Chapter 26

“HIS BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF ART”

CHAPTER : 26 . 

LWANDILE HLONGWANE .

I feel bad for overreacting and talking to Rori like that . I just felt bad that she had to pay for Thando's fees and the loan yet I couldn't do anything . I feel so bad for speaking to her rudely and for grabbing her like that . I hate when I become that person , it's not who I am and she doesn't deserve to see that side . 

I'm now in my bedroom , I'm painting another piece of art for her , to apologize properly and to just .. be okay with my baby .

“that's a beautiful piece ..” I sigh .

“what are you doing in my room ? Did i say you could come in ?” Londiwe is getting on my nerves for real , what the fuck ? 

“why are you always rude to me though ? I don't get it . I've been very kind towards you since i came here but you're acting as if I'm plotting something against you .” she says .

“are you ?” I say .

“I'm trying to get my life back on track okay , I'm looking for places to stay far away from here so Mpho cannot get to me .” 

“good for you , just know that if you're leaving Soweto , my son is staying right here with me .” 

“what ? I thought you said you don't want Lelo to live with you just until you move out .” 

“I've changed my mind ..” 

“but .. i can't stay away from my son . I really can't , i won't cope without him .” 

“you've had him for 5 years , it should be my turn now . I'm tired of alwaus visiting my son , i want him to stay right here with me .” I say .

“as long as i get to visit him ..” I nod .. 

“please excuse me .. I'm busy , as you can see .” I say turning back and taking the paintbrush . 

She sighs and walks out , Londiwe must think that I still have a soft spot for her . I don't , I swear to God . I'm just grateful that she gave me such a beautiful son . Other than that , I have no feelings towards her . The only woman I want to marry , I want to love and I want to through everything with her is Rori and no one else . Things seem to be getting easier now that I'm getting used to Kagoentle and Ontshiametse

—

MATTHEW MARTINS . 

I knew I wasn't tripping .. 

“so you know him from somewhere ?” I nod turning my chair around . 

“his father , Danger .. was the biggest gangster back in the days before he got arrested .” I say , I thought I was crazy .

“so how do you know his son ?” I light up my ciggar ..

“Danger and I used to be big business partners up until he started betraying me and stole my money . I had met Lwandile when he was still very young , probably 5 years old . He won't remember me but as soon as i heard that his surname is Hlongwane . I knew there was something about that surname .” i say .

“so do you think he's a gangster as well ?” I shrug . 

“he doesn't look like one , he's a God-fearing man . He doesn't look like his brutal father who'd slaughter you and take out your heart . Definitely doesn't look like him and i think that's an advantage because i can't afford to have my daughter falling inlove with a gangster .”

“well .. He is Danger's son .” 

“it doesn't mean he's a gangster as well . Its heen 20 years since Danger got arrested , he's probably serving life sentence and that's a good thing . If he comes back and finds out I'm the one who got him arrested by snitching on him .. he's gonna hurt my daughter , my wife and grandchildren .” 

The world is really small hey , who knew I'd meet Danger's duplicate through my daughter ? 

“are you gonna tell him that you know his father ?” 

“for what ? I don't need to tell him . Besides .. Danger isn't getting out of jail anytime soon .” I say . 

“do you think he hates his dad ? The Lwandile guy ?” I shrug . 

“he might hate him or he might not because he literally left them with nothing . The wife had to work and work for them to survive .” I say .. 

“eh .. mos you guys come a long way .” 

“I didn't even know that his family is still in town , i thought they were long dead because Danger had enemies for days . ” 

I stand up ..

“my late wife loved Lwandile , alot . She would always make him his favourite snacks when he would come over to our house . Now i understand why .. he's nothing like his father .” I say . 

“what if he's hiding who he truly is ?”

“then he cannot marry my daughter or be with her .” I say with a straight face . 

“Rorisang does love him though ..” 

“if Lwandile is like his father then he will not marry my child , i said what i said . I cannot lose my only child , besides .. Why would he attend church knowing very well that he has a dark side ?” I say .

“this is a film ..” he says as I chuckle . 

“it must be filmed in Hollywood .” I say .

I don't know if this Lwandile guy is the right one for my child but meeting him made me feel some type of way , like .. I wasn't talking to Danger's son but Lwandile Hlongwane . He didn't show me any side of his father and that kinda relieved me because at some point , I thought he was in my daughter's life to exact revenge from me .