The Aftermath

“Uhm… It’s been about a year or so. But we’ve never done this here before, this was the first time. I swear. I’ve always been against having sex with him at the house because this is your home, I don’t want to be disrespectful—”, said Mbali, stammering.

“Oh, so today’s the day the disrespect runs out? Huh? So, has he told you that he loves you yet, since fucking in ‘my home’ is okay now?”, I replied.

“No ma’am, that’s not what I meant. What I mean is—"

“Bona baby, that this has been happening doesn’t make me love you less. I will always love you. You’ve been my wife for three years, and we’ve been together for nine. There is no one else I want to be with than you. Mbali was a distraction—”, Morena interjected.

“Morena! How dare you!”, Mbali exclaimed. “You told me just last month that you’ll be leaving Ona. You said we’d move in together and make a life for ourselves. What happened to that idea suddenly?”

Morena had nothing to say in response to that. I asked Mbali to leave and told her to resign from her job before word goes out that she’s been fraternising with her boss. As for Morena, I’ve advised him to think things through at his brother’s home for the next few weeks while MaMogale stays with me to help pack his things. I was done chasing this man. It’s all I’ve ever done since I’ve met him. It’s about time that I start living for me. Ain’t nobody got time to entertain scrub-ish people who don’t respect you. At that moment, while watching Morena pack some of his things before leaving, I figured I needed to start living for me, and doing things my way. That’s precisely what I did.

Two months without Morena have been different, but in a good way. It’s in this time alone that I’ve realised how toxic this man is. We could easily play happy couple, but the truth is that we are not meant to be together. I won’t mind visiting a therapist to fix our underlying issues, but what’s the point? I’ll find myself expressing my feelings and grievances, only to have him downplay them and make me look crazy. I’ve let this separation give me time to find myself again and be one with the universe. I’ve even decided to cut my hair… I’ve been meaning to do that for years, but Morena has always discouraged me from doing it because he fears I’ll look like a man. I’ve liked having short hair all my life, so that had to be shelved since I met Morena. Now that he’s gone, I’ve made an appointment with my old barber, and I’m about to do the right thing for me.

In the meantime, my visit to the barbershop is more interesting than I’d anticipated. Despite the nostalgic smell of male cologne, and the conversations between the men in the room about the women in their lives, there’s a gorgeous chocolate man sitting on the other side of the room, staring at me with a hypnotising gaze. I’ve never had a man look at me the way he does, and it’s beyond encouraging because Momma hasn’t had her loins stirred like this in a long while. I mean, sure Morena is a gorgeous man himself, but something about this one draws me to him. I break the gaze, look into the mirror to check on my hair’s progress and damn… I look good! I check my left hand for my ring, it’s not there, perfect. Just as I’m about to ask Ali about the chocolate man in the mirror, I notice that he’s coming over to where I’m seated.

“I’ve always said there’s nothing sexier than a woman getting her hair cut. I’m Zeus, and you are…?”

“Ona, short for Onalerona. Interesting name you have there. Does it have anything to do with you being Greek...?”

“I’m from the DRC, so no. Coffee after your haircut?”

“Uh, sure. Why not?”

Oh shit… What did I agree to? Does this constitute as cheating? I can’t say I like him, because I don’t know him. Do I want to rip his clothes off, though? Yeah! I know coffee isn’t the best idea right now, but I cannot deny myself the company of a gorgeous African-Greek God right now. Hell no.

Once my cut’s done, we walk a short distance to the coffee shop nearby. He orders a cappuccino with cream for the both of us, along with carrot muffins to nibble on. It’s lunchtime, so the shop is super busy. I can barely hear some of the things he says, but his lips look delicious so it’s alright.

“Earth to Ona. Are you still here?” Zeus says as he waves his big hand in my face. I snap out of my day dream and ask what he just said. He chuckles, revealing the most captivating smile I have ever seen. God, this man is delicious!

“Where are you from?” He asks.

“Johannesburg, born and raised. This is my city, my home. You said you’re from the DRC. How long have you been in SA?”

“Since I was five years old. My family and I sought refuge here when things got intense back home, and we’ve been here ever since. I’m in business, currently running about three IT companies. What do you do?”

“I’m in finance, working as a CA. Not the most interesting job, but it pays the bills so—”

“Ah, so she’s beautiful and smart. Please tell me you’re single, so I can marry you right now.”

I didn’t tell him about Morena. There’s no way I’m going to let this fish slip from my fingers that easily. My ring wasn’t on my hand, so I got away with doing that. I’m about to get me some happiness, regardless of who I hurt in the process. I don’t plan on making love to Zeus in the near or far future, but he will be mine, somehow. We spend the rest of the afternoon getting to know each other, swap numbers at the end of the coffee thing and part ways. As I drive into the yard, I notice Morena’s car in the driveway. Shit…

“Ona! I’m relieved that you’re back. I’ve been here all day waiting for you to get back. How was work?”, Morena exclaims.

“Uh, Hi Morena. I haven’t gone back to work yet, I went to get my hair done.”

“Well, I see that you’re beautiful with short hair and don’t look like a man after all. Look, let me not waste your time. I came back to ask you to come with me for couple’s counselling. I know I fucked up and betrayed your love for me. I need you back though, because I miss you and I can’t live without you. How have you been without me?”

“Well, I got my hair cut despite everything you’ve said about women with short hair. I’ve renovated part of the house, met new people and I think I’m ready to go back to work. I’ve been good. When is the first session so I can schedule it before I go back to work?”

I guess therapy won’t be too bad. Perhaps this is what we need to get everything out in the open. Maybe this is what we need to heal and move forward together. I love Morena, but he’s an asshole. At least, that’s what I thought he was. We will have to give him time to prove himself. Morena leaves the house after we schedule a session, and almost immediately thereafter Zeus sends a text:

“I’m on a flight to Zanzibar right now, thinking of you. I’ll bring back something beautiful for my Beautiful. Keep in mind that you will be mine, so don’t fight me on that just yet.”

My loins just warmed up. Oh shit…