Simbongile Princess Ntabeni: The Called

Chapter Forty-Four

With the doors locked, we went to our rooms.
Mumu walked into my room and jumped on the bed, she was up and she wanted to know what happened while she was sleeping. Siya shook his head, and I ignored him, she deserved to know that her life was in danger. I told her half the story and then asked her where did Undi get the food that he gave to the dog.

 Musa: Yinyama ebesiyiphakelwe ngu makazi.
Me: Why didn't you guys eat it?
Musa: I saw her talking to the food, and spitting. So, I told Undi that he musnt eat the food, but akuthathe. We both took our plates, then she said she was going out for a bit, after she left, I told Undi to throw the food away because if we ate it we might die from the germs she was spitting. Then he suggested that instead of throwing the food away, let us give it to the dog because it looked like it was hungry nam ke ndamnika okwam sadibanisa then he went to feed the dog just like he would see dad do. With a bowl of clean water on the side.
Me: Are you sure Undi didn't eat? Not even a piece?
Musa: Ndi sho mfondini Princess, I promised him dad's pizza that was in the fridge, but then kwafika umama seza apha.

I nodded, realizing that mom was right.
Umakazi left these two kulandlu with hope that they would eat the food, and die. Siya sat next to her and asked how she remembered the gap he had opened at the back and she laughed explaining to him that the excitement of seeing mom made her remember. She didn't look traumatized, but she was. The emphasis on "yho andavuya xandibona imoto kamama pha e gate'ini" spoke volumes. Maybe they thought they had been abandoned, I don't know. Siya hugged her, she squeezed him tightly and then she hopped off the bed saying uyolala no mamakhe yena. We already knew Undi was there no doubt. Siya went to switch off the lights, then came to wrap up the conversation with me before going to bed. He had school the following day, I was still booked off.

Siya: Do you think u makazi wamdlisa utata?
Me: Wazintoni ngamadliso kewena?
Siya: Can you answer the question please?
Me: Okay fine, I think she has tried. I don't think she has succeeded though.
Siya: So you reckon dad is on his right minds right now?
Me: I don't reckon anything, I just know that dad is a smart man. I can't help but feel like he has a plan up his sleeve. Earlier on while we were having a conversation, I couldn't help but feel like he was up to something. It felt like he was leading her on, for something. I don't know man Siya.
Siya: What exactly did he say?
Me: It's not necessarily what he said, there's no specific thing he said that I can pin point right now but I am telling you. He knows what he's dealing with, but iworry yam is that if he's planning to strike, he might be a bit too late.

He nodded, I knew I was speaking in riddles but he had to just take what I was saying.
It didn't have to make sense, it made sense to me.

*****
-Sibongile-

With Bonga and his girlfriend not knowing where my kids were kodwa bendibashiye kuye, I had the upper hand in filing for full custody. I knew I would win the case, clean, but I didn't have the strength to fight. Yes, I loved my kids, very much so. But my heart was in the Eastern Cape, it hurt that I couldn't be there for Masixole when I knew he would leave everything behind had positions were exchanged.

I called his brother, because I couldn't bear listening to the pain in his mother's voice again. I wished I could spare her that, as if I knew how to handle such. Xola's phone rang two times and then he answered...

Xola: Sisteri, unjani?
Me: Hey, I'm okay. Ninjani nina?
Xola: Siyazama sisi...

That silence was followed by a gulp.

Me: Any changes?
Xola: Nope, but the doctors are hopeful. When are you coming this side? Maybe if he could hear your voice kungakhona utshintsho noba luncinci.
Me: I wish I was there, but I can't. I have no one to leave abantwana with.
Xola: Yho... your dad?
Me: Eish Xola mntasekhaya, akukho lula. I know he would expect me to be there, but the situation is beyond my capabilities. Okwangoku ndizomane ndifounela kuwe because I cannot bear the pain in your mother's voice. I will try to come, I will, but not right now.

He sighed...

Me: I'm sorry.
Xola: I just... I wish ungalapha nyhani, I don't know why I think angavuka if he could hear your voice.
Me: I understand, and believe me when I say I want to be there. My kids almost ate poisoned food, I can't leave them ngoku. They know about Masixole being hospitalized but ukuba ndingahamba kungathwa ndikhethe indoda over them.
Xola: Yho sisi, uxolo. I didn't realize.
Me: It's okay... I just, ndiyakucela torho, if anything changes, please call me.
Xola: I will, I'll call you ngomso after school xandiye phaya and update you.
Me: Thank you very much.
Xola: Sho sisteri...

We hung up, and I breathed.
I could feel my heart breaking, I wanted to cry so bad but I had Undiphile and Sibongumusa in my room acting like toddlers ezifuna ibele. I drank the water that was right next to my bed and switched off the lights...

Me: Good babies.
Undi: Night mama.
Musa: Night ma.

I kissed both their cheeks and stayed up, watching them drift off to sleep.
Around 11:35/40, a text from Imi disturbed my already sleepless night: "Yazi sisi andiyazi ufuna ntoni kum, I didn't steal Bonga from you, you divorced him. I dated him nohlukene, now all of a sudden I'm the bad guy? Undicaphukelisa ngabantwana bakho, undihleba ebantwaneni instead of talking to me woman to woman. Ngaske ba unengxaki nam uthethe nam ngqo and not send kids to me, u Siya andimoyiki mna, ndakumkhanda aphambane qha ndicingela utata wakhe. Ndiyakucela ke, talk to your children and teach them manners because we both know andiyi ndawo. Asoze kemnake ndibe ngumama kwii brats ezingaqeqeshekanga, ezingenambeko. If that's how you teach them, be ready for a surprise sis, not kwam!"

I sat up, and read the text again.
And then I called Bonga, I knew the timing was a bit off, but I needed to make him aware that if I killed Imi then he would need to man up for his children's sake.

Bonga: Sibo?
Me: Mamela Ngcond, umamele kakuhle futhi Mkwayi...
Bonga: Oh God, ulibonile ixesha?
Me: I will pretend like I didn't hear that, because you have no right asking me about time ndinabantwana ababini ongabaziyo ukuba lenjakazi ulala nayo ibasephi, but listen here. Do me a favor ne Bonga, make sure that you pay ilife cover, because usukela ngoku, I will wreck your life and I will show u Imi ukuba andimoyiki.

He sighed and asked, "What has she done now? And please have facts, I'm so tired of insinuations"

Me: I will take a screenshot of her message and send it to you in a second because I know you will not believe it if I forward it. But that is beside the point, ndithi BONGA NTABENI brace yourself, and tell her that I said makahambe ayoguba more because akandoyisi, andoyiswa nangunina. Bandilingene xabedibene!

Then I hung up.
She was really taking me to a place I thought I had grown past and left behind.