Surviving High School.

chap.74

"So...where do you live?" Bhut'Ntsika asked Simukelisiwe who sat quietly besides Nathi and myself. "Hyde Park." I take note of that in my mind. "Please put your address in here," She takes Ntsika's phone and puts her address in. "So, how did you guys meet?" I look at Simu and she looks at me, "uhm bhuti, we met in the school library. Like, where else could we have met."

My brothers look at me with confusion and I try to laugh it off. "We could've met in the hallways or the gyms you know." I nod. "So how are you finding grade 11 Simukelisiwe?" She laughs awkwardly before pushing her braids behind her back. "I'm actually in grade 9." It seems like the car comes to a halt.

"What! how s? I mean, don't get me wrong. You just look so old." Nkosinathi speaks before I can comment. "I know. Makeup." She wipes the side of her face and a bit of foundation is on her fingers. "Damn! I didn't know that they allow you guys to wear make up." She shrugs. "They don't. It's just easier for them to play ignorant than come up to us." I nod.

"That's true. Although, not in my case." She smiles at that. "I'm sorry on behalf of my sister there as well. She just has this serious obsession yeka Ntando and he's in an arranged marriage already which should tell her that he's unavailable." That has my mind frozen. "Wait, Ntando is engaged to someone?" She looks surprised and scared. "Well, I thought you know already. Since you guys continued to chill after his engagement to Princess Zamokuhle was announced in June." 

"Oh. You didn't know." She speaks after a pregnant pause. "No. No I didn't." She places her hand in my hand. "I am sorry. But at least you guys are just friends right. I mean no one is crazy enough to be more thank just friends with any Majola. their mother is seriously crazy and she dabbles in witchcraft to keep her family in line so unless you want to suffer like no one, you will stay away from the Majola family."

 "Alright. That got too deep, too soon. But look at that, you're home now." She got out of the car, grabbing her bags as she went. "Bye everyone." She shut the door. "Bye Simu." I wave her goodbye as she walks through the small gate. "Bye. And once again, thank you." Ntsika hoots before driving away.

"Who is she?" I nearly scream out in frustration. "Of all the things she said, you really want to know who she is? I can't believe Ntando! How could he not tell me that he's engaged to someone else!" Nathi punched the dashboard. "That boy is seriously messed up. Kodwa nawe Siso wavuma nje umuntu onjano! After my continuous warnings to you. Mxm ngathi bowfuna. (And you Siso how could you just agree to be with someone like that! It's like you wanted to end up in this position.)" Nathi all but shouted out at me.

If you have nothing productive to say Nkosinathi, please shut the fuck up!" I pushed him. "ENOUGH! The both of you just keep quiet until we get home." From there on, Bhut'Ntsika sped through the 6 pm traffic. "Bhuti slow down." I was literally holding onto the car seat as he drove. The minute he turned the car off, he didn't wait for anyone. He slammed the door to his car hard and before Nkosinathi could comment, I put my hand up and followed my oldest brother.

"Sanibonani and good night." I walked up to my room without waiting to hear if I got any responses. I took a quick shower before getting to my homework. When I was done, which was at around 10 pm, I closed my books and walked downstairs to get my dinner. It seems like they had mashed potatoes and lamb chops for dinner. I re-heated my food and got a glass of cranberry juice to go with.

"You should be asleep." I jumped nearly out of my skin when I heard that. "You will be the reason why I die." Ntsika shrugs and goes to the fridge to get the milk. "Can't sleep?" I ask him as I eat. He comes to touch my bare shoulder with his cold hands. "ARGH man!" I shriek as shivers travel all over my body. "Why are you like this bhuti?" He laughs and comes to sit besides me. "Uzofusa abantu wena ngomsindo wakho. You will wake people up with your noise.)" He tells me seriously. 

"It's not my fault. You're the one who made me cold with your icy fingers. "Why do you two bicker like this?" I turn and it's Bhut' Simphiwe. "Oh there comes my favorite brother." He comes to kiss my forehead and grab the seat to my left. He places his head on the cold countertop. "Bhuti, you good?" Bhut' Ntsika moves his arm around my back to tap Bhut'Simphiwe on the shoulder. 

"Yeah, yeah I'm good." We, Ntsika and I, look at each other before turning to look at Bhut'Simphiwe. "Try that again." He laughs while shaking his head. "Really guys, I'm okay." He moved away and went to the living room. I followed behind Ntsika who immediately followed Simphiwe. "If you don't spill right now, I will tickle it out of you." I knew that Bhut'Ntsika is not joking because we know that  Bhut'Ntsika doesn't like to touch other people, not to say he isn't affectionate.

"You wouldn't dare." Bhut'Simphiwe shook his head but you could see the hesitation in his eyes. "Do you want to bet...little brother?" Even I was shocked at Bhut'Ntsika. He has never, ever, since I can remember, referred to any of my brothers as little brother. "You just had to go there huh?" He shrugged. "I am asserting my big brother-ness." I laughed a little at that.

"Just leave it man. I'll be fine soon enough." Bhut'Simphiwe turned towards the stairs. "Simphiwe, I don't think you want to do that. Khuluma nami Bafo. (Talk to me brother.)" I took that as my que to leave. I silently kissed my brother's cheeks before going up to my room. It was already nearing midnight.

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Ntando

"This is absolutely ridiculous! How the hell are we supposed to trust anything that comes from that family? Their daughter is basically a loose cannon. You just had to get involved with her Ntando! Are you trying to kill me?" Kumkanikazi was pacing in the living room and we just sat there and watched her vent. 

"Mama, with all due respect-" A hot slap landed on my cheek. "NO! You do not get to speak! You have shamed me beyond the word shame. I can't with you." She walked upstairs furiously and I was left with my father. "Tata-" 

"No. Outside." That meant one thing and one thing only. Slowly, I got up and began walking to the back yard, mentally preparing myself for what's about to happen to me. "Your shirt. Off." It felt like the temperature was decreasing with every passing second. "Tata if I could just-" He punched me right underneath my ribs, hitting my kidney directly. I wheezed out as the pain traveled through my senses. 

"The more you speak, the harder your punishment will be!" Punch after punch was delivered on my bare chest and back. I tried to hold it in but he punched me somewhere unknown to me but that hurt more than any other punch he gave me that I screamed into the cold night and fell to my knees. The last thing I remember was a burning pain to my temple then it was lights out. 

When I woke up, the sun was bright and prominent in the clear blue sky. I was left outside. I looked around and it looked like it was late for me to get to school. Breathing hurt. Thinking hurt. I must have passed again because when I opened my eyes, I was now in my bed with a fresh set of clothes on.

Just as I'd sat up on my bed, the door opened and my sisters came running in. "Hey! Don't scare us like that!" They came to sit in my bed on either side of me. "I'm sorry. I don't know what happened." Ndiphile looked at me with shock in her eyes. "That's fine bhuti. Just get some more rest, we have guests coming over tonight so you're gonna need all the strength you can muster. Iza Nandile. (Come along Nandile.)" 

Like my sister instructed, I went to sleep and only woke up when the sun was begining to set. I took another shower and got dressed in some dress pants and a crisp white shirt. I was just about to wear my gold cufflinks when Kumkanikazi came in. "Don't embarrass me tonight. Smile and be welcoming." I nod, biting my tongue. I don't know why I hoped that maybe she would act differently.

When I got downstairs, I was met with the shock of my life. "Princess Zama?"