insert 42

iFAIRYTALE KaMAGEZA

𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐭 42

CONNIE

I shouldn't have worn this dress. I should have known when he picked it up that he had other thoughts in mind. Right now we're at the parking lot having sex in the car instead of going in there and having dinner as I was promised. I'm hungry as hell and he's drilling me with no mercy. I don't complain on a normal day but right now I'm botched.

"fûck!!" he cums and for the first time since we've been together I'm happy that my man is cumming.

"I'm hungry" I say catching my breath. I'm still on top of him and his cøck is inside me throbbing. He chuckles and lifts me. He grabs a towel at the backseat and wipes me clean. When I step out of the car my knees refuse. He's laughing. This is not funny. I glare at him and he stops.

He walks over to me and lifts me up bridal style, now this is a attention magnet. For me. He doesn't care about people. We walk inside the hotel, Southen Sun Elangeni. We'll have dinner and spend the night. I don't even remember the last time I was at a hotel. My life before him was boring to be honest. If I wasn't at the farm, I was at home. Maybe once after two weeks I'd go to the Mall and that will be it. But this man here came along and changed everything for the better. Not only just that, I've grown as a person. The things we've been through together only forced me to be stronger and resilient. Daddy's little girl is gone.

"Are you alright?" he asks after assisting me to sit down. We've definitely caught eyes and they are still starring.

"I'm alright, Love" I say with a smile. He sits down. I don't know if its the tux he's wearing but he looks extra hot today.

The hostess who welcomed us is back with the menu. He also lets us know a waiter will be attending us shortly. The place looks amazing. I didn't expect him to step it up like this. I appreciate his effort "Thank you" I say and he raises his face covered with a frown from the menu and looks at me. The frown is replaced with a smile.

"It's a start. This is how I'm planning to show you how much I appreciate your presence in my life. I love you angizenzisi" I'm smiling.

"I feel special everyday. And love you more than you can ever imagine" he takes my hand and plants a kiss.

"Evening. My name is Nqobani Mpotshane, I'll be your weiter for the night" the guy says with a wide smile. I starved myself for this dinner so I order more that one dish.

"Sokalisa, iphi inyama la? I want meat. I won't eat things I don't know" Jackson says looking at the menu then back at the weitres. The Zulu man is out.

"We have smoked steak that goes with sweet potato chips. I think it will be okay"

"Okay, bring it" I'm starring at him with a smile.

"What?"

"I can't starre at my man in admiration?" I don't think he knows how handsome he is. He has no idea "When we get to the hotel room. I will show you how much I love you" I say with a wink. He's laughing. He knows I'm bluffing. I can't match his strength in bed.

The waiter is back with our food and Jackson is not happy. The steak is too small for him now the waiter has to take it back and tell the chefs to make 'a bigger stake for Mahlathini'. Those are his words and I'm laughing. At this point I'm convinced a Zulu man can kill you over their meat. They love it too much.

Nqobani did as he was instructed. The stake is bigger and the Zulu man in happy.

"When are you planning to do the ceremonies for Mkhulu and Baba?" I ask as we begin eating.

"I have to do them before the negotiations. It has to be in the coming weeks. I don't want to waste anymore time there's been so much holding us back"

"I wanted to know and pass the massage to Dad. He wanted an update" he gives me a brief look and continues eating.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Not really. The Morgan's are getting impatient they want to come to Africa already" he chuckles "Dad shouldn't have told them as yet"

"You said it yourself, something like this has never happened in your family. It's excitement"

"Right"

"It puts me at ease that they are accepting of us. It would've hurt knowing your family doesn't approve of me. As much as it wouldn't have changed they way I feel but still"

"I understand" I know too well I was going to be hurt if his mom and siblings rejected me. Marriage is not only about us. It's also about bringing two families together. That should be the base of our union. If they don't get along, our marriage is destined to crumble.

We spend the rest of the dinner chatting about our plans and just everything lying ahead of us. Everything that has happened wasn't just misfortunes but lessons which have strengthened our relationship. I know whatever life throws at us, we will be able to handle it together and come out stronger.

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[NARRATIVE]

Things are sour in the house. They a bitter like a cactus fruit I tell you. Nobuhle is not happy with Celiwe, who the hell does she think she is? Mahlathini is the one who allowed her to stay here, she has no business to interfere on what her baby daddy has decided. She can't leave. If she leaves then the hope of her and Mahlathini fixing things will just be a dream.

There a Zulu saying 'Amanzi la ake ame khona aphinde ame futhi'

Mahlathini loved her. Whatever the white girl thinks she is, she's not. Mahlathini wasn't going to help her out if he didn't care. He still very much cares. They have a child together, that's what they should bond over and eventually fall back into each others arms.

She rolls out of the bed and wraps on a towel around her waist. Her nightdress too short.

Her kids are still sleeping so she makes her out of the bedroom to the kitchen to make them breakfast. She stops when she notices the TV playing. She spots Thando. She contemplates if she should go to her or not. But if she's really serious about getting back with her father again, she should make the effort.

"Hey" she greets her. She's Mahlathini, everything even the eyes. She feels no connection to her in any way. But it can't happen in one day. They have to get to know each other and when the time is right she will tell her the truth.

She's about to sit down when someone calls Thando. She gets bored as soon as Celiwe comes into view "Antiza" Thando says getting off the couch.

"Go pick your clothes for the day, I'm coming" Thando nods and runs away. The two woman are left starring at each other. In that same moment, the front door opens. Connie and Mahlathini walk in laughing at something.

Nobuhle quickly reverts her gaze from Celiwe to the couple. She puts on the fakest smile "Morning guys" she greets them with a wide smile. Celiwe is irritated. She can smell pretence from miles away.

"Bhuti, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Why, is there something wrong?" he asks looking at Nobuhle then Celiwe.

"Yes" He frowns at his sister.

He follows her to the kitchen.

"How can you allow her to stay here Bhutiza?"

"She has no place to go, Connie and I thought it's good we help. She has kids, they don't deserve to-"

"You're talking about the same woman who abandoned Thando, the one who wanted to abort her? Is that the one you're talking about?" He's quiet.

"Don't let your kindness turn you into a walk over Jama. Nobuhle is going to destroy your relationship. Connie is pregnant for goodness sake! you want to lose your child? A wicked woman who can abandon her own child is capable of anything. Life knocked her down and you think seeing you move on with Connie will make her happy?" Mahlathi heaves a sigh and leans against the kitchen counter with his hands in his pockets "...my RDP is empty, she can stay there as long as she wants. You're not going to feed your ex and another man's kids, umsangano lowo. She has to hustle njengomfazi. Now should I tell her to leave or you will?" he looks at her for a brief moment.

"Tell her"

*
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SMISO

He's standing in front of the ATM sweating and the pain in-between his legs is not making things easier for him "Bhuti scela usheshe nkosiyam" one impatient lady says behind him. He takes a deep breath and puts the card again. There's over a million rands in this card, it cannot decline. It's impossible.

He pinches in the pin carefully and recheck before he presses proceed. Again. There's no balance available in the card. He feels his heart hammering in his chest. The security walks over to him and says something, he's not hearing anything. His head is turning.

He grabs the car and walks inside the bank. Maybe the machine has a problem. There's no way he doesn't have any money left. Where is he going to stay? What will he eat?

The banker teller tells him the same devastating news. He walks out of the bank with his head low. He just got discharged from the hospital. He's in pain. He's hungry.

He takes out his phone to call Vincent. He's the only friend he has around here. The last time he saw him was two days ago when they had to transfer money to the hitman. His phone is sending him straight to voicemail. He tries again and again with no luck. He has his car too, why would he switch off his phone knowing he's being discharged today? what kind of a friend is this?