Nokukhanya (Chapter 5)

Chapter 5

●Nokukhanya Ngwenya

I think I messed it up I know I did. Once again my smart mouth ruined things for me. It’s been a week since they told me ‘Thank you don’t call us we will call you’ and I’ve been depressed ever since I’m not naïve I know that they wont call me maybe its time I start applying again. I think I was so wrapped up that the suit guy was the actual CEO and I forgot to be professional and my personality just took over.

But why would he come and meet me before my interview something doesn’t add up. Was he trying to see what kind of person I was before he considered hiring me. Cracking my head over this wont do me any good because I will never know. Let me just get ready for work .

I roll to the side of my bed and try to charge my phone but it doesn’t want to charge. Dammit! They switched off my power again.  I groaned and pushed my head deeper into my pillow screaming. This is not happening when will I ever catch a break. I rushed out of bed and wiped the important parts with my wipes making sure that I put on more lotion on me to avoid any unpleasant odors later on. My braids are neatly tied up unlike that day I had to let them lose to hide my head bump.

“When am I getting my money Nokukhanya? Your rent is due.” No good morning nothing.

“Today bab'Duma… I’m sorry I’m a ekbit late this month but I will pay you when I get back from work.”

“Until then your power will remain off. I’m sorry but I have to treat you like the rest of my tenants.”

“I understand. Usalekahle.” He nods and I walk away going to the taxi rank.

Such a nice man I’m sure his wife put him through this he actually doesn’t like doing all of this because he understands each and everyone of us as his tenants. My phone is off since I didn’t charge it now I’m not listening to music like I usually do so I’m forced to communicate with the guy sitting next to me or just get depressed thinking about my life… thinking about my life it is. I’m going to ignore this idiot sitting next to me busy telling me he saw his future and I was in it. Idiot!

.

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“Why is your phone off? Old Jones is looking for you.”

“Sawubona Cindy unjani.” I greet her softly and she rolls her eyes.

“Mxm! Why is your phone off Nokukhanya.”

“My rent is long over due and they decided to cut off my electricity. I will see you later.” I walk away leaving her there to avoid any lectures when she starts she never stops.

You would swear she was older than me but we the same age I know sometimes I act childish but she’s worse when she starts acting motherly with me.

“Good morning Mr Jones…you wanted to see me?”

“Morning Khanyo please take a sit.” This is not a good day and trying to correct this man regarding my name will be a waste of time.

“Uhm I don’t know how to put this in a nice way…” Its happening. It was long overdue.

“Is there something wrong Mr Jones?”

“No!...Yes!... I mean no but… this is hard…”

“Are you firing me Mr Jones?”

“What? No! Uhm yes I’m sorry Khanyo but you’ve been slacking lately and making mistakes which are costing me more money…I’m sorry I have to let you go.”

“Its okay...” I’m not even going to argue myself out of this one like I did before. I stand up and leave.

“Thank you…I’ll leave now. Bye.”

“Are you okay? Aren’t you going to fight me this time?” The look on his face is funny but I don’t have the energy in me for what he was expecting me to do.

“Not today…” He nods and when I reach the door he stops me by saying.

“I’m not sure if you have checked your phone but I  have already transferred your salary for 2 months and all your leave days that was due to you. Good luck with everything.”

“Thank  you.”

What is happening today.

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I’ve been sitting in my grandmother’s room since 10 this morning. They took them out for their morning walk and sitting in this room is very depressing I wonder how she manages to stay sane while in here I would go crazy.

I had to sneak out at Jones Eat to avoid Cindy. I know she would have thrown a scene if she found out I wasn’t keen in fighting for my job. This time it’s different I feel like I need the change like she always says I need to grow up.

“I didn’t believe them when they told me you are here. Its Monday”

“Hello Nana unjani.”

“Ngiyaphila. What’s wrong.”

“Nothing I just missed you.”

“Try another lie.”

“I lost my job today.” Shit!

“What job…I thought you were going to school full time. What job are you talking about.” She is getting worked up and I know I wont hear the end of it. THINK Nokukhanya THINK!

“Opportunity! Not lost my job Nana I don’t work remember. I mean I think I lost on a job OPPORTUNITY for my course.” That was believable in my head.

“Ooh okay. Don’t stress about it I’m sure you will get another one. One that’s meant for you. Phela my daughter gave me an intelligent granddaughter.” I nod and smile.

“When are you graduating again I want to be there. And there are some documents I need you to bring them for me they at my old room.”

“Your…. Your old room?” Shit!

“Yes Nokukhanya in my old room.”

“Okay tell me where they are exactly and I will bring them for you.” How the hell am I going to get them. I cant even go to my house because of my Aunt.

This is bad.

●Langa Gumede

For the past week I’ve been delaying to call her and offer her the job. Joyce has been on my case as well regarding this as she has already gotten her an office and someone she will be working with. Fikile is driving me crazy lately she’s too much to handle my brother said she has a crush on me and now I’m trying to avoid her at all cost.

“I found a house we can buy that we can easily turn into a rental property …create some units there… the yard is huge.” Linda says walking in while busy on his tablet.

He has been pestering me to go into property as well but I have doubts about this I love what I’m doing now.

“Where is it.”

“Downtown…” he says and I raise my eyebrows.

“Its in a great neighbourhood though…here check it out.” I take the tab and go through the photos. Its actually a good house.

“Okay…get in touch with them so we can view the place.”

“On it… I will send your PA the info about the dates and times.”

“Please don’t! I rather you tell me straight and not through her.”

“And now?”

“I think you were right about her.”

“About what?”

“I think Fikile has a thing for me.” This idiot laughs at me and I don’t think what I said is that funny for him to laugh like this.

“Maybe she wants you to hit it…you know.” He say wiggling his eyebrows.

“No thank you I’ll pass.”

“How long?” He ask after he finishes with his laughter.

“What?”

“Since you’ve been with a woman.” I’m not having this conversation with him right now. I’m not going to tell him it’s been 2years since I’ve been intimate with a woman.

“Get back to work linda.”

He chuckles before he leaves my office.

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.

We back here again. We’ve been coming here everyday for the whole week now because my brother thinks we will bump into table girl as he calls her but unfortunately that has not been the case. She is nowhere to be found and I’ve been tempted to go to her work place and just stare at her but I wont do that.

“You back again” The bartender says throwing off my mood.

“Will that be a problem?” I ask with a boring expression on my face. How can he ask us that we are paying costumers dammit.

“Don’t mind him. Langa woza I’ve found us a table.”

“He should mind me…”

“Cut it out please. You don’t have to be rude. Just chill! Or else you will be embarrassing me in front of my friends.” He says then leaves me hanging.

He did go good by walking away I had no comeback for that.

“Sho guys.” I greet Linda’s friends and take my seat. Themba he is the only one I know here.

“She just walked in…with a guy” Themba says looking straight behind me and my brother.

“Who walked in?” Linda asks turning to face the door.

“Table girl!” They say at the same time causing me to turn also.

Dammit! She’s beautiful. Skinny Jean’s looks good on her. All that ass!. My blood boils when I see how the guy is holding her.

“She’s has a boyfriend we should just leave her.” Themba

“Or maybe befriend the boyfriend then we get close to her.” Linda says after taking a sip of his whiskey. I wonder how come he never has a hangover the following day.

“Excuse me.” I cant sit here and listen to this bullshit so I excuse myself I need fresh air.

When I return I can’t help the smile on my face she’s on top of the table again singing and people are cheering her on…even the people I came with have left our VIP section to go watch her.

Now I get why she’s called table girl…she’s a rare breed.

“Vic leave me alone…”She says to the the guy loud enough for everyone to hear.

“But you had enough now…get down please.” Poor guy. Wait! Why the hell am I listening to their conversation.

“Yya I know but you only live once right? So let me be.”

“Nokukhanya! I’m going to leave your ass here you will walk home! If you don’t get down.”

“Fine! You know how to ruin someone's mood Victor yho!” I’m still listening to them. Weird I know.

“We can take her home.” Linda says walking past me. When did they get here? They went back to our table a minute ago.

“I know you…” She says pointing at me now everyone is looking me.

“Yes I know you! I’m still waiting for your call.”

Whoah! She’s drunk!

“What?”

“Vic please…. I want to give him a piece of my mind.” She tells her boyfriend yet looking at me.

“You know I used my last savings to come to you and still today you haven’t called me. Why? Where’s your sense of humanity yeh? You should have called me even a call of rejection is fine!” She shouts.

“I don’t think this the time nor the place to discuss this.”

“Langa what is she talking about?” Linda.

“Why not? We both here at the same time. So we can talk about it. Why haven’t you called me. Am I not what you were looking for?” I know what she’s talking about but I bet everyone is thinking something else.

“Nokukhanya let’s go please.”

“Victor please…I want to know why he hasn’t called me.”

“Yes Langa why didn’t you call her.” Linda is just making the situation worse.

Everyone turns again to look at me and I just walk away texting my drive to bring the car around Linda will find his way home he always does. She follows me.

“Nokukhanya…” Her boyfriend calls after her when I reach the door she grabs me…wrong move.

“Hey…I’m talking to you! Why haven’t you called me …Mr Gumede?”

“Like I said…this is not the time or the place to talk about this. Now you are going to let go of my arm and walk away.”

Instead of letting go of me she throws up next to me seriously people should eat first before they consume alcohol to avoid all of this. She giggles.

“Sorry…” I’m glad no one followed us around or they did we just got lost in the crowd.

“I’m leaving now…will you be alright?” She shrugs.

“Come on get in I will drop you off at home.”

“I’m not coming with you.”

“Okay suit yourself.” I say getting in and closing the door when the driver starts the car she gets in as well. Now my car is going to smell like her.

“So why haven’t you called me? Wasn’t I good enough.”

“Call me tomorrow when you in a right state of mind.”

“Okay I will…where’s my phone? Ooh Vic has it…that idiot he couldn’t keep it in his pants you know that’s why he brought me here so I can forgive him for sleeping with that bitch. Why did he do that couldn’t he wait for me? I mean I know I’m difficult but I cant just give my cookie to anyone…its precious to me.” She says causing my driver…Stan to laugh I’m just shocked.

“Where do you stay?”

“In a house. You know I lost my job today…that old Jones finally got the guts to fire me. I had it coming though sometimes I can’t even control my mouth. Something smells funny in here can you smell it?” Yes it’s your vomit but I shake my head.

“Anyway…I’m jobless and broke. My grandmother wants me to get her stuff for her at my old house.”

“then what’s stopping you?”

“She will have a heart attack if she finds out I haven’t been staying at home for seven years now. Her daughter kicked me out and took everything that belongs to my parents. Now I have to go back there and beg her to let me in my house.” She says softly. I think it’s the alcohol making her talk like this.

“Its your house surely you can go there.”

“That witch will murder me. She took everything from me and I cant let my grandmother find out I still need her…she’s the only one I have and Cindy but she’s leaving me Jabu is taking her away from me and there’s nothing I can do about it he makes her happy.”

I’m trying to understand what the hell she’s talking about she’s not making any sense. She sound sad about everything.

“Sir we here.” Why did he drive us to my house. I look at him through the rear-view mirror for him to explain.

“I didn’t want to disturb plus I don’t think she knows where she stays.”

“Okay thank you. I will take it from here see you tomorrow Stan.”

“Goodnight Sir.”

I pick up my guest and take her to my room. What do I do now should I undress her or just put her in the shower like this?

Shower it is!

“What the hell!” She screams.

Cold water!

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