FORCED TO MARRY AND I CHOSE YOU

58

"The biggest song right now in South Ahh ladies and gentlemen is Lazarus by By HL..." I listen to the radio representer as he announces how many views its currently sitting on,on YouTube. That its in the top 10 at position number 6 and it might possibly move up considering that it was only released two weeks ago and the numbers just keep on increasing. "Ndzi te yini wanga(what did I say wanga)?" That's Hlanganani increasing the volume,he's so happy that I think that smiling now hurts his cheeks. "There's no arguing about whether the song is nice or what. Vele ingoma yona imnandi." I mean its By HL people!!

"My problem is the title of the song. Baby out of all names....uLazaro!? Lazarus!! Hai ngeke bafethu." Shame namanje lento kaLazaro ayingihlalanga kahle. However that song is really nice. Apparently he started working on it while he was still recovering then he finished it off now after announcing his come back. Basically this song is By HL's come back. After the announcement by the radio representer,Lazarus plays and now I'm the one who increases the volume. Kukhala boma "This volume is too young!!" in my head. My pregnant self no baby we vibe to the song.

This is so nice. Having him here with me and Pumpkin. Ohh we are driving back home from my doctor's appointment,its probably the last one until I go into labour soon. It was baby daddy's first ever physical appointment at the gynecologist and shame was he not EXCITED AND HAPPY!? He could barely contain himself,he was smiling throughout the appointment and was asking a lot of question like a cute curious kid. Its was beautiful to watch, especially when his facial expressions kept on morphing into more priceless and emotional expressions.

Angikaze ngibe mubi kanje empilweni yam yonke,even when I was still in primary with messy relaxed hair or when I cut my hair the day after Hlanganani's "funeral." I think to myself as I stare at my reflection in the mirror. Pregnancy can easily make a woman lose confidence in herself. And I think that one of the reasons why I took a maternity leave so quick was because I didn't want my clients to see me like this. Not only do I walk like a penguin, I'm also ugly!! Lord have mercy. I feel like crying shame and you know what? I do,I let the tears flow on. My neck is thick and black,my nose is bigger than Ramaphosa's and yho my cheeks!!

I look like Fiona and Shrek both combined. Ngimubi shame,I think that I stopped posting pictures of myself at 5 months or so. Even with a filter,I still look like something out of a kid's scary storybook. As I'm still staring at myself with tears freely falling,I feel a presence behind me. His presence to be exact,he snakes his hands around my stomach from behind since there's no waist here thanks to him and Pumpkin. "Not this again" he complains in a soft deep voice when he sees that I'm crying. Yah with him,I had no choice but to tell him about my insecurity. He literally forced me to tell him when I refused to take pictures with him a few days after his "come back."

"I can't help it,look at me!" I whine as my crying voice gets more and more uglier. I point to the mirror for him to look at me,to look at how ugly I have become. This baby needs to come out already I'm TIRED!! Both literally and figuratively. Instead of saying something or doing what I instructed him to, Hlanganani starts moving his hands around my stomach and begins to plant soft kisses from my cheek down to my neck. Yah the ugly neck. "Stop" I say trying to get away from him but he somehow holds me still. "Look at me" he demands nodding his head to the mirror.

I look at him through the mirror,he has his tilted head placed on top of my shoulder blade and lips close to my ear. We look at each other through the mirror,"mi sasekile mhani Baloyi(you are beautiful Mrs Baloyi). Very beautiful. Mina ndzi ri Hlanganani(me as Hlanganani),your husband and the man responsible for this bundle of joy that you are carrying..." He speaks in a firm voice,yet its low and slow. At the last part he lifts up the bottom of my tummy and holds it. Aahh such relief! I inwardly relax into his chest behind me and enjoy these few minutes of not feeling the load that comes with Pumpkin being inside of me.

"I'm in love with you and all of you. You are beautiful nkatanga(my wife) and never forget that. If anything I admire your strength and ability as a woman. You got through all those stressful months,you were able to put his health and needs before yours. You were able to carry him until now with grace,love and kindness. Your stretch marks make you look even more beautiful and they add on to your caramel skin,your wide hips just make me rock hard in seconds and your big breasts and pointy nipples hypnotise me every time when I look at them. Your chubby cheeks are super adorable,I hope that our daughter one day inherits them..." As I'm listening to him,I myself feel hypnotised by his gentle voice.

"Why our daughter and not our son?" I ask cutting him off. He let's out a soft chuckle next to my ear. "Where have you seeing an adorable man wanga. As a man,infact a Baloyi man...he must be handsome not adorable. But the princess must be super cute,adorable and beautiful like her mother." I laugh at his words yet melt on the inside. He brings my head back to looking at the mirror since I looked away while laughing. We look into each other's eyes yet again,"as I was saying,I love being around you,especially now that you are pregnant. Because you are needy and I love being needed by you. I enjoy giving you massages so much so that I watch videos on YouTube on how to properly massage a pregnant woman."

I blush so hard and throw my head back which gives him the opportunity to land a wet soft kiss on my neck. "Your swollen feet are cute..." "Haa!?" That's my high pitched voice disagreeing with him. "I'm telling you baby,especially because you have small feet." Mxm he's mocking my size 4 feet. "You are gorgeous Nhlawuleko. Everytime when you look in the mirror,remember my words neh because I mean each and every word." He finishes off. Ohh my God now I'm getting emotional. "What did I say to you?" He asks,Hlanganani likes playing games hle. I give him the 'really now' look but he just stares at me waiting for me to repeat what he said.

"You said that every time when..." He interjects,"no in general what was I saying about you?" He asks. "You said that I'm beautiful?" I ask him unsure of the answer. "It sounds like you are doubting my words why? I said that you are very beautiful now say it." And yes its a command,his face is serious. "You said that I'm beautiful" I say a bit boldy. "I can't hear you." He demands,we are still locking eyes in the mirror. "My husband says that I'm very beautiful." I say more confidently now. "Okay your husband says that,but what DO YOU SAY?" He asks pointing at me with his eyebrows.

"I say what he says,I agree with him." I faintly say. "Nomzamo?" He warns,I look down then finally look up again and say "I'm beautiful." This brings a smile on his lips. "Yes you are mhana vana va mina(mother of my children)."

"Ahlulani" Hlanganani suddenly says taking a sit next to me. I tilt my head giving him a questioning look. "His name is Ahlulani." He answers smiling widely and he points at my tummy. "It sounds beautiful,good job daddy." I cheer him on. "But what does it mean?" I thoughtfully ask. "Ahlulani means to separate,to separate the good from the bad." He says caressing my face and I lean onto his touch. "Nice,I love it" I honestly say while smiling as well. "And his second name?" He asks me,"I thought of giving him a Zulu name but..." I don't finish my sentence.

"That's good,more reason for him to know and speak both his native languages fluently." Hlanganani says surprising me. Phela I thought that he'd want his son to speak Xitsonga only, "yini?" He asks seeing my surprised face. I don't answer him,I instead kiss him. "I love you and thank you." I mumble against his lips as I gently bit his lower lip. The Thank you means for everything that he has done for me but more over,for coming back to us. He pulls me closer by grabbing my neck,being mindful of my big bump. "I love you both more." He says breathlessly. We pull away but remain close,"Ahlulani Mpiloenhle Baloyi." I tell him the name that I have always wanted to choose for Pumpkin. "I love it" he says excitedly and kisses me again.

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Good day readers🥰. Unfortunately we have reached the end of this book, Forced to marry and I chose you. 🔥🥺.

I'd love to once again extend my gratitude🥺🙏,thank you all for reading, voting,commenting and adding this book to your reading lists❤❤.