower lip. "Oh, I never doubted you...is just you ladies have created a rep of giving wrong numbers. I am relived" He sends. the phone buzzes again and again for hours till he dozes off on the bed with the phone in his hand.
*
Weeks later
He takes a deep inhale and start typing the message
"Hey, Sweet La. It's been weeks, I can't wait any longer. I have a confession. From the first day, I saw you, I saw more than friendship. I Love you. let's be more than friends"
phone chimes
That was quick, he wonders to himself with anxiety.
"Hey Mr S. let me think about this for a minute"
He hears a knock by the kitchen backdoor. It has to be his cousin. The door opens and a man walks in. His cousin settles on the chair comfortably and they start conversing. The phone chimes.
"I am sorry I don't love you, but we can still be friends" He gaped in surprise. He was sure that she was feeling the same way as he. The smiles and flirtation. Ladies can surprise you. "She said she does not love me" He lets out the sad news with a disappointed face. His cousin instead of comforting him laughs at him. "I told you it's too soon, but didn't listen" Snickers his cousin in delight being right.
2015
At Migeroni cafe
Thundering sounds of music overwhelming the ongoing conversations between the overcrowded entourage of people in the small nightclub. People are indifferent state of mind and body but they are all gayly, flirt to get a drink from the rich men driving BMW and MARCEDES-BENZ and the rich and average men flirting to get laid in the toilets, cars, taken to motels and university residences. Everyone is there with their agenda but the music glues them together sticking each other's bodies in arousal of gratification. Ladies in short skirts and fur jackets showing off their brown-skinned legs, but the curvy with small waist and thick buttocks were the first chosen and given VIP treatment by the men with big cars.
"Girl it's packed!" shouts a slim, short girl. "I know, but this is where the fun is at. it's my birthday and my man gave me his card" the girl waves the card to the girls and excitement filled the girls. "Let's get more drinks!" Shouts the other girl in excitement. The girls raised their last bottles in the air and take sips in excitement. "Let me go get us more drinks" The girl with a card leaves the table which had a bucket full of ice and empty hunters dry bottles. She walks to the bar table. She finds a long queue, she exclaims in annoyance.
A guy standing by a car outside Migeroni cafe is pleading with the guy in the passenger.
"Bro come on. just one drink and we get out of here". Begs the guy dressed in a black leather jacket.
" No man, we already had one. I don't love driving while drunk. plus I am exhausted, I was your chauffeur all day, I am tired!". The guy on the driver's seat is lazily laid back on the seat with exhaustion.
The guy releases his hands from the window frame and heaves a sigh. "Okay!". " Ria will pick you up" The guy in the car warms the engine. The other guy steps back and starts walking towards the gate of the venue without looking back. The security guard asks for his identity card and he shows him. He gets in and walks straight to the bar table to get few drinks to drown himself in after a long day of work. He hits a soft body and the body wince a murmur. He lazily looks at the voice and a warm feeling crept into his heart.
"Sweet La" the lady looks at him startled by his bright smile in confusion. "You are? sorry sir I don't know you". The lady fixes her grip on the two-pack of alcohol.
" Shudu, let me help you" He generously hold one of the pack. The lady looks at him in realisation then her face tears a warm smile.
"Mr S. it's been a while. Treat me it's my birthday. let me drop these by those ladies so we can catch up. I don't want them to see you, they might fight over you" She grabs the packs and leaves in excitement.
Shudu just watches the lady walk leaving him in a trance. He can't believe that he got to meet her again, sweet Lala. Maybe...no, let things unroll naturally on their own. Her face reappears on his face. "Let's find an isolated table so you can treat me to some wine..." She looks at him with a smirk. He smirks back, he could not resist her smile. He walks to the front line and hail at the bartender. He immediately got assisted with a bottle of Stellenbosch cabernet sauvignon red wine with two wine glasses. They walk towards the table with two empty chairs by the corner and settle themselves. They drink their wine and quickly the red wind bottle was empty and ordered another one. The lady had forgotten her entourage. One of the ladies appeared by the table.
"It's late, we thinking that we should go back to the campus residence" the girl alerts her of their departure but sweet Lala was now enveloped in her world. "Okay. I will see you then. This handsome man still wants to give me my birthday gift" She talks all giggly and the other lady looked at her and Shudu warily. "Okay. I am tired. Talk tomorrow" She snaps a picture of Shudu and waves her phone as she departs. Shudu and Lala laugh at her. Their bodies were intoxicated and their eyes kept on getting smaller. The skin was now sensitive and tingling. The chairs were now close to each other, conversing like lovers. Their faces were close that any minute their lips could touch. The air was sexy and their eyes burned with longing passion.
"Let us get out of here" he whispered into Lala's ear. She smiles slyly with lazy eyes.
"Am I going to get my birthday gift?" She bit her lower lip. She feels his hands on her thighs.
"Yes..." He whispers and then bit her earlobe. She giggles in excitement. They get up from the chairs and walk out of the venue like naughty kids on their way to cause trouble. Shudu makes a call, after few minutes of him standing in the cold with Lala; trying his best to hold himself together and not appearing like a predator in Lala's eyes, a car pulled through in front of them.
He opens the door and he tells the driver their destination. They sat next to each other making small talk to busy themselves to avoid kissing each other. Lala laid her head on his shoulder, clinging her fingers into his. The driver stops the car. Shudu pays the driver and they head to a white painted wall with tall pine trees.
*
Weeks later
"I am sorry. We can't be together" her words echoes in his ears. His heart tore into pieces. He could not handle a second rejection, he needs a better reason. He tries to contain his anguish inside by portraying a delicate face.
"Why?" he asks calmly.
"Because I have a lover" she explains avoiding his eye contact and sipping her drink with a straw.
"I will love you better. And you know it. If not, why have you have been coming back for more" he asks daringly.
"Uhm...because I thought he wasn't serious..." "Leave him then" He cuts her off.
"I realised that cheating doesn't make me better" She continues not minding his words. His mouth becomes dry when he tries to say a word, he just looks at her with sadness in his eyes.
"But we can be more than friends. Although I still want to be with my boyfriend till he makes a clear stance with me" Lala moves from her drink and look at him in the eye. Shudu felt defeated. Who is this lady? Maybe I might win her heart in the process.
"Okay. I respect that" He gives a flat smile. In his mind, he's brewing a way to make her his at any costs, no guy deserves her but him.
2016
"So where is she? The one who stole your heart" Shudu asks his cousin in elation while drinking water in the kitchen. He watches his cousin making a quick sandwich with the leftover chicken mayo from their morning breakfast. A phone rings. "Please take this to her in the lounge. let me take mom's call" His cousin picks up the call and start talking on the phone. He puts the plate with the sandwich and the glass of juice and places them on the tray. He leaves the room.
He walks into the lounge and sees a girl who has snuggled herself into the love seat fiddling her phone. He smiles to himself amusingly. "Here's your food Miss..." His eyes widened at the lady who raises her head and looks at him. Sweet La! No, it can't be.
He hears footsteps approaching the room, they quickly snap out of their shock and act like strangers.
"Meet my love, Lala. Lala meet my brother Shudu" His cousin introduce them with enthusiasm and his face glistening with joy to finally introduce his favourite people to each other. They both smile awkwardly. Well...he would not notice a thing, he would think that Lala is being shy and Shudu is being cautious and respectful.
***
In Brian's room
His eyes blinked and tears fill up his eyes obscuring his view. Warm tears roll down his cheeks. His body temperature skyrocketed, his chest tightening up sending sharp needle pains on his chest and forehead. He tries to hold himself grounded on the bed, but his skin is becoming numb but the pain is becoming intense. He could not believe that he loved Lala this much and trusted his brother without a doubt. His eyes widened in shock, his face turns sour. Rage fills inside him. His eyes flickered with rage. He gets up the pace up and down in the room in shock. Wow! He wanted the truth, but it's obvious he wasn't ready to hear the detailed story of what happened between Shudu and Lala. He sneers then start laughing in anguish. He is in grief. It hurts more than he expected it to be. I can't stay here for the night, not like this. Heavy unsteady breath escapes his mouth occupying soft sobs. He violently wipes his tears. He heads for the bathroom to wash his face. He pats his face as he walks out of the bathroom with a bathroom towel. He tosses the towel on the bed and leaves his bedroom ajar.
He runs down the stairs leading to the lounge. Where is my bag? He budges in the lounge room disturbing the two women who were conversing and still drinking their coffee and grabs his bag. "Mom, can you borrow me the Polo TSI car keys?" He pleads with his mom avoiding eye contact. He doesn't want to share his sadness with her. His mom reads his body language and understood that Brian had a valid reason for wanting to leave home right now. Fortunately, it's still evening. "Where the car keys stay" She answers in a motherly concerned voice. "Thank you, Ma" "Take care. And text me when you arrive safely". Mrs Mala watches her son walk out of the house. Mrs Muluadzi is appalled and then flattens her eyes in irritation.
Brian opens the car, gets in and settles himself in the driver's seat. He sends a text to Deya.
" Pack something for the night. We are sleeping out"
He starts the car and the only sound left echoing in the yard is the scratching of the wheels on the ground.
*************
Shudu is in his room. He hears the scratching sound of the car wheels on the ground. That is Brian. He's angry. Should I follow him? Should I warn Lala? His mind is racing. Lord, I pray to you that Brian does not do anything foolish to himself or anyone else. Maybe he's going to a club or tavern to drown his sorrows in a beer. His anxious levels increase. Who will drive him home? He might drink a lot then drive back home in a drunken state end up in a car accident. He places his hands intertwined on top of his head in disbelief and concern for Brian. He goes to the bathroom. He hears his phone rings. He washes his face with cold water and brushes his teeth. He pats his wet face with a bathroom towel. The phone rings again. Who is it? He storms out of the bathroom in resentment. He looks at the phone. Argh! Lala! It is probably about the message that he accidentally sent to her. What is she going to whine about now? He picks up the call.
"What do you want?" He asks in disdain.
"How dare you go and tell Brian lies about me?" The voice asks seething with anger
"Which part? That you cheated on him throughout the relationship. You don't deserve him. At least he will understand that it was not a mistake that you did, but your habit" He answers in a flat tone.
"You didn't have the right...you are just jealous that I never chose you when you wanted us to be more than acquaintances " The voice disagrees defensively.
"Acquaintances in the bedroom activities. I am not jealous, I pity my brother and I am glad you rejected me. I can't imagine me going through this betrayal" He hits back at her reminding her of their dirty little deeds.
The voice scoffs "Like you are faithful and did not betray anyone. You are no different from me"
"Whatever I don't have the energy to talk to you right now. Tomorrow we are doing a DNA test" He breaks the news trying to end this conversation as soon as he can.
"Where?" The voice asks sounding like a calculating and inquisitive person.
"Should I suggest your place of choice?" He asks calmly trying his best not to tell her that it's all your fault that I am stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"Yes...I will send four different places where my dad rotates around. Thank you for this" The voice replies in a monotone.
"Whatever I just want this all gone" He answers in an agitated voice. All he wants is for this to disappear and go back to his normal life. Why did he get himself involved with her? He rolls his eyes in disappointment with himself.
"Don't you worry. It will go well. And you can go back to your mom's good books. I wonder how long though?... Let us hope you behave and no one will know the great Mashudu is playing for both teams. Ciao! " The speaker on the other side hangs up the call before Shudu could say a word. Curse you, Lala! He smashes the phone and watches the phone lying there on the floor resembling the shattered state that he is in right now. Releasing huge unsteady breaths. What had to be her? He is always cautious and he doesn't understand why Andrew had to share his secret when he doesn't want to. Andrew should have known not to show his face to his friend. Damn it! He yells. I curse your existence Lala and I hate that I have to cooperate with your dirty scheme. Why Brian? Why do you want him so bad when he can't even meet up with your crazy standards. His body tenses up releasing shocking waves on his spine and the hair ends. What the hell! It can not be happening right now. He can't mingle with her. He goes to the bathroom.
There's nothing that masturbation can't fix and starts relieving himself recalling those dirty moments he had whenever he and Lala would meet up. That girl, she's one of kind, but I can't make her mine. Droplets of cloudy whitish jelly-like liquid splash on the tiled floor and let out a small groan. He takes a toilet paper and wipes the floor. Life is funny, there are answers in the small things that we do in our daily routines. He needed to wipe everything clean just like what he's doing right now. He smiles sinister, he knows what he has to do. He had forgotten his card, Moses and Lerato. She will be left alone when all this is over.