Badboy's Venom

chapter 43

ZOE'S POV

The past five days were spent in Sun City, best days of my life. We stayed in the best hotel with top service, the most exciting part about all of this was the activities we did there and not to mention meeting the Khoza's, what a great family they are. My body is still exhausted from all the activities we did and touring. Sun City's got the World's fastest zip slide and after some words of convincing me to go for it I finally had the courage to. Well I'm terrified of heights but after I went for the zip slide I felt brave, like I can concur anything. Camilla really found those words funny when I told her, saying I'm insane. I hate to admit but it was one of my favourites.

We also went for Segway Tours, driving our very first go-cart. Did horse-riding which I insisted on doing with Glen, we took our tour to the Madikwe game reserve, one of South Africa's largest reserves, it is a ninety minute drive from Sun City to its location. Let me not forget to mention that it carries all of the big five plus cheetah, giraffe, zebra, hyena, hippo and other wide variety of animals. Another thing I love about South Africa is that it consists of eleven different tribes'. Cultural village expresses the different tribes which feel like home to many with all the traditional vibe and African dishes. All in one I can say we managed to explore as many places as possible since I can tell you until sunset.

Yesterday we all came back to take long showers then headed to bed with no time wasted, considering the fact that we were beyond exhausted. Today is New Year's Eve and Camilla's busy begging aunty to let us attend the event at some local club. "It's fine mom I'll keep an eye on them." Glen finally volunteers and aunty soften up a bit since she seems to trust Glen more. "Fine but be back by 23:30pm." Aunt Julia finally agrees and Camilla jumps to hug her "Thank you mother Theresa!" She teases her and place kisses all over her cheeks. "You'll get off your high horse and stay." Aunt states and Camilla doesn't entertain her, she offers Glen a fist bump of being appreciative.

"Zoe you okay?" Aunt questions as she notices my silence. "I am" I mutter. "If you don't feel like going it's okay you can stay." Mom suggests. "No let her be a teenager. Zoe go with them but please keep an eye on them Glen." Aunt Julia emphasises. "I will mom" Glen nods. With that said we prepare ourselves and depart. Reality hit me when we arrive at the club, reminding me of what happened back home since I seem to have forgotten.

Today I didn't even enjoy myself, being irritated by our return back home tomorrow with my mom. I pulled on a fake happy expression on my cousins, not wanting to bother them. Why do we even have to return back home!

"Five! Four! Three! Two! One... Happy New Year" we all cheer happily as we watch fireworks popping up in different colours.

🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾

"Everything's here right?" Mom inquires, averting her gaze inside of her Ford Fiesta's boot. "Yes I think everything's good." I respond to her. We engulf in hugs of farewell, beginning with Camilla, Glen then my aunt last. "Thank you aunty for making my visit special." I acknowledge her. "You're welcome baby." She breaks the hug. "Here's a R3000 you'll treat yourself." She takes out her wallet and hands me money. Gasps escape my mouth, leaving me astonished. "For me? So much money aunty?" I inquire in disbelief and hug her again. "Thank you" I say with emotions overtaking my face. "Likewise" she simply replies with a grin on her face.

"That effort you invest in your studies, keep it up." She encourages me. "Always will" I respond to her. "Julia I guess this is goodbye. We'll communicate over the phone." Mom tells her and they engulf in a hug. "Contact me when you get home." Aunt urges mom and she nods. My cousins feel sad to experience me leaving as I also feel the same way. We embrace in a group hug again "We'll talk" Camilla says. "Till we see each other again." Glen talks too and I nod, heading to the car. I watch their sad facial expressions as we pull off. Goodbyes are always sad!

After a ten minutes drive between my mom and I she decides to speak. "So what are you planning to do with your money?" Mom questions. "I have no idea yet." I respond to her in a monotone. "It's so unlike aunty not giving you anything at all." I say with worry evident in my voice. "Who said she didn't offer me anything?" Mom says, sarcasm dripping in her voice and my face settles for puzzlement while darting my eyes in the car not noticing anything. "What did she offer you then?" I ask, curiosity getting the best out of me.

"Take my phone and check the latest message." I get access to her phone and check the latest message. "What! R20 000" I exclaim in disbelief and a wide grin covers mom's features. "Aunt's job does it really pay that much or don't you think she does some dodgy business?" I ask, trailing off. "Zoe don't be disrespectful you know that his late husband left her inheritance too." Mom voices out briefly. "Whoa mom don't be too serious I was just fooling around." I chuckle and she changes the subject. "Lind and Mike came by after you left." She informs me. "Together?" I question in confusion.

"Nope separately, well Linda came immediately after you left and Mike came the following day." "And what did you say to them?" I ask firmly. "That you needed space. Well Linda was insisting I give her your new contact number but I refused." Mom informs me. "Good you did well." I say blankly. Mom drifts her direction from the road to me, scrutinizing my face. "I feel like there's something you are not telling me." Mom remarks. "There's isn't, I just needed to be far from everyone." I respond "Everyone? Did you have a fight with everyone or Samantha?" Mom suspiciously questions. "It's complicated" I answer nonchalantly and drift my gaze to the window with mom's old school RnB music playing at a low volume through the journey.

Hours pass by and we arrive home. We unpack our bags and take long showers. "I can't believe the holidays are over just like that." I say, leaning my head on the couch. "At least we did have a great time hey." Mom voices out. "I agree" I nod in amusement. "Let me order pizza I don't have energy for cooking right now." Mom informs me. "Great idea mom" I shoot her a smirk. About thirty minutes later the delivery guy arrives.

"This is why I love Debonairs pizza." I comment, shoving the pizza through my throat. "This kid loves food." My mom says to herself as she shakes her head and I offer her a smile. After eating I head to my room to read the book mom bought me as a birthday gift, before I knew it I have fallen asleep since I'm still exhausted. Well I did hear my mom's presence in my room, attempting to fix my sleeping posture but I was too sleepy to let a word out of my mouth.