Episode 9: Secrets

Around Midday, Vulisanii walked up ebony staircase tip toeing in his new shoes before walking  into the upstairs lounge, where he found his uncle standing with Dee Monique by the patio, where the view to the pool usually made his smile like a king looking down unto his castle.

"Look at those patterns, and leaves, all over that silky smooth fabric. Look at how it shines like diamonds upon the riverbanks of an Northern African mine," he smiled turning to him, the fiery side beard that ran past his ears and along his jawline freshly combed, as he passed his glass to Dee Monique so he could clap his hands, before doing so delightfully - as the whiskey's touch shone with his teeth.

"Yeah yeah, I just woke up to this suit on top of my headboard, like what's the occassion Uncle G?" He looked around in search of the surprise whilst brushing his palms against his shoulders, but both his uncle and the pretty, coloured lady next to him left all hints hidden behinds their clueless smiles.

"The reality is that you my son, will be getting married today, after which we will leave for Mozambique," Uncle G then walked back and spanked Dee Monique's ass before Vulisanii looked to Mastermind and eventually to Kimm JM in search of answers, but no signs were roaming on their faces.

Kimm JM and Mastermind seemed just as confused as he was, and as the word 'wedding' played in his ear he couldn't help but wonder which other potential life partner his uncle could have planned for him. His uncle knew how he felt about Aneni-Anesu anyways - that was a relationship he never wanted to jeopardize - she was the love of his life - at least he thought.

"So the boys are going to take you for a drive - imagine lunch at a Toni Moliba's restaurant in that designer Toni Moliba suit - now isn't that just the Italian meaning of expensive?" His uncle's laugh was followed by large wave of laughter... "In fact; we are all going out, we are going to celebrate! The time for my plan's execution has come calling"

Overwhelmed by his uncle's words, along a small surge of excitement, he smiled and watched his uncle walk past him with his hand clasped with Dee Monique's. The pair were acting strange and almost touchy-touchy enough to be considered high school teenagers, constantly whispering into each other's ears as though there were hiding something -especially from Vulisanii.

Before he knew it, a few confusing moments had passed and they were all entering into three lined up black Porsche sedans, which were escorted by 2 vans carrying 4 armed body guards each. Vulisanii found it a bit extreme for such security during daytime. His Uncle had definitely been manipulated into changing his ways by his newly found devious accomplice. He couldn't blame his uncle though, even Mastermind had spoken oddly about how her brownish orange coat and black polo neck had left her eyes sparkling, and her fleeky brows matching with the small little mole which sat halfway to the right side of her upper lip. Her long her sat above the wide collar of her coat as she flirtiously got into the sedan next to to Gummy Bear.

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Elsewhere, the reality of marriage overweighed his ability to think straight, as a the sounds of joy trailed into his ears as soon as he got out of his Uber ride, and saw several friends and faces bidding him welcome - much to put a smile on his face. Only problem was that there was no sign of his mother - but when he saw smoke rising, behind the roof, from behind the house he quickly assumed that his mother and aunt were waiting with another surprise that side.

Even Darren and Yonella too were there and poured him wide, proud smiles as he walked past the small audience that welcomed him, right in front of his home. Aneni-Anesu too wasn't there - and he could tell by the presence of Darren. Yonella would never bring Darren over as long as Aneni-Anesu was around. Something was odd and fishy at the same time. His mother and sister clearly had something to deal with and he wondered if it were by any means related to Genna and her mother. "I'm sure she'll call me any minute from now and inform me of Genna's possibly imminent arrival to that house." He couldn't help telling himself the only conclusion which birthed sense into the situation.

Other guests walked in too and swarmed the house, others into the kitchen and others into the lounge whilst others went through the lounge and straight towards the backyard, where the barbeque seemed to be coming from. Anathii instantly felt like properly attacking Darren for that Thursday evening incident as he saw him walking towards him. Until Darren quickly jogged over and apologized - blaming weed for his actions, leaving both of them hugging and peace-making with a string of fake smiles stretching from their lips to their ears - just before Darren's quick dash back outside to go and help Malum' Innocent with the barbeque.

"Here" Yonella's voice quickly caught him offguard, before he turned around and dubiuosly accepted the cider offer which was in her hand. "I'm really sorry about the whole Cafe incident Anathii, you know how Darren can be at times - especially when high or drunk." After saying that she pierced her gaze right through the back doorway and looked, before seeing the same Darren laughing as though he were an extremely peaceful human being. Those laughs of his could never fool her since she had been with him long enough to know the meaning of every tattoo on his body, as well as the kind of side hustles he partook in, in secret that is.

"Even if you won't forgive me I'll understand, but as your best friend I have to be there for you, especially of your wedding's eve." Her eyes had shone sincerely, and her hoody was kindly framing the innocent face which she had been blessed with. Her nose piercing matching with the black hoody and the grey lipstick which she had on complimented her brown skin tone, and the shape of those medium-sized lips of hers.

"Come here!" He smiled and hugged her tight enough to squueze her melons, keeping a close eye on Darren - hoping for him to get jealous after seeing him hugging Yonella. Unfortunately Darren was too busy getting along with Malum' Innocent to even notice, just as the girl whom he had his arms around was too busy getting involved with his very sister. Felt like both his best friend and uncle were no longer there for him as they had been in the past - all due to the fact that he had been too busy getting entangled in deplorable love affairs with the people she weren't even supposed to admire.

"By the way, where's my mom and aunt?" He asked, squeezing Yonella even tighter - hoping to squeeze the very truth out of her. Just before digging his hand into his left pocket and seeing a incoming call from Zanele's personal assistant. He wanted to answer it but obviously not in front of Yonella, and she could see this in his eyes. Plus he weren't ready to meet Zanele, especially fully knowing he was yet to meet Genna Gumede within an hour or two.

"Don't answer that call," she pulled him from the lounge and to the passage which led to the bedrooms, before placing her warm finger on his lips to keep him quiet as they both watched Darren walking past the lounge and kitchen in a suspicious manner, his phone lit in his hand...

 "There's something I discovered a few days ago, something which I wanted to tell you back at the Cafe," Yonella leaned against him and smiled at the passing strangers, who patted his shoulder as he walked past. "Let's go for a stealthy drive, you'll really enjoy this.

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Elsewhere, After the 5 Porsche sedans had parked and Vulisanii had gotten out, accompanied by 3 bodyguards towards the entrance of the Toni Moliba's restaurant trying to calm his feelings for what awaited him inside. He felt the warm sun whisphering words of warmth into his heart just before stepping right past the waiter who also seemed like a bouncer.

"Babes, I flippin' missed you," He rushed towards her after walking into the half-empty restaurant whose red carpet and red cloth'd tables seemed to resemble a Valentine's day theme - not that it mattered no more since he had seen Aneni-Anesu. His heart elevated into the clouds of joy, and did several backstrokes as he rushed towards there, although to his surprise she just looked at him with owl eyes.

"Look when you decide to show up," her dramatic tone did not match her white, velvet dress as she stood up with a milkshake in her hand to shower him with a cold hug. "You wan't a milkshake or what?" Giggling, she sat back down and left Vulisanii wondering as to what had happened to her - she seemed a bit tipsy too, and the usual squint of her eye was absent. "Ready to get married? Huh? Are you ready to put a ring on this finger Vee Vee?" She laughed, and quickly Vulisanii realized that that had been the same wedding which his uncle had referenced.

"Uncle what have you done to her, this is not the girl I know and love." He turned around, back to his uncle's laughable gestures of explanations.

"But she is indeed the girl whom you'll marry," His uncle stepped in, his extravagant walk causing his chains to dangle, "I did it for you Vulisanii, you are the closest I have to a son. Now let's get on with it, the priest is on his way and the marriage certificates are about to be printed."

"I totally disagree with all that, this is just too extreme, and why all of a sudden is she for me... You were the one who wanted her all along, remember?" A ball of anger built and grew within his throat and he could feel it blocking his words, as he remembered how his uncle had don all in his power to convince ho chase after her until he got her.

"She was never meant for me Vulisanii. By making you focus on getting her and pushing you to succeed in doing  so..., was all  just to distract you from the dangers and stress which came from the family business." He grabbed a half-full glass on the table and delightfully drank from it. "Besides, when her supposed father ran away with my money I promised myself that she would be mine - and now that she is, I want to give her to you - my token of appreciation - you love her don't you Vulisanii?"

"In that case I would rather let her go, I don't want to force someone to love me - loving someone is a choice derived from one's free will Uncle G." He looked back at Aneni-Anesu and saw her looking at him with serious eyes, just before her tongue tangoed with a dance of laughter. "This is nothing like her, she would never put herself into a vulnerable position." The pain of what he saw was heavy enough to outweigh the audability of his voice.

"I totally agree with you there Vulisanii," she stood and walked towards him in high heels before trapping his cheeks in her hands and kissing him. He saw and noticed how slightly unrecognizable she looked with her newly, bluish-dyed, spiky, very low afro before grabbing his lips with hers. He closed his eyes and tried to imagine the old, sober girlfriend he knew - letting her kiss consume all of him - until she pulled her lips back - withdrawing his soul from hers in the process. Her dominance, self-knowing, pretty deceitful, and mysterious aura seemingly no more. Even as her slender figure tempted him to take advantage of her current mind state, whilst her big eyes childishly admired the leaves and textures of his suit - almost as though those leaves are flying off it, in the sight of her eyes.

Vulisanii pulled her into his embrace and kissed her again, his conscience pondering over what he was doing - taking advantage of her. Yet even whilst doing so he felt kind of bad for kissing her right in front of Kimm JM - whom he had recently almost had a one night stand with. Regardless, he let his lip tango with hers, for he knew that despite her mind's vulnerability her eyes were still capturing the memories that would later infuriate her, and plant hatred towards him.

Fears of losing the right to lip-brace her moist, crimson drove him insane to the point where he nibbled and licked her lips, enough to move towards the balcony... His uncle and bodyguards giggling in excitement of the battle of smooches, before Vulisanii heard his uncle ordering Detective Dee Monique to bring her lips to his - Uncle Gee was much like that.

Yet upon opening his eyes and looking down from the balcony, Anathii quickly saw 2 white cars pulling up before the restaurant's entrance before some women in black, with Guns came out and began shooting at the bodyguards downstairs. Moments before louder and stronger gunfire ensued and his uncle ordered his bodyguards to go downstairs and provide support to the others. 

They dashed, and only two remained behind, before Vulisanii clasped his hand with Aneni-Anesu and watched intently as the ladies with face masks and long pony tails shot at his uncle's guys. The same uncle who soon came and stood beside him whilst watching with violent eyes...

 Both Vulisanii and Gummy Bear knew that there was only one man who used pretty ladies to do his dirty work - Mr Rosewell, a former former close associate ever since he had conspired with the then current mayor Katlego Gumede to take Gummy Bear down. 

Only thing Gummy Bear, was wondering was about how his former close ally had found him and where he was getting the guts to attack them  like that - as well as the traitor who had given him enough confidence to try and ambush the might Gummy Bear again.

"You filthy sniii...," he quickly turned around, only see the two bodyguards left being ordered to put their hands in the air by Kimm JM and Mastermind who also had their guns pointed at them. Detective Dee Monique handcuffing them from behind. All of which were now on Mr Rosebank's side, just as Dee Monique herself stepped forth, and pointed her gun at Aneni-Anesu. Leaving Vulisanii's worst nightmare coming true - his uncle's lady turning against them, but so had his other Kimm JM.

"Drop your gun Vulisanii," murmured Dee Monique looking at him from the corner of her eye, seeing how enraged he seemed as he got ready to pull the trigger. Although his smart intuition led him into carefully throwing it towards her... "And as for your Gummy Bear I'm sorry but you've left me no choice but to do this." Her words vanished into thin air.

"You all know better than to point your guns at me, especially you Mastermind," He lifted his hands peacefully, the lines on his forehead revealing his anger, his mercilessly murderous plans in search of revenge, Just before he laughed and gave his 3 traitors a careful scan.

"You brought this upon yourself Gummy Bear, Dee Monique was the one who tipped the cops off about that hijack, and after my two comrades got shot that night, the cops chased and caught me," he paused scratched his cheek softly, "Before Dee Monique recruited me into turning against you in exchange for my freedom." Mastermind looked to her and smiled. 

"Uncle I told you she weren't to be trusted, just as you told me about Kimm JM, but it all comes down to Mastermind," He said shooting his former favorite crime mate a disgusted look.

"And truth be told, you weren't really going to marry Aneni-Anesu, he was the one who was going to marry her and take her to Mozambique," Dee Monique's legs evaded her long beige coat as she stepped even closer, before winking at and pulling the trigger...

Leaving Gummy Bear coughing beside Vulisanii before gasping for air. A lifeless presence in his eyes as he grabbed and squeezed Vulisanii's shoulder shortly before stepping backwards and toppling backwards over the balcony, and onto the ground, where Mr Rosebank himself ordered his purple widows to avoid shooting him so he could die a slow death. As Vulisanii watched blood running out the wound on his upper chest, aside from looking at the droplets of blood which such as wound had left - due to the splashes which had been sprayed unto his chest and soulders as soon as the bullet had penetrated his uncle who'd been standing closely next to him, adding a splashy pattern to the suit, a few seconds prior...

Time seemed to move fast in that moment, as he looked down and saw the his uncle's body, above that of two other bodyguards, all of their bodies seemingly lifeless. Until sounds of Aneni-Anesu's voice and touches faded from him as he looked and saw Mastermind carrying her away, as she she smilingly dug delicate jabs into his back...

Dee Monique herself smiling at him whilst aiming her gun at him. Shortly before she kissed Kimm Jayde on the cheek and handed her that very same gun before whispering something into her ears before sinking from his sight as she walked away - towards the staircase which led downstairs, leaving an enstranged Kimm JM pointing a gun at him - shortly before walking over as she watched him grip the nearby balcony whilst closing his eyes to imagine a painless end.

"Vulisanii, you didn't have to kiss her like that," She bent her knees and stretched her arm forth, before running the mouth of her gun all over his suit, spreading the splashes of Gummy Bear's blood more over his suit, "but at least let's end this with a kiss." She ran her hand to the back of his neck and felt it warm up with an accelerating pulse as she planted that final kiss on his lips. Enabling him to feel his heart slamming against her gun with a sound that parallelled Dee Monique's gunshot - that scene was still playing in his mind and she could tell that he weren't even himself.

Vulisanii himself felt her parting her lips from his with a swift detachment as soon as a voice called her. His eyes still closed, before he heard two gunshots - ones which left him untouched, unscarred and surprisingly unharmed. Until her giggles confirmed the reasons for the miss.

He was unfortunately lucky to be alive at the near end of that back-stabbing moment. Before he turned over and quietly pressed his chin against the floor as he watched the white cars driving away - Kimm Jayde, Aneni-Anesu and Dee Monique hopping into the one behind Rosebank and Dee monique's one as though nothing had just happened. 

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Elsewhere, Anathii felt the warmth of the car rising to the assertively daring manner in which Yonella drove her Polo Vivo. His adrenaline jumping up and down as she overtook the suppertime traffic whilst also rushing to pass the traffic lights in time, in chase of Darren whose whip had long sped out of sight.

*Time is ticking Anathii, have you made up your mind.* It was a message from an unknown number and it left him wondering whether it was from Caith, Neliswa or Zanele and her P.A. He then ignored the bumpy ride thanks to the seatbelt he had on, before typing to Caith to tell her that he would come and see her, telling her not to do anything uncivilized or irrational. Although no response rushed back as usual.

Before he knew it he had found himself thinking about everything Neliswa had told him, and if Caith was worth fighting for. Neliswa also made him wonder if she had been sincere about their feelings. Instantly he had begun feeling as though leaving for another province, long as Neliswa was there to Inform him, warn him and keep him to par with Caith's devious loop of deceitful games and schemes. They would make a happy family, as soon as he would dissapear after the wedding. At least that what a future with caith seemingly promised.

"And there! Found him, again... It's a good thing that I'm tracking him," She said right after parking behind another car along the road, hiding her car and leaning sideways before whispering: "We are here, now watch, there's something you need to see." Yonella poked him to get his attention.

"Will be with you now, just typing something out, you know very well how my boss lady is," Anathii said and soon tucked into his pocket whilst giving away a faint smile - as though everything was alright. "Wow, these trees look very familiar though." He looked through the windscreen and assessed his surroundings, noticing the trees along the pavements whose shadows sat on top the parked cars in admiration of the moon.

"You're my bestfriend and what your sister and I are going through are just part of a phase, hence hopefully you understand that." Her soft, innocent voice elapsed. "But what Darren has with your cousin sister really hurts me..., I never expected to come across it when I first hacked his phone." Yonella then gripped the steering wheel with both hands and pressing her forehead ahead against it.

"Care to elaborate?" Confusion ran across Anathii's tongue as he looked to her dropped eyebrows, only to see her finger pointing forward whilst her head still resting upon the steering wheel as 3 words dove out of her mouth: "take a look."

It was then when Anathii looked forth, down the road that everything began making sense. It was the same road in which Caith and Neliswa shared a house. The same road in which he had witnessed a man getting knocked by a van when he had been leaving. Yet looking forth, he focused his gaze about 80 meters 11 o'clock where he saw the door slowly swinging open before Darren stepped out into sight. Just before pulling a woman and kissing her shortly before they held hands and walked to Darren's car, his other hand touching her tummy.

"I won't stand for this," Anathii quickly opened the door and dropped his left foot to the ground, until Yonella pulled his hand and told him to let his cousin be. Although it weren't clear just as yet, as to whethere the woman Darren had just kissed was  Caith or Neliswa. He couldn't quite make out her face.

"But then again you are not feeling this rage on behalf of me or your cousin are you Anathii," Looking into her eyes he could tell that she had already found out the truth. "You're doing thing for yourself and your jealous reasons." She let his arm and wrist go before opening the door on her side and coming around to speak some sense into him. "You can't stop them now, the baby you thought was yours is in fact his... She's smart enough to know the repurcusions of mating with a close family member." She moved closer to him trying her best to paint the impression that the woman he'd seen Darren kissing was Caith. 

"Sorry I hacked your phone too though." She could feel the lazers of anger directed from his eyes towards Darren's car." Yonella added.

"That could have been Neliswa who you saw him kissing." He argued on Caith's behalf despite the known repurcussions of one impregnating their own cousin sister.

"So this is where you've been hiding, you haven't been taking my calls," A lady's voice came from behind the pair before he turned around and saw the famous Zanele Mandalay walking closer from Anathi's side of the car." A document with a purple cover in her hand. 

Zanele further added above her imposed silence: "And also, I'm very sorry, I heard about your sister's news." Her fragrance reached and danced around their nostrils nicely and slowly, as she squeezed out a smiile in response to Yonella's fanatic recognition of her tardom status - alongside the secrecy of A-A's kidnap which her mother had warned to be kept from Anathi. "And could this be you Yonella, Anathii has told me a little bit about you." Zanele smile spead over to Yonella's lips.

"You too Ms Zanele Mandalay, by the way I'll be in the car waiting for you Anathii,"

"That won't be necessary Yonella, I've got some things to do," He gave her a hug and walked her to the doorof her Polo before turning around - after kissing her on the forehead with a gracious smile and sticking a folded note into her hand whilst at it - and walking back to Zanele who had already begun making powerful strides towards the Porshe that was parked a few metres from Yonella's Polo. Shortly before the Porshe began driving closer, just as he heard the comparably inferior sound of Yonella's whip's engine leaving the scene.

"Need I remind you how seeing you with other women makes me feel Anathii? Not that I'm jealous?" Zanele's words left a question mark just as her P.A, who had a grey femme suit with slim white stripes, opened the door for Zanele as Anathii replicated the smug on her face whilst entering that Porsche whose seats were as comfy as a cloud.

"Zanele, that was just my bestfriend, and by the way you said something about my sister, care to elaborate?" His next question was cut short by a little laugh that came out her lips as her P.A laughed too and graced the road with the expensive beast she was driving - as they made their way to the mansion. Leaving Zanele sliding over towards him, turning to him and softly thumb-rubbing his forehead to ease further stressful questions as he began losing his lips to the strings of her warmest kisses. Clearly romantically eluded from reality by Amanda Mandalay's daughter's ecstacies.