The Argus Web

Soon, the ambulance arrived with the police. Since it was a legitimate duel, the police didn't trouble Tristin. The injured students were sent to the hospital, but Lerato insisted Thomas be taken to the Ngobeni residence, where their own healers could tend to him.

"Tristin, what should I do if Thomas and his gang come after me for this car?" Max asked, clenching the car keys.

"They won't bother you. If they want the car back, they'll have to challenge me again. You're just holding it for me," Tristin reassured him, placing a hand on Max's shoulder.

"Yeah, you're right. If they try to take it by force, they'll be breaking the law. They might have some influence with the local police, but the martial arts faction is another story," Max said, nodding.

"Go on then, drive home. Who knows, you might get a girlfriend now that you'll be driving a Golf 7," Tristin said, patting Max's back.

"Says the guy who drives a Ferrari and still doesn't have a girlfriend," Max snorted.

"Ouuu, don't compare yourself to me," Tristin said, shaking his head.

"Yeah, you're right. I don't have someone like Lerato running toward me right now. Look at her boobs bouncing from left to right as she ru... I gotta go. I don't want to be a third wheel again," Max said, turning away.

Tristin shook his head with a smile and turned to face Lerato, who was running toward him.

"Hey, Lerato why are you here? Shouldn't you be heading home before Sipho spins the truth to Thomas's father?" he asked, noticing her gasping for air.

"I... I wanted to give you something before I go home," she said, looking down, her face red.

Tristin looked her from head to toe and frowned. "But you don't have anything with you right now."

"Why are you being such a buzzkill?" Lerato shouted, punching Tristin in the gut using half of her strength.

Caught off guard, Tristin doubled over in pain, but Lerato grabbed his face and kissed him on the lips.

Feeling her cold, soft lips, Tristin's mind went blank, forgetting the pain in the gut. Lerato felt her body heat up as she kissed him deeply, then pulled away.

"You... you took advantage of me all day. Now it's time to own up. I'm your girlfriend now," she said, her voice breathless, before turning back without waiting for a response.

With one hand on his stomach and the other on his lips, Tristin watched Lerato run toward her car. "Don't I have a say in this?" he shouted after her.

Without looking back, Lerato raised her right hand, showing her middle finger to him.

"Oh what am I going to do with her?" He wondered as he shook his head with a smile. "Is this part of my plan? Did she come back to give me a kiss or a punch to the gut?" he asked himself as he headed to his car and drove home.

On his way, Tristin decided to visit the supermarket and look for the homeless old man who usually stayed nearby.

Arriving at the supermarket, Tristin parked his car and went to the alley next to it. "Where is the old man?" he wondered, seeing the clean alley and the missing makeshift bed.

"Let me ask someone inside," he said, heading into the supermarket.

"Hello, sir, and welcome. How can I help you?" a young lady greeted him at the door.

"Hi, I'm looking for Emma. Is she in today?" Tristin asked, eyeing the unfamiliar girl.

"Oh, Emma? She must be in the kitchen. Wait a moment; I'll call her for you," she said, running off.

A few minutes later, Emma returned with the young lady. "So, the handsome guy in a school uniform is Tristin," Emma thought as she saw him standing there.

"Hello, Tristin. How can I help you today?" she asked with a smile.

Tristin smiled back, pleased to hear Emma calling him by his name not sir. "I'm looking for the old man, but I can't find him in the alley. His belongings are gone too. Do you know what happened to him?"

"Sorry, Tristin, but no one has seen him today. Those who opened the shop this morning said he wasn't there when they arrived," she said, raising her eyebrows.

Tristin looked down, biting his thumbnail. "Was he really saying goodbye for good last night?" he wondered. "Does he have anywhere else he could go?"

"As far as I know, he's never left the alley before," Emma said, shaking her head.

"I see," Tristin said, then looked at Emma. "Can I give you my number in case he comes back?"

"Sure, I'll let you know if he returns," Emma said, looking down. "Does this mean Tristin won't be coming here often?" she wondered.

Tristin wrote his phone number on a piece of paper and handed it to Emma.

"If he doesn't come back, you can still call when you're free. I still owe you thanks for your help over the past two weeks," he said with a smile.

Emma's smile returned, her cheeks a bit red. "Oh, yeah. I'll hold you to that."

"No problem. I gotta go now," Tristin said. "Have a great night, Emma," he added, turning to leave.

"Thanks, Tristin. Say hi to your grandma for me," Emma called after him.

Tristin waved back without a word. "Did the old man really leave? Was he serious when he said he would give me a part of his life? How do I explain the voice I heard when I was fighting Thomas?" he wondered, holding his chest.

"I really need answers," he thought as he got into his car and drove home.

"Whose car is this? How will I park my car in the garage with it blocking me?" Tristin asked as he entered his grandma's yard, parking behind a BMW 5 series sedan.

Inside the house, two female voices were laughing and talking. He followed the sounds to the living room and found his grandma chatting with a young woman about 19, wearing a short, tight black leather skirt and heels, her smooth legs and thighs revealed as she crossed her legs.

Tristin leaned against the arch separating the living room and the kitchen. "She's beautiful," he thought, admiring her long, shiny black hair cascading to her waist. "Her beauty rivals Miss Megan's."

"Grandma, I'm back," he said, leaning on the arch.

"Tristin, where are your manners? Don't just stand there. Come, let me introduce you to this nice lady I met today," Grandma said, calling him over.

Tristin sighed, thinking, "She's trying to play matchmaker again."

"This is my grandson Tristin I told you about. Isn't he handsome?" Grandma said with a smile.

The beautiful lady in black stood up, her height about 1.72 meters, but with her heels, she was as tall as Tristin. She looked him in the eyes. "Hi, my name is Buhle. It's nice to meet you," she said, her voice sweet.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Buhle," Tristin said, shaking her hand.

"Well, he's more handsome than in his pictures on his file, but is he really worth the Argus Web's attention?" Buhle wondered as she shook his hand.

Tristin shifted his gaze to his grandma, expecting an explanation.

Grandma noticed his look. "Buhle is my savior. When I left the beauty spa, I dropped my purse, but she found it and brought it back to me. Isn't she the best?"

Tristin narrowed his eyes at Buhle. "What if she's the one who stole it in the first place? Have you ever considered that?" he asked, thinking, "This woman is beautiful, but she gives off a dangerous vibe."

Buhle's heart skipped a beat. "He's sharp. I did steal her purse just to get close to her. I need to be more careful with him," she thought, keeping her face calm.

"Tristin, don't be rude. How can you say that? Buhle is a dignified young woman. How could she stoop so low as to pickpocket an old woman like me?" Grandma said, folding her arms and frowning.

Tristin shook his head. "Grandma can be naïve sometimes. To her, Buhle is a good potential granddaughter-in-law and nothing more," he thought.

"It's okay, Grandma. Don't be angry with him. He's right to be cautious. After all, thieves and crocks come in all shapes and sizes," Buhle said with a smile.

"You see how sweet she is?" Grandma asked.

"Alright, Grandma," Tristin said, knowing he couldn't change his grandma's mind. "Is she staying for dinner?"

"Yes, she is, and she'll be helping too," Grandma said, still folding her arms, frowning at Tristin.

"Alright then, you two have fun. I'm going upstairs," Tristin said, heading to his room.

"Why don't you stay and get to know Buhle?" Grandma called after him.

"She's staying for dinner. There's still time for that," Tristin replied, continuing to his room.