Apologies

It had been eight days since S’bu’s video was released and three days since Thandi was abducted and almost raped. S’bu’s wall was still full of comments his friends, followers and strangers had written. Having made sure that Thandi was safe and managed to catch up with his university work that he missed when he was home, he decided to make a statement.

A few days ago I was recorded without consent and that video clip and a photo of me and Thandi was shared on university‘s student page and all over social media. Some cowards who had a problem with me decided to target Thandi, a school pupil who had never offended them. With the personal information some of of you shared here, she was insulted, abducted and nearly raped. You should be ashamed of yourselves but more importantly be ready because I’m coming for everyone who contributed in all of this. By the way 4S is an understatement, she’s way more than that.

S’bu finished typing his statement and posted it on the university page and his social media wall. His statement was soon shared all over social media with users shocked and disgusted that anyone would target a girl they have never met just because someone confessed to loving her. Some were commending S’bu for being a hero and standing up for Thandi.

“Hey Joyce you should start looking for a lawyer and a bodyguard”one student shouted.

“You almost got someone raped for a story”shouted another.

Joyce was really shocked and sorry that Thandi was almost hurt because of the video she took. She only wanted to prove her journalist skills and increase her viewers but never intended for anyone to get hurt. Trust was important part of journalism but now everyone mistrusted her. She decided to go and apologise to S’bu and wrote a formal apology on the university website.

After Joyce, S’bu received one apology after another. No one wanted to be caught up in a legal battle or worse against someone who could afford the most expensive lawyers in the country. Zake was also well known for never losing a case and he was S’bu relative. S’bu accepted all the apologies and forwarded them to Thandi except the eight young man which he told to go apologise to Thandi in person.

The following day after school Thandi was shocked to see the young men who insulted her standing next to G. She hesitated before going near to where they were standing. As soon as she was closer, they went on their knees and apologised and told her they did not know that Sivu would try to harm her. They promised to never cause her any trouble again.

S’bu had told her that he will make them apologise but she did not believe it and did not expect it to be so soon. Thandi believed them and accepted their apology. After that G opened the car door for her and drove her home.

Two months passed with no trouble. Besides G driving her and S’bu’s messages every night, Thandi’s life had gone back to normal. She missed walking with her friends after school. She asked G if he could stop waiting for her now that she was safe but he told her only S’bu can make that decision. She did not want to speak to S’bu, she decided to ask Mrs J but she also told her that only S’bu could tell G to stop driving her. She decided to send him a message but S’bu responded by saying they needed to meet in person and talk it over, only then will he consider it. Thandi was annoyed but agreed to meet him during the weekend.

During the weekend Thandi finished doing her chores and asked to go to Mandy’s home to speak to S’bu about calling off her bodyguard. Noli agreed and told her to be home before sunset. At the Jobe home she met Mandy first and chatted a bit with her before asking where S’bu was. Mandy told her that S’bu was in his room and has insisted they meet there.

“What if I don’t want to meet him there?”Thandi asked annoyed.

“He said G will just continue being your bodyguard” Mandy told her friend also annoyed with her brother. The bodyguard was for Thandi’s protection now that she does not need it S’bu was using it as a bargaining tool, how shameless!

“Don’t worry, I will go speak to him”Thandi said walking up the stairs.

“You don’t know where his room is, do you?” Mandy asked laughing.

Thandi stopped walking and looked at her friend suspiciously. “Is it not in the second floor with your bedroom?”she asked. She had visited and even slept over at Mandy’s home but she did not know where S’bu’s room was. She had always met him and Menzi at the kitchen and lounge but never met them on the second floor where Mandy’s bedroom was. The first floor was the study and gym, Thandi has been there before. The third floor was Mr and Mrs J’s bedroom and study.

“It used to be when he was younger but mom chased him out when he was a teenager and hooking up with every girl he met. Dad built him his own roomnext to the gate” Mandy said still laughing. “I call it the HOS ‘House Of Shame’, it even had a door that opens directly to the outside so that we don’t meet his floozies” Mandy added.

Thandi was speechless for a moment and was hesitant to go to S’bu’s HOS to ask him to pull off her bodyguard. What’s the worse that could happen? she asked herself and walked to S’bu’s room.

S’bu saw her coming and opened the glass sliding door to let her in.

S’bu’s room was actually a house a family could live happily in. It had two bedrooms for him and Menzi. A small kitchen with a huge fridge, microwave and a sink. The lounge was huge with big brown leather sofas, a flat screen television that was mounted to the wall, a music system with huge speakers and PlayStation. There was a pool table behind the sofas. The house was very masculine with brown and blue colours.

“MaDlamini, I was starting to think you chickened out” he said smiling her mischievously.

“Hi, S’bu, can we talk about G? I am safe now, I don’t need a bodyguard” Thandi said with a serious tone.

“Not so fast beautiful, you and I have a lot to talk about. I believe I owe you some explanations” S’bu said still smiling at her.

Thandi sighed as she soon realised that talking to S’bu was not going to be as easy as she had imagined.