Shrivelled Roses 1 (Intro)

Chapter 17

-𝑺𝒊𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒉𝒍𝒆 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝑩𝒊𝒚𝒂𝒔𝒆-

"My name is Clai-" she stuttered.

"Your name is Siphesihle, I know who you are. Yintoni u Claire ngoku?"

"My name is Siphesihle Claire Biyase, and my father said I would find Mr. Nkosiphendule Ndlongolo here" she finished off her introduction much bolder than the first sentence. Luzuko ignored her for ten minutes straight, when he looked up, she was still standing next to his car... waiting patiently. He wiped his hands with the oiled rag hanging from his pocket and smiled at her frustration.

"My name is Luzuko Ndlongolo... the Mr. Ndlongolo you're looking for is not available. Maybe I can help you?"

"No thank you" she turned on her heels and headed back to her car outside the Ndlongolo household. He followed behind her, kicking the sand as he walked and then he stopped just outside her door and waited because she was on the phone. He was expecting her, Tshawe (Nkosiphendule) did mention that Tat'Biyase's daughter was going to bring her CV for the vacancy they had discussed as brothers.

Claire: Tata, akekho utatu Tshawe apha.

Biyase: Uyinike bani kengoku iCV yakho?

Claire: ilapha kum... bendingazokwazi noyishiya usile labhuti ndifike ekhona.

Her father laughed...

Biyase: Inoba ngu Luzuko lowo, akasanga mntanam, uyathanda uqhula. Yishiye kuye iCV he should know what to do with it.

Claire: Yho hay... bye bye futhi, this guy is literally standing just outside my car.

Her father laughed again and she hung up, and took a deep breath in.

Seeing that she was now off the phone, Bhazuka (Luzuko) knocked twice on the window and waited for her to open it. She slowly lowered her window and looked at him with an unreadable face.

Bhazuka: Ungandinika iCV yakho before you drive off... I am pretty sure ubuzise yona.

She took the brown envelope and gave it to him without uttering a word. She smiled as he took it from her hand, and nodded without opening it.

Bhazuka: Would you like something to drink before you leave? I wouldn't want your father to think we are unkind to his children when he's not around.

Claire: No thank you, please make sure Mr. Ndlongolo gets my C-

Just then Mincili and Nichume drove in and stopped the car right in front of hers. She couldn't believe her eyes... wait, was this their home? She opened her door just as they got out of their car and everyone just screamed in excitement leaving a confused Luzuko in haze.

Mimi: Ubuye nini eKapa wena? Dude, how did you find our new home?

Chu: Worse sisuka ku Liyanda ngoku and we promised to bring everyone here at the same time.

Claire: This is your new home?

They now frowned at her... confused.

Chu: Okay wait... ubuzothini apha kanti? Awuzanga kuthi?

Claire: Bendizise iCV yam ku Mr. Nkosiph-

Mimi: Yabona lento yethu yobiza utata ngesiduko? That's our dad chomi.

Claire: Haibo Mimi, uTshawe ngu Nkosiphendule? I thought ngumntu omncinci mna lo ndize kuye.

Mimi: Hahaha, yep, ngu tata wethu lowo. Worse ke akekho nalapha... did u Tamnci at least take it?

They all looked at Luzuko and Nichume saw the brown envelope and smiled, winking at her uncle was just standing there and watching them in silence.

Claire: That guy is your uncle?

They both nodded...

Claire: Yho thiza!

Chu: Come inside, soze sikugqibele kudala and then see you like this.

Claire: No chomi man le-

Mimi: Ngenisa imoto Siphesihle haibo!

Chu: Claire wase Kapa!

They laughed and each one drove into the yard. Nichume walked ahead with Luzuko while her twin sister drove ahead of Claire. They parked on the same spot but Mimi had to take a call before going inside so Claire walked in alone. When she got to the kitchen, Bhazuka was there waiting for her. He was leaning against the kitchen counter with his leg crosses over the other and his hands across his chest.

Bhazuka: Again, would you like something to drink?

She sighed, remembering that she declined his offer earlier on.

Bhazuka: I won't drug you.

Claire: Orange juice please.

Bhazuka: Great, muffins or biscuits?

Chu: Biscuits tamnci... uzosenzela sonke mos?

Bhazuka: Ningamandwendwe nani?

Chu: Haibo lomntu... khasibuke noba asingomandwendwe. Okanye sew'bona icherry ngoku ku Claire so uzenza fresh ngam?

Bhazuka: Intwenzima ke ngoku kukuba mna nawe sizo khompitha ngama cherry... I really don't get why you had to be a lesbian.

Chu: Bruuuh!!!

Bhazuka: Oh sorry, she didn't know? My bad.

He walked away, Claire was still standing on the same spot.

Chu showed her the lounge and then went to fetch the drinks and snacks. Mincili joined them and they all caught up, making plans for the weekend ahead.

****

Mincili, Nichume, Liyanda, Siphesihle and Onele were all back home for the December holidays.

Siphesihle was the oldest amongst them, she was 25 years old and the rest were between 20 and 23 but there's not even one day that any of them felt the age gap. They treated each other with respect and dignity and because Claire was older, some have used her as coy in the past... and the parents fell for it.

Onele: Niyayazi ke mna andina moto, so who's driving between the twins and Claire?

Liya: And ngaske ba decide'e soon because andisoze ndiye e Gqeberha mna ndingena transportation ndisho ngayo... unless nifuna la bhuti ayondithatha.

Claire: La bhuti? Liya une ndoda ngoku?

Chu: Ubuye enomntu lo kula Pretoria... can you guys see the glow?

Onele: Bo driver???

Everyone stopped for a second... and the laughed.

Onele was always the one to call everyone into order.

Claire: I'll drive fam... xasibuya ke kuzoqhuba omnye wenu.

Chu: I'll take the wheels xakubuywa because I am pretty sure ndizobuya nawe wedwa. I don't trust these hoes!

Mimi: Did you just call me a hoe?

Chu: Ah msindisi!

Mimi threw a cushion at her twin and everyone else just laughed.

The drive to PE was the shortest, everyone was excited... including Onele who knew damn well that Ginger had no problem following them anywhere in South Africa just to keep an eye on her. The first stop was Neighbourhood Bar & Grill as chosen by Claire. Everyone understood why she chose that particular club... they were hosting Kwesta and she had a silly but serious crush on him. Halfway through the night, Claire walked outside to catch her breath... then she bumped onto Luzuko and Siyabulela Ndlongolo. Her eyes locked with Luzuko for a second, then she quickly turned and went the opposite way. He excused himself from his brother, and ran after her.

"Siphesihle... wait," he called and she halted, shutting her eyes in panic. He got to her, and just looked deep into her eyes. They both felt the chemistry, but Claire mentally scolded herself because Luzuko wasn't just any man. He was her bestfriend's uncle.

Without saying another word, he grabbed her waist, pulled her closer to him and smashed his lips into hers. Sparks flew from the bottom of her belly, straight up to her nipples. That was it... she was immediately a gone girl!

****