Simbongile Princess Ntabeni: The Called (S2)

Chapter Seventy-Six

-Simbongile Princess Ntabeni-

Somehow, I knew that he was really telling the truth. That he was trapped into doing whatever, maybe that's because I knew Qhamani... but at the same time, I was too young to be stressing about boys yho! We had enough problems endlini, I didn't have to add him as part of my own personal problems too because if I did, my grades would drop. That, I knew without a doubt. The practice was finally over, as I got up to follow behind the boys, makazi called and I just laughed to myself as I answered the phone.

Me: Makazi?

Ovayo: Baby, ihlalaphi iwine ka sisters?

Me: eLounge, kula coffee table makazi.

Ovayo: What? Kweza drawers ndithi zihombisile mna.

Me: Yup, kweza drawers. Where is she?

Ovayo: She's coming to fetch you two.

Me: Oh, okay.

Ovayo: Bye now!

She hung up before I could respond.

The night she tiptoed to my room? We had a heart-to-heart conversation about everything. I hadn't even had a chance to open up to mom about Qhamani but I told makazi and she hugged me so tight I felt like she was squeezing my insides.

Me: Okay, you can let me go now.

Ovayo: Yho awumdala mntakabawo! I never thought this day would come, me sitting in the dark eating ice cream in your room and listening to your relationship problems. Ukhule msinya torho Sim, I can't really be this old!

I laughed at her.

Me: A little birdie told me that wena no mama were already way above your necks zii relationship problems at my age yazi makazi.

Ovayo: Mna, ewe. Your mom? No.

Me: Oh really? Isn't she the one beat up umntwana ka Mam'Madlamini back in Mdantsane? Or asizibali ezo?

Ovayo: Hay hay hay uzithathaphi ezizinto uzithethayo???

Me: Phikisa makazi!

She giggled, throwing her head back landing with a soft thud on the headboard.

Ovayo: Your parents were the coolest high school sweethearts you know? Utatakho ambheje nge packet ye chips qho esiyothenga, he would wait for her at the bus stop every afternoon banyuke kunye, she would attend all his soccer matches noba andikho... that was love mntanam, that was love ndikuxelele.

I swallowed the lump that had grown in my parched throat and closed my eyes, because what she said right there was what I had hoped to experience with Q. It was what I had partially experienced with Q.

Ovayo: When she told me that you have a boyfriend and she knows him I asked if she was ready to go through what she put my mom and her dad through wandihleka. They were obviously not as troublesome as I was but falling pregnant in high school really took the cup.

Me: At least dad was supportive throughout.

Ovayo: Which was rare to find where we lived, I mean, even now men will impregnate and then skip the town. She was one of the lucky ones.

Me: Yeah neh.

Ovayo: This Qhamani guy... uyamthanda? Forget what Siya said, but do you love him?

Me: Ewe makazi, kakhulu futhi.

Ovayo: Naye uyakuthanda?

Me: I believe so... he has never done or said anything for me to doubt that. Except for what recently happened ke.

Ovayo: Mh...

Me: But my thing is that even if we love each other, we are both still too young to be stressing about relationships. What if my story is not going to be like moms? Yes, I would have loved, in fact, I would love to get married to my high school sweetheart but at the same time, what if it doesn't have to be like that?

Ovayo: Your love story is obviously never be like that of your parents my love, look at how theirs ended? We want a happily ever after for you and to be honest with you, I feel like Qhamani may not be the guy for you. Yes he loves you, but self-control is the very first form of discipline especially when you are in a long distance relationship. It gets worse ke in your situation, you were saving yourself for him... and he wasn't. I understand the trap theory, but baby? What is it going to be next? He was drugged? Mh?

An earful of a conversation ezinzulwini zobusuku. One that I appreciated phofu, not complaining at all.

Back to the field...I walked behind the team as they sang amagwijo. Well, just the few of them. Funny enough, it was the white dudes who were into amagwijo ukogqitha oo Siya and his people of color. One of his mates came running behind me, and I knew he wasn't going to pass me and join his friends, I just knew it.

Zain: Sim, hey!

Me: Zain.

Zain: Are you okay? You seem kinda distracted.

I squinted my eyes at him and he smiled, kicking the grass.

Zain: I saw the Facebook post, I'm sorry.

Me: I am pretty sure EVERYONE saw it, don't be sorry.

Zain: No, I mean, I am sorry for the humiliation. We all knew how much the two of you loved each other. You were the envy of all of when he was still living here so...

Me: Argh don't worry about me. We are in high school Zain, these things happen.

Zain: Sooo you're not as hurt as I thought you ought to be? Were you suspecting something?

Me: I am hurt alright but we are young bro, we can't really kill ourselves over Facebook posts and whatever nots.

He nodded just as Siya was turning, probably looking for me.

The minute he saw Zain, he stopped walking and looked at us with a frown before calling out ...

Siya: Heeeeey kwedini ka Van Woet, suka apho! Suka apho!

The entire team turned and looked at us, Zain laughed shaking his head. Everyone joined in the laughing.

Zain: Don't worry Ntabeni, I am harmless.

Siya: Hamb'oba harmless pha kude kwedini Zain, suka apho!

Zain: What's your problem bro? I just want to buy her an ice cream, surely you can feel the scorching heat.

Siya turned to one guy who was smiling from ear to ear next to him, patted his shoulder and pointed towards us as he spoke.

Siya: Keenan, talk to your brother, mate. If he knows what's good for him he better leave my sister alone.

I looked at Zain... and smiled, he was joking alright, but there was something heavy in Siya's words. Something that only I understood, he wasn't a violent person, but I understood the heaviness in his words.

Me: It was nice chatting, bye now!

Zain: Ey, let me leave you before he strangles my neck.

He waved and ran to the opposite direction.

I shook my head, looking at Siya and his laughing friends. Even the Keenan was laughing at his own brother!