Simbongile Princess Ntabeni: The Called

Chapter Eleven

SIBONGILE

Now that the relationship was no longer a secret, I felt like some weight had been lifted off my shoulders. The kids were very vocal about their feelings, I had taught them to be honest at all times so I believed that they were okay with Masixole and I dating. They wouldn't lie just to make me happy.

I had a lunch date with Imibongo, so I prepared for that and called Masixole to inform him about the kids reacting but he didn't answer his phone so I went on to my lunch date. It had been a while since I saw Imi, I discovered she wasn't back home for the sake of being back but she was "just in town" as she put it.

Me: Awumhle, how have you been? Does dad know you're around?
Imi: Enkosi sisi, he knows. I'll probably only see him ngomso kodwa.

Me: Ngoba namhlanje kutheni?
Imi: I have a couple of stuff lined up for today, then tomorrow morning I'm free.

I looked at her, she laughed.

Imi: Haike sisi, don't give me that look. Dad knew I was coming this side today, we've been communicating and he is aware that I am with you right now.

Me: I don't believe you.

Imi: You can call him.

I took out my phone and called dad, he answered on the first ring...

Dad: Ntombikayise?

Me: Tatam, unjani?

Dad: I'm okay mntanam unjani wena?
Me: I'm okay too, hewethu I'm with your other daughter.

Dad: Heee, ebetshilo yazi ndilibele ukuxelela ba uyeza mntanam.

Me: Oh, so she's telling me the truth?
Dad: Ewe, but I think I will see her tomorrow. She's got a couple of things to do for today.

Me: Ooh okay, haike bye bye. I just wanted to know if you knew.

Dad: Haha! Bye.

I hung up and looked at a smiling Imi.

She looked very beautiful, very grown and very mature.

Imi: Before we go any further, I heard you and bhut'Masx are dating?

Me: Haha!

Imi: So it's true? Wow, have you told the kids? Bathini?

Me: I recently told them, ba right, they are acceptive of the relationship if that's even a word.

Imi: But sisi, you only told them now? After so many years?

Me: Yhima, when did you find out? Who told you?
Imi: Bhut'Bonga.

Me: What?

Why would Bonga tell my own sister iindaba zam without my permission? I thought she's say she heard from dad, but Bonga of all people? Haibo!

********

MASIXOLE NGQOTYANA

After the golf incident I decided that I would take Sibongile to every expo or business lunch (allowing partners) so that she could also familiarize herself with the people I work with. I didn't want another Larissa episode anytime in the near future and the best way to avoid such was to involve her. Unfortunately that "involvement" didn't include business trips that were out of town. As much as I loved her, I hadn't wrapped my head around the idea of traveling with a partner as yet.

Monday morning I flew to East London, that was to be my home for that week. We were busy introducing our business that side, so we had presentations, site seeing and partnership proposals for that entire week. Three hours after I had landed, I got a call from Sibongile and for some reason I didn't want to speak to her. So I muted the phone and continued with my preparations for my next meeting...

"Mr. Ngqotyana, I didn't think you'd actually come in person,"

I looked up and smiled.

Zanele Mdele, an old varsity friend whom I saw in the guest list of potential partners but didn't pay much attention to because I had a lot in my mind. She was still as beautiful, still breath-taking.

Me: Ms. Mdele, still charming as always, come on in.

She laughed as she walked over to where I was, I got up and we shared a hug before I offered her a seat. We caught up, she was such a breath of fresh air.

Me: Please don't tell me you are my 3 o'clock appointment?

Zanele: Haha, unfortunately for you I am, but we'll wait for my dad. He should be here any minute now.

Me: Mh, daddy's little girl.

Zanele: I handle the finances, he handles the hard labour. We make a pretty mean team I must say.

Me: And we never learnt anything about blowing our own horns?
Zanele: Haha shut up! Not today.

We laughed at that, her father and two other men walked into the boardroom and the meeting commenced. I wouldn't blow my own horn and say I aced the proposal, but they gave me positive feedback which was a good indication. We packed our bags, and I signed out for the day, heading to my hotel room. After freshening up, I realized that I didn't take Zanele's number and their files only had business contacts which were not going to work because they were not in office.

I called Larissa,

Larissa: Mr N?

Me: Good afternoon, I need Ms. Mdele's personal number please.

Larissa: Oh-kay, did she not make it to today's meeting?
Me: She did.

Larissa: Oh... I'll send it to you in a sec.

Me: Thank you.

I hung up and that's when I remembered that I still had to return my girlfriend's call. So I said a short prayer and called her back...

Sibo: Masi?

Me: Baby, unjani?
Sibo: I'm okay unjani wena?
Me: I'm tired, you called earlier?
Sibo: Yes... how was your day k'qala?

Me: It was busy, and tiring but productive. And yours?
Sibo: nothing much...

Me: oh-kay...

Sibo: I uhm, I spoke to the kids izolo after you dropped me off. Seems like they already knew that something more than a friendship was going on, just that they were waiting for us to be vocal about it.

Me: Oh really?
Sibo: Yep, so I guess this is where we stop snooping around?
Me: What did the man of the house say?

She laughed,

Sibo: He said that if you ever lift a hand on me they would be forced to send voodoo and a mysterious fire your way.

Me: Haaha! Haike, they can keep their fire and voodoo, I don't hit women. But 'm glad they know, the sneaking around was tiring.

Sibo: I know, thank you for your patience.

Me: Thank you, I love you.

Sibo: I love you too. Bye.

Me: Bye.

We hung up, Larissa sent the number that I was looking for and I texted Zanele inviting her for supper. We were in the same hotel anyway, and there was a fine restaurant on the beach front that I wanted to check out.

"Sure, time?"

I smiled as I read the response... who saidbusiness trips were supposed to be boring?