Chapter 27

                                    

                                          
Oh my God! My heart was hurting for the king. My king had really suffered bethu. I can't believe that he lived in the streets and was addicted to drugs. I wanted so badly to weep for that teenage boy that had gone through so much hell but I didn't. So I bit hard on my lip as I watched the waves. There was nothing I could say and I'm sure he didn't want me saying anything either. So I kept quiet while I tried to rein in my emotions. The king and I were really pitiful weren't we bethuna? Really really pitiful. I was glad though that at least he found a good family. The man he had talked about together with his family sounded like very good people. So at least the king's life wasn't all that terrible. He had received love. I wanted to ask more about the man and his family but I decided that I would at another time. We sat there not saying anything as we both watched the waves. 
Kumkani: "You hungry beautiful?" My stomach chose the right moment to growl. My face turned red with embarrassment and he released a small chuckle which surprised me since this was the closest I've heard him to laugh. He stood up and held his hand out to me. I grabbed it and he pulled me up... "let's go get some food in you beautiful." And then we left. 
He asked me what I felt like eating and I said Steers. I loved their burgers especially their hot chips. So we were at Steers now. I was busy munching my burger as the king watched me do so. He hadn't ordered anything for himself. He told me that he didn't eat junk food. Of course he wouldn't eat junk food looking like he did. He brought my milkshake close to my mouth so I could take a sip through the straw. I smiled gratefully at him and took a long sip. Sweet right? I know. My king! 
Kumkani: "Slow down little beauty or you'll get an indigestion." He scolded as he dabbed the corners of my mouth with a tissue. I chewed and swallowed down the food in my mouth nodding... "I'm glad your appetite is back." Me too. It has  been a while since I've had Steers. So you could say I was making up for lost time, stuffing my face with so much food. After I finished, we left. We were near the car now when suddenly a black Mercedes stopped in front of us. The king sighed. 
Kumkani: "Wait in the car for me little beauty. This won't take long." He said giving me the keys. I didn't question him because the situation didn't allow me to. I got in the car as I watched the king get in the backseat of that Mercedes. Oh my God! What was going on? Was the king in danger? I sat there shaking with nerves waiting for the king to emerge from the car. The windows were tinted so I couldn't see what was happening on the inside. I kept my eyes on the car willing the king to come out already. After what felt like forever, the king got out and the black Mercedes drove off. I was filled with big relief when I saw that the king was fine. Oh my God! He got in the car and drove off without saying a word.
Me: "What...was that...about?" 
Kumkani: "That was my brother." 
Me: "Your...brother?" He nodded... "the one...from that...family you...told me...about?" Hated my voice. Wished it could go back to normal already. He nodded again. I exhaled. Here I was thinking the worst about the Mercedes when it actual fact it had just been his brother. God! The king wrapped his pinkie with mine.
Kumkani: "Sorry that you were scared beautiful." I shook my head at him. 
Me: "It's...fine." He gave my pinkie a squeeze... "is everything...fine...with him...your brother?" I asked after a while. 
Kumkani: "Yeah." There was something going on I could feel it but I didn't know if it was bad or good. 
Me: "Really?" 
Kumkani: "Yes beautiful, don't worry. He just needs my help that's all." I nodded... "you will meet all of them one day soon." He said after a long while of silence. 
Me: "What...does...one day soon...mean?" 
Kumkani: "Just that." This man! ... "prepare yourself." 
I was now back home. I needed to finish my assignment that was due tomorrow. Really had no energy but I had to or else I wouldn't have a DP for this module. Which would be bad. No DP meant no exam. No exam meant repeating the module again next year. And I couldn't. I was already one year behind. The king had told me when he dropped me off earlier on that he would be taking me to school tomorrow. Would it be a big surprise if I told you guys how excited I was about that? The way I was excited I wished it would be tomorrow already. I stayed up the whole night doing the assignment. The way I was so exhausted and sleepy. My eyes even kept drooping. I had to slap my cheeks to wake me up one too many times. My phone buzzed with a text message on the table next to the laptop. I took it and read the text. "Sleep." I knew who it was from but how did he know I wasn't sleeping? I texted him that very same question and he replied with "Sources tell me that your bedroom light is still on little beauty." Oh my God! Sources? I went to my window and opened the curtains a little to check but there was nothing. The streets were empty and quiet. I texted "What sources?" And he replied "Sources that keep you safe when I'm not there with you." Lendoda! Before I could reply another text came through "Now go to sleep." I texted "What about you?" He replied "I'll sleep when you sleep." Oh my God! I giggled at how cheesy he was. Which was so unlike him. Wouldn't you guys agree? "Such a flirt!" I texted. "Only with you. Sleep." He replied. I giggled again. "I'll go to sleep in 10. I need to finish this assignment first." I texted. "Okay. I'll wait." He replied. Gosh! I went back to sit down in front of the laptop smiling big. I reread our conversation and I couldn't help but to giggle again as my heart jumped and up and down. Gosh! I was really crazy about this man bethu. With renewed energy I quickly finished my assignment. I made sure to save it on my USB and I stretched my body yawning and groaning. I took my phone and texted "Done." A few seconds later "Sleep." I rolled my eyes. I changed into one of his t-shirts and switched off the light and got into bed. "Happy?" I texted. "Yes." He replied. He really had sources watching me. Wow! "You have me watched, really?" I texted. "Yes." He replied. "Crazy!" I texted. "Not crazy when I'm trying to keep what's mine safe." Gosh! I pressed my face to my pillow squealing and giggling as my body erupted with goosebumps. My phone vibrated again in my hand and I read the text "Goodnight my little beauty." I smiled and texted "Goodnight my king." And I fell asleep with a very happy heart. 
I was in the middle of eating my cereal when the door bell rang. It must be the king. He was early. My mother went to go open the door and came back with the king following behind her. I couldn't help the smile that spread over my face. My mother shook her head at me as she went back to making herself coffee. My father was not at home. He had left for work in the early hours of the morning. I don't know if I had told you guys but my father was a manager in one of the K-Way - Cape Union Mart branches. I don't know if you guys knew or were familiar of the name but things like camping, hiking and outdoor clothing and equipments were mostly sold there. My mother didn't work. She was a house wife. 
Me: "Hi." I greeted the king shyly. He smiled at me with his eyes roaming my face. 
Mother: "Can I make you something?" 
Kumkani: "No thanks, I'm fine." He said giving her a small head bow. My mother nodded, her eyes lingering on him. The king was still an enigma to my mother. I could see that she wanted to really figure him out. Good luck with that! I mean, the king was my man and I still hadn't figured him out yet. What I was  happy about though was her not disliking him as much as she did before. She was still wary of him though. I quickly finished my cereal and then I ran upstairs to get my stuff and we were off with the king. 
He opened the car door for me and I smiled getting in. He did things like this a lot, I noticed. He opened car doors for me and other doors as well. Such a gentleman! Made me feel like a queen. We were about to drive off when a police car suddenly came from nowhere and blocked our way. 
Kumkani: "Shit! Not now!" He said between his teeth in frustration punching the steering lightly. I didn't have a good feeling about this. A man and a woman got out the police car. I recognized them. It was those two detectives from before. What were their names again? I think they were Detective Ngubo and Olsen... "look at me beautiful." He said urgently turning my face to look at him... "whatever happens just trust me okay?" What? Detective Olsen tapped the king's side of the window with what looked like handcuffs. Oh my God! What the hell was going on? I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. Was this about the bad man? Did they found out that it had been the king that had killed him? No please please! ... "you hear me little beauty?" 
Me: "W-w-what-."
Kumkani: "Trust me." Detective Olsen tapped the king's side of the window harder. The king gritted his teeth but his eyes never left mine... "don't be scared. Everything will be fine. Okay?"
Me: "K-k-ki-."
Kumkani: "Trust." He wrapped his pinkie with mine pressing his lips hard and bruising on mine. 
Detective Olsen: "Get out of the car sir before I break this window." The king closed his eyes and sighed getting out. I got out too... "turn around and put your hands behind your back." The king did as he was told... "you're under arrest for the murder of Jasper Clarkson. You have the right to..." The king's intense eyes stayed on me as he was being read his rights to him and I kept mine on his as I bit on my lip as hard as I could to keep me from having a break down right there and then. As he was being led away to the police car, I kept on repeating "Trust" over and over again in my head. 
Jasper Clarkson? Who the hell was him? The name Jasper sounded familiar to me. I think I heard it from someone. But the question was from whom? ............