Kwaito Love by Lauri Kubbuitsile Page B

sadness, a veil of worry.
    â€œI hope she’ll be okay,” she said sincerely.
    â€œYeah, thanks. I need to get her to the right place, that’s all. I’m sure she’ll be fine.”
    Just then the door behind her opened and Mpho turned to see the angry face of Jakes. She felt she needed to explain why she and Thabang were in the hall together. “He’s visiting his mother . . .” she heard herself stammer guiltily.
    Jakes ignored her. “What do you want with my sister, Thabang? Are you out to destroy my whole family? Is that some part of your twisted life plan?”
    â€œEven though it’s really none of your business, I wasn’t here to see Mpho. I’m going up to my mother’s.”
    Jakes’s forehead crunched up with anger. “What did you say? None of my business?”
    â€œListen, Jakes, I think it’s time you got over the band’s break-up, okay? It’s all bygones. You’re going on with your life; I’m going on with mine. Why can’t we just leave it at that?” Thabang appeared to be sincere about making peace.
    â€œYour life? What a joke! You stole that life you’re living!” Jakes’s voice was rising with emotion.
    Mpho begged, “Jakes, leave it. We need to go. You have to get back to work. I have to get to the dry-cleaners. ”
    â€œNo, I want to hear what he’s talking about. Come on, Jakes, what’s that comment supposed to mean? What life did I steal? ” Thabang asked. He stood back, waiting for Jakes to answer.
    Mpho could see Thabang was getting angry too. She felt sick. She didn’t know what she’d do if they started fighting.
    â€œYou know what I mean, you thief! You built your big recording company on a song you stole from me. Now you’re a rich man and I’m still struggling to make ends meet.”
    Thabang looked confused. “I stole your song? What’s that supposed to mean?”
    â€œWhy act stupid? You know what I mean – Staccato ! I wrote that song and you stole it. That song launched your company! You’re successful because you’re a thief, that’s it, end of story!” Jakes was breathing hard and his face was flushed.
    â€œIs that what you think?” Thabang asked, his anger gone, replaced with something Mpho couldn’t quite recognise. “Is that what this is all about?”
    â€œLook at him, Mpho! He doesn’t even think what he did is a big issue! A small bump along the rich man’s road.”
    Jakes could take no more. He headed down the stairs and Mpho turned to follow. Her brother was right; Thabang didn’t even look ashamed about being caught out.
    Thabang grabbed her arm to stop her. “Is that it then? Is that why you don’t want to see me?”
    Mpho looked at him without saying anything. She needed to go, she wanted to be away from him and Jakes was waiting for her at the foot of the staircase. She pulled her arm out of his grip and rushed down the stairs. At the bottom, she looked up one last time before going out the front door. Thabang still stood where she left him, his arms hanging dejectedly by his side. She turned and rushed out the door.
    * * *
    At the dry-cleaners it was a mission to get the dress fitted. Every minute or so Mrs Smith’s head would pop in at the back room, offering bits of advice. “Don’t you think you should take it in around the shoulders? It looks a little big.”
    Mpho would try to respond politely. After all, Mrs Smith was kind enough to let Annabella take a break to do the fitting. “Yes, Mrs Smith, I think you’re right.”
    A minute later she’d be back. “You know, dear, I really like those trousers but they do seem to be a bit long, don’t you think?”
    Mpho spoke through a mouth full of pins. “I’ll sort it out just now.”
    Her cousin stood as still as a statue. Mpho could see the fact that she