Simbongile Princess Ntabeni: The Called (S2)

Chapter Sixty-Three

-Simbongile Princess Ntabeni-

After a couple of minutes ibuyile ifamily from the morgue, I realized that Qhamani didn't walk in with them but I didn't want to act weird so I sat through the service and waited. The reason for my traveling was to be an emotional support system to him, so fifteen minutes later, when he still didn't come in I took that as my cue to go and look for him. I walked out of the community hall and looked around thinking maybe he was outside with some of his friends or cousins... I couldn't see him. The distance from the hall to the house was about three to five minutes, the hall was just around the corner and so I dialed him as I walked around the corner to his grandmother's house. He didn't answer his phone, but I tried him again, same result.

As I walked closer to the gate, I saw a few other girls my age. They must have arrived while we were at the community hall because I didn't see them earlier, or they were part of the family that had gone to the morgue. Asa sprung out of nowhere... there was this unreadable emotion on her face. She wasn't the same Asa who had stolen cereal for me earlier on... something was a bit off with her.

Asa: Hey Sim, aren't you supposed to be at the hall?

Me: I am looking for Q. Have you seen him anywhere?

Asa: Is he not at the hall? I think oo Aunty babuyele phaya nje.

Me: He didn't come with them, that's why ndimkhangela. Just wanna make sure he's fine.

Asa: Well akekho lapha.

One of the girls turned around and frowned at both of us. I later found out that her name was Olwethu.

Olwethu: Hayibo Asa, uQhamani lo umshiya e flatini yakhe?

Asa: I thought he had left for the hall kaloku Olwethu. You can go and check the flat ke Sim, maybe he is still there.

I frowned and nodded, something was definitely off with her.

I briskly walked to the flat, and stopped on my tracks as I heard voices. One was obviously easily recognizable but the other was of a female. I listened... the girl's name was Buhle.

Qhamani: I don't know why Asa thought it would be a great idea for you to come here when she knows that my girlfriend is here.

Buhle: You never told me you have a girlfriend Qhamani, and anyway, I didn't come here for her. I came here for you.

Qhamani: Okay fine, you are here and you have seen me. Now, please, ndiyakucela ke Buhle, just go.

There was silence...

Well, it made sense why Asa would be weird to me. She knew that Qhamani was with a girl, a girl she may have known was coming all along.

Buhle: You really want me to leave? After I took three taxis to get here Qhamani.

Qhamani: I don't want unnecessary drama and tension Buhle, ndiyakwazi wena nee chomi zakho.

Buhle: Can we at least stay for the funeral service ke? We won't stay for the after-tears.

Qhamani: Fine. Just stay away from my girlfriend.

Buhle: You can relax, even if I wanted to cause drama I wouldn't dare today. Besides, I don't even know her.

Qhamani: Great, now, can I leave? I am missing out on the service.

The door swung open and Buhle's eyes landed on mine.

It was as if we were both electrically shocked because she didn't move, and I didn't move. I wanted to, prior to the door opening, I wanted to move away from the spot I had been eavesdropping from but for some reason, I couldn't.

Buhle: Uh, hi?

Before I could respond, Qhamani appeared behind her and I could feel his cheeks flush.

Buhle frowned, took a look at me and then looked at Qhamani before looking at me again.

Buhle: This must be the girlfriend... right?

Qhamani: Please excuse us Buhle.

Buhle: Are you not going to introduce us?

Qhamani: Buhle.

Buhle: Well girlfriend, my name is Buhle and I am your boyfriend's girlfriend here in KZN. I believe you are the girlfriend he had when he still lived in Cape Town?

I swallowed, the whole thing going a bit too fast for me.

Buhle: Don't look so shocked, these things happen.

Me: Uhm... I didn't get your name.

Buhle: Oh you can talk? My name is Buhle sweetheart.

Me: Oh Buhle, nice to meet you. Am I disturbing?

Buhle: Yes.

Qhamani: No, you're not disturbing anything... Buhle, please excuse us.

She rolled her eyes, and stepped out.

I stepped in, and Qhamani closed the door.

Qhamani: I don't know what to say that won't make this situation weirder than it already is, but all I can say is that she is not my girlfriend. She's just a girl I know from school.

Me: Sure, unjani? I came to check on you because I didn't see you when your family walked in.

Qhamani: Baby...

Me: Are you feeling okay?

Qhamani: Can you just stop... please.

I frowned, taken aback.

Qhamani: uBuhle...

Me: I don't want to talk about uBuhle mna Qhamani torho, andingeni ndawo kwizinto zenu.

He sighed...

Me: I can see you're not drowning in your sorrows, which is good so mandihambe ke ndiye ecaweni. Are you coming?

Qhamani: Sure, let's go.

We walked straight to the hall, passing oo Buhle and her friends by the gate as we walked in. For the rest of that day I avoided anything that had to do with his KZN friends and girlfriends. I didn't visit KZN for any of that, and even if I did, there wasn't enough time for me to dwell on any of those things. They gave umakhulu a very elegant send-off... I didn't know her, but the good things that people were saying about her reminded me of my grandparents. Abantu babantu.

The whole time, I didn't have the program for the day, I only saw a glimpse of it when I walked out to go and look for Qhamani. As we were sitting down, I took his and my heart almost stopped. He must have felt something because he looked me and frowned... I swallowed hard, looking at the face on the piece of paper. My whole dream came back, it played before my eyes and I couldn't hear anything else but her voice. I felt a nudge under my ribs and came back to "life" as Qhamani was still looking at me.

"Are you okay?" he whispered.

"Yeah... uhm... I'm fine"

"Don't lie to me" he pressed, concerned.

Now the trick was how do I tell him that I dreamt about his grandmother and actually took a walk with her endibonisa amayeza ngosuku lomngcwabo wakhe? I gulped down air, and smiled at him. He didn't it, but he had no choice but to leave it at that. I cringed. Why didn't I notice her face endlini? Surely there ought to be pictures of her around the house? Why didn't I see her prior to having that dream? Prior to seeing the program and obituary?

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