Easier

Glow up

Lerumo wakes me up with breakfast in bed. He takes a shower saying Lesedi is up, and they are watching a movie. I receive a call from Banzi, and I ignore it. He rings for the second time, and I pick up.
"Banzi, I didn't answer your call because I have nothing to say to you."
"Fifi, it's me please don't hang up." Kayise.
"What do you want Ntomb'Kayise?
"Can we please meet; I would like to apologize." Kayise.
"I am grieving remember."
"Fifi, please." Kayise.
"I'm Refilwe to you, only my friends can call me that. Look I will send you a location later we can meet for 30minutes. Right now, I need to get ready."
"Cherry yam, your water is getting cold." Lerumo calls from the bathroom.
"Thank you, Friend." Kayise.
"We are not friends. Bye." I hang up.
"Cherry yam, I didn't know you can be mean." Lerumo.
"You know Kayise hurt me so bad. I tried reaching out, but she shut me down. A year later she thinks we are friends. I'm not Lesedi shem."
"I don't want to get involved. Come wash your body before I get tempted." Lerumo pulls me to the edge of the bed. I hang my arms around his neck, inhaling his scent. I look up and find Lesedi standing at the door, I laugh.
"Why are you laughing? "Lerumo.
"Your girl is here to fetch you, but I've got an itch. Let me go fix myself. "
He groans and whispers that his member is ready. I laugh harder, taking Lesedi with me to the kitchen. I pull the chair for her; she washes the dishes. Lerumo brings me my phone saying it was ringing.
"Refilwe, Hello?" I answer my phone.
"Hey friend, it's me Kayise." Kayise.
"Aowa, mosadi wa Banzi, 2 calls in an hour, yho do I owe you?"
"Yho, so cold I wanted to check whether you unblocked me so that you can me that location." Kayise.
"Yho, hold on Kayise. Mjita what's that place we going to?" I ask Lerumo.
"Triple L." Lerumo.
"Did you catch that?" I ask Kayise.
"Yes, thank you. Please greet Lesedi for me." Kayise.
"I'm busy now. We will talk later." I hang up the phone. I take my bath then Lerumo drives us to my parents' house.
"Are you okay?" Lerumo.
"Yeah, I'm good. I will see you later." I kiss his lips. He unbuckles Lesedi and gives her a hug. We walk into the yard; I knock on the door.
"Fifi is here." Kea shouts opening the door.
"When did you arrives, you look stunning." I greet her.
"Last night. You also look dazzling. I love this top." I am wearing black jeans and a pink box shirt with block heels. Lesedi runs to the lounge.
"Lesedi please don't touch anything." I rush to hold her hand. We sit down on the single couch after greeting.
"Thank you all for coming. Can the kids excuse us." Dad.
"I don't feel comfortable Lesedi going around."
"Nonsense this is Lesedi's home." Mum.
"The last time we were here I had to buy a mirror tray." I confess.
"Who made you buy that?" Dad.
"It doesn't matter. Can we please sit out, that way she can play in the garden, and I will see her."
"Refilwe, this house is for all my grandchildren, all of them can break and write on every wall. Anyone who has a problem they must deal with me. Let go of the child's hand." Dad. I reluctantly let Lesedi off the couch.
"Thank you. I hope this is the last we address this matter. Refilwe is Otsile not your older sister?" Dad.
"No."
"I told you she disrespects me." Otsile.
"Otsile shut up, I am coming to you. Fifi why is she not your sister?" Dad.
"She wishes me dead, she called me a selfish bitch all because she wants Lesedi's money? I must spend my child's money on her and her child. Get her a house? Are we both not single mothers?" I ask calmly.
"You are selfish Refilwe that's why you can't even share with me, I know how much you got. I saw the policy letter." Otsile.
My mother covers her mouth and I laugh till I have tears in my eyes. My dad sighs defeated. Karabo claps her hands.
"Otsile the last time we spoke, you said you and Refilwe are fine. What changed?" Dad.
"Ag, she's jealous of us, you said we must go to school, and she choose a man, she had to be the married sister. Dad your child has issues with all of us, Fifi falls victim because she's the sweet one." Karabo.
"You all take her side, mama maybe it's time I meet my father at least I know my siblings will back me up." Otsile.
"Bare my father. 37 years later my father." Karabo. Kea and I laugh. Mama smacks my thigh.
"Otsile, everyone here is your sister. We will grant your wish; I will call your aunt and ask for a meeting." Mama.
"That will be better, Refilwe and I will only speak when she respects me." Otsile.
"Nna I'm fine thanks. Without us speaking, until you learn that we owe you nothing and be grateful for the little we can do for you. I hope you do that with your other family. I love you Otsile."
"They will love me and do everything for me, maybe I will also get a car." Otsile.
"So, this is about the money I helped Fifi pay off?" Dad.
"Yes, she gets free everything." Otsile.
"You are wrong, Otsile I can show you my bank statements showing that Fifi paid me back the loan amount plus interest. She paid me in 6 instalments." Dad.
"Mtolo, you will prove nothing to this ungrateful child. I hope you remember this day when you get to that side." Mama says and she gets up from her chair.
"My father, will also stand by me." Otsile. My dad rubs his hand and stands up.
"This Utatakho show is not for me. I am sorry you are hurting dad, but I hurt just as much, I can't invite Entle to my house or even buy her things without Otsile making snide comments, I can't come home freely because she will shout at my child for laughing. I am done trying, the day she remembers that I'm her sister she will call a meeting. Otsile, I hope you find your dad and his people; I wish you all the best. Dad see you next week."
"Where are you going?" Karabo.
"I am taking Sedi to the Ngwalane's. Then I am going to chillas ko Triple L."
"With the stranger?" Kea.
"I think we will also be joining you." Karabo.
"Shap, will chat later. Sedi baby."
"Will you be at church tomorrow?" mama asks at the door.
"No, The stranger's mother invited me to their church. Please borrow me your pink fascinator."
My mother walks us to the car with my sisters. Lerumo gets out of the car and greets them. Lesedi excitedly introduces him to mama as her daddy. We drive to the Ngwalane house.
Bandile is outside the gate with his girlfriend. He comes to the car and greets us, he unbuckles Lesedi picking her up.
"Sister, I haven't seen you in ages. You are glowing, are you pregnant? This one I'm naming." Bandile.
"Me, phinda? Aneva, this is Lerumo, Lerumo Bandile Ngwalane."
"Sure, di bra, you are the reason this one doesn't bake for me anymore." Bandile shakes Lerumo's hand.
"I didn't know she bakes." Lerumo.
"Come inside and greet the parents." Bandile. I get into the house and find Mrs Ngwalane making tea, I greet her and tell her I came with a friend.
"I am happy, you found someone. You look lighter, are you buying?" She asks.
"Bandile asked the same thing. I am not, he wants to meet you."
"Call him inside." Mrs Ngwalane.
I call Lerumo inside, he has Lesedi in his arms. He takes off his sunglasses and shakes Mrs Ngwalane's hand. We leave for Triple L after the pleasantries.

Lerato, Lesedi le Kganya.