Umfelokazi

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

I run my fingers through the material and then run it under the sewing machine and then I pull it up once I am satisfied with the stitching. I look at it and take the pin from my pin cushion on my wrist and I pin together parts of the fabric so that I know where I should sew and how I should do it when I get to that part of this dress.
I get up from my chair and I quickly move to the table on the other side of the room and I lay the dress on there and then look at it for a moment. My phone rings and I quickly move to take it and it is an unsaved number.  I take the call anyway and answer it.
“Hello”
“Hi, is this Nomvelo?”,The person asks.
“Yes this is she”
“Oh, I got your number from Facebook, I wanted to ask if you can be able to recreate one of the dresses you show cased on your page but with a different colour”,The lady mentions.
“Oh okay that is fine,I would need you to come for some measurements”,I say and quickly go and grab my diary.
“Okay that is fine. How about tomorrow?”,She asks.
“Tomorrow is fine”
“Okay,thank you. I will be in contact”
“Just send a message and I will send the address to you”
“Thank you so much”,she hangs up. 
I put my phone down and I close my eyes pressing my hands together. 
“Lord you are big”,I say and a light knock comes from my door and Thulani walks in the room. 
“Taking a break?”,He asks.
“Not really, I have another client now”,I say with much excitement.
“That is great to hear”,He mentions.
“Yes I am happy, soon more people will be calling to get their dresses done”,I mention.
“You should widen your collection with time”,He says.
“I will, weren't you going to work?”,I ask.
“The meeting was cancelled so I am not leaving anymore”,He mentions.
“Okay”,He comes towards me and places his hands around my waist. 
“If you weren't busy I would be bothering you right now”,He mentions.
“But the lady is busy”,I say and he chuckles there. 
“How do you feel about us signing?”,He mentions. 
My heart beats slowly for a moment. Nerves and also I do not know what to say at that particular moment.
“Uhm are you sure about that?”,I ask.
“Yes I am very sure about it but it does not mean I will not give you the wedding of your dreams”,He says and lightly kisses my forehead as I place my hands on his arms.
“Yes”,I say and we stay in that position.
“I love you so much Nomvelo, don't forget that”,How would I? I really do feel the same. 
“Me too Mzimela”,I say. 
There is silence between us , comfortable silence that we undergo through. 
“Have you talked to your brother?”,I ask.
“He blocked me so I don't bother”,He mentions and I feel bad for him.
“Can't your brothers try and talk to him for you?”,I ask and look at him.
“No, Qophelo just wants to feel bratty about things and he will feel the heat of decisions. I will not chase after him for being selfish just like him”,He mentions.
“You are not selfish”,I say.
“I did choose to be with you than be in his delusional world and I chose best”,He smirks after that. 
“But I hate that you guys are not getting along"
“Qophelo just needs to grow up. He is 30 years old”,He really is old enough to not act the way he is acting.
“How are things between you and your sister?”,He asks.
“They are okay, we talk from time.to time”,I mention
“That is good”
“Yeah it really is, I am just happy that we are getting along now”
“I am happy for you as well”
“I am hungry, let's go and eat now”,He mentions.
“Okay let's go”,I put some of my things away before we moved going to the main house leaving the cottage. 

NOMVULA ZUNGU

I have already cooked and used the shower and I feel relief that the shower is not leaking anymore but I don't know for how long but I will trust that Nonkonzo’s brother knows his work and that she would not refer someone who is bad at their work to me.  I still haven't received a message from his brother stating his bank account but I hope by tonight he will send it so that I can pay him and see how much money I have left in order for me to survive the next following weeks until my pay day. 
I get dressed and I finish up before I hear a knock on the door. I go and open the door quickly and my boyfriend stands there. Senzo is the name and I have mentioned that we have been dating for a few months. Yes we have our head buds here and there but this man is great and is able to handle me as I am with him. He is the person I have had the longest relationship so far. Usually by 3 to 4 months the relationship is exhausted and there is nothing left for it and we would go our seperate ways but this time I am sure that we would work out at this little pace we are going. We are trying to understand each other in the process of it too though I am hard headed and stubborn at times that is one of the things I think chase these men away that I am not a soft ball like my sister that they can just push around if they want to. 
“Hey baby”,He has wine in his hands and a take away paper bag with his overnight bag.
“Hey”,He kisses my cheek and walks past me as I close the door.
He heads to the kitchen counter and places the things there.
“The apartment doesn't look like the disaster you described”,He mentions
“The pipe got fixed and I am so happy now there is not even a sight of leakage”,I mention.
“That’s great. I thought I should come and check up on you”
“Thank you”,I go and wrap my arms around him and give him a perk on the lips. 
“I haven't freshened up yet”
“You will”,I say before we kiss each other then a phone rings and we let go of each other.
“Let me get it”,I say as I realise that is my phone ringing.
“Okay I will go and put this in the bedroom so long”,I nod my head as he walks off.
I go and get my phone from the charger in the living room and it is an unsaved number.
I quickly answer it not sure if it is insurances but at this hour I highly doubt. I answer the call anyway.
“Hello”,I say.
“Is that how you answer calls after hours?”,a very deep voice rumbles through the other side of the phone.
“Who is this and why are you calling me after hours ke?”,I ask. This person is asking me rubbish at this moment you know.
“Its Langelihle”,He says.
“Angazani nalowo muntu mina(I don't know any person of that name)”
“Nonkonzo's brother and you wanted my account number isn't it so?”,He mentions.
“I don't think calling was ever necessary, a message would've been fine”
“I don't like messages calling is fine”,He mentions.
“Mmmh, I don't have a pen a paper near me.”,I say and quickly try to find one.
“I’ll wait”
I get a little pad and a pen and I put the phone between my shoulder and ear as I press it against my ear with my shoulder.
“Okay Can I have the account?”,I mention.
He gives it to me and I thank him after that.
“How much will it be?”,I ask.
“R200”,I frown
“Hayi kanjani manje?(How so?)”,I am left in confusion
“Kahle”
“I didn't expect this amount honestly”,I say.
“Mmmh”,He says.
“I hope that you didn't do a sloppy job in my bathroom. Matter of fact I should be recording this”,He chuckles.
“Ungakhathazeki ntokazi I did a very good job trust me. I can work well with my hands”
“Okay”
“Bye”,He hangs up after that and I put my phone down and turn to find my boyfriend behind me looking at me intensely.
“Who was that?”,He asks.
“The plumber”
“He calls you at this hour?”,He raises his brow.
“I am also surprised as you are"
“Why is he calling you?”
“To give me his account number”,He chuckles unhappily.
“Do I look stupid to you Nomvula?”
“Senzo I don't have time for this thatha okufuna( believe what you want) I am hungry”
“Angithi ulanjiswa ubufebe obenzayo(Isn't it you are hungry from this whoring you are doing)”,His voice is going a bit higher as I have moved away from him. 
“Don’t you dare talk to me like that Wena I am not whoring and I don't even know the guy that well”
“But you gave him your number”
“I didn't have cash on me”
“Give me his number ningijwayela Kabi Nina( You are shitting on me the both of you)”,He says aggressively grabbing the phone from my hands and I watch him. 
I really don't have time for him. 
He shoves my phone in his pocket. 
“Lets go and eat”
“Nx”,I say and turn around.
“Are you clicking your tongue at me?”,He asks.
I just ignore him. Yoh one of the issues we have is Senzo’s temper. That is the only issue that I have.
“I am talking to you Nomvula”
“Please leave me alone”
“Fuck you for this okay?!”,He says.
“Okay Senzo”,I say and go and dish up my food. I won't even eat his food at all. 
.
I woke up this morning and I went to take a bath and prepare for work. We slept last night angry at each other and no he did not bring back my phone of which I didn't even bother wanting at this point because I didn't want to entertain his insecurities.I love this man but ayi sometimes things nje take a turn that I do not know. 
He was not in bed when I woke up but his stuff were still here. Well his bag but it was all packed up and I hope that he is leaving today, I need my own peace of mind. I look at myself through the mirror after I was done with getting ready and I walk out of the bedroom grabbing my hand bag and my laptop bag before I walk out of the room.
I hear some sizzling sounds and I get to the living room and I see him in the kitchen making breakfast. The one thing he is good in doing and that is making breakfast. He sees me walking in and he has a smile on his face.
“Good morning baby”,He says and I look at him and place my things on the counter.
“Morning”,I walk to the fridge and I open it and take out the little yohgurt and some fruits and I reach the top of my cupboard and grab my small lunch bag. I put in a breakfast bar and some biscuits I will have with coffee while working.
“Can we talk?”,He mentions and I turn to him and place my things on the counter before I start packing them up.
“Yeah”
“I am sorry last night about accusing you of cheating”,He says.
“Did you find what you wanted?”,I ask.
“No, there isn't even a trace of anything even if you deleted them I would've found them so I am sorry”,He says.
I look at this man.
Yes Senzo is very good in IT and hacking he works under that at his work place and he deals with the Computer system of things too. 
“Mmmh”
“Don't be like that”
“Well I thought you trusted me but I was fooling myself”,He sighs and moves from the stove and comes towards me and wraps his arms around me.
“I know and I am sorry about that. I promise I will not be invading your privacy and giving you the benefit of a doubt”,He mentions.
“Can I have my phone back?”
“Sisakhuluma lah Nomvula(We are still talking Nomvula)”,I sigh.
“What else do you want to say?”,He sighs.
“I have made breakfast”
“I am not hungry plus I am late for work”,I say.
“Atleast pack it up in a container and take it to work”,He says.
I look at him and just nod. He goes and dishes up for me and gives me the lunch box.
“Thank you”,He gives me a perk on the lips.
“I love you”
“I love you too”,He takes out my phone from his pocket and he gives it to me.
“I won't be here when you get back”,He mentions. Music to my ear at the moment.
“Oh Okay”,He nods and I take my things and car keys and leave the apartment. 
I get to my car and get inside before I drive off to work listening to Metro FM.  I change radio stations in the morning depends on how I am feeling that moment. I look through my phone from time to time and I decide I will look properly when I get to work. 
I arrive there and I quickly hop out of the car and take my things and lock it before I make my way inside the building greeting everyone I come across. I quickly get to my work station and I settle and sit down to go through my phone trying to figure out what is going on with my phone. I see my co worker coming in.
“Miss Zungu how are you this morning, you are rather early”,He mentions.
“Yes I am, Can you check if something is wrong with my phone?”,I ask.
I wouldn't put it past Senzo if he did something. He places his stuff on my desk and takes my phone into his hand and he goes through it.  We sit there for a while at that.
“It seems to be tempered with, all the messages and calls you receive will not be encrypted but will also be recieved by another party”
“How do you know this?”,I ask as he gives me my phone.
“I studied this. Someone is tracking you”,He mentions and I smile.
“Thank you"
“Are you in danger?”,He asks with concern?
“No I am not”,He nods not convinced but he leaves there after.
I knew Senzo did something to my phone mainly because it doesn't look as much as it did yesterday. Some of my contents here on my phone are missing.  I place my phone down and run my fingers over my thighs fisting my hands there after. 
My phone pings and I take it and look at the message that just came in and it seems someone transfered R500 to me through cash send. 
My phone rings there after and I quickly answer it.
“Hello who is this?”,I ask.
“Its Lange,My number seems to be blocked and...”,As soon as he said that I hung up on the call and quickly took the land line on my desk and dialled his number quickly. 
It rang a few times before it got answered. 
“Hello”
“It is Nomvula what can I do for you?”
“Why am I blocked?”,He asks.
“I don't know why,I thought I paid you”
“You did but I sent the money back. Did you receive some money?”,He asks.
I am taken aback by that.
“Yes R500 what is it for and why did you send it back?”
“I have my own reasons. Buy lunch with the R300, have a great day”,He hangs up after that and I put the phone down. 
Lunch money? What is this man up to? But imali ayibuzwa so I will definitely buy something with it. 

NOMVELO GWALA

I could hear him from the other room as he is speaking to his mother on the line. It is morning and I am in my sewing room while he is stuck in the bathroom having a private conversation with his mother, I am going to have a measurement session with another client today and I hope that everything goes well but I have a good feeling so far about the business as I should be feeling.
“Ngiyakuzwa( I hear you)”,Is what I hear him saying.
They seem to be talking about what is conspiring between him and Qophelo. I don't want them to fight, they are brothers after all and should make up and move but it seems Qophelo doesn't want to move away from this and so as Thulani. He doesn't care to humble himself before his brother where he sees that he did nothing wrong against Qophelo of which is the truth.
“Okay, we will come sometime when I get back in the province”,He mentions again
“Okay bye”,It seems like he hangs up before he surfaces out of the bathroom with his phone in his hands. 
He comes and stands next to me as I am doing the dress and I stop for a moment and give him attention.
“Are you okay?”,I ask.
“I am okay”,He smiles and I nod my head.
“Do you want to sit next to me for a little while before you go?”,His smile widens with that.
“I would love that”,He grabs a chair and sits next to me and wraps his arms around my waist and I keep on working until I am done with this part of the dress and I take it from under the machine and look at it. 
“It will look beautiful in the end”,He mentions and I look at him.
“I hope she likes it”,He kisses my neck.
“She will”,I nod my head and fold the dress for that moment. 
“Baby”
“Mmmh?”,I answer while I put the dress in a plastic. 
“Cela sihlabe noma amabili nje(Can we do two rounds atleast?)”,Two? People do that? That's alot.
“Mangingafanga nje(If I don't die)”,he chuckles and goes to kissing my neck.
A weakness in me surfaces. I didn't know that my neck would be a place where I crumble the most if he kisses me there so softly and tenderly.
“I wouldn't let that happen”,He mentions and I look at him. 
To be honest I do not mind. He has introduced me something that I have never felt before and I think I like it. So much and wouldn't mind to feel what I felt more than ever again. 
“Let's go before my client comes”,I say and he chuckles as we get up and leave the room in a hurry. 
To the main house.