Zekhethelo: Love redefined.

chapter 15 : the meet up

My mother arrived at 12 and all she said to me was "sawubona" when she arrived, she hasn't spoken to me since, I've cooked and I've cleaned, I've even swept the yard but uGirl isn't even looking at my direction, yet here I was thinking that my cover-up worked in my favor.

It's 2 pm and I just finished bathing my kids, I dressed Athi in a pink tutu skirt, a white top, and pink sandals, and Okuhle is in blue Jean shorts and a yellow top with sandals as well. While I prepare myself, an sms pops up, "I'm on my way." I'm dressed in a knee-length free-flowing floral yellow summer dress, and brown Gucci flatform sandals, my braids are tied up and I've packed a baby bag because I cannot carry a handbag while I'll be out with Okuhle and Athi.

My phone rings as I pack jerseys for my babies, "hello" I pick up, "I'm outside," and then he hung up. I just finish up then when I leave my bedroom, I find my mother in the sitting room, "Ma, we're going out with a friend" she briefly looks at me, nods then continue watching Dumisa TV. I walk out carrying uOkuhle, and Athi is holding my hand. We get to the car, and he walks out to open the door for us, "Mommy, who is this?" Athi asks, "it's mommy's friend, Uncle Mthoko. " she smiles shyly. He opens the backseat, and to my surprise, there's a cute car seat, I give him a questioning look, "it belongs to my sister's son, I had to borrow it for our date."

Well, I'm impressed already. We are all buckled up and ready to go. He steals a glance at me, "You look beautiful..." I smile, then I finally get a chance to have a proper look at him. He's wearing grey Nike sweatpants, Adidas slides, and a white Adidas t-shirt. He looks and smells amazing.

We drive off, and he keeps stealing glances at me and at the back to check up on the kids. "How was your morning?" He asks, "well uMa hasn't spoken to me since, so you can imagine how my morning has been", "Ncese mama, ngiyaxolisa kakhulu" I just keep quiet, and we arrive at the gold reef city theme park. "Mummy, where are we?" Athi asks, "You'll see nana, " Mthoko responds, seemingly very excited.

We wait for him as he goes on to purchase the tickets for all four of us, I requested a non-rider because I'm not about to go on rides while Okuhle is clinging to me for dear life.

We spent almost the entire day on the kiddie's rides, and my kids had so much fun, at first Okuhle was a bit scared of these rides but he gradually got used to everything, Mthoko, on the other hand, was busy taking endless pictures of us for God knows what. Since Okuhle is clinging to me, Athi and Mthoko have become best of buddies.

It's 5 pm and the theme park is closing soon, "where should we go to get some food, I'm starving" Mthoko asks while we're walking towards his car, Okuhle fell asleep in my arms and Athi seems sleepy as well, "I don't know, I think you should take us home, these two have had enough sugar for the day and as you can tell they're both sleepy" he frowns, we get to the car, he opens the backseat that tucks Okuhle into the car seat. Athi also buckles up and falls asleep almost immediately.

I take my seat and he does too, but he hasn't started the ignition as yet, I look over at him, "how about, I know this is a long shot, but how about we, go through a drive-through, get some food for both of us and the kids then we can go to my place and chill a bit?" I sigh, this man will be the death of me, "but I told you my mum has been upset with me since I got back. "

He sighs, "Please, just this once I promise you'll be home before 8 o'clock" I know I'll regret this "Okay fine..." he smiles revealing his dimples, "asambeni ke, what are we getting?" We drive to chicken licken and get food enough for all of us before we head off to Fourways.

As soon as we arrive at his place he carries Athi and I take Okuhle, I follow him inside and he leads us upstairs to one of the bedrooms, the bedroom has peach walls, very bright, and there's cream-white bedding and everything in here is very minimal, I doubt that there's anyone who uses this room, we place the kids on the bed then head back downstairs.

"A movie?" He asks as he places the food on the coffee table in the sitting room. "Haibo Mthokozisi, plates?" He chuckles, "I'm used to living alone, I hate doing the dishes hence I eat like this" he jogs to the kitchen and then returns with 2 plates and 2 bowls.

I plate up for everyone then we both dig in. While we're eating, my phone rings, and yep you've guessed it, it's uMaBhengu herself. "Ma...", "angaz noma uyasibona iskhathi njengoba uhambe nabantwana", "Ma we're on our way back", "don't involve my grandkids in whatever you're busy with, tell that man that he'll only get to see you as he pleases but should never involve my grandkids" just like that she hung up.

I look over at him and he has stopped eating, I'm assuming he heard the entire conversation, "at least finish eating ke, I'll drive you home afterward" I sigh, "I don't think I can stomach any food right now" he places his plate on the coffee table then we walk upstairs to get the kids before driving off to Soweto.

The drive was silent, just filled with maskandi playing and the kids snoring at the back. We finally arrive and he turns off the ignition.

"And then?" He doesn't even answer me, he gets out of the car, at this point Athi is up so he carries Okuhle and I take the bag, this man is going to walk into my mother's house just like that?