Kusasa ngoMvulo ukufika kwam e-ofisini ndaqala ngekofu yam esele ifana nesiko lam kwaye ke   ndabukela uLilly.

“Ibiyimpela-veki ephakamileyo, mfethu,” Watsho uDave wabe sele ezilahla kwisitulo esingqamene nam, endisitha kwinto endandiyibukele. Ndagqiba kwelokuba ndimhoye, nje ukususa ingqondo yam kuLilly.

“Ke ngoku, uZandile? Uyathandeka. Ingaba sekukho into eniyiqhubayo ngoku?” Ndazama ukuzenza onomdla.

“Awu ndoda, undazi njani? Ndichithe impela-veki naye endlini yakhe. Njengokuba besenditshilo, ibiphakamile.!”

Sele ndiyazi ke into aza kundixelela yona kwaye ke andifuni kuva zinkcukacha.

Andazi ukuba uDave wenza njani; wasoloko eyifumana intombazana. Kodwa kwesi sihlandlo ‘amantombazana’ Kuvele into yokuba ebebafumene bobabini!  Kodwa ke andothukanga kuyaphi. Kufuneka nje ndihlale ndilindele ixesha lokulahlwa kwala mantombazana naxa sele esiza kum elila ukuba mandincede ndicenge uDave ukuba awathathe kwakhona. Kodwa andiwagxeki la mantombazana, uDave ngumntu othetha kamnandi.

Ukhupha incwadi yakhe aze anike la mantombazana amanqaku. UZandile afumane isithathu aze uJoyce afumane isine. Ndikhathazekile kodwa ndizame ukungayibonakalisi le nto.

Kulungile ukuba ndibe naye noJoyce, andithi?” watsho uDave wabe sele evala incwadi yakhe.  “Kakade beningekho kunye nina nobabini.”

Ndavela ndehlisa amagxa. Andazi kutheni ndisenza le nto kum.

“Owu ndiyabona, sele uzifumanele intakazana,” atsho ejonge ngqo kuLilly.

Ndibhatyazile. Yintoni le ndiyenzileyo! Ngoku usemboniselweni yakhe kanye.

“Kum-na-ndi, njandini engcolileyo, watsho endibetha ngenqindi kakhulu esifubeni.

Noko ngoku lavakala kabuhlungu, ndajonga ngesiquphe ndajonga kude, ndilindele elinye inqindi.

“Uthetha ngantoni? Ndatsho.

“Uyazi ntoni, la mntwanana umbone kwezi mpahla zabo zokuzilolonga.”

Ndaqalisa ukubila. Makangachithi ixesha ejonge kuLilly wam.

“Hayi suka, akakho kudidi lwam,” Ndatsho, phofu kum ngaphezu kokuba ndisitsho kuye.

“Ungayifumana la ntakazana. Yenza lento ndiyenzayo. Uthetha ukuba andikakufundisi nto?”

Ndinexhala lokuba uzakusuka aphakame aze aye kuye. Kungaba kuphelile ngathi: uLilly kunye nam. UDave wasoloko eyifumana intombi. Qho.

“Ndiyabona kutheni umthanda; akalodidi lwam,” watsho ndaphantse ndaxhuma.  “Eneneni ukhona umnconwana kodwa hayi kakhulu. Ngumntu nje, akanamathanga makhulu okanye imilebe. Mhle kodwa. Ndingamnika elo inqaku.”

Ngoku ndatsho ndakwazi ukuphefumla. Mthembe uDave ngoku ngakwazi ukububona ubuhle benenekazi bulapha phambi kwakhe. Okokuqala sukela oko ndambonayo, ndiyavuya bubutyhakala bakhe kunye nendlela zakhe ezingagqibekiyo. Usindile uLilly wam.

“Nyani mfethu, kufuneka umthathe khona.” watsho ephakama. “Kumele ndihambe, imali ayizi kuzenza ngokwayo.”

Uthe xa ehamba esimka, ndahlala ndada ndehla esitulweni sam. Andikholelwa ukuba ndiphantse ndayidiza elubala le nto. Kumele ndiyeke ukuqwalasela, ndisinde kancinci.

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Umbuzo:  Ingaba uDave ufanele athandane nentombi kaTumie, noxa bebephume kwabakanye bengazange bonwabe?