GOLD MASK

CHAPTER 46

By the time six pm rolled in, I had managed to rally up all the siblings into my car and delivered them to the Mthombeni household. Which was a major spot considering how Snakho couldn't seem to finish putting herself together, and Nomnotho had waited around so much that she had laid on her bed with her Instagram on and had decided that she was no longer going. It took a lot of begging and shouting to get the two girls in the car, and by that time I was already in desperate need of a grandpa. I didn't understand how such grown women, who had a whole fucken cycle, would behave like such children. Andile was done, and by the car at the time we agreed to leave by.

Why weren't the other two more like the child? But I guess all that didn't matter because at least we reached our destination without anyone killing anyone [and by that I mean I mean Nomnotho killing Snakho] because God knows I caught Nomnotho giving Snakho the eye one too many times as she mused about how good she looked, and how she hoped Mfihlo had a brother she could snag. With the way she went about planning a whole future with Mfihlo's existent brother, I also felt like taking her life, but luckily for me the Lord still reigned in heart, unlike Nomnotho who I have actually come to believe is secretly the wife of Lucifer.

"Please behave,” I whispered to Nomnotho, and all she gave me as a response was a roll of her eyes and she joined the other siblings who were walking in front of me. I took deep breaths, while massaging my temple. We neared loud chatter, and I knew the whole family was around. The siblings went into the dining area, and I heard Mfihlo call Andile's name at the same time as I heard Azile's voice say, "Aunty Aza," behind me. I whipped around with a smile, looking back at her wide eyes looking up at me. She smiled. "Asambeni sobuka. Mommy bought new dolls."

She reached out for my hand and tugged me with her. We had walked a bit of a distance, when Mfihlo called his sister's name, and she immediately stopped, looking at her big brother. "Iyaphi indlela."

"Ekamereni. To show my dolls,’ the child answered.

"You'll do it later."

I looked at Don with a raised eye brow. "By the time dinner is over, the child would be asleep. I'll go now."

"But I want to spend time with you before the family hoards you,” Mfihlo sulked.

"Stop being selfish." His eyebrows knitted together, giving me his Dom look, and I arched my own brows, silently telling him it wouldn't work. While we were caught in our staring contest, the door opened, and the familiar scent of nicotine wrapped around in the air, followed by the person responsible walking in. Two girls with their hair tied into two small ponytails ran in, and towards Azile almost knocking me over, but luckily Mfihlo held me. The twins both muttered squeaky and rushed 'sorries' before Azile dropped my hand like a sack of potatoes and the trio went off. I stood there. Mouth agape, and blinking. "Let me guess, she’s been ditched for the twins?" Melamina's voice poured in, with a hint of laughter to it.

"And I'm left to pick up the pieces, when she was choosing her over me,” Don laughed behind me, giving my waist a squeeze. "You won't rest until your ear is burned off huh?"

I looked to Mfiliseni, seeing the cigarette tugged behind his ear, and still alight, and he wasn't even bothered. I frowned.  "If my ear was meant to come off, it would've years ago." He adjusted the diaper bag in his arm. Melamina looked at her husband, shaking her head before she walked off with baby Liya tight in her arms. Okay. What was that?

"What did you do this time?" Mfihlo asked. Oh, so he noticed the lack of affection too.

Mfiliseni shrugged. "Its more like, what did the cigarettes do."

"They've finally caught up with you?" I whispered.

"Right on the nail, sister-in-law,” Mfiliseni nodded with a small smile. Silence reigned between us, and I felt like I should go and leave them alone, but Mfihlo's tight grip on my waist forced me to stay. "Oh don't be so sad people. Tonight is a happy occasion, big plans are set for the end of this night." He winked at Mfihlo. "Do me a favour and give this to my wife. Tell her I love her,” he handed the diaper bag to me, and took the cigarette out from behind his ear. He took one long drag, before walking out. He is dying, and yet he's still smoking. And what he said about Melamina, I don't like it.