Simbongile Princess Ntabeni: The Called (S2)

Chapter Ten

-Siyambonga Junior Ntabeni-


On the way to bhut'Masi's home everyone was quiet, Kamva wa son the phone the whole time and I had Undi on my lap. Mumu had fallen asleep. I tried talking to mom, because I didn't feel she was okay driving alone but she insisted so I let her be.

Bhuti: KFC or Nandos?

No one responded.
My eyes were shut, I wasn't sleeping but I didn't want to talk. Undi wasn't snoring so I didn't think he was asleep but Musa was fast asleep.

Bhuti: Guys?
Kamva: Balele, I think KFC will do since sibaninzi.
Bhuti: Okay.

We went to a KFC drive-through, then we went to his mom's house. I only sat up when I heard the gate open and dogs started barking. It was my first time ever setting foot there and I didn't know how we would be accepted. His mom walked out to the front-door and waited smiling. That was a relief, but then again, she could have been smiling at her granddaughter. We didn't offload our bags, but we followed right behind bhuti while Kamva played with the dogs. We were welcomed with kisses and hugs ngu makhulu and then she ushered all of us into the eating area where she served us a home cooked meal. The KFC bucket was left stranded on the kitchen counter... all this while, mom had not arrived. I didn't want to panic, so I blocked her out of my mind. As we were making small conversations no makhulu, Thimna called and I excused myself. I had to actually go outside because I didn't know which one was Kamva's room... for privacy.

Me: Hello?
Thimna: Hey, how's the funeral?
Me: Argh...
Thimna: Please don't tell me it was as bad as after the wedding.
Me: It was dramatic, I left. We left... simshiye phaya u Sim.
Thimna: I'm so sorry... how's your mom? How are you? U Musa?

I sighed, almost smiling at how concerned she sounded.

Me: We'll be fine babe, thank you for asking.
Thimna: I wish I could be there for you, and give you a big hug. You sound exhausted.
Me: I am exhausted, and you owe me that hug.
Thimna: I'll remember that. I guess I'll see you when you guys are back ke.
Me: Yeah uhm... listen Thimna...
Thimna: uh-huh?
Me: Thank you... for checking up on me. Enkosi.
Thimna: Haibo Siya, you would have done the same for me too. It's the least I can do seeing that I couldn't attend the funeral.
Me: I know, but thank you. I appreciate you.
Thimna: I love you... I know we said we'd tak-
Me: I love you too, even more than you could ever imagine.

There was silence from the other end of the call.

Me: You probably don't believe me, but I really do love you. I settled for friendship because that's what you offered, that wasn't on my cards. But because I love you, I figured it would be better to be closer to you as a friend than to be a total stranger who admires you from a distance.
Thimna: Oh Siya... what about Lisa? Like, I said we could be friends nam kuba ndikwazi ukwi relationship no Lisa mna and she posts about you all the time. Sometimes I feel jealous but ke ndimane ndizikhumbuza ba ungumntu wakhe.
Me: I'm not sure why we're having this conversation over the phone yazi babe.
Thimna: I think it's better this way... you intimidate me a bit.

I laughed, she joined in with a chuckle.
I walked further away from the house and went to sit on the swings in the far end corner of the front yard. From there I could see that there was a pool at the back and some trees.

Thimna: Serious babe, you intimidate me.
Me: I don't understand you, I really don't.
Thimna: Siya, you're a top student in our grade, in the whole school you are in the top five. You play sport, you win debates and you even take on the principal with his stupid rules? Tell me how I'm not supposed to be intimidated ke?

I don't remember the last time I had a good laugh until that very moment.
What made me happy though was the excitement in her voice as she counted these things.

Me: So all this time you were pretending to be comfortable around me?
Thimna: Now that's the thing, I am comfortable around you as long as we are not at school. Eskolweni everyone raves about you, every other girl wants you... ndithi ndozijonga ndiqondba yho hay mandiyeke umntu ka Lisa ku Lisa shame. Who am I?

I didn't respond.
I didn't find it funny anymore, she was the most beautiful girl yet she had low self-esteem.

Thimna: I remember last year u Siwe had a crush on you, I think sasingeka yazi into yakho no Lisa. Siwe went on and on about how you two would look good together nton-nton-ntoni and I just sat there and kept my opinions to myself because she knew I liked you but all of a sudden she had developed a crush. When Chloe called her out on that she said that "hay wethu Chloe tshomi khaw'jonge u Thimna ujonge u Siyambonga. It doesn't add up friend" yho Siya my heart dropped.
Me: Babe...
Thimna: Yhima, why am I telling you these things?
Me: Because you're in love. Sewungxamele esa stage sohleba ne boyfriend yakho ngoku wena ndiyakubona.

She laughed... wholeheartedly and I just smiled to myself.
Mom drove in, and saw me. She sat in the car for a few minutes and then got out wangena endlini.

Thimna: You're sick.
Me: Ngaske uhleke oko.
Thimna: Okay time's up, bye bye.
Me: Haibo, njani sisathetha?
Thimna: I don't know how we got here but I was just checking up on you and I can tell u right. Bye bye.
Me: Okay yhima kaloku, wait.

She kept quiet.

Me: Can we go to the movies obuya kwam? Please.
Thimna: I won't be available nge weekend, my sister is coming home.
Me: Friday afterschool?
Thimna: Siya.
Me: If you deny me a chance to take you out Thimna I am going to cause drama for you eskolweni.
Thimna: Haha, is that a threat?
Me: No sisi, it's a promise.
Thimna: Mh, now that is something I would like to see. Give it your best shot.
Me: Mh, you don't know who you're betting... but okay. Bye bye, ndiyakuthanda ke uyazi lonto.
Thimna: Semandi, bye bye wethu.

She hung up.
I chuckled looking at my screen and went back inside to join the rest of the family.