Amile The Queen

Chapter Twenty-Eight

***Amile Gumede***


Durban here I come!
I can’t wait to see my family, I’m super excited. I don’t even mind sitting in the car with these people in silence. It’s fine, as long as I get to see my family.
The silence is awkward though, we’ve been driving for almost 3 hours now, in this car its just Mgabadeli, the husband and myself. He’s sitting on his side and I’m sitting in mine.
The king always travels with escorts so there’s another car following behind us and it has the guard and Sis’ Melo.
He insisted that he was going to escort me, and help him settle in before I start school next week. I don’t know why MaMzobe didn’t come. Maybe it’s because the children are still home, but I would’ve loved if she were here.
“Mgabadeli.” His baritone voice echoed in the whole car.
“Yes sir.” I don’t know why he calls him sir, everyone else him calls him Bayede.
“Can we make a stop at the shopping mall.”
“Yes we can sir.”
“Thank you.” 
He opens a compartment on his side and took out a gift bag. I don’t want to look at him.
“MaGumede, nakhu okwakho. I hope you like it.” I turned and took it with both hands.
“Thank you my King.” I wasn’t planning on opening it but he was looking at me with those eyes.
“You can change it if you don’t like it.” Why is he so scared I won’t like whatever it is that’s in here. It seems expensive, especially because it’s heavy.
I took it out of the bag and it was a box. When I looked down on it, my heart leapt. A whole Apple nogal!
“You don’t like it?” he’s asking because of the shocked look on my face.
“No, I love it, thank you Bayede.” He smiled.
I don’t want to act over excited and tell him that it’s what I’ve always wanted, he doesn’t need to know that.
“Your other gifts didn’t arrive on time so I asked Mandlenkosi to get them for you so he’ll give them to you.”
Such an anti-climax, why did he mention his name.
No, I’m not letting that ruin my mood, I’m happy. He’s buying my happiness and I’m perfectly okay with that.
We are back to silence, he has his phone out, doing whatever he that he’s doing.
We arrived at Gateway. Mgabadeli came out and opened my door for me. I’m assuming the husband is not coming with me. Understandable.
“I’ll wait for you here MaGumede, go get anything that you might need.” He handed me a card.
Not just any card, a private wealth card. I’m used to it, Nkosi gave me his all the time. I looked at it and it had my initials. I frowned.
“Go wakwami, we are going to be late.” He chuckled at my facial expression. It really isn’t funny.
I thanked him and followed Sis’ Melo into the mall.
“Do you need anything?” I asked her as we walked.
There’s a guard walking behind us. That is what has become of my life.
“No, I don’t my queen.” I will never get used to this treatment.
In fact, many people in here are staring at me.
I haven’t had a phone to go on social media these past three weeks to know what they have been saying about the kingdom and the King’s new wife. But from the way they are looking at me, they know me very well.
I thought this was where rich people shopped, and rich people mind their business, don’t bother themselves with looking and talking about people like me. This is making me uncomfortable and I don’t think I like being I public anymore.
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I just decided to get some snacks for my mom and toys for Siviwe. I couldn’t wait to leave that place. More than anything, I wanted to run away from the piercing stares and the different treatment I was given.
They literally cleared a whole teller so I could pay without standing in line. It’s ridiculous, but it saved me time. Now I get to go and see my family.
We are finally on our way home. I can see my old school, and all the places I loved going to. We really could’ve just bought all of these things at Musgrave, but if the husband prefers Gateway, then Gateway it is.
The air here is different compared to Zululand. It’s much more polluted, there is a mixture of smells in the air, it feels like home. Three weeks away from home is way to long.
Mgabadeli comes to open the door for the husband as soon as he parks I’m front of my flat building. When he’s out, he reaches out for my hand and helps me out the car.
We are traveling in style, we were driven in the royal cars, the ones Nkosi was apparently in on my birthday. This has drawn attention to us. I can see people leaning out of their windows looking, and some pedestrians standing taking videos on their phones. I know some of them, not by name, just by seeing them around.
He lets me lead the way and I go and buzz the intercom so mom can open for us.
“Who is this?” I see hospitality towards guests is still not there.
“Take a guess mama.” She went silent.
“Amile? Is that you?”
“Come open for me.” She didn’t even waste any time, she dropped.
The husband looked nervous, I wonder why.
It’s not cute what MaMchunu is doing, keeping the king waiting like this.
After what felt like forever, she came down, and opened the door.
“My baby!” she engulfed me in a tight squeeze and she started crying.
The all pain and emotions I’ve have holding back just came over me. Especially when she started praying over me, thanking God over and over, I felt myself going weak.
When she was done, she kissed my forehead and then finally acknowledged the kings presence.
“My apologies Bayede for keeping you waiting outside like this.” She doesn’t mean it, it’s written all over her face.
“No worries MaMchunu. Take all the time you need.” He replies in a mocking tone.
I don’t know what it is that has happened between them, and quite frankly, I don’t want to know. But that, that was clear like the sky that they don’t like each other.


***Nambitha Makhathini***

Nkululeko is here. He called and said he’s parked at our usual spot. I’ve been avoiding him the whole week. He came back on Tuesday and he’s been wanting to meet up so badly because I promised to give him an answer, the answer I don’t have.
I was finally going to go out to him today, and let what I feel when I see him decide what I want to say. This could be my first boyfriend. I actually like him more than I am letting on.
But my mother is home and I literally have no excuse for wanting to go out.
My phone is ringing again and I know it’s him. I’ve silenced it now because if my mom hears that I’m on the phone before asking to go out, she’ll know that I’m going to do something I’m not supposed to be doing.
“Nkululeko, I can’t come out, my mom is home.” I whispered into the speaker.
“Tell her you are going to her son-in-law. She will understand.” This man thinks he has jokes.
“I’m dead serious.”
“Then lock your bedroom door and go out the window.”
“Are you crazy, I’m not doing that.”
“Then find a way nana. I’m not leaving this time.” I sighed.
I understand that he’s frustrated because I’ve been avoiding him but he’s being unreasonable. Now I have to think of ways to leave and go to him.
“Fine, I’ll be there in five minutes.”
He said thank you before hanging up. Mom is sitting in the lounge watching TV. I walk past her and go to the kitchen. She calls out.
“Ma.” My heart beats faster.
“Are you busy, I want to send you to Mrs Shezi’s house, she has a parcel for me.”
“No I’m not.” Jackpot.
“Okay, hambake mntanami.”
I didn’t hesitate to run to the gate. The stars have aligned. His car is the first thing I see as soon as I stand at the top of the driveway. I do a fast walk to him. The street is awfully quiet today, it’s surprising.
I get in the front seat and before I can greet, his cologne does.
“Nana.” He smiles. I roll my eyes, trying to suppress the smile that wants to form on my face.
“Nkululeko you are lucky my mom sent me out, otherwise I wasn’t going to come.”
“I wasn’t going to leave until you come out, trust. I have the whole day.” He’s lying. He doesn’t. Part of his job description is to look after prince Mandlenkosi.
“Well, I don’t have the whole day.” I said.
“Then it’s a good thing that you are the one who has something for me.” Oh shit.
He used his fingers to turn my face to him. He flashed me a smile.
“You look beautiful.” I folded my lips to suppress the smile.
“Thank you.” He leaned in and pecked my lips.
Nicotine! Nicotine! Nicotine!
I could taste it as he sucked on my bottom lip gently. My heart was racing and I wanted to kiss him back, but I’m afraid of failure. I’ve never done this before. He stops and looks at me.
“Follow my lead.” I closed my eyes and nodded.
He gently pulls my bottom lip in between his teeth and then goes on to suck it. I open my mouth and suck on his top lip. Our lips are locking and I feel an intense amount of heat rising from the tip of my toes to the top of my head.
I want him closer so I put my palm of his face and wrap my arm around his neck. I’m getting comfortable, and this feels amazing.
His hand rests on my bare thigh and he caresses it gently. That is giving me goosebumps all over my body and I suddenly feel cold. I don’t stop him. His hand travels all the way to grab my bum, but he does that by sneaking it under my dress. I can feel his hand on my skin. His hand is warm.
He’s being a little less gentle with the kiss and his breath is getting heavier as he squeezes my bum. His hand then leaves my bum, and gradually sneaks in between my thighs. I try to keep them closed so he doesn’t touch what he wants to touch, but his hand finds its way on the hem of my underwear. I pull out of the kiss.
He removes his hand and when he opens his eyes, they are red.
“Look what you are doing to me MaXulu.” He pointed to his pants.
I was afraid to look down, but my eyes wanted to see. His front is poking out. Jesus take the wheel.
“I want you to be mine Nambitha. Please just give me a chance to make you happy.” I’ve never heard him call me by my name. It’s strange.
It’s stupid for me to keep trying to fool myself. I know very well that I like him.
“Okay.” He looked at me in the eyes. I looked away.
“Okay what?” he asked.
“I’ll give you a chance. But we have to take things slow Nkululeko.”
“No rush nana. Thank you.” He pulled me in and kissed me again. It wasn’t long though.
I found myself looking at his hard on again. I swallowed hard, causing him to laugh.
“Does it hurt?” he nodded.
Okay now I feel bad. He kissed me again.
“Don’t worry about me, I’m a man.” He adjusted himself in the seat.
That probably has to be the sexiest effortless movement a man has ever done.
I need to leave this car.
“I need to leave now, mom sent me somewhere.” I probably have to run there now.
“Let me take you.”
“No, I appreciate it but mom’s friend likes to talk so I would rather walk.” He nodded.
“Keep your phone on, I’ll call you when I get home.” I nodded. He leaned in and stole another kiss.
That’s my new favourite thing, kissing his lips. I said my goodbye before climbing out the car.
I almost had a heart attack when I saw my mother standing on the driveway of the house in her pink gown looking at me climbing out the car. She has her arms folded across her chest and she doesn’t look very happy. Well fuck!



***Amile Gumede***

Siviwe also cried when he saw me, he actually bawled his eyes out and that broke my heart. I didn’t think it affected him like this. He cried himself to sleep.
Mom had cooked and she insisted that she would dish up for us. I think she just wanted me to stay longer. They are still being very sour towards each other. They are able to hold a conversation though. The husband is filling her in on what the plan is for school and all of the arrangements behind that.
Because I’m still a minor, he is now solely responsible for me until next year. They even had my surname changed to Zulu, and that’s the fucked up part about all of it.
She’s not complaining about the fact that they had me changing schools, in fact, she looks like she is happy because this one that I’m going to is a private school, and anything private is associated with good quality education.
I can’t tell that he wants to go now, he’s bored.
“And is she going to be a boarder?” she’s not asking me all these questions. They are for him.
“No, she’s going to live with my brother, Mandlenkosi.” She looked at me. Yeah, I know mama, I know.
“You don’t have a problem with that?” she’s asking me.
“Yes I don’t mind.” Considering that fact that only she in this room knows about Mandlenkosi and I, she’s concerned about the possibility of something happening.
But they obviously think she’s asking because he’s a man and I’m a woman.
“Mandlenkosi will also tutor her in maths and science. He’s a scientist and he’s very smart.” Yeah, we know all about it.
“Okay then.” She’s still looking at me.
“MaMchunu, sesicela indlela. We still have to go back to Zululand.” He’s lying. They are only leaving tomorrow after they take me to my old school to fetch my transfer card.
“Thank you for bringing her Bayede.” He acknowledged her.
“MaGumede, you’ll find me in the car.” He said.
Him and Mgabadeli walked out the flat. Mom looked at me.
“How are you coping my baby? You look good.” Her eyes are dressed with sadness.
“I’m okay mama. It gets better with each day. I’m just glad I get to go back to school.”
“And how is your heart?” I sighed.
“My heart hurts.”
“Because of him?” she’s talking about Nkosi. I nodded.
She held my hand.
“It will get better my princess I promise you. I’m glad you are back. I’ll visit you whenever I get the chance okay?” now I don’t want to leave.
“I miss my life mama.” She stood up and hugged me again and I cried.
I had to hold it in the whole time we sat here, but now it’s just the two of us, I have no reason to pretend. It hurts.
“I feel like I failed you my love and I will never forgive myself for it.”
“It’s not your fault mama. Maybe it was just meant to happen.” She pulled back and wiped my tears.
“Did the dreams stop?” I shook my head no.
“Have you told them about it?” I shook my head again.
“You should my baby. Speak to Bayede, he’ll help you. Maybe you have a greater purpose at the palace.” Maybe I should have gone with them to the royal seer.
“I will.” She hugged me again.
“I love you baby, I love you my little girl.”
“I love you too mama.”
Can time just stand still for a minute.