Simbongile Princess Ntabeni: The Called

Chapter Nine

SIMBONGILE PRINCESS NTABENI

Qhamani sat across me, smiling from ear to ear. I was happy, obviously, but I couldn't help but feel as though we could bump onto one of the rents. Yes mom was aware, in a way, but Dad? Bhuti Masi? Grandad? Like, all the men in my life (including my twin brother) still saw me as a little girl that they needed to protect.

"You've been smiling since we walked in here," I tried bursting his bubble.

"Ingxaki yakho you don't believe me when I say you make me happy,"

"I do, it just feels weird, that another human being makes you happy," I defended myself.

"Weird? Dude, I love you, how is you making me happy weird?"
"What do you know about love Qhamani?" I asked looking straight into his eyes. He sighed, taking my hands into his, I bowed so I could meet my straw halfway sipping on my shake while listening to him.

"One thing that made me fall for you since the 8th grade was how you carried yourself, you knew even back then that you were gifted but you didn't get carried away. You still don't get carried away phofu, I love that,"

"Oh, so you love my gift?" I teased.

"Haha, I love it nayo but I love your character, the relationship you have with your siblings and how selfless you are. Most times you take risks and help people knowing fully well that you could get into trouble, but that doesn't stop you. I love you for that, being selfless yet aware."

I didn't need to ask anything else, I felt his words in my heart.

"Well, your mother should be proud of you, you're a smooth talker and a gentleman of note," I finally spoke up, blushing, and he laughed. When we were done with the shakes we took a walk to the taxi rank, where we found a spot and spent almost an hour just talking. His mother called asking his whereabouts and that was my cue. He walked me to my taxi's and actually waited for the taxi to be full before he left.

I got off at my grandad's house, because I wanted him to drive me to dad's place. At least if I rocked up with the old man I wasn't going to be roasted with questions. I rang the bell, he didn't answer, but I could see his car in the driveway so I called him.

"Princess?" he sounded relaxed.

"Tamkhulu, khaw'vule kaloku," (Please open the gate)

"Ndivule? Uhamba nabani? Uhamba ngantoni?" (Open the gate? Who are you with? How did you even get here?) I could tell he was getting up.

"Ndihamba ndedwa, I used i-taxi," (Alone, used a taxi)

The gate opened, I saw him standing on the patio and I laughed knowing uzandi shout'a for using taxis. I walked up to him, smiling, he just shook his head and followed behind me as we walked inside. I threw my bag on the couch and went to the kitchen and raided his fridge.

"Where are you coming from this time?" he shouted from the other room.

"I went on a date with a boy tamkhulu," I shouted back, almost laughing.

He waited for me to go back to the lounge and get comfortable before he asked in details where I was and when I was done telling him he said:

"You really went on a date? Simbongile I'm already a tamkhulu mntanam, please don't make me a great-grandparent yet. Yhini zinkosi zam,"

I burst out laughing, we chilled for a while and then I asked him to drive me to dad's place. He didn't mind, he actually would have preferred I did that kwangoku bendibuya ku Qhamani because it wasn't safe for me to take a taxi home. We got to my dad's front yard, Undi and Mumu were pushing each other in a bicycle kwi lawn. Undi saw grandad's car and left Musa in the bike, came running to us. I rolled the window down,