Scarlett Ngcobo

Chapter 20

A week later...

I hate being home especially if it's because of a funeral. I don't visit home as I usually would when I was still young.
A few days ago we received bad news. My dad's older brother passed away. I wasn't close to him but I remembered him. He was very cool for his age. It's unfortunate that he is no more.
As much as I had missed home, and the family. It's also draining being home. They will treat you like a slave. I don't want to mention the dishes and the tea making! One more day and we'll be heading back to Johannesburg. At least Indigo was here. She made it bearable. She and my other cousins got on like a house on fire. Thank God she's pregnant otherwise, hell would freeze.
“Haibo Khanyi. Why are you sitting by yourself?” Nomasonto asked as she sat next to me.
She passed me a glass that had sprite in it. Well that's what I thought until I took a huge gulp. “Yoh! Lento iStrong wena Noma.”
She laughed. “Phuza ntombi. Manje vele vele uthandana nenye intombi?”
I should've known. I shook my head as I laughed. Cousins are really noisy.
“Me and you both know the answer to that question Noma. Why ubuza umbuzo wazi kahle impendulo ya loyo mbuzo?” I gulped down the rest of whatever it is I was drinking.
“Angilwi phela Mapholoba. Kodwa as’phume lapho. Lomzala wakho umithi yini?”
“Kodwa uyaz’thanda indaba zabantu Noma!” Msizi said whilst laughing.
“Mxm! Uphapha kabi wena Msizi.”
I left them there to answer my phone.
“Hey baby.”
“Hi my love. For a minute there I thought I was dumped.”
“Come on Jas. You know I'm at a funeral. I can't communicate with you that much.”
“I'm kidding stadwa sami. Did I get it right?”
I found myself laughing out loud like a drunk hyena. I'll give her a one for effort.
“Babe it's sthandwa. Sthandwa. Not stadwa. Wow.” I continued to laugh.
“At least I tried. Stop laughing at me, you hurting my feelings.”
“Askies my love.” I said in between laughter.
I felt someone tapping me on my shoulder, lightly. I turned and...
“Babe. I'll call you later. I love you. Bye.”
“Themba?”
He laughed and hugged me. “Finally you can differentiate between me and Akhile.”
I hugged him back. How did you know I'm here?”
“You haven't changed I see. No, how are you Themba, how have you been? Fokol.” he gently bit his lip.
I stared at him for a while. He is still as charming as before. A bit taller and muscular now.
“Khanyisile hello.”
“Oh. Unjani vele?”
“Umuntu uya phefumula, MaNgcobo. Wena unjani?”
“I'm good. I'm good. So uphi uAkhile?”
He came and stood closer to me. “So tell me Khanyisile. You still don't believe that there's a chance for me and you?”
“Come on Themba. Not this again. I'm seeing someone by the way.”
“So? Istina sikhona angithi?!”
I could not believe this guy. I smiled looking at him. “Maybe in another lifetime, there would be a you and me. Can we not ruin what we have? I'm really sorry for giving you the wrong impression a few years ago. I was going through a difficult time and you were there for me and...”
He  interrupted me with a kiss. A slow kiss. At first I was reluctant but kissed him back. As soon as he realised that I kissed him back. He picked me up and pushed me against the wall. I knew this was wrong, but it felt so right. So right.
He pecked me twice on the lips and put me down. “Think about my offer, MaNgcobo.”
What just happened?! What did I do. I moved from where I was standing and went to join Indigo and the cousins. I passed Themba sitting with my brothers under the tree. “Khanyi woza la.” Bonginkosi called me. If I ignore him right now. I will not hear the end of it. I dragged my feet towards them. I saw Themba wink at me. “Ufunani Bonginkosi?”
“Please bring me my phone in my room. I want to call my wife and kids.”
I took a deep breath and just looked at him. Then I walked away to fetch the stupid phone. I gave it to one of the kids playing to go and give it to him.
“Where are you from? I've been looking around for you.”
“I needed a breather Indigo. I'm here now. Aren't you tired? You shouldn't be on your feet this much under your circumstances.”
“I'm pregnant. Not disabled. Wait was that Themba that I saw earlier?”
“Yeah it was him.”
She pulled me away from the rest of the cousins, to another direction. “So did you two talk? Did anything happen?”
“What do you mean by did anything happen? Did anyone say anything?”
“Wooahh! Hold your horses. Why would you ask me if anyone said anything to me. You two. Did you two, sneak out and had a quick sex session?”
“Shush. Not so loud! What's wrong with you.”
“Damn! You slut! Now that's a proper after tears. Is he still good like back then? Girl I want details.”
I didn't mean to laugh but I did. The more I looked at Indigo the more I laughed. “I didn't have sex with Themba. But we kissed and I regret it. Not so long ago, I had the impression that Jas was cheating but here I am doing the same. I'm such a hypocrite.”
“It's just a kiss nothing hectic. I can bet with my unborn baby, that she's cheating on you. We just don't have proof yet.”
“It still doesn't make it right. Would you feel the same way if AJ kissed another female?”
“We not talking about me and AJ now, are we? Besides, if he dared tried kissing another female who is not me. I would serve him his cute dick for breakfast.” we both laughed.
“Whose dick is being served as breakfast?”
We looked at Noma and rolled our eyes. “Really Noma? Really.” I left them to go and pack my clothes.