Dating a Gangster

Chapter Eight: Commotion

I turn to look at the waitress, ''Can you please just excuse us. Everything is fine, we just need to talk, alone.'', I say with an embarrassed look on my face. Lukhanyo gets up and walks out. I look around, completely confused. Is he coming back? I get up with my bag and another waitress comes my way, ''Ma'am I'm sorry but you cannot leave straight after you have ordered food. If you wish to walk out, please leave your belongings behind until we bring you the food together with the bill.'', he says. I turn back to the table and leave my bag on the seat. I then try with much difficulty to stride to the door and find Lukhanyo. By much difficulty I mean extreme difficulty. These shoes are very uncomfortable!

I find him starting the car in the parking lot. ''Lukhanyo!'', I shout. This type of behavior I honestly never anticipated. He reverses the car just as I am about to reach it and drives off. What is this? Did this man literally just take me to a restaurant to leave me here, stranded, with the bill? All because I told him that I am moving out of his place. For goodness sake I wasn't breaking up with him! I'm now angry. I walk back inside and sit down in front of a table filled with food. I dial my dad. "Mandi, how are you mntanam?'', he answers. I take a deep breath. ''Da, Lukhanyo left me at a restaurant.'', I say with the lowest voice ever. ''Okay, and? What's going on exactly?'', he asks. ''Da he did the most romantic things for me today. Things that the two of us honestly never got the chance to do, because...you know...'', ''Yes, I am listening, how did he leave you at a restaurant and what is wrong with him leaving you there? I need better context Mandi'', he says with a confused tone. ''Dad, I have been apartment shopping for a while. I mean I remember I even told you at some point that I need some space of my own, sort of a new start where I live completely alone. And me living alone doesn't mean I am breaking up with Lukhanyo or planning to cheat or leave him. I mean, I am very grateful for everything he did for me and I like him a lot but I need to find myself.-'', he cuts me off, ''Amanda, what are you saying to me exactly? Just get to the point of the matter.'' I take a deep breath, ''He took me on my first dinner date, bought me expensive gifts and asked me to be his girlfriend. I obviously said yes. Then I sort of blurted it out that I would be moving out and I found an apartment that I like. He took it the wrong way and probably felt like I was leaving him. Well, that is actually what he said. I tried explaining to him and he just didn't want to hear it. He got up and went to his car. I followed him dad and nope he just drove off like that. Now I am left stranded here with a bunch of food and a bill to pay which is fine honestly, but I feel like he overreacted.'', I answer as fast as I can utter the words out of my mouth. Silence.

''Dad, you still there?'', I ask. He clears his throat. "Amanda, my child. Pay that bill, get a doggy bag for that food and Uber yourself to his place.-'', I cut him '' Da I was thinking of booking myself a place for the night just to allow him to cool off and probably try speaking to him tomorrow morning or something.''. ''Amanda, go back there and wait with him to cool off. Your actions sound a bit shady as it is, you don't want him to be hurt more than he is already. Let's remember, that man is an orphan, he is used to people leaving him. He never ill treated you, not even once, and he probably loves you, so he obviously doesn't understand why you would want to move out. Put yourself in his shoes. If you really like him and want to forge a romantic relationship, then it's about time you started considering some compromise. Now let me leave you. The neighbours offered me some cow head which they braai'd and I waited all day to warm it up. I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay? Text me when you are safe.'', he says in a reassuring voice. ''Okay then, goodnight. Enjoy your cow head.'', I respond before dropping the phone.

I signal for the waitress to bring the bill and in less than five minutes she brings it. As I pay, she puts the food in takeaways and by the time I am done, she is also done. I order an Uber and wait patiently for the driver to arrive. I honestly do not know what I am going to do when I get to Bishops Estate. I'm not sure whether I should try speaking to him or just get there and mind my own business until he decides to speak to me. My Uber arrives and I walk out to find it. I greet the driver, hop in the car and off we go. There is nothing I enjoy more than Uber drivers who don't even try to make small talk with you, driving in silence is honestly golden. We do not need to have a ''get to know me'' chat as though we're on Youtube here...

The door is locked and I notice the house is as dark as we left it earlier. I walk inside after unlocking the door and switch on the lights with the controller. "Lukhanyo?'', I shout. But who am I fooling here because I know damn well that this man didn't come home. I drop the takeouts on the kitchen counter, walk up the stairs and straight to the bedroom. The poor rose petals are still scattered all over even though it's no longer a rosy night. Honestly, I have work tomorrow and I need to figure out how I'm going to furnish my new place before moving into it. I change into my sleepwear and climb into bed. Lukhanyo will find me here, asleep and just have to deal with it. I also want an apology from him for that very much uncalled for behavior. Let me sleep...

''OUCH!'', I hear a loud scowl that wakes me up from my slumber. I lift my head up and look around the room, I'm still very alone here. But wait, there's some shuffling downstairs as though there's a lot of people. ''I said, just DO it!'', he exclaims. That's Lukhanyo's voice. What is going on? I get up and run down the stairs. "Lukhanyo?'', I shout whilst looking around to find him. ''Who's that Ta?'', a man's voice asks. Who is asking who I am at my house? Well...my boyfriend's house but, my house. I follow the voices and they lead me to the study/office area. There are three men hovering over Lukhanyo who is seated on the chair. All the men are dressed the same, in black clothing and one is carrying a gun. ''Lukhanyo?'', I whisper as everyone stares at me. The guy with the gun walks up to me. ''Lady, you need to leave.'', he says whilst holding his gun firmly. ''Leave and go where at my house? If there is anyone leaving, it is you after telling me why you are carrying a gun and what is going on here.'', I hiss. How dare this man rock up at my place carrying guns and tell me I need to leave? His strong face must leave! I'm a Xhosa girl, I don't take orders from random men! The guy lifts his hand to grab my arm. ''You dare touch her.'', whispers Lukhanyo. ''Baby are you okay?'', I ask whilst pushing past mister bouncer here, to get to my man. One of the guys blocks me with his arm just as I'm about to reach for Lukhanyo. What is wrong with these men? Why don't they do this at their houses, not here? ''Listen, I've never seen your scarred face in this house before. You are not going to be restraining me from checking on my boyfriend at his place! Now remove your damn arm!'', I shout. The guy looks at Lukhanyo who nods in pain and he removes his arm. I grab Lukhanyo and notice that he is bleeding on his arm. There is whiskey on the table and tissues filled with blood. ''Baby what happened? What is going on? Did they hurt you? It's that ugly man with the gun right?'', I ask in panic. He looks weak and exhausted. ''Amanda go sleep. You have work in the morning.'', he says calmly. ''Lukhanyo you're injured and hanging with creepy men that have guns in the house. How do you think I'll even manage to close my eyes with this happening, let alone sleep?'', I ask. ''Amanda Nzwane, I said...Go...To...Bed.'', he closes his eyes. Uhm, what do I do now? My brain freezes for a second. He looks really pissed. ''Sister, come let me help you out the room.'', one of the strange guys approach me. ''You do not touch her, nor do you help her with anything. I will not repeat myself again, my actions will do the talking.'', he says with his eyes closed. ''Sorry, boss.'', the guy mutters and looks down like a little baby being reprimanded. Argh to actually think that is someone's boyfriend, how embarrassing.

I remain standing like a robot without instructions. ''Dalo, come stitch me up and wipe this blood off. Take that whiskey bottle and pour it on this arm one more time. I want a sip first though.'', says Lukhanyo whilst he breathes heavily. The supposed Dalo grabs the whisky bottle and walks around to the other side of Lukhanyo. ''Amanda, baby, do you necessarily want me to escort you back to the bedroom? Or what must be done for you to go upstairs?'', he looks at me. I shake my head. ''Then go upstairs. I'll join you as soon as I am done here, okay?'', he whispers with a soothingly, reassuring voice. I feel like a small girl or rather a puppy, honestly that is about to walk out of this room with its tail between its legs. I turn and begin walking out of the room. Gun man by the door stares me down as I approach and I give him a face filled with attitude. I slowly make my way up the stairs and back to the bedroom. I know for a fact that I won't get a wink of sleep whilst knowing these men are still inside the house. I have never had someone carry a gun nor seen one inside this house, I wonder where Lukhanyo found these men. But seemingly they work for him and respect him a lot. I climb into bed and cover myself with the blankets. To actually think a couple of hours ago, we were angry at each other because I'm moving out and now he comes home hurt from God knows where. I grab my phone and text my dad. ''I made it home and Lukhanyo's also home. Sorry for the late message.'' This is just to reassure him that I did as he told me to and I'm still safe, well we both are. As soon as I put my phone on the bedside table, I hear some shuffling and further commotion. It is as though they are arguing about something or in some sort of a tussle. I listen carefully. ''I said no!'', Lukhanyo shouts. I wonder what is happening there. Before I even get a chance to create scenarios in my head, I hear a loud gunshot. ''BOOM!'' Oh my God...