Jafta goes to the next room while Natasha is still eating in the kitchen. He goes to Paula to ask for his advice and to tell him about Natasha’s proposal and also what he’s planning to do. He then opens the door to find Paula sitting on the dark side on the bed with his back facing the corridor, looking very sad and stressed.

“What’s going on my brother?” Why the long face?”Jafta asks sympathetically.

“It’s just that I miss Palisa, I feel bad for what I did to her, she just disappeared, Think about it Jafta, since Natasha’s back, it’s obvious that Palisa’s the one who shot Precious. I really loved Precious also, and I promise you brother that something great was going to happen between us. Nothing is going well for me Jafta, but then again I’m happy for you my best friend.”

“Don’t lose hope, my friend. I also think that now is the time for us to pick ourselves up and face every obstacle. And also we need to get back to work Paula, we barely have food now.” Jafta says.

“You are right about that, but how do you intend on marrying Natasha when you know very well that she’s wanted by the police? I think you should look for Candice and tell her to drop the charges,” says Paula.

“I can’t do that,” says Jafta.

“What! Why? You have no choice, Jafta, otherwise there won’t be a wedding and Natasha will be arrested for attempted murder, dude.”

“I don’t think Candice will do that. She’s so angry with Natasha that she also wanted revenge and worst of all, she’ll be angry that I dumped her again for Natasha.” Jafta explains.

As they talk, Natasha arrives. They change the topic so she doesn’t worry. They talk about the wedding and Jafta tells Natasha that he was just telling Paula about the proposal.

“Guys I think we should celebrate this and not to forget, Natasha’s come back. This is good news,” says Paula.

The next day, Paula is thinking. The fact that Palisa disappeared sets out clearly that the killer is still out there. After everything, Paula still can’t find his freedom, he still looks over his shoulder. And the fact that Jafta is so calm about this worries him even more. He is full of thoughts and is over-thinking everything. Jafta and Natasha are out. Paula is alone in the house and finally decides to go to sleep because he is now dizzy.

*****

Candice is in Pietermaritzburg. From the first day she recovered from her wounds, she just ran away from Durban. She is just drinking and clubbing non-stop. She believes that this is the only way to be calm and forget all her problems. She has turned from a wicked woman to worse, a psychopath. Candice also plans to kill Natasha but she is a coward, she doesn’t like doing the dirty work by herself. Candice also believes that no one crosses her and gets away with it, especially someone who almost took her life. That person doesn’t deserve mercy. Candice needs this revenge to show who’s the stronger person.

“I’m a street girl, I grew up on the streets with no family. I had to resort to prostitution and street hustle in order to make money and build my life. That bitch wants to take all that away from me, all that I have worked for! She thinks I grew up rich like her. I had to use my beauty, not money to attract men. She’s going to know my true colours.” Candice is drunk with anger.

She then sits next to a guy she pretends not to know.

“Hello Mister. She laughs. This man feels intimidated and he moves away from her, but she carries on following and irritating him.

“Hey stupid lady, watch where you’re going, can’t you see you are disturbing me? And anyway this is the Primacies’ table.” he takes a sip of his alcohol with anger.

After he’s finished with his sip, he manhandles her and grabs her, pulling her out of the club to a dark corridor outside and strangles her. No one saw him strangling her. He then started laughing.

“Well I think people in the club bought this. They really thought we were fighting because we are drunk,” he says.

“Wow. You can act, Michael, I’m impressed, but you strangled me hard, you asshole.” And she slaps Michael in the face. Michael then holds his face; she slapped him hard.

“Sorry for that Candice, I wanted a real act so that people didn’t catch on to what we have planned. I’ve missed you. I’ve missed our sex.”

“Look, that doesn’t matter. I’ve got hard-core cash for you.”

“Cash!” Michael then pays attention to her.

“Look, I want you to kill this person.” Candice takes out a photo and shows Michael. Michael is her friend and a thug.

“Why do you want to kill this beautiful woman, Candice?” Michael asks.

“Your job here is not to ask questions but get it done. She messed with my life anyway,” says Candice, her face turning red.

Candice then pays him. They part separately and Michael disappears. Candice goes back to the club to finish her last sip and dance just one more time, pretending to be happy. She is full of revenge and anger and also by the fact that Jafta has gone back to Natasha. After Candice has paid for the murder of Natasha she leaves again back to Durban so that if anything is to go wrong, Jafta won’t accuse her for it.

***

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