Simbongile Princess Ntabeni: The Called

Chapter Sixty-Eight

--Sibongile-

I looked at her, Siya was looking at her, shocked.

Me: Sim, what did you just say?

Sim: I said, that baby wasn't dads.

Siya: And you didn't think to tell us sooner?

Sim: How soon, when I only found out last night?

I didn't bother asking what happened the previous night, Undi was silently lying on my chest and Musa had gripped the side of my shirt strongly. I kissed her head and she looked up, smiling.

Sim: Your bath is going to run cold.

Me: Oh yeah, let me uhm, take a quick one, ndizobuya sincokoleni. I want to know everything.

The loosened their grips, moved so I could go. Undi wanted to followe me but Siya distracted him and I thanked him in my head. I just wanted to cry peacefully without feeling guilty. I shut the bathroom door, undressed and buried myself under the foam. I couldn't help but noticed that babhityile abantwana bam in such a short period. My heart broke. I used to few minutes to drown in tears, not only for my children but for myself too. I felt empty, I felt a huge void in my heart as though something was missing. I knew I missed Masixole but the void seemed to be much bigger than him. When I was finally okay to face the multiple eyes that were waiting for me with love, I drowned the water and cleaned the bath, wrapped a towel around my body and went to sit in front of the big mirror looking at the worn out, tired, frail reflection that was once in love, excited and very zealous.

"If only someone could replay the tape for me, I would really like to know how we got here" my inner voice sounded louder than the noise in the living room. Honestly, I would really love to know how we got to where we were so fast. I mean, Bonga just got back, it wasn't even a year since he got back, but our lives have been through hell and back. I still thanked God for Zandile because I didn't personally experience the prison horror stories that I had always heard, she protected me engandazi, she made sure that I received the same respect she received and I will forever be grateful to her for that. My phone was charging next to my pillow, I wanted to check my messages but I didn't have it in me to move from where I was sitting. I lotioned while sitting down, huffed as I got up and went to look for clothes to wear. Once I was fully dressed, I reached for my phone and called Xola. His phone rang forever, he answered on the very last ring. I knew it could have been me, but Xola sounded very distant, most certainly not the Xola I met and has been liaising with.

Xola: Hello?

Me: Xola, hi, it's Sibongile.

Xola: Oh, hi sisi. How can I help you?

Me: Ndicela ubuza unjani ubhuti wakho?

Xola: He's fine.

Me: By fine you mean he's out of coma, out of the hospital?

Xola: He's still at the hospital, but he's out of the coma.

Me: Uzoya nini ukuyombona, I'd like to speak to him. Please.

He went dead silent,

Me: Xola?

Cwaka...

Me: Xola?

I looked at my phone, he had hung up.

That was weird, I didn't say anything offensive to him. Why did he have to be rude?

He sent a text after a long minute of just sitting there in confusion: Sisi, I was told to never speak to you again. ooSisi baye emntwini and they found out that wena umthakathile ubhuti, you are the cause of that accident. So please, don't call me again.

I read the message three times, it didn't make sense.

Ewe ayothusi into yokuba kuyiwe emntwini but mna kengoku ndimthakathe nini, njani u Masixole? Ndiqale ngaphi? In as much as I was shocked by the message, it gave me light and clarity regarding Xola's sudden change of aura and attitude. I responded with, "Sorry for bothering you, won't happen again" and then I left the phone there and went to join my children. My food was already waiting for me, I ate with the younger two, because they wanted to eat with me, much to Sim's irritation. I didn't mind, they were just missing their mother and doing everything they can to feel as close to me as they possibly could. When we were done, I asked them to tell me about their experience e Kungomusa and Musa was the first one to go loose!

She went on and on, then Siya added and then Sim concluded.

I tried so hard not to cry, especially kula part where Sim and Undi were woken up ngamanzi abandayo. That got to me, that drove me staright to Mdantsane kwa Makazi where I would be made a maid. That, revoked old and buried emotions, havoc of emotions, but I had to smile and act cool because I didn't want them to get emotional. I didn't have it in me to nurse them, even myself. I was drained, to the T.

Sim: So, if he dropped the charges, that means he knows you're home?

Me: Probably, can I use your phone and call him? I left mine upstairs.

She handed me her phone, I called her dad and Imi answered. I cut the call and waited, he called back, and it was him. So I got up, walked to the patio and closed the door behind me.

Bonga: Princess, are you there?

Me: Who's Primrose?

Bonga: Sibongile. Hi.

Me: Who the hell is Primrose, Bonga?

Bonga: Primrose is a therapi-

Me: Did I not send you two therapists that you could look at and then choose from for Sim?

Bonga: You did, but kaloku Sibongile I am not obligated to do everything you want. Especially not nge mali yam.

Me: Bonga Ntabeni weeh??? YOU ARE obligate to do everything I want when it comes to the well-being of my children, I don't care what that trash ohlala nayo says, but when it comes to ezi zam iintsana, you better get your mind right.

Bonga: Great, next?

Me: Next I am sending you a protection order, you're not allowed to go anywhere near them, ever.

Bonga: Itrongo iyakuphambisa kengoku, ucing'ba ungubani? Sisi, ngabam abo bantwana the same way bengabakho, andizova ngawe ndingazoxelelwa ngamapolisa mna when it comes to my kids.

Me: u Sho Bonga?

Bonga: Try me.

Me: Enkosi Ngconde.

I hung up, called Fred and he answered within the first ring, obviously think Sim is calling him. I told him I'd like to use the recording in Bonga's phone as evidence regarding why he wasn't allowed near my children as long as he was still with Imi. She was danger to them he was her accomplice because he kept the evidence in his phone instead of informing the cops, had he been a good father, he would have his children's interests at heart. Fred said he would fetch me so we could take the order together to Bonga, I told the kids I had something to sign at the police station.

We got to Bonga's house, there were builders rebuilding the ruined house, he saw us first and came almost running, but he had this confused look on his face. Fred explained to him what was happening, he chuckled and shook his head, and then refused to sign.

Me: Well then, this means I will go and open a case against you and your fiancé for umntana wam lo unenxeba on his forehead ngenxa yenu and use the same recording to open a case of attempted murder on your fiancé since she confessed to almost feeding my kids with poison, oh did I mention neglect? For you kengoku, because I left my kids in your care wena wabashiya no Imi who then left them alone in a locked house wayotya ilunch notatakhe. How about that? Will that humor you?

Bonga: You've got to be kidding me.

Me: Try me, Bonga, try me.

He signed the protection order, took his copy and watched us leave. I turned back and saw him tearing it up, with the most devilish look I had ever seen on anyone. I quickly looked ahead, got in Fred's car and went home. What he did with his copy was most certainly none of my concern, I had his signature on my own copy, that's all that mattered.