EVERYTHING SHE NEVER HAD

09

No one is saying anything, they in their table behind the security building looking at each other, Tumo is busy playing with mayas hands and she's enjoying it.

"what is it" she asks blushing because Tumo has been looking at her for quite some time smiling and saying nothing.

"nex" he says still smiling. "tell me about yourself kutlwe" she smiles and chews her bottom lip.

"what do you want to know?"

"mmh, what do you want to be, career wise" no one has ever asked her this.

"an accountent maybe?" she shrugs her shoulders.

"so you love numbers?" she looks at him and chuckles.

"I wish"

"then why accounting?"

She never thought she could ever say this out loud, but something forces her to say it.

"I want to bankrup my father's company, I'm still not sure if I should go the accounting way or business way, but all I know is that I want it burnt to ashes"

Shocked, Tumo brushes her hand. "why?" she looks at him and blinks away the tears that threaten to come out.

"he always care about it more than me, if he were to choose, it would be my siblings and then that company, and I will be excluded from everything."

"I'm sorry"

"no, don't be, it's what it is. Funny I'm the only one interest in the business world, even if it's for the wrong reasons" she sighs and rubs her tramples. "sorry. I don't want to come out as crazy or-"

"hey, hey, hey" he holds both her hands. "you don't sound crazy okay, you have a good enough reason why you want to do that, I'm pretty sure of it" he gives her a smile that's quickly replaced by anger "you lucky its just a company, only God knows what I would do to my father" he clenched his jaw and unclenches it.

"what did he do?" Maya asks. He quickly snaps out of his trance and smiles.

"don't worry about it. Now, tell me about how you plan on doing that?"

"when I was twelve, my father had some of his business friends over, my siblings were out I don't know where, I was in my room, I was busy reading when the door opened, this one guy came in, said he was looking for the toilet, I told him where it was and he left"she said. "that year. The same guy continued coming to our houses, he liked asking me questions and I became intrigued when he spoke about his businesses and all that"

For the first time ever she felt like speaking, she was somewhat tired of bottling things up, maybe if she spoke she might lift off the burden off her shoulders.

"he came on my Thirteenth birthday, only Kagiso wished me a happy birthday, none of my siblings, father or mother said anything so when he came he bought me a laptop, j was happy and excited, no one had ever bought me anything before, well, besides Kagiso, he was the only one who cared enough for me, so when someone else who wasnt him did. I dont know. I dont know what I to even say about it" a tear dropped from her eye.

Slightly catching on, Tumo scooted closer to him and brushed her back. "it was not your fault" he said.

"no I know it wasn't, I didn't do anything, if he had been a father to me, none of this could have ever happened" now the tears were flowing but she felt nothing, if anything, her hatred for her father grew even more, she knew her father hated her but that day, it showed to what extend, what's worse three months later she was diagnosed with bipolar and later shipped off to boarding school. So her reason for hating her father was justified.

"anyway, enough about me, what about you, what do you wanna be" she said smiling as if she wasn't crying literally less than a minute ago.

"I want to be a lawyer, human right lawyer or criminal lawyer, I don't know, I'm still deciding which one would be better"

"why do you want to be one"

"like you, I want revenge on my father, if it weren't for him I would still have my mother, he took everything away from me"

She knew gore gogo was too old to be his mother. "I'm sorry, what happened to her?"

"I hate entitled man, who think a woman's body is theirs to do as they please, he hit my mother and rapped her, he hit her until she bleed right in front of me, he thought that just because he has money he can do exactly what he wanted, that he could get away with everything, but then I guess because he said my mother died from a break in that happend, I wanted to tell the police what happened, I really did Maya, but that burstad said I was traumatize to think properly, he never wanted me to talk to the police or anyone for that matter " his eyes were red, filled with rage and he tried to control his emotions, thinking about his mother breaks him down, gogo always tried to make him talk but he wouldn't, but then here he is with this honey-brown eyed girl saying everything he never said to anyone.

"promise me that you will make him pay, they have to pay" Maya said. He turned to look at her and nodded his head.

"I promise, but your father is on the list too, you didn't deserve any of the things he put you through".

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After that night they made a pact, to make their fathers pay, come hell or high-water, they will pay even if it's the last thing they do, but unknown to them, feelings started brewing, they would meet every day and have lunch together, Tumo became more open and to Maya and vice versa, as much as they thought this was friendship, during the night lying alone in bed, their thoughts drift off and questioning what the sudden change is all about.

"Tumo dira ka Pele hle man, retla go fitla late kwa kerekeng hay" (Tumo be quick, we will be late for church)

"ke atla" (I'm coming) he shouted, Gogo shook her head and took a sip of her water, and checked if she had everything she wanted. Bible, check, tissue, check, money for thithe, check.

Isn't it crazy how those who have nothing are the most devoted to the lord, they have no money to buy food and yet the little that they have they give to God?

Feeling alive and thankful Tumo made his way out looking dapper in his Chino pants and shirt. One thing he could say he's thankful for from his devil of a father is the clothes he has on his back.

All the way to church he and gogo kept talking about scriptures and their understanding of them.

Meanwhile, Maya was in her room watching Candice pack and waiting for her parents to come fetch her, if March holidays and almost have the school has left for home. As much as she misses Kagiso, she knows that Home Is the last place she wants to be, and lucky for her, Kagiso understands just that.

"so vele uwuyi ekhaya girl?" (so you really not going home) asked Candice.

"iye, I just don't feel like it" she said, busy typing on her phone. Her phone rang just as Candice was about to ask her another question.

"bhuti"(brother) she said. Standing and going over the to the window looking outside.

"I'll be there in an hour, we going out for movies, be prepared" the smile on her could not be wiped,.

"okay" she quickly hung up and went to the communal shower to get ready.

Thirty minutes later she was getting ready and doing final touchups.

She is one girl who takes her appearance very seriously, I guess that's one thing she and her sister, Kagisos' twin Katlego have in common, well, probably something all the Mahlangu kids have in common.

She and Katlego are the only girls, and then it's Kagiso and Loyiso the last born. She is only two months older than Loyiso, being the same age and all that, you would think that at least they would get along, but no, if anything, Loyiso is just a younger version of their father, Vusi.

Minutes later there was a knock on her door, Candice opened the door for everyone to get in. She thought it would just be the two of them but to her surprise, the whole Mahlangu anterage was here, by anterage we mean her two other siblings, Loyiso and Katlego.

"I hope uready because we can't be here for long" said Kagiso settling down on the bed.

"yeah I am, let me wear my shoes"

She's in a black tight fitted dress and a blue demin jacket to top her outfit, she wears black vans shoes and grabs her side bag and they all walk out.

"bye girl" Candice yells behind.

They all walk to the car that they came in, Katlego goes to the front with the driver while the three goes to the back.

The drive is filled with silence with only Maya and kagiso talking. When they get to the mall, all four step out and go for some eye shopping before the movie starts. It's almost twelve and their movie starts at two so the walk around the mall having small talks.

They decide to have lunch first before going to the movies so they go to spur and have their lunch, everything is on Kagiso so everyone orders however they like.

"haibo, just because I'm paying it doesn't mean you should milk me hawu" he says when he hears what they ordered. Katlego and Kagiso are in matric so Maya asks them how it's like there, katli just flips her hair and says it's fine, of course she enjoys the boys attantion as she's now a sinior, she's always loved popularity which Is why she takes acting classes academically… she's a Mahlangu so she doesn't fail, but if they were to comaprare, she's the least performing one.

She and Loyiso are in grade eleven, Seventeen this year. Loyiso is more focused on his phone that anything else and he seems bothered.

Kagiso decided to go check the cinema while Katli goes to the toilet, or the guy she was making eye contact with rather.

"soo, Loyiso, kunjani eskolweni?" (how is school?) she decided to break the ice.

"huh?" He asks scratching his head.. "ooh, yeah, kuright man" (it's fine)

"mmmh, usharp Mara?"(are you okay) she's trying, they never been one to talk and it feels rather awkward right this minute.

"eish, aii Hlengiwe, khanti ninjani Nina amantomabazane?" (what is it with you girls)

"what do you mean?" she asks, taking a sip of her drink.

"aai, nex, just girls confuse me at times you know"

Maya chuckles and takes her last sip before Kagiso comes back and they all stand to leave, they bump into katli on their way and they all go to the cinema.

Its time for everyone to leave so they go drop Maya off at school.

"hawu, kanti you not coming home?" asks Loyiso.

"uhm… No. I'm staying here for the holidays" she doesn't know if they know the reason why, but she's not about to tell them either way.

"let me walk you in" she's shocked that Loyiso is one to offer but she doest say anything.

On their way in, she spots Tumo sitting on the chair talking to the security guard. They make eye contact and immediately blush covers her chubby plump cheeks.

"is he the guy that's got you all giggy?" huh-?

"what are you talking about?" she asks confused.

He nods he's head towards the direction where Tumo Is.

"uuh, no" she's quick to defend.

"it's fine, anyway, here, Tshego wanted me to give you this, and for what Is worth" he pauses and shifts on his feet. "I don't hate it, I just choose to ignore everything, but I dont hate you" he says and brushes her arms and turns to leave.

"ooh by the way, happy birthday" then he gets inside the car before it hoots and dissappers from view.