Simbongile Princess Ntabeni: The Called

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

We drove home in silence, I could feel she was really mad so my best option was to not bother her. I had enough on my plate too. Bhut'Masi called her as we drove into our driveway and her phone was connected to the radio.

Mom: Babe?Masi: Hey, unjani u Sim?Mom: She looks fine. Masi: Uthi kwenzeke ntoni? Uphi u Siya?Mom: I will call you back, I'm just dropping her off apha endlini. I'll call you on my way to the office. Masi: Haibo baby, are you going to leave umntana alone? Good question. Mom: She's fine, she can walk on her two feet. Masi: But she fainted, surely umsile ke ku gqirha just to get her checked out before leaving her alone endlini?She sighed, mh. Masi: Sibongile?Mom: Baby, I will call you back okay? Love you, bye.

She hung the call up, dropped me off, gave me a McDonald's bag, and drove off in silence. I stood there, watched the car until it disappeared, and then walked in and went straight to my room. Something other than me was bothering her. Once I was comfortable in my lounge clothes, I warmed my food and ate while dialing granddad. He was awfully quiet...

Granddad: Hello?Me: Tamkhulu, unjani? Granddad: I'm okay mntanam unjani wena?Me: I'm good... you're awfully quiet, what have I done to you?He laughed for a second and then became serious. Granddad: Why aren't you in class?Me: Oh I just got home, apparently I fainted in school so your daughter had to come and fetch me. Granddad: Mh, she didn't mention that. Me: Was she there with you?Granddad: No, I went to see her at work earlier today but she was too busy I left her lunch and went about my business. Me: Mmh, so how are you? Why haven't you called?Granddad: It's been a week Princess. Me: You normally call almost every day, or ubukho buka makazi buyasivalela ngoku?He kept quiet... Me: We know that you know she's dating our dad, and she's expecting a baby, AND that they're getting married. Granddad: Ey mntanam. Me: Why didn't you stop them tamkhulu?Granddad: Ndiyazi sekhulelwe mna u Imi lento, and kengoku noba ndingayivela ngeyiphi indlela I will be siding nomnye kubo making me seem like utata okhethayo ebantwaneni bakhe. Me: Tamkhulu umakazi u rongo here, that goes without saying. I feel like if you cared about any of them or us, then you would stand for the truth. Granddad: What's the truth here Sim?Me: Haibo tamkhulu!Granddad: Everyone has their own truth, hence I am asking bana what is the truth you're referring to. Me: That's why I didn't say stand for your truth, but stand for THE truth tamkulu. He didn't respond, Me: Worry yam is that your favorite daughter, the youngest, is on a mission and I'm just gonna sit on the sidelines like a spectator. I'm so sick and tired of fixing people's problems mna tamkhulu when they boldly walked into a lion's den with their eyes wide open. That statement is not biased, utata could be the lion's den in this case and not the other way around.He kept his silence... Me: I miss you, please do come around when you have time. Granddad: I'll pick you up for dinner tonight, any restaurant of your choice. Me: Deal!

We hung up, and I stuffed my face with food. ****Later that day, dad came over. I was still not taking his calls, he obviously heard about my fainting scene and decided to come and see for himself. I was preparing for my dinner plans with granddad, mom wasn't home yet but all the other siblings were. Dad knocked, I didn't respond because I thought he was Siya. He knocked again, I went to the door, opened and sighed. My energy levels dropped...

Dad: Princess? Me: Molo tata...

I walked back to my dressing table and he walked in, closing the door behind him. He sat on the edge of my bed, right behind me, and just watched me in silence for a few minutes...

Dad: How have you been?Me: I'm okay pops, yourself?Dad: I'm good, all's good. Me: Nice. Dad: Your mom called me today, said you fainted eskolweni. Me: She didn't have to. Dad: Well she wanted me to go and fetch you but I couldn't because I had to take Imi to her gynae appointment.

Now that explained why his ex was mad, she had asked him to fetch me because she obviously couldn't and as he just said, also couldn't. Knowing umama inoba ucaphukiswe nayilento kuzobaluleka u makazi kunam.

Me: Well I didn't die tata, I'm here so stop stressing. Dad: What really happened?Me: I don't know, ndivuke e sickbay with Siya next to me. That's all I know. Dad: Awuvanto? Pains, nausea, or anything?Me: Nope. He nodded, I went to my closet, grabbed two jackets and looked at him for assistance, he chose the denim one. I hung the leather biker back and wore the one he chose. Dad: So uyaphi ngoku?Me: I have dinner plans. Dad: Are you still seeing Qhamani, Princess?

Aha!Talking about Qhamani, basishiya siyi mess bonke abasinika direction andithi? Did they think sizovele siyeke kengoku uthetha just because of the new developments? Surely abazali bayayazi man ba uthando awuvele uluxelele ba maliphele mos?

Dad: Sim?Me: Dad?Dad: Are you still seeing Qhamani?Me: Ya'll never said we should stop seeing each other nje tata. Dad: But niyayazi mos ba irongo into yokuqhubekeka with whatever ya'll were doing ningabantwana bomntu omnye. Me: Asiyazi kwalonto thina tata ba singabantwana bomntu omnye, siyiva ngani. Dad: Haibo!Me: Bring us proof that ungatata wethu sobabini then we can talk. Dad: Proof Princess? Proof? Andiyo proof e enough mna? Me: Nope, I personally need black and white proof. And I'm not saying we will stop seeing each other when you come with your proof, ndithi we can talk thereafter.

Wathula... I texted Grandad that I was ready, he replied saying I should give him about 25 minutes he was on his way.

Me: We can go downstairs, my lift will be here in a few.

Ndatsho ndiphuma, and he followed. I could see uxakiwe, and I wanted to laugh at him but I wanted them to re-group, bakhe basicingele kakuhle and give us direction. Yes we were old enough to know what to do, but some lines were blurred man, kumntu wonke futhi.