To My Ex: Thank You - Hlengiwe Mathebula (best fiction books to read TXT) 📗

happy. He makes me happy and sometimes very mad. But he's my world. He's been there for me through thick and thin never gave up on me no matter how much I pushed him away.
"You know that night Okuhle kept asking for you, we didn't sleep he cried most of the night"
I just smiled just thinking about him brought sadness but I would think about the times we had. The best times. Chapter 3

 Since that day I woke up at 4am and left the house a little after 5 to help Melusi bath and feed Okuhle and take him one of Melusi's relatives who looked after him during the day. We then walked to school, we had morning classes from 7am to 7:45.
We also had afternoon classes which were not compulsory, so I didn't attend them anymore because I had to help Melusi and go home to do my chores.
We left the school premises as soon as the final bell rang. We went to his place clean and cook which took us an hour then I'd go home and do the same.
"What are we?" I ask Melusi
That question caught him off guard cause he choked on his saliva
"I mean we have this routine and we have been doing this for 3 weeks now and I don't know if we are in a relationship or we are just friends" I said not looking at him afraid of his reaction.
"I'd like you to be my girlfriend, but I was afraid to ask you" he said after some time.
"Why" I asked laughing.
"I didn't think you'd want someone like me, that's all" he said and we were quiet for remaining minutes.
I was actually hurt you know because I had feelings for him for some time and now and he was not making any move.
I mean we spend most of our free time together but he can't seem to fall for me like I have fallen for him.
~~~~
Beep beep I snapped back as soon as I heard that tone. It must be Nono's phone because she was staring at the screen and smiling like an idiot. It must that boyfriend of hers. 
"How has Okuhle been he must be a handsome young man" I said smiling.
He was a very cute baby and we always teased him that he will be a heartbreaker. But looking back I just hope he doesn't break a girl's heart like his dad broke mine.
I loved Melusi he was my world my everything. That's how I saved his number on my phone "My World". Seeing him here today made me realise that I loved him.
I mean we met when I was almost 18 and he was my first boyfriend and I thought we'd grow old together. That thought brought tears to my eyes, cause I remember how he laughed in my face when I told him that 12 years ago.
Damn it feels like 12 minutes ago.
I remember how I cried myself to sleep after that for months.
I even had to de-register at the University I was attending because I felt that I was going to fail. My mom was furious but I couldn't blame her. 

Chapter 4

 Nono was so shocked as soon as she realised that this is my ex I told her about. You see I met Nono the day Melusi left me. You see I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. I felt a hand on my shoulder, I turned around so quick thinking it's Melusi. Well I was hoping he realised what he has lost but nope it wasn't. Instead I saw this girl who looked at me with sympathy.
~~~~~
"Hello, where you from?" asked the girl.
"I'm from Finetown", I answered tears filling my eyes.
"Do you know where you are right now?", she asked softly and I shook my head indicating that I didn't.
When I looked at the watch I was so shocked I didn't realise that it was this late. I was a little after 8, clearly I have been walking for more than 2 hours.
"Well I can see that there's something wrong but I won't force you to tell me. You cannot find a taxi to your area you can sleep at my place if you don't mind. I promise you I'm not a psychopath. Are you okay with that?" she asked softly.
For some reason I feel safe with her, there's something deep inside me telling me that I can trust her.
"Oh I'm Nokuphila aka Nono" she introduced herself.
For some reason I don't like people who use aka when they introduce themselves, but I need a place to sleep I can't walk home it is not safe here.
"I am Luthando", I told her.
"Oh I love that name. I am planning to name my baby by that name", she said shyly.
We walk to her house. OMG I can't believe that some people live in such a place. I miss home. Okay I am standing infront of a shack that looks like it will fall apart anytime from now. There are no windows and it is a 1 room shack. When we walk in there isn't much. There's a table and 2 chairs in the middle, a single old bed, another table at the back of the door which has a 1 plate stove and cutlery. I know some people are poor but I've never seen a place like hers. But it is tidy at least she keeps it clean.
Well I don't have friends I'm forever reading so I didn't go to people's houses except for my neighbours and those who live in shacks do not live in a such horrible shacks.
There's no wardrobe she hangs some of her clothes from a nail, some clothe are packed on the boxes. There isn't much really.
"Welcome to my place, I know it's not much but at least you'll be able to rest" she said a little offended.
Oh God she must have seen my facial expression, I quickly force a small smile on my face.
"Thank you dear, it means a lot. Yes it's not much but at least you have a home and this place is very tidy" I mumble.
"Are you hungry" she asks me.
Okay from where I'm from you don't ask a visitor if they are hungry or not you just give them food. Even if you're not hungry you eat so that you don't offend the person offering you food.
"No I'm not I'm just tired I had a long and horrible day" I answer her honestly.
I mean how can I have an appetite when the love of my life has just left me and gone back to the very same person who left him for another man, not only but she left him with a baby who was just 6 months. I helped him raise the kid missed some of the papers cause the baby needed to go the clinic. This is how he thanks me? Didn't my mom warn me about Melusi? I'm such a dumb. I kinda zoned out I didn't hear what she said and I asked her to repeat.
"I said you can take a bath and take out a pair of pj's from the bottom box on your right" she repeated.
"Can I skip the bathing part and just go to bed" I asked her.
"You need to eat first I won't allow you to sleep without eating anything" she said sternly
"But I am not..."
I didn't even finish the sentence before she disturbed me.
"Look I know we don't know each other and you don't want to eat because of the dump I live in, but you know it's rude to let a guest leave without getting anything to eat. I will warm up the supper you can eat 5 spoons and I will allow you to eat" she said offended again.
"I didn't meant to offend..."
Once again she didn't let me finish.
"It's okay I understand, I'm used to people looking down on me and judging me because I live in this kind of place" she said and turned around to continue warming up the food.
20 minutes later we ate in silence. We had rice and mince meat.
After eating I went to wash the dishes she stopped me and told me to go sleep. She took out clean linen and blankets for me. I went to bed but I couldn't sleep.
After some time I heard her moving the table and chairs and she slept on the floor. I felt really bad I mean she has sacrificed so much for a person she doesn't even know and here I am judging her.
I'm just stupid no wonder Melusi left me. Oh no I take that back.
After tossing and turning for hours, Nono asked what's wrong.
I just told her everything growing up with no friends I was used to keeping things to myself but for some reason I found that it is easier to talk to another person. She held me when I cried and told me that everything will be fine.
She later told me how and why she ended up staying alone. It is true that if you think you have bigger problems then talk to the next person you'll find that your problems are nothing compared to theirs.
I mean at the age of 21 Nono has been through a lot but she's still here. 

Chapter 5

I must admit when Melusi left me I was broken, I thought I'm gonna die due to the heartache but I lived. I met my husband 7 years ago and we've been married for 5 years we don't have any kids just yet. I had a misscariage 2 years back so he decided that we should wait until I've fully healed.
"Is