Simbongile Princess Ntabeni: The Called (S2)

Chapter Ninety-Three

-Simbongile Princess Ntabeni-

After spending three days in East London, we traveled back to Cape Town. They booked me a flight, but had to drive back because they drove all the way. My flight was in the evening, Uncle Vuyo had to drive me to the airport because oo mama bavuke bahamba to beat the traffic. I arrived at the Cape Town international airport and for some reason, I found bhut' Masi waiting for me at the arrivals. I greeted, and walked past him because I didn't know he was waiting for me until he called after me and I turned ndamjonga.

Masi: Hey, I'm actually waiting for you.

Me: Oh, umama didn't say.

Masi: She probably forgot, yhiza ngapha I parked this side.

Me: Oh okay, thank you.

I followed closely behind him, I was slightly hungry because the last time I had food was when I had breakfast. I wasn't really hungry around 1pm or around lunch time but the one-hour-forty-minute flight dug my intestines. We got to my front-gate and he hooted, someone was at the window but they didn't open the gate so I texted Siya and the gate opened. uBhuti chuckled at that, I thanked him for picking me from the airport and then got out of his car ndangena ekhaya. The door flew wide open as the gate closed, and the younger two came running towards me. Musa hugged me and then grabbed my bag, I picked Undi up as we walked inside. Siya was cooking, he was by the window. We hugged and then bandikhapha aba babini to my room. All I wanted was a bath, and food. I ran myself a citrus bath, undressed without warning the other two and just got under the foam and breathed. A few minutes later, the door flew open and Undi just stood there smiling at me...

Me: What's up?

Undi: Uyavasa?

Me: Yup.

Undi: Kodwa uyafika. Awukhange uvase kanti?

Me: I wanted to bath ngezinto zasekhaya wethu Undi.

Undi: Mmh, uzotya ke ogqiba kwakho.

Me: Will do.

He quickly walked out and closed the door.

I shook my head, almost with a chuckle. I just sat there and reflected on what was supposed to be a big weekend for all of us, I traced back to the time Bakholiwe made conversation with me. I kind of blamed myself for not noticing anything. Like, why did I not know that she was onto some foul play? Why didn't anyone warn me about her? The people she apparently spoke to when she got to my hut, why didn't any of them warn me? I don't know man, it felt like people knew about her shenanigans but no one spoke up. After almost thirty minutes of fighting with my thought I got out of the bath, drained the water and walked to my bed. I pocketed my hoodie, found my phone and dialed Zibusisiwe. Her phone rang for a couple of seconds and then it got cut, I dialed again and then it didn't ring. I frowned, tossed the phone to the side and looked for my pajamas. As I was about to walk out ndiyotya, she returned my calls. I turned back and sat on the edge of the bed.

Me: Hey, sorry if I was disturbing you.

Zibu: I had to sneak out chomi, uphi? Are you coming back?

Me: Hell no, ndisekhaya. Got here about an hour ago.

Zibu: Yho!

Me: Are ya'll still in East London?

Zibu: Ewe mfondini, something happened and everyone suspects abantu bakokwenu had a hand.

Me: Huh?

Zibu: Okay yhima...

I heard shuffling sounds in her background, and then a door.

Zibu: Okay I think ndingathetha apha.

Me: What happened?

Zibu: Bakholiwe is currently fighting for her life eFrere chomi, we overheard the elders saying she was burnt with oil or something.

Me: Burnt where? By whom?

Zibu: I don't know where, but one of the elderly man just said he suspects the missing child. You are the only missing child apha. Ek'seni kufike amagqirha amabini, ahlahluba and apparently they confirmed that your family had a hand in the whole thing. We were told to stay in our room until they were done so I don't have the whole story.

Me: Yho!

She went dead silent.

I traced back to when I was left alone in that house... what if the elders were right?

You could mess with mom, and she could maybe take a day or two giving you a second chance to right your wrongs, but you would never do that with umakazi. Makazi was the real "phuma silwe" of the family. What if they had all hands on deck with whatever happened to Bakholiwe?

Zibu: Sis Thuli passed away at Cecelia Makiwane last night.

Me: Hayi Zibu!

Zibu: I'm telling you, yho Sim a lot is going on here but they are keeping this hush. U Sis Thuli kuthwa she was found with bruises and stuff, but the other initiates were called and questioned because some of them kicked her eBhayi after she slapped you, but kwacaba those kicks wouldn't have caused that much damaged. I think they are afraid nabo, abantu abadala, but abafuni ukutsho.

Me: They should just let you guys go home, if such things are happening around them then you guys are definitely safer in your homes.

Zibu: Exactly, like right sivalelekile apha because Mam'Sonto has gone missing too. We last saw her izolo during breakfast, she didn't join us for dinner and we only overheard today that she's gone AWOL.

Me: Did they at least inform your parents that you guys won't be back in Cape Town at the scheduled time?

Zibu: I don't think they did, andithi we are not allowed to be on our phones all of a sudden? I sneaked mine in, that's why I had to sneak out when you called.

Me: Yho, this is hectic.

Zibu: It is chomi, ngaske ndibe nguwe wena mntu sewukokwenu.

Me: Maybe take a second and text your parents after this phone call nawe because you don't know what can happen in the next minutes worse xa usithi no Mam'Sonto has gone AWOL. Those people can leave you guys there, aniyo responsibility yabo. Your parents left you in the care of Mam'Sonto.

She sighed, and promised she would text her dad.

We then hung up and I walked out of the room with my phone.