“In that case she wouldn’t want to lose you.” Mandisa said moving close to him. His cologne filled her nose. The same cologne that had attracted her to him. Tebogo stared at her eyes.
“But she has lost me.” Tebogo told her simply. “That is what she will never forgive me for.” He said moving away from her as if he couldn’t stand to be that near to her. The thought hurt but Mandisa refused to dwell on it.
“You did what was right. No matter how she looks at it, she can’t hold that against you. In time, she will accept that you are not like her. You don’t hurt people just for the fun of it.” You care about others. Mandisa added silently. Even if you don’t care about me the same way I care about you, just knowing that you stood up to your mother for me is enough to keep me going. And in time I’ll get over you but I’ll always consider you my knight in shining armor.
With sadness in her eyes, Mandisa turned to leave. Tebogo stopped her for the second time by putting his hand on her arm.
“I didn’t do this out of the goodness of my heart, Mannie.” Tebogo told her still holding her arm. Mandisa looked at his hand then up to him.
“What do you mean?” Panic crept into her voice. She should have known there would be a price to pay.
“I am like my mother, make no mistake about that.” He told her matter of fact. “I’ll do anything for those I love. Even lie in court or kill.”
Mandisa pulled her arm away and took a step back.
“What are you saying?” She asked suspiciously, her heart beat picking up speed. Tebogo saw the suspicion in her eyes and noticed the worry on her forehead.
“I love you.” He told her straightforward. “I convinced Tumi to do the right thing because of you. Because I love you and would do anything for you.”
Mandisa’s mouth fell opened and she stared at him as if he had just grown a horn right in front of her.
“What?” Her mind managed to make her mouth utter that word. She heard what he said but she didn’t understand it. He couldn’t possibly love her. He couldn’t. Tebogo took a step towards her.