When You're Bound To Love

Chapter 33

That afternoon, I was feeling a bit cranky again, I packed my laptop and everything I needed and went to his office. He looked up from his computer. Lakhe: "Are we moving now?" Me: "Baby can I please just rest? Can I have my lunch hug?" he hugged me tight. Lakhe: "So what's wrong? Did they officially kick you out?" Me: "Not yet. They're still scheming about it. Asking me about dates." Lakhe: "Then come to me, tonight. I'll cook you dinner, massage you, love you all night..." Me: "I feel like a traditional meal." Lakhe: "Then Sandile will cook for us. What do you feel like, baby?" he got on his phone. Me: "You're really abusing him this time aren't you?" Lakhe: "He'll be fine. Hello? Where are you?" Sands: "Literally or figuratively? Because I'm at the bank, I'm not sure if the manager is waving or telling me to get off my phone. Anyway, what's up?" Lakhe: "Thought you're at home. Wanted you to start up dinner I'll finish it when I get home." there was a lady talking in the background. Sands: "I won't be long." Lakhe: "I'll text you." Sands: "Wait, what do you want me to cook?" Me: "hi Sandile, any chance of tripe?" Sands: "hi cutie pie. I'll have to go to the Butchery first then. I don't know how to knead dough for dumplings though." Me: "I will do it. Thank you Sands." Lakhe: "Bye." Sands: "Bye." he hung up. Lakhe: "He has changed a little. I hope." Me: "Within a day?" Lakhe: "No. Like, from months ago...this isn't the same him. The anger issues are the same but he's different." Me: "You're really glad he's back ne." Lakhe: "It still doesn't excuse what he's done." Me: "Stop putting this big wall. You have a soft spot for him. Admit it, you're happy he's back." Lakhe: "I might be. Maybe a little. I need to make this phone call." I stayed quiet and lay on the couch on my tummy. It was cramping and uncomfortable. Lakhe: "Yes, the order has been placed. I'll check how far it is........yes......its my pleasure Mr Plowers, please contact me should you need anything else. Enjoy the rest of your day." he hung up. Lakhe: "Should I fuss or let you be?" Me: "So there's a button you can push for the fussing to go on and off. Nice to know." Lakhe: "Fine then, I'll panic from a distance." Me: "My tummy hurts." Lakhe: "Have you eaten?" Me: "Yes. Twice today." Lakhe: "Maybe you should go home baby." Me: "But I want to see you." Lakhe: "If I go home with you I'll have to take all this work. You okay with that?" Me: "hm..." Lakhe: "Is that a yes or grunt for disapproval?" Me: "Yes." Lakhe: "Okay, let's go." I sat up. Me: "Baby..." Lakhe: "Yes?" Me: "I think I'm having a period." Lakhe: "Now? How?" Me: "I feel funny. Ima go check." Lakhe: "Can I-" Me: "NO!" Lakhe: "Oh there she is." I went to the toilet with my bag and peed. There truly were a few drops of blood on my liner. All this over reaction, food habits and moods. I was so relieved. I finished up and went to the office. Lakhe: "So? Is it?" Me: "Yes. I was over reacting. I'm going back to my office." Lakhe: "Wait...hold on. What do you mean? Weren't we going home?" Me: "We can't go home just because of some little period pains. Come on now." Lakhe: "You were on my couch groaning like a pregnant whale giving birth. We're going home." Me: "A pregnant whale? Are you calling me a whale?" Lakhe: "I'm so sorry baby, not you. I was referring to the sound. I had to quickly end that call. Come let's go. Give me your things." he took his bags and my bags. Me: "You know the blood isn't coming out of my arms so I can carry-" Lakhe: "Lady, march." I shouldn't have told him. He drove to Pick n Pay. Lakhe: "So what do we need?" Me: "I'll buy it. Thanks." I got out the car going inside. He was following behind me. With a trolley. Me: "What is that for, Masilakhe?" Lakhe: "I thought that maybe......we might need it." I just laughed. Me: "Baby, I'm okay. Stop panicking. Okay?" Lakhe: "I can't help it." I kissed him. Me: "You're so adorable. Relax." I picked my products and put them in the trolley. I also picked up a few other stuff and snacks......plus desserts. We needed to stock up on the snacks though since Sandile was back full time. Lakhe: "Have you gotten an offer from the bank?" Me: "I'll check my emails. I made the offer for the Range Rover." Lakhe: "Color?" Me: "I want it black." Lakhe: "Good." we paid for our stuff leaving the store. Me: "Love?" Lakhe: "Hm?" Me: "Can I drive us home?" Lakhe: "Let me check if my.....insurance policy is up to date. There's an app here-" Me: "Okay Smarty pants. I'm not that bad of a driver." he laughed. Lakhe: "Okay, you can drive." I got in the driver's seat after he packed the plastics and returned the trolley he got in the passenger. Lakhe: "Now, this is an automatic-" Me: "I know exactly how it works." it was quite weird actually. I was so familiar. Me: "Did you teach me on this car before?" Lakhe: "No....why?" Me: "Something comfortable about being in this seat. This view." Lakhe: "Then drive Mrs Sobz." I started the car and drove out the parking onto the road. Lakhe: "Nice. Now, my love, holder of my heart, if you could just tone down a little on your speed." Me: "What? Why? You fall asleep while Sandile drives at 240 km per hour. I'm still on 120 and you're shaking?" Lakhe: "This isn't a freeway angel. Plus I see a traffic cop. Yep. There's a cop." I knew he was lying. He was afraid I'd crash again, I understood though. When we arrived at home, Sandile was there, the pressure cooker was boiling the tripe. It would take less time than boiling on the stove. Me: "Where is the flour? I can start now-" Sands: "no need for that, I bought dough." Me: "I still need to kneed it. Where is it?" Sands: "It's already done. All you need to do is rest." Lakhe: "I ran you a bath baby. Go soak yourself. I'll bring you a glass of wine." Me: "What's happening in that kitchen? Why am I being bribed?" Sands: "What do you mean?" Lakhe: "Nothing baby." Me: "You're trying to keep me out of there." Sands: "We're not trying to keep you OUT!" he said loudly. Me: "Sandile Robbie Sobekwa. Masilakhe Sobekwa. What is happening in that kitchen?" Sands: "Why didn't you call his second name?" Lakhe: "She doesn't know my second nam-" Sands: "Alright Kilian." I went to the bathroom and left them arguing in the lounge. I would've gone to the kitchen but honestly? Wasn't in the mood. The bath my love had suggested was the only thing lingering in my mind. After my bath, got dressed in pajamas. Lakhe: "Already done, baby?" Me: "Yes. Do you have pain killers?" Lakhe: "I'll check in the cabinet. The food is almost ready." Me: "It cannot possibly be ready." Lakhe: "You're probably right. U-aunty is helping us actually." Me: "What!" Lakhe: "See? I knew you'd over react because you love being in control of the household and cooking and cleaning. You don't want anyone else to do it so we had to lie." Me: "So my food is being prepared by someone I haven't even greeted? I don't even know? What is wrong with you two!!" I got up from bed. Lakhe: "Are you angry, baby?" Me: "All this time what were you doing? Watching soccer?" Lakhe: "No actually I'm working, Sandile is the one watching soccer. So you're not mad?" Me: "Why would I be? All you had to do is tell me the truth so I can go greet her. She must think I'm some rude spoilt brat of a madam diva." Lakhe: "Really? All in one?" I walked to the kitchen. Sands: "Heyyy....where -" Me: "Save it Sandile." Sands: "I don't have enough memor...." I looked at him. He sunk back into his couch. Me: "Hi sisi." the older lady smiled. "Hello sisi. Ndingu Luleka igama." (My name is Luleka.) Me: "ndingu Spho mna. Khange ndixelelwe ukuba ukhona. Sorry ngongazi earlier." (My name is Spho. I wasn't told you're here. I'm sorry for not coming earlier.) Lulu: "akhongxaki sisi." (It's not a problem.) my mother would hang me on a washing line to dry while its raining if she ever heard I let a grown woman call me sisi. Me: "Please sisi, cela undibize Spho." (Please call me Spho.) Lulu: "Okay Spho." I went back to the lounge.

It was around 6pm that evening when Lakhe received a call on his phone. We were watching TV together. Lakhe and me cuddled in one couch. Sandile on his couch as usual. He was like a tree with that space. Same position every time sometimes all day. Lakhe: "Yeah I'm here......okay." he hung up. Me: "Friend?" Lakhe: "He wishes on a shooting star." Sands: "Definite friend. He always denies people for some reason. For at least 3 years he once told people I was the gardener in my own home mind you." I giggled. Lakhe: "I never said that. They assumed it because you're always topless and in the garden like a rattle snake waiting to snap!" Sands: "It was never their first guess. And how convenient that the garden is adjacent to the pool so who was the bad photographer? You should be filming talking colors." Lakhe: "So you're on mute for a week." Sands: "You can still hear me though." Lakhe: "Baby tell Sandile I'll tape his mouth shut along with his hands if I have to." Me: "He can hear you." Lakhe: "So you're also on mute." Me: "Can still hear you." Lulu: "Spho, ndingaphaka?" Me: "Ewe ma. Please. Let me help you." anything to get away from dumb and dumber. I went to help her in the kitchen.

In a short while I heard voices. Apart from my dumb little family. We had visitors? I went out to check. And the Jolobe's were here. Yay. Can you tell I'm excited? Why would she do what she did? I'm still very much annoyed. Zingi: "Hey boo." Me: "Hi..." Dumi: "Sphosenkosi." Me: "Dumisani." Sands: "Okaaaay, so this is fun. Spho mntase. Do you need help? I've got an extra pair of hands and they're itchy for something to handle." Me: "Yes please bro." we went to the kitchen. Sands: "What are they doing here." Me: "Your girlfriend? Did Lakhe tell you what she did?" Sands: "she was never my girlfriend, we were just fucking. He didn't tell me, you know he's stingy. Spill?" I quickly gave him a summary of what happened and he folded his arms. Sands: "That's fucking bitchy." he snapped. Me: "Sandile! Yes it was a little bitchy. I'm supposed to pretend now?" Sands: "You don't have to. I'm not dishing up for them. This is a family dinner." Zingi came into the kitchen. Zingi: "You guys need help-" Sands: "Nope. You can wait in the lounge like the other guest." Me: "Sandile." Zingi: "Sands, what's the problem now? I thought we were chilled." Sands: "You can be chilled in the lounge or somewhere near the drive way. Like a Guest." Zingi: "Oookay, why are you acting immature now?" Sands: "Immature?" he smiled. Sands: "Girl, don't test me." Zingi: "What you're doing is childish. Every time he's here, you'll act like this?" Sandile kept quiet. I feared for her. The minute that chatterbox is quiet, something sinister is happening in his head. Zingi: "Spho, you okay?" Me: "Yep." Zingi: "Oh, for a second there I thought you were avoiding me." Me: "I was." Zingi: "But why..." Me: "Did I do something to upset you?" Zingi: "No. What are you talking about?" Me: "I'm talking about you calling my mother unprovoked to bitch about me leaving you." Zingi: "I didn't bitch Spho, I was just informing her should anything happe-" Me: "And what is the anything Zingisa? With my husband, what would be the anything that happens because my parents know him, he's not one of the random men we were drinking with at Cubana that I left you with." She stared at me shocked. Me: "Why did you bring them to my house?" Zingi: "I'm sorry Spho. I didn't think it was a problem." Me: "Have I ever brought random men to Dumisani's house Zingisa?" Zingi: "No Spho. I was wrong. I'm sorry. I had a lot to drink. I'm really sorry." Me: "I was very upset Zingi because I cover for you to your mother, there was no need for that. It's okay though. Can it never happen again?" she nodded. We went to the dining lounge, I'd have to set the table since they looked like they were staying for dinner. Why would Lakhe just invite them for dinner? It would be an uncomfortable one. I set up the table while he got them some drinks. We went to the table to all sit down and eat. In that chair pull second before we started to plate our food, Sandile broke his silence. Sandile: "And the next time you call me immature, I'll fuck you with your husband on the couch watching, so he can see clearly who you call daddy all night, Zingisa." I held my breath, closing my eyes.......