Simbongile Princess Ntabeni: The Called (S2)

Chapter Eight

-Kamva Ngqotyana-

I landed in Cape Town and dad wasn't there yet, so I had to wait.
I panicked, but there were other people in the arrivals waiting for the family members as well so I didn't have to wait alone. Close to an hour later, he rocked up with Undi and then he drove us to McDonalds.

Dad: You're too quiet, is everything okay?
Me: I thought this would be OUR time.
Dad: Oh, you're upset that I came with Undi?

I didn't respond.
But took out his phone and dialed someone, the minute she answered the phone I sighed remembering my grandmother's words. And he didn't have to put the phone on speaker too.

Sisi: Baby?
Dad: Hey, what time are you fetching Pumpkin?
Sisi: In a few minutes I am done here, please send me your pin.
Dad: Alright, love you.
Sisi: Love you too.

Then he hung up and looked at Undi who was minding his own business.

Dad: uMama uyeza ngoku vha?
Undi: Uzon'thatha?
Dad: Yep, we will go to the park next week Sunday. Okay?
Undi: Oh...

I blinked away, seeing the disappointment on his face.
And witnessing how much of a bond they had, I was envious too.

Dad: Don't look sad now, ndizokuthatha nyhani next week. I promise.

He nodded without saying another word, dad focused on his meal and we all just ate in silence. His phone vibrated, he got up and asked Undi to follow him after he wrapped up his meal and they disappeared in the elevator.

My phone rang... I had forgotten to report back to grandma that I traveled safe.

Me: Makhulu?
Gran: Uhambe njani mntanam?
Me: Ndihambe kakuhle makhulu, I was going to call you xasifika endlini.
Gran: Ooh okay, uphi utatakho?
Me: He's around, I'll ask him to call you obuya kwakhe.
Gran: Yintoni u around Kamva?
Me: Use umntwana kusisi kwi parking lot, I think he was babysitting or something.
Gran: Ooh, have you met usisi kengoku wena?
Me: I am sure dad will take me to her place after I've settled in makhulu.

She said "ooh" and that was the end of it.
I finished up my meal, dad came back and then we drove home. I could feel that he was upset about earlier, but I didn't know how to communicate that with him without sounding insensitive or entitled. As much as I was looking forward to the blended family thing that he had gotten himself in, I still wanted to know how WE (me and him) will build or restore our relationship.

***

A week after I arrived in Cape Town I had not yet been to Simbongile's home. It felt weird, because I knew that utata would never spend a week engamboni umntu wakhe. Yes, we were all still juggling around the fact that they were newly-weds and I didn't know ukuba why exactly bengahlali ekhaya, endlini ka tata. That's what I grew up seeing kwi blended families. The folks marry, and then the men will have to provide for the woman and her children.
I walked down the stairs and found him watching something on his laptop, I grabbed an apple from the basket on the kitchen counter before joining him. He closed his laptop and smiled at me.

Me: Can I ask you something?
Dad: Sure.
Me: Why isn't your wife living with you?

He chuckled.

Me: Suhleka tata.
Dad: She felt like you and I deserved some time together before you could be bombarded ngokuhlala nabantu abaninzi that you don't really know.
Me: Oh?
Dad: Yep.
Me: So nizohlala kunye nini kengoku? In a few months? Year?
Dad: Whenever you're ready, or whenever we feel like you're ready mntanam. Okwangoku just enjoy yourself.
Me: I wonder bathi ndinjani... I've been here for an entire week yet asikabonani.
Dad: Ufuna ukuya kubo?
Me: Well... if they lived with you like they should, there wouldn't be a need for me to go see them tata. Like, right now I feel like some ice princess that everyone is tiptoeing around. It doesn't feel nice ke futhi.

He didn't respond, but he didn't take his eyes off me too.

Me: Is it because of what happened the last time? Yes I shouldn't have overreacted but surely you guys can't blame me for what I overheard.
Dad: At the right time Kamva you will go there, or they will come here. For now, just rest.
Me: It's been a week already tata.
Dad: Ufuna ntoni ke? Ufuna ndithini?
Me: Ndifuna ukuhlala nabanye abantwana, we will try and get along. It won't be overnight, but come on. Usuku olunye at least?

He didn't respond...

Me: Do they even know ndikhona? Sim hasn't said anything to me on WhatsApp.
Dad: Yes, I told them uyeza.
Me: Have they asked about me since I got here? I know uyaya phaya. Soze ugqibe iveki ungamboni umntu wakho.

He sighed and ran his hand over his face.

Dad: Well baby if you must know, Undi told them about our day at McDonalds and how you complained about him being present when you were under the impression that it would be just you and I.

My heart sank... Undi seemed like he wasn't even listening nje ngalamini.

Dad: He was quite upset, but ngumntana he will forget soon. As I said before, just enjoy the time you're spending with your dad because schools will open soon and we might not get this chance.
Me: I should call u sisi and apologize... I didn't mean to upset him, Undi I mean.
Dad: uSisi is fine, she understands where you're coming from.
Me: But still...
Dad: Let it go mntanam... we are having dinner with them on Sunday. You can apologize then ke if it means that much to you.

I nodded...

Dad: Regarding ukuhlala kunye, we are waiting for indlu yethu to be done ii revamping and stuff then we will all move in there.
Me: You bought a new house? But I thought you said yindlu yam lena.
Dad: WE bought a new house together, I haven't sold this one but usisi suggested that we renovate it and have use it as an AirBnb accommodation. That way we will generate money from it noba asihlali kuyo.
Me: Oh, okay.

His phone rang but he just looked at the screen and turned his focus back to me.

Dad: Your mother is in Cape Town, she would like to come and see you.

WHAT???
WHY???
GOD!!!!