CHAPTER 02
PHILANI KHOZA.
The office smelled faintly of chalk dust and lavender polish. Ma'am Khoza—Entle—stood behind her desk, arms folded, her sharp eyes fixed on her husband.
She was trying hard to sleep with him __but does philani see this? Nop he acts like he isn't even there, h parents are forcing him to settle with her ___hia older late brother's wife.
Philani sat slouched in the leather chair, one leg stretched, one elbow resting against the armrest. His gaze was locked on the half-open blinds, watching students run across the field. He didn't even notice when Entle's hand crept across his shoulder.
"Philani," she whispered, leaning closer, her perfume filling the air, "we hardly spend time anymore. Come home early tonight."
He didn't flinch, didn't turn. Just breathed out heavily and shrugged her hand away.
"Angisamood," he muttered flatly.
Entle froze, the rejection stinging like ice. Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she forced a smile. "Always excuses, huh? First it's work, now it's mood why can't you see me at once huh? ."
Philani stood, straightening his blazer. "Ngicela ungiyeke, Entle. I have things to handle."
And with that, he walked out, leaving her glaring at his back, heart heavy with suspicion.
*
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*
Later that night, the dim glow of amber whiskey filled the Khoza brothers' lounge. Crystal glasses clinked, smoke from a half-burnt cigar hung low in the air. Bongani leaned back, his gold chain glinting under the light.
"So," Bongani smirked, swirling his drink, "the Durban job is ready. The vault, the trucks—everything is tight. We just need your final say, mfo."
Philani stared at the glass in his hand, silent. His eyes were unfocused, tracing nothing in particular.
"Philani?" Bongani snapped his fingers. "Yho, mfethu, uyaphupha? Ngikhuluma ngani la?"
Philani blinked, finally meeting his brother's eyes.
Bongani frowned. "Don't tell me it's Entle again. Did you fight? Or… is it about—" he hesitated, lowering his voice, "our late brother's mess?"
Philani shook his head slowly, a strange, almost guilty smile tugging at his lips.
"Cha, mfethu. Ngithandane neskololo."
Bongani choked on his drink. "Uxolo? What did you just say?"
"there's this one girl man I collided with her today she stole something precious to me ___my heart mfo" he said smiling like a retard.
"wooah, utheni mfo" bongani asked not believe his words, his brother don't date he smash and pass even when he is married to their later brother's wife he still smash around that's what he knows him for. "
"I fell in love with a schoolgirl," Philani repeated, this time in English, his voice low but certain.
Bongani's jaw dropped. "Hhayi, Philani! Uyahlanya? A minor? With everything we do, the blood on our hands—you want to add that scandal?"
Philani leaned forward, eyes burning with something Bongani hadn't seen in years. Desire. Obsession.
"You don't understand. She… she's different. The way she looked at me today—just once, Bongz—yabona sengithathiwe. My heart, gone."
Bongani slammed his glass down. "Yaz' uyahlanya mfethu. You've got Entle at home. A woman your age, strong, respected. And now you're chasing… a learner?"
"that's the problem a woman my age who I married unwilling and I don't even love, his one captured my whole soul mfo!" philane said looking at his glass of whiskey
"I still don't support this, amanyala mahn"Bongani added.
Philani's lips curved bitterly. "I already found out who she is."
Bongani's eyes narrowed. "And?"
Philani's voice dropped to a whisper. "She's Mabulala's daughter."
The room went ice-cold.
Bongani stood, pacing, running a hand over his face. "Hai bo! That man is dangerous. If you dare touch his child, it's not just you—it's both of us, the whole family business. He will burn everything to the ground."
But Philani only leaned back, sipping his whiskey with a ghost of a smile. "I can't unsee her, Bongz. And I don't care who her father is."
"Uhm we can figure that out nerh but uzumthin utata?". Bongani asked now concerned.