CHAPTER 19

I drove away with a stupid grin across my face. I hoped no one I knew saw me with that much excitement on my face. I drove into the venue where the graduation was being held and parked my car. I was slightly late and barely anyone  who could help me since I was practically lost. But atleast there were a few people  who were still littered here and there. I spotted Nhlakanipho and Nhlonipho busy drinking something from a Tupperware bottle with their voices hushed. Were they trying to get drunk before the event? I knew my brothers were stupid enough to do that.  And so I quietly walked towards them making sure that they didn't hear me.

"What are you guys doings?" I questioned.

Nhlakanipho screamed and Nhlonipho turned to face me with his horror filled face.

These, ladies and gentlemen, are the two humans that I worked so hard to raise only for them to turn out like this. The both eventually recovered from their shock and jumped on me and started screaming in my ear that  that they could believe that  I came. I pushed them away and they sobered themselves up. They muttered small apologies and got back to their usual selves.

They started rambling about how much they missed me and how lonely they felt. They also told me of how confused they were when Mseki woke them up with hangovers and told them that I threw them out of the house. They literally thought I disowned them. These idiots. They mostly highlighted the fact that they were broke. I ignored them. I was still not over my money and their punishment wasn't over.

We got space to sit and clapped for all those who were graduating but mostly impatiently waitng for Mseki to be called. As soon as I heard a Mseki Mdletshe being called a smile adorned my face. I was proud of him, I never really liked telling people how I felt so I doubt he knew that. But I tried to show it instead. He stood up and  looked around and finally found us in the busyness of the crowd. His smile widened as soon as he saw me. For the first time in a long time I could proudly admit that I was happy. Happy to the point where I wanted to jump up in joy. My heart swelled with pride as I saw him shaking the hand of his Dean.

When the event was done we waited for him outside. He walked up to us with a bright smile plastered on his face. He gave me a single armed hug.

"I didn't think you would come." He said softly. It was almost inaudible.

"Don't ever say that. No matter how many times you fuck up, I'll always be there. I'm your guardian, it's my job to do that." I said with pang of disappointment. I never wanted my brothers to think that I will not be there for them because of a certain fuck up. After a few seconds of registering what I had said, he obediently nodded. "Get in the car so we can wear something more comfortable." I added.

They all looked at each other with pure confusion. I ignored them and got in my car while the twins got into their car and Mseki got into his as well. I drove to Mseki's and the others tailed behind me. We got to his house, changed and packed necessities such as our ID's. We drove to the airport with them nagging me about how they'd kill themselves if I didn't tell them about where I was taking them. I surround myself with pure idiots. I swear they were the most dramatic siblings of all time.

We got into the private jet that I had borrowed from a bad aquaintance of mine. Don't judge. We flew to Johannesburg and immediately drove to Konka.  They immediately squealed in excitement. By the time we arrived it was already half past nine. The vibe was there as well as the women and we only needed the drinks. I had started saving for Mseki's graduation to buy him a new car but I had already gifted him a car two years back so I had a few hundred thousands laying around. My budget was 150 though I wasn't willing to waste all of it on expensive whiskies.

The place was buzzing with music. Mseki had three women on him while  Nhlakanipho was sucking faces with another. Nhlonipho was.... Wait where was Nhlonipho? I stood up to look for him and finally found him dancing with the DJ. The woman was literally grinding on him. I badly wanted slap him. Goodness those kids were embarrassing.

I was interrupted by a small vibration in my pocket. I took it out and saw that Zama was calling. A smile involuntarily crept up my face. I walked outside to call her back.

I almost ran outside if it wasn't for the crowd of drunk people around me.

"Sthandwa Sami"

"Muntu wami." She said with the most innocent yet seductive tone one could ever find. And it was working, the rapid throbbing of my heart could attest to that.

"I miss you." I groaned and she laughed in response. "I'm going to shut that pretty little mouth of yours with a kiss if you don't stop laughing." I added.

"Then come here and do it." She provoked. I let out a loud sigh as I rubbed my face with frustration.

"I can't do that now can I."

"Why not?"

"I'm in Joburg." I blurted out.

"What? You're in Joburg? Why? When did you get there?" She interrogated

"To celebrate"

"Oh, please be safe. I don't have a good feeling in my gut."

"I'm fine sthandwa sami. You know I love you so much Zama. Sometimes it scares me, 'cause you're the only woman I can actually admit that I am in love with. I love it when I make you smile or blush because it makes me think I've accomplished something..." I went on for few more minutes about how much I loved her and how my undying love for her has no limitations. It was the alcohol speaking and I knew that. Throughout my whole monologue Zama was silent. I assume she was listening or sleeping but my instincts went with the latter.

I ended my monologue, disconnected the call and went back inside. I noticed how there was an addition of a few more ladies on our table. I didn't mind as long as my siblings were enjoying themselves.

After a few minutes of drinking water to sober myself up a woman with a glittery skimpy dress along with her friend sat next to me. I was later joined by Mseki and the twins. I didn't mind them and kept on bobing my head along with the beat of the music.

The same woman with the skimpy dress who had been staring at me like her next meal sat herself on my lap. I kindly requested for her to remove herself from me but she blantly refused and claimed to be the fun that I needed. She was trying her luck and I frankly did not have the patients for that. I repeated myself with much more authority in my voice but that seemed to turn her on as her voice became squeakier. I took my gun and  pushed it against her back and made sure that no one could see it. Her face was then flushed with fear and the sly smirk she wore was far gone.

"Lalela lana sisi, uzongisukela ethangeni Lami noma vele vele uyahalela ukufa." I threatened.

Mseki noticed the change in her mood and looked at me straight in the eyes to ensure that everything was okay. She sped to the bar and came back with a brutal fruit and sipped on it until it was time for us to leave. I seriously was not in the mood for women throwing themselves at me. I just wanted Zama next to me. I know I sounded like a married man at that moment but I seriously needed to go home. Sotho people are also too loud for my liking.

I paid for our bill and we drove off. We are all a bit more sober as we all drank water for the last forty five minutes. I didn't want anyone vomiting in a rented car. For the past few minutes I had noticed that a red car was following us. I knew better than to blame it on coincidence. I did not have any enemies in Joburg so maybe I had been followed for longer than I knew.  I took a few more silly turns which were the long way to our hotel. I just needed a free way so I could shoot. I told Mseki that we were being followed and everyone's faces ran cold. Nhlakanipho recovered from his mini nap and became paranoid and kept on facing the back.

I instructed him to look for a bag full of guns at the boot while I drove. Adrenaline rushed through my veins as I drove faster. I  then instructed Mseki to take the wheel so I could shoot. I grabbed two guns and shot at the car driving behind us via the window. The 1A.M air hit my face as I shot twice at the red car. The people shot back and we shot back  and forth at each other thereafter. Two more cars followed the red car. There were then three cars following us, two black and one red. I aimed at the driver of the black car and pulled the trigger. The car screeched and spun towards a forest.

I shot the tyres of the other car and now we were only left with the red car. The person shooting was one hell of a shooter and they were gaining on us. My bullets were almost finished and shit was going to hit the fan slowly but surely. I had to improvise fast. Think Nkosana, think.

"Mseki I need you to swirl the car at a 90°  angle so that car hits my side, okay. You're also going to take this gun and shoot at those people in there. If I die burn the car and if I live, you call Vuks. Are we understood?" I explained. All of them had horrified faces but they all nodded anyways.

I was trying to protect them, they knew that. Nhlakanipho just let out a huff and started begging me to not proceed with the plan. I ignored him and  filled up the guns and handed one to Mseki and kept the other one in the mini cabinet.

"Mseki do it now!" I yelled and he nodded in response.

He swirled the car and everything turned into a haze. I didn't care about myself as long as my siblings were safe and sound I would be fine where ever I go. I knew I wasn't  heaven worthy so I hoped that my ancestors would recruit me instead. I braced myself for the gruesome impact. I wanted to think of something happy. I focused my attention on a specific figure that brought more smiles on my  face than I've ever had in a lifetime. The most innocent and pure set of eyes. I imagined her laughing at nothing in particular. I did not care for her reason for her laughter but the mere fact that she was laughing made my heart swell. That is what I needed, I needed the one person I knew I couldn't clutch my paws into for a lifetime.

I needed Zama.