ACUMA MAAKE KANCUBE
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We were at my hearing and I was sitting outside Mr Anderson's office with my parents next to me.
Trevor and his parents were seated across from us and he looked really bad. I was starting to feel bad for ruining his face.
But he's the one who sexual harasssed me, he deserved it.
La kaka lomfana.
-That poop of a boy.
In the principals office was Mpumi and Luyolo, they were testifying about what had happened, on that day.
I bounce my leg, anxious about what was taking them so long in Mr Anderson's office.
Were they in trouble, was I going to be expelled on the first week of school? I hope they tell Mr Anderson the truth.
The door opens and Mpumi walks out of the office, followed by Luyolo who's hand was low-key shaking.
He sees me looking at it and puts it in his blazer.
My dad touches my shoulder and we stand up, including Trevor's parents.
"Ungalibali, stick to what we rehearsed." My dad says in my ear as we walk into the office.
-Don't forget
No I wasn't going to lie, I was just going to professionalise my side of the story.
My anxiety increases as Trevor and I sit down in the chairs in front of the principals desk. With our parents standing behind us.
I keep my eyes on the floor as Mr Anderson sits down in his chair.
"Good morning parents, I would firstly like to thank you for coming to the dissiplinary hearing. I'm sure you have busy schedules. Now it has been brought to my attention that both of your children were involved in a physical altercation two days ago."
"I've heard from two witnesses that Mr Karel was making inappropriate comments about Miss Maake Kan Ncube, and her friends. And that Miss Mangekancube attacked Mr Karel as revenge for him making those comments."
True.
"Now I'd like to hear your sides of the story. Starting with the girl."
I lift my head and everyone was waiting on my side of the story.
I swallow my spit and quietly clear my throat.
"Th— the tennis girls were running laps a— aaround the field and as we were running, a few rugby boys made comments about our bodies, some making fun of the way we ran and other lusting over our exposed thighs." I pick at my nail while my leg bounced.
"What made you attack Mr Karel?"
"He attempted to touch my—," I swallow my spit. "breasts. I had to do something, or else he was gonna take it further," I look down "possibly rape."
"That is not true sir! I respect women, I'd never do such a thing." Trevor blurts out.
"But you touched my daughter's breasts." my father says calmly.
"Attempted," Trevor's father says back.
"It's the fact that you are standing here, defending a boy that sexual harassed MY DAUGHTER. Do you know that I can sue you and your son, for rape and sexual harassment."
"Selo," my mom says, "Stop. You're taking this too far."
"He touched my daughter! Of course I'm going take it far." my dad says being a little overprotective.
"And your daughter almost broke my son's nose and penis." Trevor's father bites back.
"Key word, Almost." my mom says joining the argument.
"Enough! With all due respect, this is my office and I don't appreciate the chaos you bother are causing in here. Mr Maake Kan Ncube and Mr Karel senior."
Mr Anderson says banging the desk.
A pregnant moment of silence fills the room.
"Miss Maake Kan Ncube, I would like to apologize for what you went through on your first day at Glendale high. I assure you Mr Maake Kan Ncube that Glendale high tries their best to protect and make the school a safe zone for all the females here. We do not tolerate any kind of sexual offense acts. This is our first an last sexual harassment case. However, what your daughter did to Mr Karel was unacceptable."
My heart falls to my stomach when I hear his words.
"Miss Mangekancube will be given four weeks of Friday detention from one o'clock until five. And on top of that she'll be attending counseling sessions with the school therapist, regarding the trauma she has from this incident."
I feel my body going numb in my seat and my hands start to shake. I hide them in the two pockets of my blazer.
"Mr Karel, you are going to be suspended for 2 weeks and if I get any more trouble from you.....I'm going to expel you. This is your last warning."
"Yes sir." he says in a low tone.
Trevor and I stand up and we walk out of the office.
"I'm so glad that over and done with," my mom says moving her LV handbag into the other hand.
"Ntombi yam, suzi stressa nga lento. Siqibile ngayo." my dad say pulling me into a hug that made me feel better about my punishment.
- My girl, don't stress about this. We done with it.
He pulls out of the hug and looks at me. He's hiding something from me.
"Tata yintoni?" I say pulling the shoulder straps on my bag.
- Dad what's wrong
"I'm traveling to Singapore in a few hours, so you'll be at your mother's place while I'm gone."
I look at both of them, and a frown slowly takes over on my facial expression.
"For how long?"
"30 days," my mouth drops. "It's for research purposes. I promise I'll be back." He pulls me into a hug an I don't hug him back.
Don't get me wrong, living with my mom is THE BEST. I just didn't like the fact that he just got back from Amsterdam 2 weeks ago and now he's leaving me again.
I'm starting to see why my mother left him, he's practically married to his career.
And living with umama means that I have to wake up early for school, I don't pull up to school in Uber black, I have to wash dishes the old fashioned way(no dishwasher), I don't get a full English breakfast every morning(cereals all the way), I have to do my own laundry and I'm not really showerd with money regularly. Unless my dad send me 1K.
Basically, I'm not going to be living the usual soft life.
Yes mama has a GORGEOUS house in a beautiful neighborhood, but one thing about that woman...she'll make you work extra hard in order for you to a get the soft life that you want.
"I have to get going," he says looking at his favorite watch that he bought in Canada last year. "Never for get how much I love you ntombi yam." he says kissing me on the cheek.
- My girl
And with that my father had left for the 8th time this year, and it's still April.
Tata never said 'goodbye' to me because he believed that if he says goodbye whenever he leaves for business, the universe would listen and take him away from me. FOREVER.
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