The once vibrant and lively apartment was void of its beauty and peace as I stood in the middle of the living room.
The sound of my heartbeat resonated loudly in the quiet room.
I stared at Thato's intricately designed pots and pans, plates and cups. They all held the wondrous memories we made over a heartfelt meal. The kitchen was our Centrepoint, our forefront but I couldn't help but feel my heartstrings tug as I thought about how all those memories were just a fragment of my imagination.
We were so happy, we were so satisfied but what had gone wrong? When had things taken a turn for the worse? I know people say there is a calm before the storm but what kind of a storm was this? Why had it come like a hurricane, demolishing, brick by brick, what had taken years to build?
Why had it chosen to come to me? Did I not deserve love that the moment it entered my life, I had to lose another love?
A thousand other questions racked through my mind but I could not find an answer to any of them. I felt powerless, the situation was beyond my control.
What would I tell my mother? How would she react? Thato was also her daughter so I'm sure she would not understand, and I would not want her to pick sides. I could not let these thoughts overcome me, I would cross that bridge when I got there.
Today, I was closing a significant chapter in my life. Whether it was for the good or bad only time would tell. But for now, there was a brighter tomorrow waiting for me, even without my best friend.
I made it to my bedroom and packed all that was mine into my large travel suitcase, even though Nio had promised to buy me some new clothes but I did not want a single item of mine left in the apartment. I cleared out my drawers, took my pictures off the walls and finally sat down on my freshly made bed as tears cascaded down my cheeks and my throat clogged up.
This was not how things were supposed to go. We were supposed to achieve our dreams TOGETHER, Thato, Sienna and I had to be the three musketeers. We were meant to stick together and stay glued to each other's side forever. Our children were meant to have playdates, we were meant to plan more holidays and travel the world.
But that had all broken down into shambles.
Something told me to let bygones be bygones and to forgive and live as though nothing had happened but I just simply couldn't. How could I forgive someone who had not even bothered to apologise?
Enough was enough, I had to toughen up and move on, so I stood up ready to leave my bedroom with my suitcase in tow when I decided to open my side drawer, which I rarely used and had not bothered to check.
Marveled, I found what I had thought to be my most valued treasure, the word coming directly from the Lord's mouth; THE HOLY BIBLE.
The book in question had a layer of dust over it due to my frequent neglect of reading it, as I prioritized other matters that seemed more 'pressing'. With deliberate action, I took a moment to wipe away the dust from the cover and proceeded to slowly open its pages. A sense of hesitation lingered within me as I went on with this act.
I couldn't help but wonder: How could I approach the sacred Word after having neglected it for such a long time? Would the messages within still resonate with me? Would there be forgiveness for my neglect?
Nevertheless, I summoned the courage to proceed and unfolded the book's pages. In a seemingly serendipitous manner, my attention was immediately drawn to
Matthew 12:37, which stood out as if demanding my consideration. The verse conveyed an impactful message: "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."
The verse was like a stab to my heart.
It was with my words that I had broken up my friendship with Thato, it was with my words that my 9-year relationship was broken, but now I was questioning my decision. Was it the right one to take or had it been taken upon impulse?
Had I thought everything through?
As I pondered upon the words of the Word, I realised that I was quick to draw up a conclusion, hasty to judge her, and quick to deliver the verdict as though I were some judge.
I had not heard her side of the story and after reading what the Lord had revealed to me I knew that I should've at least allowed her to say something.
As much as I wished to plead my case, I could not. I had been unfair and unjust.
For the first time in a week, I got on my knees right before the owner of the universe, the One who knew me better than I knew me, the One that loved and forgave, the One that listened without fault. I let my tears fall without pause as I whimpered in agonising pain. The pain of one's heart being torn apart by their own hands.
"Father," I took a deep breath, looking up into the ceiling, "Oh, what I big mistake I've made. I was meant to be the one who was sensible enough to see the snares of the enemy and how he had made me his prey. I was meant to be the one that would deliver justice to widows and orphans but how could I if I failed to deliver it to my best friend? How do I bow before your throne, how do I worship you, who do I stand in awe of you if I have done so much wrong?" The tears had become so overwhelming that I could not continue.
I took the Bible and opened it again as the Word that Thato had once told me was underlined by a glitter pen.
I was beyond marvelled at how the Lord worked, His mysterious yet beautiful wonders. His great heart. His Word was written so meticulously in 1 John 1:8-9
8 If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.
His Word unveiled His character, the splendour of His beauty, the profound wisdom in His words, and the very essence of His ways. He was resplendent, He exuded serenity and grace.
"Thank you, Lord. You have freed me from my guilt."
****
A.N.T.O.N.I.O
"There has been an attack at the base," "While I made my way into the class, Giovanni's voice pierced through the ear pod I had securely plugged in.
In a hushed tone, barely audible amidst the lively chatter of the students, I uttered the word "Occupatene." It was a discreet message meant for Giovanni, a man of considerable authority as the underboss. I had full confidence in his capabilities, and I knew he would understand the significance of my words.
Giovanni assured me, "Sí, I will thoroughly analyze every detail, and once I have gathered all the necessary information, I will give you all the information as soon as possible."
"Inteso," and the call cut just as the professor entered the class.
In recent days there had been plenty of attacks, and even an infant could guess that they were not coincidental, it was all Izan.
But, Margaret, Susan and Lucia were secretly planning a silent attack on the mafia, intellectually. We would steal each and every cent that belonged to him by hacking his accounts and then we would strike while the iron was still hot and he would not be expecting it.
Speech is silver and silence is golden.
"Antonio, right?" Some bimbo, caked in makeup and long nails asked while seductively biting on her red lips.
I thought twice before giving her a curt, "Why do you ask?" My steel gaze was firm on hers until she shyly broke her gaze.
"I was wondering if you would like to hang out some other time or later on today," she brought her hand closer to me as though she wanted to touch it. Had she even washed her hands before she considered coming close to me?
"Don't you dare touch me," I was irritated by her mere suggestion and need to touch me.
"I'm sorry," tears started filling her eyes, how obtuse was this girl?
"I don't need your sorry. I need you to move away from me and never and I mean ever come close to me."
With a flick of her artificial hair extensions, she cast a seductive gaze upon me, her eyes filled with lust. "However," she pleaded, "I simply want to spend time together and perhaps delve deeper into our mutual understanding, if you catch my drift."
I comprehended what she meant, but I had undergone a change, no longer the person I once was. I had embraced loyalty to one woman, devoted to her and her alone.
"I said stay away from me!" I snapped, causing the whole room to cast eyes on us.
"Okay, geez. I thought you were a cool dude just looking for a good time but clearly not, suit yourself," she huffed before sauntering her way to her gawking friends.
In the midst of believing Samantha was no longer a concern, fate had a different plan in store for me. Unexpectedly, this girl emerged, disrupting my carefully orchestrated day that was already veering off course.
****
"All our machinery was stolen, and the building was vandalised while the men were out for training," Giovanni was swift to brief me with all the information and to say I was livid would be a grande understatement.
That machinery consisted of guns, knives and machines all imported from Spain at a hefty price tag.
This was no game.
This was a war and I was going to bring it all on no matter the cost.
Destiny would get many other bodyguards if need be but this war was going to happen, come rain or sunshine.
"We attack Izan's house tonight, tell the men to get ready and gather all the machinery we had at the main house, we will need it. If he thinks he can steal machinery that cost me millions of euros and I would just turn a blind eye then he has another thing coming," I spoke with finality, tired of the cat-and-mouse game we seemed to have been playing.
"What about hacking the account?"
"Mark can take care of that. Inform him that I want everything done within forty-eight hours tops, no hitches of any sort will be accepted," as I walked through the warehouse, my anger only grew a thousandfold, not only had they stolen the machinery but they had spray-painted my pure white walls leaving them with a red stain that outlined the Russian mafias symbol.
"Consider it done," Giovanni chuckled darkly before cracking his fingers with a dangerous glint in his eyes.
****
"Are you ready?" I asked the one hundred soldiers who were gathered in all their might and all-black gear for tonight's war. It was going to go down in the history books.
"Sí!" They replied simultaneously, their voices alone were enough to gather attention and cause a chill to run down one's spine while their faces were enough to make a man run in the opposite direction upon meeting them.
"Bene, the plan is simple. You shoot to kill, take anything that is of value for yourselves and do not deter from the main goal and that is to,"
"Destroy the Russian home!" They all spoke, completing my sentence and making me fill with pride. Tonight there would be a rain and plentiful shower of bullets in the Russian home.
They declared a war and a war was what they were going to get.
"We can leave now," I announced, closing my bullet in my AK-47, the silent shooter. It would get the job done without me lifting so much as a finger.
Margaret, Susan and Lucia were clad in their black leather pants, black bandannas and impenetrable bulletproof vests making us a formidable team.
Giovanni held a gun similar to mine, just louder, with three other guns secured in his boot, his holster, and his bullet vest.
Our all-black apparel ensured that we would blend into the night and come unsuspected and especially unannounced.
A convoy of twenty cars raced through the night, charged with an air of excitement as we all eagerly awaited the upcoming event. The odds were stacked with us, with the likelihood of success being quite high, while Izan's chances of prevailing were incredibly rare.
Our vehicles came to a stop outside the designated location. Just as I was about to exit my car, my cell phone began to ring. Initially, I chose to ignore it, as I had a crucial mission to focus on. However, the persistent ringing eventually wore me down, forcing me to answer. There must have been something important that warranted such insistence.
"What?!" I snapped at the person at the other end of the phone.
"N-Nio? I-I don't know w-where I am. I... I've b-been kidnapped, p-please give t-them whatever t-they want."
"Hello, dear Nio," a raspy voice with a thick Russian accent sneered, Izan!
____________
Occupatene - Take care of it!
Inteso - Understood
Sí - Yes
Bene - Good