Simbongile Princess Ntabeni: The Called

Chapter Twenty-Eight

There was still a daunting silence and a crying me in that mix, with Qhamani's arm over my body consoling me. Everyone was in between shocked and confused, I was hurting. I wasn't shocked, nor was I confused, I was hurt. My heart was in pieces. Everything was just enough for one day.

Mom: You're Qhamani's father Bonga? How old is Qhamani? When did you tw- wow!

Silence again.

I got up and walked to my room, Qhamani must have followed me because I heard his mother calling him to sit down and he responded "Yhima mama torho" as he walked right behind me. I got in and allowed him inside before we closed the door and went to the bed. We sat down and looked at each other, I was wondering, how could I have not known? How could I miss such an important part kuyo yonke le puzzle? Why didn't my ancestors show me this? How could they allow me to fall for him knowing he was my blood brother? Not even a cousin ke? An entire brother? I hated them, they had all the power to give me clues, to open my eyes, to warn me but instead, they chose to be silent?

Qhamani: Stop crying, you're breaking my heart.

Me: When did you find out?

Qhamani: Today, I saw pictures of your dad from Siya's WhatsApp status updates. I also didn't believe it, then I showed mom and she confirmed.

Me: So she knew all along? That we're siblings?

Qhamani: She knew your mom, she didn't know you are her daughter. I don't know if that makes sense.

I didn't respond...

Qhamani: To be fair I feel like mom was a side chick, because how else do you explain this? We're almost the same age and dad was married to your mother, meaning that he couldn't have been in a serious relationship with my mother. She must have been his side.

Me: I don't think they were married when they got us. So one of our moms could have been the side, not necessarily your mom.

Qhamani: But from what you've always told me your folks were in a serious relationship.

Me: Oh I hate him!

Qhamani: You're upset, we both are.

Me: I'm not upset Qhamani, I'm angry. How could dad do this? Why did he even come back?

Qhamani: I think we should give him a chance to explain, even if it's not today. But he does owe all of us an explanation.

Me: I don't want it, I want him gone back to where he came from. He can go and marry u makazi bazenzele eyabo ihappy family for all I care. I don't want to see him.

He sighed, pulling me close for a cuddle.

I closed my eyes and allowed my tears to freely flow from the corners. I didn't understand why Qhamani was so chilled about this whole thing too because soon we were going to be forced to break up. And I loved him, I wanted to be with him. We had big dreams, we had life-long plans for ourselves. We belonged together.

Qhamani: I love you.

Me: Don't say that.

Qhamani: I do, what do you want me to say? I love you.

I broke down, for the umpteenth time.

A soft knock sounded and I ignored it, the knocker saw it best to just open the door and walk in. I looked up, it was Siya. He cleared his throat and sat on the bean bag that once sat Musa earlier that day.

Siya: I don't know what to say...

Me: Don't say anything.

Siya: I'm sorry mntase.

Me: Junior...

Qhamani: Akenzanga nto u Siya babe.

Me: Makathule kaloku, makandiyeke.

We sat in that silence, all three of us.

****

A week after...

I was back to having weird visions and dreams ngo makazi and her grandmother, and the dreams were disturbingly too frequent for my liking. But I couldn't care less, I ignored them. I ignored everything and anything that wanted me to connect with my ancestors, I was angry at them more than at my dad. I just wanted to blank out everything from my mind. Why couldn't they just leave me alone?

I collapsed at school, and when I came to, Junior was sitting right next to me in the sickbay. I sat up, and asked him to bring me water, he did. After drinking two glasses, I drew a deep breath and started wearing my shoes...

Siya: Mom is on her way to fetch you.

Me: Asikaphumi iskolo.

Siya: You fainted.

Me: I didn't die.

He sighed, I sat down and looked outside.

I was still hurting, there had been no resolution to my dad being Qhamani's father. Well, what resolution was I expecting? He couldn't change his DNA from either one of us.

Siya: Iphi impepho yakho?
Me: What were you doing in my bag?
Siya: Iphi impepho yakho SImbongile?
Me: It's at home.

Siya: Since when ngoku ungayiphathi?
Me: Since I realized that this whole ancestor guide is scrap!
Siya: Wha-

Me: They are able to guide me through everything else but were very quiet when it came to Qhamani?

Siya: What if they gave you signs but you weren't attentive enough? These things happen, I'm not blaming you on anything but maybe this was communicated and you missed it.

Me: They didn't give me signs Siya nditsho mos kuwe, how long have we known Qhamani? Surely by now, I would have picked up something, anything. This whole ancestor thing is a scam mani. They are very quick to show me izinto endingangeni ndawo kuzo yet when things concern me they are quiet? Hay fokof nezinyanya zakho man Siya. Tshi!

I grabbed my bag and stormed towards the door only to open it and see mom.

I took two steps backward and allowed her in...

Mom: Molweni.

Siya: Hey mom.

Mom: Are you leaving with us?
Siya: No thank you.

Mom looked at me and I looked at my feet, she walked out and went to sign my leave slip with the sickbay assistant. I followed her quietly, she had that "ungandiqheli wena" face on, there was no way I was going to temper with her. Tu.

Siya: I guess you are going home after all.

Me: Shut up!

He laughed and walked out of there, back to his classroom.

Mom briefly walked to her car, leaving me behind. She was pissed off by something but it couldn't possibly be me, I just fainted. I didn't kill anyone.