Scarlett Ngcobo

Chapter 7

It's Monday morning and I feel like I'm losing my marbles. My dad has been missing since Thursday and it's Monday, still no sign of him. My mom is worse. She is trying so hard to act like everything is okay but she is falling apart. This is her husband, her best friend her soulmate her everything. She is allowed to fall apart. She has not been to work from Friday but her staff is very much capable of doing their job. Mpumi left yesterday in the evening. She lives in Cape town, with her son Andre. She could not take leave but it was nice seeing her. Msizi is still here but he has to go back to Durban tomorrow morning.
Throughout the weekend Zayn has been calling to check how I'm doing. I got tired of ignoring his calls. I ended up giving in. I don't know how but I enjoyed talking with Zayn, he didn't sound like the devil that broke my heart into million pieces years ago. He was gentle and very understanding when I told him I could not meet up with him just yet. It's 05h00 in the morning and I'm up listening to “Way maker” by Sinach. I don't know why.. but the lyrics just made sense in my situation. I sang out loud to the part of the sing that said,

“You wipe my tears, you mend the broken heart
You are the answer to it all, Jesus
You wipe away all tears, you mend the broken heart
You are the answer to it all, to it all Jesus yeah!”

It just made sense. I felt much better. There's nothing much one can do but have hope in such situations. We all had to be strong for one another. Our brother had it tougher. Him being the eldest meant him being strong for all of us. He tried putting on this facade that he is okay but last night when I went to the outside family room, I heard him crying in there. It breaks my heart that he feels he needs to push his feelings away to accommodate everyone.
Olwethu has been doing a lot since they arrived here Friday. I know she's up preparing the twins for school and she also has to go to work as well. So I went and made breakfast to help her out. I needed to keep busy before I lose my shit.
Nothing hectic, I made some scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and I made maize porridge for my brother, Bonginkosi. Just the way we both like it. As the water boiled, I mixed the maize with milk instead of more water. It's a killer combination especially if you add butter or peanut butter into your porridge.
I'm so glad this whole misfortune is not disrupting the twins, their lives should not be disrupted. I could hear them singing as they ran to the kitchen.
“Yeeyi nina! Stop running.” Olwethu
“Good morning aunty!” they said in unison.
“Good morning.”
“You've already made breakfast, thank God. I'm running late.” Her
“I saw how hard you worked this weekend, you needed the rest sisi wami.”
“Uphi umyeni wakho?”
“I'm here he said as he sat down with Mom and Msizi at the table.”
I dished up for him first, the smile on his face is what I was aiming for.
“Haibo! MaKhanyis ngiyabonga ngani ka Ma.” Nkosi
Me and my brother had the porridge whilst everyone ate the scrambled eggs and bacon. Atleast today Mom could eat without us forcing her to eat. Olwethu and the twins left immediately after breakfast. Msizi and Nkosi did the dishes as I got ready for work. Before I left I went to see mom.
“Will you be okay?” I asked her.
“Your brothers are here Cupcake,I will be fine.” Mom
“Okay I'm leaving for work.”

On my way to work, I heard on the news that a man in his 50s was involved in a accident and died on the spot. I started crying, this could have been my father, this is someone's father. Life is cruel!
Where are you Baba?
I greeted everyone as I went in the elevator. I got off at the second floor and went to my cubicle. I suddenly felt dizzy but quickly balanced myself using my table.
“You good ntombazane?” Mam’Gladys asked.
“Yebo Ma.”
Mam’Gladys is part of the cleaning crew that works in our cubicle. She's a very lovely lady with a good sense of humour.
“Woza la Khanyisile.” Mam’Gladys
I followed her to the bathroom.
“Uyathandaza kodwa ngani yam?”
“Sometimes Ma.”
“Thandaza kakhulu Ntombi, kakhulu.”
Just like that she left me clueless in the bathroom. I really hate being left in the dark. I could only think of the worst after what Mam’Gladys said.

I didn't have much clients today so I used that time to research and find a suitable retirement plan for one of my client who is planning on going on an early retirement. Afterwards I went to Lutendo to show him my research so he could give me a few pointers.
Before I could leave his office. That dizzy spell returned again.
“Hey! Hey, are you okay Khanyisile?” Lutendo asked as he held me.
“I'm okay sir, I'm good.”
I was praying no one enters as he held me, it would definitely not look good if someone walked in. I would not even believe anyone if I walked into Lutendo with someone in such a compromising position. He was holding onto my waist, looking into my eyes and I'm certain he could feel my  heart beating so fast. It felt like it would explode. Today he was wearing a navy blue suit with a powder blue shirt. It made his eyes brighter. They had this twinkle and he just looked handsome. Oh he had a new haircut. If he does not let go of me right now, I might lose my morals and kiss him.
I always thought I'm tall but here is Lutendo taller than me.
“Uhmm sir I'm okay now.”
“Ohh yeah, I'm sorry Ms Ngcobo.”
“It's okay sir. Let me go back.”
I went out rushing I even forgot my notebook. I made a U-turn to go and fetch it.

It's lunch time and we decided to go and eat at the staff room. Well everyone was eating but I just didn't have the appetite.
“So Khanyi, still nothing on your dad?” Alex
“Unfortunately there's nothing.”
Kele was way too quiet for my liking today. I went and sat next to her.
“Babe are you good?” I whispered.
“Not really, my aunt passed away.” Kele
“I'm sorry babe.”
“What are you two whispering about over there?” Khumo
“Wena o rata ditaba tlhe Khumo!” (you such a noisy person!) Kele

It's knockoff time and I'm not looking forward to heading back home. It's just depressing. As I was packing I thought of what happened in Lutendo’s office and smiled, gosh that man is everything. I said as I walked to the parking lot. I got into my car and drove home. I didn't stay long I just took my gym bag and drove out again.
I spotted Jasmin the minute I walked in. I waved at her and went to the bathroom to change into my gym gear. Today I wanted to push myself a little bit. I planned on doing sit ups, push ups, lunges, planks and squats.
I was doing sit ups when Jasmin announced her presence.
“Hey stranger.” she said.
“Hi Jasmin.”
I didn't even tell her I need help but she stood there and counted how many sit ups I was doing. I hit the treadmil after all those exercises. Okay the dizzy spells were not over, I nearly fell but Jasmin caught me in time.
“Hey are you okay?” Jasmin asked.
“Uhm.. I'm good.”
She held me as we went to the cafeteria. I ordered a berry smoothie, hoping it would give me some energy. I kept on stealing glances at Jasmin, she was definitely gorgeous no lie. Her eyes are just mesmerizing, don't get me started on her body!
“Earth to Khanyisile!”
I just smiled and looked at her. I think I should go home, I will try boxing another time. When I stood up, I don't know what happened next but it was lights out for me.
When I woke up the lights blinded me, I was in a unfamiliar room. My throat was dry and my head hurt. I tried to move but everything was stiff. I guess Jasmin heard my movement on the bed that's why she came rushing to me.
“Hey you scared me for a second.”
“Wat.. wat.. er”
“You want water?” Jasmin
I had to nod my head.
She helped me sip the water and to sit up properly. The doctor walked in.
“My patient is awake I see.” the doctor said.
“You were just dehydrated and your blood pressure was high but as soon as that drip is finished, I will discharge you.” Doctor
She left after saying that.
“Can you please borrow me your phone I need to make a phone call?”
She left the room after borrowing me her phone. I called Olwethu.
“Olwethu Ngcobo hello.”
“Hi it's me Khanyisile.”
“Hawu, kanti ukuphi Cupcake?”
“I'm at the hospital but don't panic.”
“Why are you at the hospital?”
“Dehydration.”
“Okay I'm coming to pick you up and it's not up for discussion.” Her
She cut the call afterwards.
25 minutes later Olwethu was here to pick me up. She told me that everyone was worried sick and kept on yapping about me not taking care of my body. I thanked Jasmin for bringing me then we left.
The minute we arrived my mom kept on squeezing the life out of my body, telling me to not scare her like that again. I was too tired to argue with anyone so I went to my room and slept. Tomorrow is another day.