Zekhethelo: Love redefined.

chapter 6: All or nothing

Today I've asked my neighbor, Andile who is 21 years old to babysit for me as Neli and I head off to food lovers for our grocery shopping. The walk to the taxi rank is long, but we have no choice we need to save the money for an uber when we come back.

We get everything we need and she adds some suggestions which I think might work, we arrive at home almost at the same time as my mum, as we enter the yard, I am welcomed by Andile carrying sobbing Okuhle, he seems like he's been crying for a really long time to a point where he is even exhausted, I take him then look over at Andile, she looks just as exhausted, "ngiyabonga kakhulu ma-A" I say then take out a R200 note from my purse. She thanks me before she leaves.

As soon as we enter the house I see that okuhle is slowly dozing off, when I try to put him down he cries, I guess he thinks I'm leaving again, my poor baby, I decide to carry him on my back because as much as i feel sorry for him, I need to get busy.

We unpack everything then I remember that the catering guy I booked equipment from is supposed to deliver tomorrow so I need to prepare the backroom for tomorrow.

After the long tiring day, I accompany Neli then when i arrive back home,I take a bath whilst everyone else has already fallen asleep, I decide to make some popcorn and watch reality shows a bit until I cannot keep my eyes open any longer then I decide to go to bed.

*Thursday morning*
"Zee, wake up, there's a Xolani looking for you" oh shoot I overslept again! The equipment guy has arrived. I quickly change into leggings and a Hoodie. I find him waiting outside the kitchen door holding what looks like an invoice book. "Hi, you must be Xolani?" He smiles politely, "and you must be Zekhethelo?" I smile, "we have everything you requested, you can come with me to the van to check before the boys offload" Okay, this is it!!

I follow him outside to the van and yep everything looks like it is in good condition including the pots, glasses and plates. I pay the standard deposit which is refundable upon return, given that nothing is missing or broken.

He gives me my invoice then they offload everything into the backroom, I'm so excited about this!!

Basically the entire day was spent arranging my impromptu kitchen, Neli came through to help and everything is ready for tomorrow.

As soon as my head hit the pillow, I dozed off, I'm tired and I have an even longer day tomorrow.

The next morning I'm woken up by my loud phone ringing next to me, I take a glance at the caller ID, because no matter how occupied I am, I just need to always know who is calling me.

It's an unsaved number so I wonder who it could be, I contemplate answering it but then remember that I'm a business owner now, "hello.." I answer in my sleepy voice, "Thelo, hi..." oh no, not him, "Hi Cliff, ufunani?", "how are you and Athi doing?, I heard about what happened at your firm" and he only decides to call today? One thing about Athandwa's dad is that he never ever calls unless he is up to nonsense.

"I miss you, I miss us..." see what I mean? "Look Clifford, I'm not interested in any of your nonsense right now, so if you'd excuse me I'd like to go back to my sleep", "easy princess, relax, you know I don't bite, if you ever need anything just call me, you know I can take care of you, you don't need to be stuck in the ghetto when you have me"

I hang up then block his number, how cheap does he think I am? He really thinks he can flash money in my face and I'll be in bed with him again? After what he did, after all the lies.

I instantly lost sleep so I wake up and prepare myself for the long day ahead. It's 6am so I also prepare a nice breakfast for everyone. "Za, please try to be home at least by 6pm" my mum is side eying her to check her response, I simply just laugh.

After breakfast I prepare the kids then spend some time with them since I have a long evening ahead I need to make up for that. I also need to take them out on Sunday, for old times sake, they also deserve a share of my hardwork because I'm doing all of this for them.

It's 5pm and Neli just texted me that she is on her way here, while Za hasn't even said a thing. I've dished up for everyone at home and now I'm in the backroom peeling and chopping the vegetables, there's a slight knock on the door then the Ever smiling Neli walks in, "Ntombazana, I see you've already started without me?" I chuckle "I got carried away by excitement" she grabs a chair and joins me while we chop.

"So mzala, where's your brother vele?" I laugh so loud that I'm sure the people in the main house even heard me, "Mzala don't tell me you still have that little crush on Njabulo?" She smiles, more like blushes, "we had plans mzala", I'm trying so hard to suppress my laugh "you were 16 years old Neli, get over it haa" she joins me and we laugh "I can't help it, this room brings memories", "ahhh too much information sisi!"

So this is the biggest backroom and was obviously occupied by my older brother before he moved out, him and Neli had a thing back in the day and promised each other a forever I guess, but that was years ago and I'm sure it's a thing of the past for both of them right?

I haven't spoken to my brother in about a week now, usually he calls me when he is at work just for a little catch up, his wife is lovely but she is a bit distant from us, it's always my family and I who try to make her a part of us, she just isn't budging.

It's just after 7 o'clock when Za walks in tiptoeing with her heels in her hands, "and then?", "ssshhh uyamazi nje umamakho" we laugh, "Za why don't you just get your own place uyeke ukuphila kanje?" She sighs "as much as ma and I often don't get along, I can't let her live on her own" well I get her point though, she's old and I don't think any old person ideally imagines themselves spending their old age on their own...