Simbongile Princess Ntabeni: The Called

Chapter Twenty-Three

Dad kept on calling me, and I resorted to blocking him.

On the other hand, Imi was calling me as well, on her fifth call I decided to answer the phone.

Me: What?
Imi: Uphi? I can't see you apha phandle.

Me: Uzandenzani?
Imi: Sim torho, your dad is on his way here and he's trying to reach you.

Me: Tell him to leave me alone, I don't want to talk to you and I don't want to talk to him.

Imi: Simbongile, your dad trusted me with you now I don't know where you are, at least answer him.

Me: Makazi?
Imi: Sim?
Me: I'm going to say this one more time, leave me alone! Both of you, leave me alone.

I cut the call and waited for mom, impatiently.

I couldn't believe it, her voice kept echoing in my ears. How could dad do that? To mom? To us? So now grandad will have to be caught in the middle? I saw mom's car from a distance and got up, dusting off my behind. She lowered the window, as I just opened the door next to her and got in. I buckled the belt, and lowered my seat, and breathed. I knew mom and Imi met on Friday, so obviously Imi must have told mom ngalento yakhe no tata.

Mom: Oh-kay... am I going to have to dig it out of you?
Me: I don't want to talk about it.

Mom: Haibo girl?!

I sighed and looked at her, she was driving but also eyeing me every chance she got.

Mom: Simbongile Ntabeni?
Me: Mama ka Simbongile Ntabeni?
Mom: You will not make me drive all the way here for nothing, start from the top. What were you doing here, with who? And why were you crying?

I looked outside and saw she was about to take me dad's house. I interjected real quick!

Me: Ndiya endlini mna, not dad's house.

Mom: Why? Your bags and your siblings are at your dad's place.

Me: I know I just don't want to see your ex, Siya will bring my bags when dad is bringing them home.

Mom: Oh, so my ex, who happens to be your dad is the problem. Noted.

I pulled the seat back up, mom wasn't going to let it go until I answer her so I took her through it. It was only after I finished telling her the story that I realized she didn't know, the shock, the anger, the unbelief in her eyes. I didn't miss any of that, I sat there, still shocked too but mostly sad that I broke the news to her.

Me: You didn't know?
Mom: Uhm, no.

Me: Kanti didn't you have lunch with her Friday?
Mom: I did, but trust me, she didn't mention any of this.

Me: Yho!

I sighed, dropped my seat down.

She drove us home, got out, and headed to her fridge. I laughed as I walked in on her pouring a glass of wine...

Me: At least you have something to calm you down? What do I do to my anger?
Mom: Phahla!

Yho ndamhleka and left her there, I put on the TV and waited for her to join me, she didn't. I could hear she was on the phone with someone, she wasn't shouting, which was scary. Unless the other person was bhut'Masi but if it was dad, then that was scary. I took out my phone, switched it off, and charged it next to the TV. Mom eventually joined me, her bottle of wine in hand and the glass halfway through. She sat down, finished the glass, and poured another one which she put on the coffee table, looked at me, and chuckled.

Mom: Mntanam?
Me: Ma?
Mom: Uthi u Imibongo uthini?

Me: Uthi they tried fighting the feelings off, as taboo as it may sound, bayathandana and there's basically nothing we can do about that.

She chuckled again...

Mom: And she thought you were the right person to tell that?
Me: Exactly my question...

Mom: Uyandiqhela u Bonga.

Me: Uyakuqhela nomakazi mama, both are wrong here.

Mom: Imi is her mother's daughter kaloku baby, we just share a father and that's about it. But utatakho? Uyandiqhela uBonga!

I bit my tongue...

Mom: To think I once took Imi in sahlala naye in my house, with the same Bonga. What if kudala lento yabo bayenza right under my nose? Right under my roof?
Me: What are you going to do? I think she's leaving today.

Mom: She's not...

Me: She's not?

Mom just laughed at me, haibo, but umakazi ebethe she's only in CT for an expo. Why wouldn't she leave?

Mom: Your aunt is not here on some career expo as she said kum nawe, I'm sure she also sold you that story.

Me: Uhm, yes.

Mom: She's back, she told dad that she's back for now. She'll finish her Ph.D. online.

Me: Huh?
Mom: Khawume Sim, uzandibhudisa nawe.

I looked at her, I was so confused.

A car hooted and she got up, went to open the gate. I tiptoed to go and peep out, it was bhut'Masi. He walked up with shopping bags, left them on the counter, and hugged mom. I rushed back to my couch as they made their way to the lounge. We fist-bumped and he sat down, mom retold the story and he just chuckled.

Me: May I be excused? I asked taking my phone off the charger.

Mom: Sure, your dad just texted, they're on their way.

Me: I don't want to speak to him, please make sure he knows that when he gets here.

Mom: Mnkq, aw'sengo mlungu!

I rolled my eyes and left them, I didn't close the door, because I wanted to eavesdrop on the conversation.

Bhut'Masi: Yazi ndiyakuva baby, but at the same time, I would like to understand what really upsets you here. Is it that your sister is sleeping with your ex-husband or, that they could have started their relationship while you were still with him or, that she decided to disclose this to Sim, or that Bongs didn't regard you kuyo yonke lento?

Mom didn't answer immediately, I panicked.

Mom: First of all I am not entirely upset that they're sleeping together, but babe, to tell u Sim such nonsense? Why couldn't she tell me to my face on Friday? She had an opportunity to do so, why did she choose to involve my daughter? How the hell am I supposed to protect abantwana bam from the nonsense ngoku? I know Sim has probably told SIya already, what then? What do I do with two angry teenagers ku Bonga esimaziyo ba akazange wayifuna i-responsibility apha ebomini bakhe?

She was right, to some extent.

Mom: Secondly, uyandiqhela u Bonga. My sister? Out of all the women he could choose from, he chose umntana ka tatam?
Bhut'Masi: Umntana ka tatakho also had a choice, out of all the men she chose your ex-husband. Don't forget that, she also had a choice.

There was silence, I was worried not only about mom but about Bhut'Masi.

I really hope he didn't think umama was upset about this whole situation because she maybe still had feelings for dad, I really hoped.