Junior

Simbongile was still asleep when I woke up. I thought about waking her up and coming clean to her. Last night was the night I was supposed to come clean to her. The weight on my shoulders was getting heavy for me to carry. I had a whole speech planned that I was going to tell her, but when the time came, I swallowed back my words and let the words die at the tip of my tongue.

“Morning,” I greeted Sine when I got inside the car; he nodded looking at me in the rear-view mirror before driving.

Guilt had been eating at me for the last couple of months. I had tried to hide it as best as I could so that Simbongile wouldn’t see through my mask, and to my surprise, she never did.

I passed by the store and bought a couple of things for Siphesihle. Ever since I learnt she was pregnant I always bought her something, either her favourite snacks or perfume, just to see her smile.

“You can go,” I said to Sine when the car wheels rolled down the big yard. “You’ll fetch me tomorrow around noon,” I said, getting out of the car. When I opened, Siphesihle came to greet me with a huge smile on her face.

“I brought breakfast.” Sihle took the plastic to the kitchen while I followed from behind.

“Have you told her?” Sihle asked when we sat down at the table. We had agreed that I would break the news gently to Simbongile last night. I shook my head. “I couldn’t.”

“The wedding is in seven days and you still haven’t told her. I told you that it is either me or her. I don’t want to be toyed with, Junior. Three years is a long time for you not to have made a decision.” She shook her head as she pushed the plate away from her and stood up from her chair, “This ring,” she pointed at her finger, “means nothing if you want to continue a life of lies and deceit. It’s either you tell her or we call this whole thing off.” She sighed. “I’m tired, Junior, I am exhausted with the lie that we have been living. We have a baby on the way, you need to man up.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose with my eyes closed in frustration and nodded. I did not want to lose the woman that I loved. “Fine, I’ll tell her tonight, I’ll call or text her.” I saw the flame in her eyes die down a little bit.

“I hope that you are serious this time.”

I nodded. I would just send her a quick text to let her know about my relationship with her sister and that Sihle was the one I wanted.

Tell us: what do you think of Junior’s behaviour?