Chapter Four
"WHAT?!" The forest and the animals in it heard that loud shout from Flora. Who would have still shouted had it not been for Lumasi. Who saw it fit to hush his friend with his hand on her mouth.
"You are too loud" Lumasi commented as he let her go. He looked at Buhle giving him a gesture to go on.
Buhle sat down on one of the tree balks. A hand on his forehead. "Oh my. My friends I have...I did something without thinking."
"You say that as if it is the start of it all. You are nothing without your do now and think later attitude." Lumasi patted him on the shoulder also sitting next to him. "But I must admit this one I am truly shocked by as well. You are married. And not to anyone the crowned prince...well they are all crowned princes but nevertheless you are now part of royalty."
Buhle shrugged holding up his right hand to reveal the red ruby ring. "This seems to remind me even if I forget."
"A beautiful ring it is" Lumasi complimented. "The royals always get the best I guess."
Buhle fanned himself with both his hands. "Flora won't you say anything?!"
"What do I say?" Flora had wide eyes staring back at Buhle. "What shall I say? Hm? I have no idea what to do with my words right now or my mind that is wondering off to how you will now live your life in the palace. You will be part of the royals."
"I did not choose this for myself. In fact I still don't know what came over me when I said yes to him." He hit his hand. "Well ewe I know what came through my mind because it was for my sister's life. But I could have chosen a better way out. What I still do not know what it would have been but I should have."
Flora picked up Buhle's chin with hand raising it up. "You are now talking like a person who does not know that they have already done the things they wish they could repeat. I am sorry my friend but it is done. There is no running away from this now."
Buhle's chin fell back down. He looked at his hands. "Unfortunately my friend there is no such thing as a time machine here or I would have used it now. I am afraid of what my actions have caused and what they'll cause. I have not even entertained the mere thought of myself telling my siblings about what I have done."
Lumasi patted Buhle on the back. " my friend if they do not appreciate you then they both don't deserve to be called your siblings. "
Buhle chewed his lip. "I need representatives for the official wedding." He looked at his friends. "The prince said he'd come with his brothers tonight to start the rituals and to take me to the palace...so I was wondering if you guys coul–" his friends didn't even let him finish his sentence. "We'll do it!" Flora said immediately and Lumasi was as enthusiastic.
Buhle smiled grateful. "Thank you. This means so much to me." He sighed. "Now I just need to talk to my sisters."
Lumasi patted his shoulder again. "It'll be okay brother.”
“What do you think of yourself Buhle?!” Portia shouted at the loudest of her voice. “How could you do this?” She hit her brother's chest. “You stupid fool! I did this! You didn't have To go Jesus on me damn fool!” She was crying and heaving heavily. “How can I fix this huh? I'll give up my love. I'll go back to Nama. Just tell me..how do I fix this?”
Buhle shook his head. “There's no fixing this. Your Namaka is my Buhlanti now.” He looked away from his sister. “It's too late to do anything.”
Portia's eyes widened. “What do you mean?” She pulled her brother to make him face her. “What does that mean?” She wiped Buhle's eyes. “Stop crying warrior! And tell me what is going on.”
“You always had no eyes.” He chuckled a little before showing her the ring.
Portia gasped. “No!” Tears freely left her eyes. “You slept with him?!”
“It's a requirement for marriage here you know that.”
Before Portia could react to these news a CLACK! was heard in the kitchen. And they both turned their eyes to look at their younger sister. Zinhle stood there. A plate broken in front of her and she was shaking.
“You did what?”
The CLACK! and Zinhle's presence in the kitchen add an element of surprise to the already tense scene. All eyes are now on Zinhle, whose reaction is the last remaining piece in this unfolding puzzle.
Zinhle's face is a mixture of betrayal and heartbreak. "Why? Why did you do this? For me?” Her voice trembles, her eyes wild with emotion.
Buhle reaches out to her, wanting to comfort her, but she pulls away, as if his touch might scorch her.
Zinhle shook her head. She didn't want to be held. She didn't want to be cuddled. She pointed at Portia. "This is you right? You did this!"
Buhle held Zinhle back from going to reach Portia. It looked like the girl would kill her own sister. Zinhle never spoke but when she did it was either she was happy or very mad. And now Buhle saw it was the latter. His sister was heaving.
"Calm down." Buhle brushed her back. "Please calm down. "
Portia was on her knees. "It's my fault. I know. If anyone should be punished it should be me. I fell in love with someone else and I just couldn't hide it now. I didn't know things would end up like this. If I knew I would have.." she was sobbing now as everyone in the room.
Buhle could only hold onto his little sister brushing her back. As he tried to calm her.