XILUVA

Chapter four

WEDDING DAY

The bride was in her changing room with the bridesmaids. Everyone doing their last minute preparations as the wedding was about to start. The door opened and Luyolo walked in.

Joy:what if we were nit dressed?
Luyolo:sorry. I'm here for Flower. I'll bring her back in a few minutes.
Lesedi:aint you supposed to be getting ready with the others?

He didn't answer them. He took her hand and went out with her.

Luyolo:are you alright?
Xiluva:i am fine.
Luyolo:you're so beautiful.
Xiluva:thank you.  You also look good.

He smiled and bent to be on her level. She's short compared to him. He held her waist and kissed her. She returned it. After some seconds he stopped and kissed her forehead.

Luyolo:see you soon.
Xiluva:um...yeah sure.

She turned and walked back to the room.

Lesedi: I can't believe my best friend is getting married. Now you're my sister officially. 19 years later we are here. We are definitely doing this life thing forever. I love you sis.
Lisa:I love you too.

Joy:baba is here. Stop crying.

Mpe:can I talk to her in private?

They all went out. Mpendulo hugged his daughter for a few minutes then looked at her.

Mpe:you're not so little anymore. You've grown. I remember when you were a little baby. You were such a peaceful and quiet baby. Then you became talkative. Watching you grow up to be what you are today made me happy. Raising you to be this person you are. You will always be our baby. No matter how old you grow. Me and mommy love you. We will always be there whenever you need us. You're starting a new life now. Your own family. I know you will do well. But don't forget. You're mommy and daddy's child first before you're a wife. I love you Ma Hlase.
Lisa:I love you too daddy. So much.

He wiped her tears and took her hand and walked down the aisle with her.

.....
Luyolo:was that hard?
Xiluva:no. I even enjoyed myself doing that dance.
Luyolo:and now you're doing very well on this dance.
Xiluva:i guess.
Luyolo:so we haven't really talked about us.
Xiluva:us?
Luyolo:yes. I'm sure you've noticed my actions around you. I have feelings for you. And what i feel for you is very strong. You don't have to answer me now. I'm just putting it out there. I'd love for you to be my girlfriend. You don't have to answer right now. Take your time. Today let's enjoy this day.

.......

Keletso:someone looks happy.
Xiluva:i am happy. I had so much fun at the wedding yesterday.
Keletso:you really had fun hey. I'm sure you wished the wedding wouldn't end. So what are you doing today?
Xiluva:we are going out. Just the two of us.
Keletso:have fun. I'll see you tomorrow.

.....

Evidence went through her Facebook timeline and while she was scrolling down she saw a post where Xiluva was tagged. She read the post and cursed.

Eve:oh my God this is too bad for me!

Her friend looked at her.

Eve:Clara this is not good at all. What am i going to say to Desmond if he sees this?
Clara:i thought you deleted that Facebook account.
Eve:i didn't and she changed the password. Now Desmond will know that Xiluva was never fake i just made it up.
Clara:this wedding has been trending for a whole week. But how does she know that family?
Eve:i don't care about that family. I care about my life and my child's !
Clara:relax. Desmond won't do that. He loves you and your child. He wouldn't let his son suffer.
Eve:but when Xiluva sees him she will want him.
Clara:it shows you haven't been on social media. Get into that guy's account.

She tapped on his profile and scrolled down.

Eve:i love you my flower...he even tagged her. She was a bridesmaid there? Who's this guy?
Clara:Luyolo Khoza from some rich family from Silverlake and some of them stay in Lombardy.
Eve:what! Where did she get him? My mom last told me that she's a maid!
Clara:well it's not true. She's a student at UP.
Eve:I'm done for! Go fedile ka nna! If i bump into her she's going to attack me. She's going to kill me. I have to make a plan soon.
Clara:can you just relax? Maybe the poor girl is not even there.
Eve:this guy doesn't have so many posts. It's just him and his family. And the posts are less than 10. Three of them are about her!
Clara:why does it sound like you aren't worried about her anymore but the fact that she's dating that guy?
Eve:what happened to her not going to be successful in life? I have to find her and talk to her. Apologize, get close to her and strike when she least expect it.
Clara:move on with your life. Why do you hate her so much? I thought you were changing.
Eve:being nice won't pay my apartment,fees and take care of my son. If I lose Desmond i lose everything. No. She has to go back to Limpopo. Why didn't she enroll at Univen or UL? She has to go!
Clara:and what will you do? Nothing. Stop being evil. Let her live her life in peace. You took her life and she foubd something greater. Who do we have to blame for that? You.
Eve:i don't think I'm going to focus this week. Let me chat with her. She might respond.

She sent her a text and waited. She waited until she gave up.

..........

When Luyolo said he's taking me out i didn't think it would be meeting his parents. I was surprised when we got there and a boy came running to him. I looked at him and he smiled. I should have known that it was too good to be true. The way he was so secretive when I asked him to tell me where we are going exactly and he said it's a secret.

Me:you should have told me. Don't you think it's too early?
Luyolo:no it'snot early. My grandmother is around so it's a good thing because you will meet her and my parents at the same time.
Ndu:Flower you will watch cartoons with me? Will you go with me to your place?
Luyolo:leave her alone Ndumiso.
Ndu:will you also tuck me in bed?
Luyolo:Ndumiso you're 8. Act your age.
Me:hey it's fine. He's just being a child.
Ndu:you see? She doesn't mind.

He held onto my hand until we got into the house. His mother was fixing the table with another boy.

Luyolo:sanibonani ekhaya.

His mother looked at us with a big smile. She gave us hugs and led us to the table.

Mom:sit down. Your father went to call your grandmother. Is this her?
Luyolo:yes mom.

She hugged me again.

Mom:welcome my daughter. Sit down. I only have sons so now i have a daughter.

Luyolo:we are starving.
Ndu:I have a new sister.

Their father and grandmother came down and they joined us. The grandmother prayed then we all started eating.

Dad:you never introduced us Luyolo.
Luyolo:eish baba this food is so good i forgot about that.

He squeezed my hand under tue table.

Luyolo:this is Xiluva. Intombi yami. Sthandwa sami these are my parents and grandmother.
Dad:it's nice to meet you. He always talks about you. So do you love my son?

Jeez! Did he have to ask that? So fast nogal!

Me:yes sir. I know we just net not so long ago but all the time I've spent with I'm falling in love with him.
Dad:i hope it's genuinelove that you have for him. Nawe Luyolo don't play with her heart. You should be true to each other. Treat her right.
Luyolo:ngiya kuzwa baba.
Grandma:welcome child. Feel at home.
Me:thanks.

.........

The way time moves. I don't even know where it is running to. Now I'm doing my second year. Soon I'll be doing my third year. Well things have been going very well. Even at home they've started building my mother's house. It may take a long time because i don't have all the money. But at the end of my first year the remaining money from my bursary for the first year paid out abd i used it all to buy the materials. Then from the accommodation money i paid the builders. I'm still staying with Austin and saving just like the previous year. I sa Eve's text and ignored it. I listened to my boyfriend and let the past be where it belongs, in the past. A knock disrurbs me from thinking a lot. I open the door and my jaw drops at the sight of the person on my doorstep.