Simbongile Princess Ntabeni: The Called

Chapter Twelve

SIMBONGILE PRINCESS NTABENI

We were at dad's place, all my siblings were excited, it was exciting to have him around because he didn't come around often enough. But there was just something off about him, I couldn't put my finger to it and the best option for me was to not be in his space until I had it figured out. Me: Musa, come let us bake!Musa: Bake? Dad's braaing meat outside. And what if he didn't buy baking stuff?Me: But we sent him the list nje. Musa: Mh, ubuyephi ke?Me: You can go and ask dad if he bought everything on the list, uyiyeke le uyibuzayo. Musa: Unamkhwenkwe ngoku Princess? She asked that running for the door and I just laughed. I sat in the kitchen watching Junior, dad, and grandad bonding by the fireplace. The atmosphere was very beautiful and peaceful.Musa: Uthi utata we should make salads or anything that we can serve with the meat. Me: Okay, wash your hands. She washed her hands while I took out everything we were going to need. As soon as I had the knife in my hand, I zoned out. We were in a very dark house, there were three of us and as we were touching the walls trying to feel for the door, something roared and all three of us screamed engulfed by fear. From the screams, I gathered that we were all female, which was easing... kind of."iinyawo zakho ziwulungele lomhlaba, izandla zakho zikulungeke ukusebenza, umlomo wakho ukulungele ukuthetha. Eyona ngxaki kukuba ingqondo yakho igutyungelwe kukungcola kwalendawo ukuyo. Phuma, phuma, phumaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"The voice was very audible enough for anyone to hear, but I felt like it was directed to me specifically. I fell to the floor right after hearing those words, for the few seconds that I was on the ground, the light came back on and I saw the two other people that I was with. One being my aunt, Imibongo Iminathi and the other being her maternal grandmother, Miyola's mother.Imi: Sim, what are you doing here?Me: What are you doing here? Where are we? Who's this?Imi: Sisekhaya mfondini, this is my grandmother, how did you get here?Me: This is your grandmother? Are you sure? She looked at her grandmother again but her face had transformed to someone else, her eyes pitch black without that white part. Imi fainted that exact moment and I was brought back home, back to my familiar surroundings. Musa: SIMBONGILE!!!Me: What? Ungxolelani?Musa: I've been calling you, kanti what's wrong with you?I sighed, she wouldn't understand. I also didn't fully understand what had just happened but... phew!Me: I'm sorry, ndiyacinga, what's up?Musa: I'm done, can I go to dad?Me: Sure, enkosi. She rolled her eyes and walked away. I grabbed my phone and called mom, I didn't want to tell grandad first, I needed her opinion. Mom: Princess?Me: I just had a weird encounter, or rather experience with Imi and her grandmother. Mom: Imi? Phi? Uphi kanti?Me: I'm at dad's place. Mom: And Imi is there?Me: No ma... like, an out-of-the-body experience type of thing. Mom: Oh... okay, what happened, take me through it in detail. I started narrating everything to her and she just kept quiet. Me: That's about it. Mom: I think you should call your grandfather baby. Me: He's here. Mom: He's at Bonga's place? Doing what?Me: Bendiziswe nguye kaloku.Mom: Okay I'll call him just now ndimxelele athethe nawe ecaleni, I think he'll know what to do or what to make of this whole encounter. Me: Okay, thanks. Mom: You're not feeling anything, right? Me: Ha.a mama, I'm okay. No headaches, no dizziness, nothing. Mom: Okay ke, let me call your grandad.Me: Sharp. We hung up, I waited anxiously for grandad I decided to log into Facebook, the first post that my eyes land on is from my aunt, Imi, checking-in in Cape Town. I felt my heart beating so hard against my check and I just closed my eyes. Something was wrong, something tragic was going to happen. "Simbongile Ntabeni" I laughed as grandad shouted my name still outside, he walked in alone and I walked ahead of him to my bedroom. That was the only place we were guaranteed privacy. We sat on the bed, facing each other. I had this sudden heaviness over my shoulders, and I could tell he could see or rather feel it too. He looked around, Me: Ukhangela ntoni tamkhulu?Grandad: Where are your bags? Uzenayo impepho?Me: Oh yes, yazi ndilibele.I went to my bags and searched for it, we lit it up and sat down on the floor together then I told him everything. He didn't seem surprised or confused, and that was worrying me. Why was he so calm?Me: You're not surprised? Grandad: No, but thank you. I will speak to your aunt ofika kwakhe. Me: I saw that she's around. Grandad: She is, but she said we could only meet tomorrow. Me: Oh...Grandad: Ninjalo kaloku xanikhula, asibikho as important anymore. I smiled at him, he was taking in everything and he seemed like he knew exactly what was going on. I put the mpepho out and then we walked back to the people. *******************ZANDILE MDELE

I watched my sister getting dressed up in excitement as she was preparing to go out with the only man I've ever loved, besides dad of course. She knew I loved him because even in varsity I was vocal about that, and at that time, he didn't seem like he was against us but things happened and we lost touch. Zanele: Uqumbele ntoni kengoku?Me: Andiqumbanga, ndikubukele qha.Zanele: Come on Zandile, I know you.Me: It's just shocking, seeing you this excited over a date with Masixole. I didn't know that he was your type.Zanele: You do know that he's not your man, right? Me: I didn't say he's m-Zanele: And that if he had any feelings for you he would have at least asked about you the minute he saw me?Me: Yep. Zanele: Good, because I don't want you to be hurt. I really don't want you to go through what you went through years back. I sighed, she was right. I also didn't want to get hurt all over again. We were not necessarily dating back then but we were interested in each other, that didn't stop him from impregnating Zanele's friend. Which was also confusing as to why Zanele would be excited to go on a date with her friend's ex... it didn't make sense. Zanele: How do I look?Me: Wear the navy blazer. Zanele: You don't like this one?Me: Navy will match with your heels, watch, and handbag. That one matches just with your pants.Zanele: Mh, okay. Thanks sis. My name is Zandile Mdele, a 28-years-old electrical engineer and yes, Zanele Mdele is my twin sister. We were both daddy's daughters, but I was just too different from her. She was the lavish, extravagant one and I was the meek and simple one... Zanele: And now?Me: Perfect. Zanele: Great, let me dash, I don't want to be late. I smiled as she grabbed her keys and walked out of her hotel room. Hotel room yes, she managed to convince dad that they didn't have to sleep at my place because it was too far from town so they booked themselves in. I didn't mind, I enjoyed my space but...I cleaned up after her knowing that there was a 90% chance that they were going to spend the night together if Masixole hadn't changed. And, I knew my sister all too well... she wouldn't let that opportunity pass her. I wish he knew that sometimes, ubuhle bekhiwane ziimpethu!