the name is Imani

chapter 35

SATURDAY, 19 OCTOBER

Neo and I are currently at Billboa for lunch. I am vlogging this and also hiding his face because I haven't shown him to the media yet.

Neo: why did Armani say that yesterday?
Me: I don't know, daddy.

He laughs and looks at me before saying...

Neo: isn't this going to confuse her though?
Me: no. I think my daughter is very smart and understands most of what's going on which should explain all of her questions and the things that she says. I think you have also become a big part of her life
Neo: you know what that means, right?
Me: what does it mean?
Neo: that I am not going anywhere and you're going to have to deal with me for the rest of your life, baby.
Me: I don't mind but she must know that you're my man before being her daddy.
Neo: oh?
Me: yes.

Some lady walks past and winks at Neo. He chuckles and I do the same.

Me: sorry! hello!
Neo: baby, don't.
Me: leave me alone! sorry!

She turns around and looks at me.

Me: this is my man, okay? MY MAN! thank you, bye.

She walks off with her little tail inbetween her skinny legs. I look at Neo and he is laughing his bum off.

Me: it's mot funny and you just sat there.
Neo: what was I supposed to do?
Me: tell her to not look at you like that.
Neo: baby.
Me: no, can't she see me sitting in front of you.
Neo: you look beautiful.

I look at him and start blushing while he does that little lightskin boy face.

Me: whatever.
Neo: you look beautiful.
Me: thank you, Neo.

We have our lunch over light conversations here and there, some laughs too while she continues to steal glances at us.

Me: I don't get what her problem is.
Neo: hey. baby, ignore her. we are not here for her.
Me: you're right, I won't let her get to me.

Neo calls the waiter and settles the bill before we both get up from our seats. I take my bag and Neo pushes the chairs in.

Neo: let me get that for you.

He says taking my bag from me. He gives me a slow, amazing kiss, look into my eyes and gives me a peck on the lips with his left arm around my waist.

Neo: let's go then.

He holds my hand and we walk out. I look back at the girl and her jaw is on the floor. I stick my tongue out at her and look at my man who has the most insane smirk on his face.

Me: I love you.

He just nods. I know I say it a lot but I love this man!

We get back home and find my daughter screaming and crying her eyes out.

Me: what's wrong, mama?

Neo picks her up and she lies her head on his shoulder while having hiccups which means that she has been crying for a while now.

Gogo: she saw you and Neo driving out and about thirty minutes ago, she started crying because you were both not returning.
Armani: don't go, mommy.
Me: okay, mommy is sorry.

Neo has tears in his eyes from seeing her like that.

Neo: we are going to go and get some air.

They walk out and my grandmother looks at me and shrugs.

Gogo: listen, your grandparents from Thema called me.
Me: what's going on?
Gogo: they got a letter from Neo's family asking for your hand in marriage. you know what that means, right?
Me: yes, lobola negotiations are coming up.
Gogo: exactly.
Me: that's a lot for me though.
Gogo: what do you mean by that?
Me: gogo, I am still trying to figure out this Armani situation, moving back to Cape Town. I am trying to figure myself out and now marriage?
Gogo: I think that's just an excuse.
Me: gogo?
Gogo: you're making excuses because you don't want to move on. please make a decision, do you want to be with this boy or not? if you're not going to be serious and try to move on with him, let him go. Lord knows he deserves better.

Neo walks in.

Neo: do you want to go and get ie cream with princess?
Me: yes. Gogo?
Gogo: no, my boy. you can go without me.
Me: okay, let's go.
Gogo: bye.

We drive out and Neo still looks a bit down.

Me: calm down, Armani is fine now.
Neo: but still, we shouldn't have left.
Me: Neo, we can't not live our lives because Armani is going to cry.
Neo: we can.
Me: Neo!
Armani: mommy! don't shout, you'll cause a crash.
Me: what crash?
Armani: car AN-ciden. Neo!

She screams at the top of her lungs.

Neo: princess, I can't look at you right now. I am driving, okay?

She starts hysterically crying and screaming his name.

Me: Armani, what is wrong with you?!
Neo: don't shout at her!
Me: don't tell me what to do, she is being a brat!

Neo stops at the traffic light as the traffic light turns red. We are at a four way stop and this random car comes flying from the other lane.

It hits us with so much force that it sends us flying. Our car topples over and we roll about 3 times before finally, the car stops. I hear a high pitched ring in my ears, it dies down before lights out.