Simbongile Princess Ntabeni: The Called

CHAPTER THIRTY

uTamkhulu texted that I should take a walk to the gate as he didn't want to go in, the rest of his grandchildren would contest that we had dinner plans excluding them so I got up and told Siya that I was leaving. Did that nosy prick not walk me out?
We stood in silence as we waited, until he eventually spoke up.

Siya: Uyaphi bro?Me: Ndiyaku tamkhulu, I ambushed him into taking me out for dinner. Siya: Aningcole!Me: You can book yourself for tomorrow, akho need ye drama. Siya: Mh, so what did your mom say?Me: We didn't even have a conversation, oko equmbile. And then xasifika apha ubhuti called, and asked ba ndinjani, did she take me to the doctor. Wamphoxa naye and told him uzamfounela on her way to the office. Siya: Uh-oh!Me: I don't understand why you had to call mom kodwa ebetshilo ba she has an important meeting today. Siya: How did we get on this being my fault? You fainted, you left your mpepho and whatnots at home, wena. Not mna.

I rolled my eyes at him...

Siya: She suggested that I should call dad, and he couldn't come. Me: He had to take your stepmom to the gynae kaloku nje, the rest of the world had to wait. Siya: I feel bad for him. Me: I feel bad for us, but ke wethu we will see where all of this going. Siya: When last did you speak to your boyfriend?Me: A week ago, his phone's been off and he hasn't been in school so I don't know. I want to go and check him kokwabo but I'm not sure if his mother will allow me in. I know she doesn't have a problem with me, or at least I think so. But yonke nje lento Siya is draining. Siya: I wish they had given ya'll a way forward kwangala mini. Me: Njani kaloku, when your mother was breathing fire? Ndithi hay sana intombi ka Ta Vido yayi dragon nge speed.

He laughed, I smiled at him. We both saw granddad's car, and stopped laughing, but Junior couldn't. He kept on having chuckles in between, that even when granddad greeted him he just waved and continued laughing. I got in the car, nudged the old man to not pay Siya much attention as we drove away.

Granddad: So, where are we going?Me: I'd like some pizza. Granddad: Great.

We drove in silence, I texted Qhamani but as expected, one grey tick. I was becoming worried ngaye. Granddad decided on some family restaurant, Ashley's, they made the best pizza in town. After ordering our drinks he asked how my day was at school, and I decided to just be honest. I told him everything, and as expected he asked that I be patient with dad. I didn't respond to that...

Me: I have a bone to pick tamkhulu. Granddad: Shoot. Me: This is something I actually wanted to raise with mom, but she seems a bit preoccupied so here goes. How would you react, or what would you do, if you found out that your children who didn't know that they were both your children actually got each other pregnant.

He looked at me shocked.

Me: I don't know how to put this ivakale ngalendlela ndifuna ukuyibuza ngayo yazi tamkhulu. Granddad: First of all, you're still too young to be engaging in any sexual activities. I'm not ready to be a great-grandfather Simbongile!

I looked at him, frowned and then burst out laughing.
Okay he was serious!

Me: But tamkhulu, how did you get to this conclusion ba ndithetha ngam?Granddad: Your mother told me about your boyfriend. Me: So?Granddad: irongo lonto, ningayicingi noyicinga it is wrong. A big taboo. Me: So you wouldn't accept your grandchild, whose parents would turn out to be your children?He sighed, taking a sip from his coffee... Granddad: I don't know what I would do. Honestly.Me: Would you at least accept umntwana? Or accept all of them? Or, acknowledge that you were wrong for not introducing ALL your children to each other okokuba bazane ke noba abana relationship?Granddad: Yazi mntanam, it's not always black and white. These things become trickier as we grow old. Thina sikhula oo tamkhulu benabantwana ilali yonke, kodwa sozuve kusithiwa abobantwana bakhe bayenza into enjalo. Me: Kaloku tamkulu la generation yenu was very secretive and conniving, thina asikho njalo. We prefer everything on the table. Granddad: Iqale apho ke ingxaki, what do you do with everything when it is on the table? Me: It depends kaloku tamkhulu, but ke at least when everything is on the table we get to choose. It avails us options. Granddad: Okay, so what would you do? How would you react?Me: I don't know, hence I'm asking you. Granddad: Hey, hay idinga i-wisdom mntanam.

Our food came and we indulged, we drifted off the initial conversation and had our usual. My phone rang, I looked at the screen, it was mom. I excused myself and answered...

Me: Mama?Mom: Simbongile, uphi?Me: Ndise Ashely's mama. Mom: Kuphi apho?Me: I'm having dinner with granddad mama, e Ashley's Family Restaurant.Mom: Khaw'nike u granddad iphone?Me: Okay. I passed the phone and ate up my food. They had a conversation, laughed and then my phone came back to my hands. Me: Mama?Mom: Abanye bahamba no tatakho, should I also pack for you?Me: Uhm, ayisosikolo ngomso kanene?Mom: Siso, but your dad asked to take ya'll tonight instead of driving all the way in the morning to take ya'll to school. Me: Why sizothathwa nguye k'qala mama sine transport?Mom: ubhuti we transport had an accident today, uthi it happened after he dropped oo Siya so he doesn't have a car for now. Me: Yho, is he okay though? Nabanye abantwana? Mom: Sim?I laughed, okay I drifted. Me: Uhm, no. I'll leave with you on your way to work. Mom: Are you sure?Me: Yes ma. Mom: Okay, nindiphathele ukutya andizopheka. Me: Hehe, okay.

She laughed and hung up. I told granddad that umntana wakhe ucela simphathele ukutya, granddad suggested simthengele u KFC yho andayihleka. When we were done eating, we went for an ice cream ride, bought KFC for umama and then drove home. Granddad walked me inside, gave her daughter ukutya kwakhe, I hugged him and walked up to my room. The house was very quiet, I realized bamke nyhani abantu basekhaya. Ndakhulula and got ready for bed, my phone beeped, a text from Qhamani! I threw myself on the bed and screamed, he texted back???? Once I settled, I called him...

Qhamani: Hey?Me: Hey, unjani?Qhamani: I'm okay, you?Me: I'm good, where have you been? Why haven't you been to school? Qhamani: I uhm... He didn't seem fine, something was wrong. Me: Babe? uRight?Qhamani: Ndi right mfethu.Me? Mfethu? Qhamani: Can we meet up tomorrow after school? I'll pick you up nge bike. Me: You'll pick me up? Awuyi e Skolweni?Qhamani: No, and I can't talk for long. Me: Oh, okay. Sure. Qhamani: Good night ke, see you ngomso. Me: Sho.

He hung up, haibo u Qhamani? Why was he so cold towards me? It wasn't my fault that we suddenly became siblings, it wasn't my fault tu.