QUEEN OF DIAMONDS

CHAPTER 45

HAPPY FUCKING BIRTHDAY TO ME!! The bed is empty when I wake up and I sigh. I sit up and stretch but something catches my eye. On the dresser directly across from the bed are balloons that say happy birthday, a huge bouquet of red roses that have '28' arranged in white roses on them and paper bags with brands from Dior, Cartier, Louis Vuitton and Chanel. I jump out of bed and look through the bags. I see handbags, boxes of perfume, shoes and jewelry boxes but I don't take them out. I take the card out from one of the bouquets.

Happy birthday MaMoloi. I love you more than I words could ever describe. I hope you have the most beautiful day, a day deserving of the most breathtaking woman that has walked this earth. I'm taking you out for breakfast, be ready by 10.
I love you baby.

Ncoooohhh. A girlie is loved!! I took a picture of the setup as my phone pinged from the millions of messages and social media mentions. But I ignored them because my man awaits! I walked in to the bathroom and found the bathtub filled with water and foam with rose petals on the top. There were scented candles and what I think is sage burning. I washed my face and brushed my teeth before I undressed and had a long relaxing soak and scrub in the water which stayed warm because the tub had some sort a heating system installed in to gmthe tub. After about an hour, I got out and took out the water and cleaned the tub. I wrapped myself in a towel before heading off to the closet. I chose a blue floral skirt with a thigh high slit, strapless white crop top, white satin shirt and blue Air Forces. I slicked my hair (iweave entsha ntsha) back in to a low ponytail and did the sickest edges known to man. I put on a simple butterfly necklace, I was already running behind schedule so I just put on some lip liner and lip gloss to top it off. I was deciding on a bag when a video call from my dad came in. He was with mom and they greeted me by bursting out in a horrible rendition of Happy Birthday. "Thank you guys," I said when they were done bursting my eardrums. We spoke for a while but then another call from Andile's mom came in so I hung up and answered hers. My kids immediately started shouting the happy birthday song and I couldn't help but laugh. "Mama, when are you and dad coming back home? We miss you," Siyamthanda asks. "Soon my love. I miss you guys too. Have you been good to mkhulu and gogo?" I ask and they nod. I speak to them for a while and then Mrs Mkhize before I heard Andile hooting downstairs so I told them I would call them back and hung up. I chose a white YSL hobo bag, fixed my gloss, grabbed a pair of sunglasses and left. Andile hooted again just as I opened the door that led outside. "What took you so long?" he asked. "Good morning to you too," I replied and he smiled before leaning down and kissing me. "Happy birthday mkami," he said. He walks me to the car with his hand on my back and opens the door for me, I love me a chivalrous man. "Thank you for the gifts Khabazela, I love you," I said as he got in to the driver's seat and gave him a quick kiss. "Oh there's more," he says as he starts the car. I have a new obsession with Giveon so I listen to him on one of my airpods as I reply to the 623 messages I've received this morning and repost some of the story mentions. "Have you spoken to the kids today?" Andile asks and I nod. My phone rings as I get a call from Tshego. "Happy birthday!" he says. "A call from you? Ke tla shoa," I reply. "Mxm, whatever. Tell my brother in law gore kere umoona. Like, he is the face of the not all men campaign. Where did you get him from, I need me at least half of him," I laugh because that's just Tshego being Tshego. "You called my phone to rave about him? Why don't you just call him and tell him?" I asked in mock annoyance. "If I call him, I will become your sister wife," he replies. LMAO I love my brother. "Nxx, bye!" I reply. "Don't be mad, nawe you know Zulu men like what do they call it... isithembu," he replies, I'm going to whoop his ass when I see him. "Okay, bye because you are literally talking nonsense," I say. "Bye, enjoy your day!" he says and I roll my eyes before hanging up. Andile parked outside a restaurant before hopping out of the car and opening the door for me. We walked in and went directly to the table he had reserved by the balcony, overlooking the street. You could see a slice of the ocean from up here as well. After a very long breakfast, he took us home and led me to the guest room. There were two women dressed in masseuse uniforms and a spa bed. We greeted and Andile introduced them to me; Sandra and Antoinette. "Well enjoy babe," Andile said. "You're not staying?" I whined. "No, I've got to sort something out but I'll be back to pick you up for dinner at 6. Don't be late this time," he said and kissed me. I rolled my eyes as I returned his kiss. When he was gone I undressed and had the best massage ever. After about an hour and half of a toe curling massage, a nail technician came to give me a mani and pedi. I got my lashes done and had my hair done into a 90's swoop ponytail. I was getting my face beat when Isabel came in with a suit cover. "Good evening. Ma'am, sir said I should give you this," she says and I thank her as she places the cover on the bed. When I'm done I get dressed into the dress Andile had delivered. At 17:58; I've put on my Saint Laurent heels and the Dior perfume Andile got me. The dress!! My man, my man! It's a black, backless satin dress with a hip high slit and a heart neckline. I paired it with a Cartier butterfly necklace and a simple gold bracelet. After everyone has left there is a knock at my door and Andile comes in. He's holding a huge bouquet of roses arranged in to a heart shape. "Your florists rent must be due soon because ain't no ways," I say taking a video of him holding the bouquet. "Happy birthday mkami," he says laughing. "The men la kwasocial media athi you're putting too much pressure on them. Uthini wena ngalokho?" I ask still recording. "Like Bow Wow said: I show these other brothers how to treat a lady," he replies and I laugh as I stop the video. I take the bouquet from him before taking my bag and phone. He takes my hand and leads me downstairs to the car. He opens the door for me after I put my flowers on the back seat(s). He starts the car and places his hand on my thigh as he drives. Goddammit this man. We drive for quite a while listening to Giveon because music is the very basis of my existence and Giveon is the universe. He finally parks the car outside a couple of buildings but I can't make out much of the structure. He leads me into some corridors and seems to know this place very well. As he leads me towards another corridor I realize it's a tunnel as light ahead come on. When we finally reach the lights I can't help but gasp as a whole stadium comes alive with lights. A stadium!!! The scoreboard says 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEA!!!' and the large screens show me and the look of awe on my face. There's a single table in the middle of the field and 3 people holding violins. They start playing and I vaguely recognize the song as Andile leads me to the table, don't ask me how I walked across the grass. He pulls out a chair for me and I kiss him before sitting down. "Thank you Khabazela," I say and he shrugs. A waiter appears out of nowhere with a wine bottle before telling us what was on the menu for tonight's dinner. After he leaves Andile and I raise our glasses in a toast. "To you MaMoloi," he says and I smile. I was asking him how he pulled this off when For Tonight by Giveon started playing through the speakers. As if on cue more of the stadium lit up and the violinists started playing louder as I realized they had been playing the intro to the song. Somewhere above us a drummer started playing the beat. Ain't no ways!! A piano joined in for the second verse and I couldn't help but laugh. "Oh my word, Andile," I said. I almost fell off my fucking chair when the screen directly facing me changed from a picture of me to Giveon standing by a mic singing the chorus. The drums stopped then the violins and the last few lines were just Giveon and the piano. "Uhm good evening Mr and Mrs Mkhize. Happy birthday Khia. I'm honored to be a part of your celebration and I'm extremely sorry for not being able to be there in person," Giveon said and I actually screamed because what the actual fuck? I thought this was a previously recorded live!! "No ways! This isn't real!" I said looking at Andile for an explanation but he just shrugged. "It actually is, once again happy birthday, this one is for you Khia," Giveon - fucking Giveon- said and started singing Like I Want You. The drums started again and so did the piano. The waiter arrived with our food but I don't think I can even breathe let alone eat. I was looking at Giveon in awe as I swayed along to the music, singing along in my head. The drums stopped as he did the pre- chorus and I screamed along. He sang World We Created next and I got myself to calm down before looking at this husband of mine. "Andile! I can't even begin to formulate the words to thank you! How did you even? Kanjani?" I said fully aware that I wasn't making sense. "You said you liked his music so I got him to perform for you. It's your birthday Keabetswe and I love seeing you happy," he said as the violins did a little solo part. "I'm very happy Andile. I love you Andile, I really do. I don't think I thank God enough for giving me you," I said and he reached out to hold my hand. "I love you more on the days you wear lingerie," he said smirking and I was about to roll my eyes but Giveon was starting the chorus of Lost Me and you know I had to scream along. Andile raised his eyebrow at the 'I'm not looking for the one, later but for now I'm having fun' part and I just laughed. We finally ate as I allowed Giveon to do his job without me ruining his vibe. When we had eaten with dessert and were fixing to leave Giveon spoke again- kubalulekile ukuba nomnyeni oyibillionare. "I heard this is one of your favorite songs, so to close off the night please enjoy," he said and I waited in anticipation. What was undoubtedly Dec 11th started playing alongside the piano. He replaced the 'pretty brown skin in Houston I can use your company' with 'pretty lady Khia hope your enjoyed your birthday'. Aibo! I've never screamed so loud in one night. Actually that's not true, but you get the gist. I'm going to make my husband 17 babies today, akukwazi. "Happy birthday Khia, hope you had a great night. Thank you both for having me and goodnight," Giveon said putting his hands together and bowing before the screen went black. I was enjoying the night so much I'd even forgotten to take a video but it's okay I'll always have the memories. "Can we go make more babies now husband? Just so I can show you how much I love and appreciate you?" I said and Andile gestured for the waiter. Who came holding more roses and I looked at Andile. "Where am I going to put all of these?" I asked accepting them from the waiter. I swear if this man shrugs one more time!! I take out the envelope from the roses and read the card.

Happy birthday my love.
Thank you for making feel worthy of being loved, of your love in particular. Loving you has been one of the greatest things I've ever done and being loved by you has been my favorite experience in my life. Ngiyabonga ngokungithanda unconditionally and being the mother of my amazing kids. I would not be who I am without you MaMoloi. You are my happy ending, my happily ever after, my sun and moon on the darkest of days. You've loved me through all my mistakes and my trust issues and so today I want you to know that I choose you. I choose to trust you wholeheartedly and blindly. Oftentimes, words are not enough to express how much I love you so I hope you'll see it in my eyes, feel it in my touch and my actions. I hope on the days we fight, you can feel my love from afar. I sometimes feel like I say I love you so often it begins to lose its meaning but I hope you never doubt my love because without it, without you I'm not sure how I would continue to survive. Uyinkanyezi yami, ilanga lami. My Alpha and Omega. The reason my heart beats everyday. You are my everything, I love you MaMoloi. Happy birthday.

I can't help but cry, being loved right is the most beautiful thing in the world. I get up to hug Andile and he gets up too. "I love you so much, it's scary," I say between tears. "Ngiyabonga ngokungithanda," I say as he kisses me and wipes my tears. "You haven't even seen your gift yet," he says and I sigh as I take out the last papers in the envelope. Akukwazi ngempela. "Awwwww, Andile!" I say hugging him again. It's a transfer of ownership of Mugg and Bean, the place where we first met. He explained that they were closing down but he wanted to make sure we had preserved all our memories. Ngaze ngathandwa nami ngathanda.