STRING OF PEARLS
TWENTY THREE
MCEDISI
I kill the engine and turn to look at her; she looks like she's a million miles away. I don't think she's even aware that we have arrived.
"One," I call out softly, and she turns to look at me. "We have arrived," I say, and she nods.
"Would you like me to go with you?" I ask, and she nods.
We both climb out of the door and walk into the yard. She unlocks the door but doesn't open it. I'm guessing she's afraid to enter, so I decide to open and lead the way.
"I'll be quick," she says, climbing the stairs.
I wait in the lounge for a while until she comes down dragging a suitcase. I quickly get on my feet and hurry to help her.
"Did you take everything?"
She nods. "I'll stay at the hotel until I get a house. I've been wanting to buy my own house, but Troy thought it was best that we live together," she says, playing with a ring on her finger.
"I didn't realize you two were engaged," I say, and she looks at me, then at the ring before taking it out.
"Not anymore," she says, placing it on the coffee table.
"Let's go," she says, already heading for the door.
I nod and follow her out while carrying the large suitcase. I can't say I'm not happy that she took off that weakling's ring.
We get to the hotel, and I place the suitcase on the bed before signaling her to come close.
"I have to go now," I say, kissing her forehead. "Lindokuhle will be outside looking after you. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me," I continue, and she nods.
"I love you," I say, and she looks away.
After leaving Onezwa at the hotel, I drive straight home. I'm surprised to see Nkanyezi and his family; it looks like they're about to leave.
"Bafo," he says, coming in for a hug.
"Mmm," I say, and he chuckles.
"I was about to check up on you, but Lindo told me everything."
He says, and I nod.
"Bhuti Mcedisi," Carolina greets.
"Makoti," I say, and she giggles.
"She's back home now. Don't hurt her again, or else," she says, showing her tiny fist, and I chuckle.
"Bye Nonka," I say, playing with her cheek, and the little diva bursts into tears.
"She doesn't like me, does she?" I say, and Nkanyezi laughs while Carolina shakes her head.
"She's a baby," she says, and I shrug.
"Let me not keep you. Thanks for bringing my wife," I say before walking into the house.
NARRATED
Mcedisi enters the main house and finds his mother and MaSibiya chatting away. He greets them, earning a death stare from his mother. Clearly, MaSibiya was exposing her husband's shenanigans. Hence, her hostility towards her son.
"Ma, can I borrow my wife, please?" Mcedisi says, and his mother nods while he leads his wife to their hut.
"How are you?" He asks as soon as they settle down in the lounge.
"I'm okay, baba," MaSibiya replies softly.
"I'm sorry for hurting you," he says, and she nods while looking down.
"MaSibiya, you are a good woman, and the truth is that I don't deserve you. You have been such a wonderful wife, sister, and daughter to this family that hurting you feels like I have committed the worst sin," he continues, and she smiles faintly.
"It's okay, myeni wam. All has been forgiven," she says, smiling.
"MaSibiya, I know I promised never to hurt you with another woman, but I have to go back on my promise," he says.
She frowns before tears well in her eyes.
"I love and care about you deeply, but I also care about Onezwa," he says, and she closes her eyes, feeling like her heart has been stabbed repeatedly.
"Onezwa?" She asks in a whisper.
"Yes," he says before taking her hand into his.
"We can make this work. I know we can. Only if you can see the bigger picture here, mkami. Don't look at what you will be losing, but rather look at what you will be gaining. You will be gaining a sister, a friend, a helper, and a partner," he says.
She shakes her head, finally letting her tears fall.
"Please, MaSibiya, my beautiful wife, I'm begging you. I cannot lose you, but my heart is also torn between you two. I love and need you both in my life," he says.
She breaks into a sob.
She knew this moment would come. She has lived this nightmare many times in her head, but now that he has finally brought it to life, it hurts far worse than in her nightmares.
"Is it because I can't bear you children?" She asks while sobbing.
"No, you are perfect just the way you are. You are the mother of our guardian angel; that you must never forget," he says before gently laying her head on his chest and letting her cry.
After MaSibiya has cried for a while, she finally calms down and looks up at her husband.
"Was it her in your office that day?"
Mcedisi thinks fast. Admitting that it was her would fuel MaSibiya's anger and hurt, so he decides to lie instead.
"No, it wasn't. That was a stupid mistake that didn't mean a thing. I was just frustrated, and sex seemed to be the only way I could release my frustrations. It was wrong and very much hurtful. Again, I apologize," he says.
She nods.
"If I agree to this, how are you going to guarantee that you will be fair? I'm not blind nor am I stupid, myeni wam. I know you married me not out of love but out of duty. How do I compete with a woman who has your heart?" She asks.
"MaSibiya, you have something far more precious than my heart; you have my respect, you have my past, my present, and my future, you know me and know about me things not even my own brother and mother know about me. You have seen me wounded, weak and afraid," he says.
"Yet I'm not enough," she says.
"You have my blessing," she says, and he looks up, not believing his ears.
"Ngempela? (For real?)" He asks.
She nods.
Never in her life has she seen her husband smile like that before, and that confirms to her that this man truly loves Onezwa.
ONEZWA
I sit alone in my hotel room, staring out the window. Thoughts of Troy play in my head. How could I have been so wrong about him? Maybe I pushed him too far. All this is my fault.
My mind drifts to Mcedisi. I love him, but it feels impossible. He's married, and I'm just a broken mess.
I need space to clear my head. Grabbing my bag, I head out of the hotel. As I walk, I find myself at the beach. The fresh air helps calm my racing thoughts. Maybe I can start over, leave this place behind. I did it before; surely I can do it again.
An hour passes, and I begin to feel more centered. The sun starts to set, casting a warm glow. I return to the hotel to find Mcedisi waiting for me. I thought he'd be with his wife since he didn't sleep at home last night.
"Onezwa," he says, his voice low.
My heart skips a beat.
"Mcedisi, what are you doing here?" I ask, trying to sound casual.
He approaches me, his eyes locked on mine.
"I needed to see you."
We stand there, the silence between us palpable.
He breaks the silence. "Can we talk?"
I nod, and we sit down.
"I love you, Onezwa," he says, his voice filled with emotion. "I know it's complicated, but I want to make it work."
I look at him, searching for answers.
"What about MaSibiya?" I ask.
His expression turns serious. "I've spoken to her. She knows how I feel."
I study his face, wanting to believe him.
"Mcedisi, I..."
He takes my hand, his touch gentle.
"You don't have to say anything. Just know that I'm marrying you," he says.
"I told you I don't want to be in a polygamous marriage," I say, retracting my hand.
"Mcedisi, and that is final. Polygamous marriages are a cruel and uncomfortable punishment. I will not put myself through that. MaSibiya hates me, and she has never hidden that fact. I'm too young to die. I'd rather die at the hands of that psycho Troy than at the hands of another woman."
He scoffs. "Why are you being so difficult?"
"Why are you being selfish? Choose, baba," I say, folding my arms.
"I'm no fool. I might look weak, but trust me, I know how the world works. You will never choose me, so why should I choose you? I choose myself."
He shocks me to the core when he gets on his knees and buries his head in my thighs. He stays in that position for a while until I feel warm liquid and sniffing.
Is this man crying?
"If I could, I would leave MaSibiya as soon as yesterday, but I'm bound by guilt," he says, looking up; his eyes are bloodshot red.
"Why are you guilty? You won't be the first man to leave a woman for another woman, and you definitely won't be the last," I say.
"I...I'm the reason she doesn't have a womb," he says.
"When your late father threatened me and our family, I sacrificed our child and her womb to have the power to defeat him."
My heart drops to the pit of my stomach.
I've never seen any man, let alone Mcedisi Mthethwa, so vulnerable.