Chapter 3 My Rapist My Lover 3

This place is always crowded I woke up very early just so I can do everything I want peacefully but here I am stuck in this queue it doesn't help that it is two days before Christmas I always do Christmas shopping late. A tap on my shoulder. Okay it's probably someone who wants to pass by. Another tap. Can't a person just talk like normal people instead of poking my arm. I turn with the meanest face and stunned to find the most handsome dark soul on Earth, I didn't know we had those in Africa. Jokes, but Mandeni is the last place you would expect to find a handsome guy like that.

"Sawubona"

Okay he speaks Zulu. Well of course he speaks Zulu he is in Mandeni after all.

"This line is moving really slow"

I was starring, I flushed embarrassed.

"Yeah it is"

"Monde"

He says with his hand out for a handshake.

"Minenhle"

"Beautiful name for a beautiful lady"

Next customer please! That is my cue I am out of here. I rush to the till hoping he won't follow me.

"Can I atleast get your number

This handsome fool followed me and these plastics are heavy. Did he really have to see me in this all sweating and panting with six plastics three in one hand and the other 3 on one hand with 20th century jeans. I put the plastics down and turn to look at him.

"Let me help you with those plastics"

"No, I'm fine really"

He looks at my hands still carrying two plastics and smirks.

"I insist"

Well I could do with some little help around here.

He takes the rest of the plastics and follows me to the... no wait this is not the way to the rank it goes to the parking lot.

"I offered to help with the plastics"

"Sorry uhm Monde but I don't have a car"

"I know"

"Where are we going then this is definitely not the route to the rank"

"Well I'm taking you home"

He says that as he puts the plastics in the boot.

"Please giveme directions to your house"

He says as he starts the car, this is some machine he is driving I'm sure everyone at the place I live at will be looking at me I will surely be the talk of the day. Not that I mind.

"So, tell me about yourself"

I hate this question. The way I get so blank when someone asks me this question I forget my name even.

"There is nothing to tell really, my life is not that interesting"

"I did not ask you to tell me an interesting story, I just asked you to tell me about yourself"

Commanding much. Well were do I start.

"From the start"

He said that as if he read my mind

"It was a rainy morning as my aunt puts it when my mother experienced some intense pains they knew I was on my way(I smiled thinking about it) but fortunately my mother died immediately after I was born after that things took a wrong turn till this day"

"Oh, I'm sorry about your mother but that is a really summarised version" he said raising an eyebrow with a smile I guess to make me comfortable.

"Well I grew up knowing my aunt as my mother but as I grew older I learnt that she wasn't I found a diary. At the age of 16 I was raped I gave birth to my gorgeous son whom

I love so much( his facial expression changed after I mentioned the rape part) a lot has been happening my life I recently lost my job so yeah that is me"

I have never opened to anyone about my life like that I don't know what I felt at that moment but it felt like a relief, like a massive load has been lifted off my shoulder. He held my gaze for a moment.

"Minenhle that is not the way you should describe yourself but thank you"

For opening up to me Oh"

Honestly, I don't know what to say I was really an awkward person especially around a guy Sandile once said this. Why am I thinking about Sandile now?

Christmas at Mandeni is a big deal for kids as they go around wearing new clothes enjoying themselves however this year was different. I was invited by Monde for family lunch at his house, normally I wouldn't have agreed to come but this was Monde we were talking about. How can I say no to him? I woke up early so that I can cook lunch before I leave as much as my aunt wouldn't

say but I knew she appreciated me being here. Lihle woke up soon after me he was one early bird I guess the Christmas excitosis was getting to him. He kept his clothes beneath his pillow after fitting them he couldn't let them out of his sight. It didn't help me that I had lost my job, it pained me just thinking about it. Most people are eager for a new year but I was dreading it I really

wasn't looking forward to it. I decided to but Lihle's uniform with his Christmas clothes and saved money for the fees I was going to worry about other things later. Chronicles of being a single mother come to think about it I should write a book that I'm sure it would be interesting even. For now, let me enjoy Christmas seriously I don't understand why people fuss about Christmas really to me it just any day except it's a day whereby people waste money and food.

Monde arrived later he looked rather dashing while I looked average I was wearing a dress that is just below the knees and with heels that my cousin lent me I don't own any pair of heels I think it's high time I shop for new thing if I'm going to be invited to Christmas lunches occasionally.

We arrived at this gigantic homestead which had several houses it was like there are many homes in one home I'm not sure that makes sense. There was a security guy at their gate I didn't understand exactly how rich the guy was I mean who in their right mind build such a big homestead having not been married. I'm saying this because I didn't see any ring in his finger so I'm assuming his not married.

"Exactly how rich are you" I asked as we exited the car.

"I'm not rich" he said smirking

"If you say so"

"Welcome to my home, I hope you won't be intimidated by my family" I raised my eyebrow

"Your family?" he laughed

"Yes, my family Minenhle why do you think I brought you here" Oh no!

Why didn't I think of this before I really thought it was going to be the two of us maybe not the two of us but I didn't think he was going to bring the whole family here. A very vibrant lady came out of the house.

"Hi!"

She was smiling widely; her smile was contagious I couldn't help but smile too.

"Oh my God you are so beautiful"

Most people always say that when they see me me but I didn't believe them I didn't feel beautiful.

"Okay sis calm down"

He took me in and led me to the biggest house of them all.

"You are late"

One of the men in the table who really looked like Monde said that. There was two of them and the energetic lady who greeted us earlier she got in and kissed the guy who spoke I guessed she was the wife or girlfriend. You could tell that she wanted so much to fit in the family.