I had it all planned out. Yes, I was going to pack all my things as promised. I was going to ask my cousin Lehlogonolo to help me with accommodation for a few days. Once all that was settled, I was going to sort out that bitch for once and for all.

I woke up bright and early because I had a special mission to complete, and that mission was not complete without nuts. The great thing was that nuts were Katlego ‘s favourite, and we never ran out of nuts in the house. I took out some and crushed them until they were smooth. However my plan was almost ruined when Katlego dashed into the kitchen before I could hide them.

“Morning! I went to check on you in your room and figured I would find you here.”

Oh Baby! Maybe he was just in a bad space yesterday and he wanted to tell me that he had made a mistake and there was no need for me to go.

“I’m taking my mom and uncles to their respective homes, and I was wondering if you were going to need a lift?”

Really? A lift? And here I was thinking he wanted to apologise!

“I… no… I’ll be at my cousin’s house for a while. I don’t think I could stand being alone. Every time I close my eyes I… I just think of Thateho and… You know it’s all my fault. I should have never agreed to take her to Lulu’s bedroom,” I said with a pretentious shaky voice.

It was at that moment that I realised Katlego’s attitude towards me really had changed. Instead of holding me the way he did in the past few days, he just looked the other way as if I was boring him. Then, without warning, he asked me: “Mantoa, do you have feelings for me? I mean if you do, I will understand. I was the one who led you on… and…”

“Sir! I can’t believe you are asking me that! I… that day was a total mistake and it should never have happened…”

“Really? Are you sure about that? Because… I really felt…”

“Oh good morning, everyone,” interrupted Mrs Mangena. “Katlego my son, I wanted to ask if I could stay a few days or so? You know I like it here, my baby? Mmh, that way me and Mantoa here can start cleaning up Thateho’s room…”

“Mantoa is leaving mama, and I don’t want anyone in my daughter’s room,” he spat.

“I’m sorry, it was just a suggestion. Let me go pack my things then,” she said with a sad voice and walked away.

I sensed that I was somehow being trapped, but I was not going to fall for anything. I was not going to agree to having feelings for him. Why should he feel the need to even ask me when he knew how much we cared for each other? How could he even ask me that when he knew very well the things he said to me that night?

I could see what was going on. That bitch Palesa put him up to it. She was the one who turned my man against me. She was the one who was trying to separate us by telling him I could have killed his daughter to frame Lulu because I had feelings for him. No! I was not going to agree to anything, but that cow! I was going to teach her a lesson she would never forget…

“Are those nuts?” he changed the subject…

What exactly was going on? “Yes, I woke up craving nuts,” I lied.

“And you thought you should crush them first?” he asked sarcastically.

“I… I realised there was no peanut butter, and I thought I could eat them on my bread, sir! About the other night… I had long forgotten about it the moment Madam came back home. What we did was cruel and unforgivable; it took me a long time to forgive myself. I’m even surprised you let me keep my job, but honestly I don’t have any feelings for you and I’m wondering where all these questions are coming from?” I asked with a supposedly broken heart.

“I just thought I was missing something, but it’s okay. I’m sorry for my stupid questions and Mantoa, there is peanut butter on the top shelf. I saw it myself yesterday. I will transfer your money before I leave, and if I catch you gone, go well and we’ll keep in touch.”

That was it? Go well and we’ll keep in touch? Palesa was really good; very good I tell you, but she must wait to see how great I was. I poured my finely ground nuts into a plastic bag and headed to my bedroom to prepare to leave. Katlego was going to regret ever crossing me with those two women…

When I arrived at my cousin ‘s place, she was expecting me. I acted as if nothing was bothering me. I was not about to let other people into my plans, and besides, Lehlogonolo was a very sweet person and I wouldn’t want her to be involved in hectic things.

Shame my poor cuz! She stayed in a one-roomed shack, but she still managed to accommodate me. I caught her at a bad time because she was working night shift that day, but at least we had time to catch up while she prepared for work. While she cooked, I found it impossible to be patient. All I wanted was to find myself at Palesa’s doorstep with a hot chocolate and a carrot cake to go with it. Yes, I was going to sprinkle all those nuts in the hot chocolate. One sip from my drink and she would be no more…

“Hao cuzi, o bonala ole bodutu watseba,” said Lehlogonolo as she served me a plate of chicken feet with porridge.

How I dreaded the poor lifestyle. I was already used to the fancy lifestyle of turkey and lamb stews with vegetables and all those fancy foods, and now I was back to chicken feet? No, I really needed to get Palesa out of my way so I could go back to my man and we could continue with our fancy life style…

“Hao Mantoa, are you sure you are sharp? You haven’t said much since you got here.”

“Eish, Cuz, the memory of that little girl still haunts me. How can someone kill their own child? Mmh? Some people are just cruel…”

“Hai! What can we say? There are sick people out there. Eish motswala wena I’m running late. I really have to lock up after I leave. You never know with these Nyaope boys these days: they will surprise you when you least expect it.”

***

Tell us: Do you think she is going to carry out her plan to kill Palesa?