ECHOES OF LONELINESS episode 19 – 20
ECHOES OF LONELINESS
Part 19 – Blinded By Trust
[Rita]
I’ve been thinking about everything that happened and I’ve made a decision. Wame is the only person I should trust. She’s like my puppet. She believes that if she crosses me, I am going to sell Warona so yes, Wame should be trusted. I believe that she’ll do everything I ask her to do.
I went to Joseph’s bedroom to check if he’s okay. He was busy with the laptop. I sat down next to him.
Me: Hey honey
Joseph: What do you want?
Me: What happened to you?
Joseph: What do you mean?
Me: Why are you acting so strange?
Joseph: Where have you been?
Me: Our house
Joseph: What were you doing there?
Me: Clearing my head
Joseph: Who were you with?
Me: I was alone
Joseph: Oh, really?
Me: Yes
Joseph: Get me something to drink
Me: Now?
Joseph: Yes
Me: Water?
Joseph: Whiskey
Me: Okay but may I say something?
Joseph: Sure
Me: I missed you so much
Joseph: Okay
Me: I mean it
Joseph: Get me some whiskey
Me: Okay
I got him what he wanted.
Joseph: Thanks
Me: You are welcome
Joseph: Leave
Me: No
Joseph: No?
Me: Babe, you know that I love you. Why are you doing this to me?
Joseph: Rita, please keep quiet. I am busy with important work
I k-ssed his cheek.
Me: I am sorry. Can we please start afresh?
Joseph: Rita, please leave
I got undressed.
Me: Babe, look at me
Joseph: I am busy
Me: Just once
Joseph: No
Me: (Whispers) I am wearing the beautiful lingerie you bought for me
Joseph: So?
Me: It’s your favorite so look at me
Joseph: Just leave me alone
What is wrong with him? I am half unclad but he doesn’t even want to look at me. I am wearing the s€×y lingerie he bought for me months back but he still doesn’t want to look at me. What is really wrong with him?
Me: Babe?
Joseph: Rita, leave
Me: Won’t you look at me?
Joseph: I said get out
Me: Please
He got up and left the room.
Tears streamed down my face as I got dressed again. I then went to Wame’s bedroom.
[Wame]
I was combing my sister’s hair when Rita walked in. I was with her like few minutes ago so why is she here?
Me: Hi
Rita: Hey
Me: What’s going on?
Rita: Nothing
Me: But you are crying
Rita: Please be the one to serve my husband dinner tonight
I am definitely going to serve your husband dinner tonight but not the one you are talking about.
Me: Why?
Rita: He’s still mad at me
Me: Oh, okay then I’ll serve him tonight
Rita: Thanks
Me: Why is he mad at you?
Rita: I don’t know
Me: Don’t worry, everything is going to be fine
Rita: Thank you
Me: Wipe off your tears
She wiped off her tears and smiled.
Rita: Thank you, Wame
Me: You are welcome
Warona: She’s a witch
Rita: Who, baby?
Warona: You
Rita: Why are you calling me a witch?
Warona: (scre-ms) Witch, witch, witch!!!
Me: Warona, keep quiet
She left in a hurry.
Me: Please forgive her, she’s just a child
Rita: It’s okay
But Waro is right, Rita is a witch.
Me: Do you need something else?
Rita: Yes
Me: What is it?
Rita: Serve my husband dinner and be with him in his room until he fall asleep
I will definitely do that.
Me: What are you saying, Rita? How is that possible?
Rita: Wame, please
Me: What’s going to happen there? Like what am I going to talk about with your husband?
Rita: Anything
Me: You are putting me in a very awkward position, Rita
Rita: I know and I am sorry
Me: I am going to give him something to eat then he’ll ask me to leave his room, what am I going to say after that?
Rita: I know that you are smart. You’ll start a conversation right away
Me: But your husband is not in a good mood, he’s going to chase me away
Rita: Wame, I trust you so don’t worry. Everything is going to be fine
Me: Do you think so?
Rita: Yes
Me: Okay fine then, I’ll do as you say
Rita: (Smiles) Thank you
Me: But I need something in return
Rita: What is it?
Me: Don’t allow Thabo to take me away for the wh0le week. I don’t want to sleep with him ever again
Rita: Who told you that he’s…
Me: Everyone knows and you didn’t even tell me
Rita: Okay fine then. You won’t leave with Thabo
Me: Do you promise?
Rita: Yes
Me: Don’t break your promise
Rita: I won’t
Me: Thank you
Rita: You are welcome. I am leaving now
Me: Okay
She got up and left.
Does she really trust me? Is she that foolish? No, I have to find out what exactly Rita is up to. I really don’t trust her.
Michaela walked in.
Michaela: Wame, have you heard from Ayanda?
Me: No
Michaela: Do you think that her father is going to help us?
Me: Yes, I think so. He’s going to involve the social workers
Michaela: That’s awesome but I am now impatient
Me: Me too but we must wait for Ayanda to get back to us
Michaela: Sure
Me: How are you now?
Michaela: I am feeling better
Me: Do you always take drugs when you are not okay?
Michaela: Uhm… sometimes
Me: But why?
Michaela: They make me feel better
Me: You are foolish. Don’t ever take drugs again. Cocaine, babe? It’s going to kill you
Michaela: Can we please talk about something else?
Me: I have to go check up on aunt Nina, she said something about being sick
Michaela: Oh yeah, she’s not feeling well at all
Me: Let’s go to her room
Michaela: Sure
We left.
We bumped into Joseph by the stairs and he slipped a piece of paper in my pocket.
Part 20 – Back To Square One
[Hours Later]
It’s finally dinner time and all the orphans are eating at the hall (Our dinning room). I ate before everyone else and went to Rita’s office where I found her eating. I sat down.
Me: It’s time now
Rita: Where’s your sister?
Me: Eating
Rita: Won’t she look for you when she’s done?
Me: Michaela is going to look after her, don’t worry
Rita: Great then. Did you dish up for my husband?
Me: Yes
Rita: You may go
Me: I am so nervous
I am actually lying, I am not nervous at all but I am happy.
Rita: Don’t be nervous, you’ll be fine
Me: I can’t help it
Rita: And I understand
Me: Okay, I am leaving now
Rita: All the best
Me: Thanks
Rita: Don’t spill the beans
Me: I won’t
Rita: I trust you, puppet
Me: What did you call me?
Rita: Uhm… I… I mean you are beautiful just like a puppy
She’s lying to me, she is calling me a puppet. Does she really think that I am a puppet? Is that why she trusts me? Well, this puppet is going to destroy her.
I faked my smile.
Me: Thanks
Rita: (Smiles) Sure. You may go now
Me: Okay
I got up and first went to my bedroom to wear a dress. I then remembered that Joseph had given me something earlier on.
I checked my pockets and found a piece of paper. I then put my jeans away and sat down.
I unfolded the piece of paper and I was immediately confused. It’s written “tipots” in big letters. “What language is this? Doesn’t Joseph know how to write? Could it be that he’s an illiterate?”, I asked myself as I got up and walked out of the room.
I went to the kitchen to get Joseph’s food then went to his bedroom. I was still holding on to that piece of paper.
I knocked on the door. He only opened after approximately five minutes. What a fool.
Me: Hey, may I please come in?
Joseph: Sure
I went in.
Me: What took you so long to open the door?
Joseph: I was in the bathroom, I didn’t hear you only until I got out. I am sorry
Me: (Smiles) It’s okay. I brought you something to eat. Close the door
Joseph: Okay
He closed the door and locked it.
Me: Sit down
He sat down and started eating.
Joseph: Did you cook?
Me: No
Joseph: When are you going to cook for me?
Me: Soon
Joseph: Where’s Rita?
Me: Her office. She’s eating
Joseph: You mean she started eating before me?
Me: Yes. She didn’t look bothered at all
Joseph: She’s starting to disrespect me
Me: I don’t understand
Joseph: You won’t understand
Me: Make me understand
Joseph: Rita knows that I must eat dinner before her. She was even supposed to serve me. Doesn’t she care about me anymore?
Me: It’s quite obvious
Joseph: Well thank you for caring. Thanks alot
Me: (Smiles) You are welcome. Guess what?
Joseph: Jake is here
Me: No
Joseph: Then what is it? Please tell me
Me: Rita gave me permission to be here
Joseph: How?
Me: She asked me to keep an eye on you. She said that I should get close to you
Joseph: (Smiles) I love that. She’s making things easier for us
Me: That’s true
Joseph: So why did she ask you to keep an eye on me?
Me: She believes that you are cheating on her
Joseph: Is that so?
Me: Yes
Joseph: So tell me something, whose side are you on?
Me: Isn’t it obvious?
Joseph: Answer the question, Wame
Me: Your side
Joseph: Promise?
Me: I promise
Joseph: Don’t betray me
Me: I won’t
He looked at me in a very different way. He even made me feel uncomfortable.
Me: Why are you looking at me like that?
Joseph: Did you just say that you won’t betray me?
Me: Yes
Joseph: I don’t believe you
Me: Why not?
Joseph: You probably started betraying me
Me: How?
Joseph: I don’t know. You tell me
Me: What are you trying to say, Joseph?
Joseph: Nothing. Just fix your ways
Me: I don’t understand
Joseph: Do not betray me, that’s what I am saying
Me: I won’t betray you
He pushed the plate of food aside and came closer to me.
Joseph: Siyabonga
Me: Siyabonga?
Joseph: Yes
Me: No, you should say “Ngiyabonga” because there’s only one of you
Joseph: Sorry, I am not a Zulu speaker
Me: But you just thanked me in Zulu
Joseph: (Laughs) You are so slow
Me: Am I?
He k-ssed my cheek.
Joseph: Yes
Me: I am really lost
Joseph: Siyabonga is someone’s name
Me: Oh, sorry. Okay, who’s Siyabonga?
Joseph: My friend, my very good friend. Someone who can never betray me no matter what
Me: You are really speaking in riddles
Joseph: Where’s that piece of paper I gave to you?
Me: Here
Joseph: Read what’s written there
Me: tipots
Joseph: Do you understand?
Me: Not at all
Joseph: Why not?
Me: What language is this?
Joseph: English
Me: (Laughs) You’ve lost it
Joseph: Read it starting from “s”
Me: Backwards?
Joseph: Mhmm
Me: S-t-o-p-i-t. Stop it?
Joseph: Mhmm
Me: (Laughs) Oh yeah, I am so slow
Joseph: Of course you are
Me: So what exactly do you want me to stop?
Joseph: Siyabonga will never betray me
Me: There we go again. Can’t you be clear? You are saying so many things at the same time
Joseph: Am I?
Me: Duh!
Joseph: Don’t ever speak to me like that
Me: Sorry
Joseph: Let’s sit down
Me: Sure
We both sat down.
Joseph: I like you so much but I will never allow you to betray me. You can’t betray me and get away so stop it before it’s too late
Me: Did I really betray you?
Joseph: Yes and I am very angry
Me: How did I betray you?
Joseph: Do I really have to remind you?
Me: Yes
Joseph: I am not a fool
Me: I know
Joseph: Are you sure?
Me: Yes
He grabbed my hand with force. It was really hurting.
Joseph: Wame Daniels, STOP IT!!!
Me: Ouch, you are hurting me
He started shouting at me. I was really lost.
Joseph: DO YOU WANT ME TO KILL YOU? ARE YOU THAT FOOLISH TO THINK THAT I’D BUY YOU A PHONE SO THAT YOU CAN DESTROY ME? I BOUGHT YOU A PHONE JUST TO TEST YOUR LEVEL OF FOOLISHNESS AND GUESS WHAT? YOU TAKE A TROPHY OF BEING FOOLISH. YOU ARE VERY FOOLISH, WAME, VERY FOOLISH!!!
I also yelled at him.
Me: LET GO OF MY HAND, JOSEPH!!!
He gave me a hot slap that left me speechless.
I spoke calmly.
Me: Did you just slap me?
Joseph: GO AND GET THE PHONE
Me: Fine
I went to get the phone. I can’t believe that he slapped me.
I gave him the phone. He was really fuming.
Me: What have I done?
Joseph: YOU’VE BEEN CONTACTING AYANDA. SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT ME AND MY FAMILY, ALL THANKS TO YOU
Me: How do you know her?
He had a glass of water and sat down. He then spoke calmly.
Joseph: Does it matter?
Me: Yes, it does
Joseph: Why did you do it?
Me: Do you think that I am happy here? No, I am not
Joseph: And I don’t care
Me: Obviously
Joseph: Why did you do it?
Me: How do you know Ayanda? Is she one of your side chicks?
Joseph: No
Me: Then how do you know her?
Joseph: Does it really matter?
Me: Yes, Joseph
Joseph: Don’t you know your own friend’s father?
Me: I don’t follow
Joseph: What you two have is not a real friendsh¡p
Me: Are you Ayanda’s father?
Joseph: No
Me: Fine then, I’ll call Ayanda and ask her everything I want to know
Joseph: You will not do that
Me: Why not? Who are you and who’s Ayanda?
Joseph: Ayanda is Siyabonga’s daughter
Me: Huh?
He smashed the glass on the wall and got up. He came to my face and started yelling again.
Joseph: YOU HAVE HEARD ME. STOP ASKING ME MANY QUESTIONS
Me: But…
Joseph: SIYABONGA IS MY GOOD FRIEND AND HE’S AYANDA’S FATHER. HE TOLD ME EVERYTHING YOU TOLD AYANDA SO JUST SHUT UP!!!
I slowly walked away. I didn’t have the strength anymore. I didn’t have the energy to even ask questions. I was just like a living corpse.
We are back to square one and I am done trying to help everyone. I AM DONE!!!
To be continued…