Unhinged Love

CHAPTER 30

After that well deserved nap, I woke up and prepared dinner. Initially I had asked my friends to do it but since I came back early and also know they knock off late, I told them to relax. I found Mndeni watching an action movie and I just let him be but I guess he was more interested in watching me cook because he came to the kitchen and assisted a bit, but he spent most of the time asking me about my life, love life to be specific. He knows I am old enough to date. He was disappointed that I chose to date a young guy like Mbulelo but he was glad that I broke up with him. Big brothers though. I set up the table in my small dining room while he goes to shower. I dish up salads in bowls and place them on the table. I also go freshen up and just put on pajamas. These are my friends not in laws. So I don’t need to look good for them. They arrive a few minutes after seven and Nqobile probably opens the gate because she has the key.

“Hey boss, we are ho…” Nqobile’s voice flatters and I think that’s because she has seen my brother. I laugh as I make my way to the lounge and I find them squashed in the 3 seater couch looking at my brother like he is an exotic animal in a park. “Damn, you move fast boss. But at least this one looks mature.” Yeah, this girl can’t help herself.
“Shut up idiot. Can’t you see the resemblance? Maybe it’s a cousin or something.” Mitchy responds, rolling her eyes, but there is also curiosity in her gaze.

I laugh. I was not expecting that comment from Mitchy. “Evening guys. Thank you for coming. Anyways, this is my big brother, Mndeni Mabuyakhulu. I found him in Durban. A lot happened but I am glad our ancestors, or mom rather, made us reconcile after so long. Bhuti, these are my friends and colleagues. Nqobile, Mitchy, Pamela and Lineo. They are all qualified chefs, so whenever you need food, knock on their doors.” They all laugh.

“It’s an honor to meet Magcina’s friends and colleagues. Thank you for taking care of my sister and making her dream come true. She told me a lot about you. The hyper Nqobile. The quiet but savage Mitchy. The intelligent Pamela and the naughty Lineo.” Hhayini. Did he have to say that? These women are vindictive. They will come for me. They all exclaim.
“Did she tell you about the forever unlucky in love Hle?” Lineo asks and they all laugh while my brother chuckles, shaking his head.
He looks at me. “Unfortunately we did not get to that juicy part.” I hit his shoulder and he laughs.
“Enough prying on my nonexistent love life. Let’s go eat.” I stand up and they all follow suit.
“Bhut Mndeni.” Nqobile calls out and my brother looks at her. She attacks him with a hug. “Thank you for bringing back that light and spark in Hlengi’s eyes. She hasn’t stopped smiling ever since we came in and that’s all because of you.” She may be hyper but she is observant. And it’s true. I haven’t stopped smiling ever since I saw my brother, besides the time when we were crying our eyes out.

“Now I also wanna hug you for that, and that you have become a part of our inner circle.” Mitchy also hug him and the rest joins in on the group hug. I love my crew so much. I let them have this moment and head to the kitchen. I take the rest of the food to the table and they join me a few moments later. Lineo blesses the food and we start eating. But not before Nqobile takes a few pictures for content.
“I don’t even remember the last time I had food made by the chef.” Pamela starts off and I chuckle.
“It was months ago, before her incident.” Lineo responds.
“Incident?” Mndeni asks.

“Yeah, I fell while wearing heels and broke my ankle. Unfortunately I am not young anymore. Bones take longer to heal for adults and the pain was too much. I had to go into surgery to have my ankle bones shifted back into order and they put in a metal to straighten everything. It took me a few months to recover from that. My ankle still hurts from time to time, especially when I have been standing for long and when it’s cold, the operation scar always make itself known.” He frowns.

“How wasn’t that included in our catch up sessions?” I scratch my head and shrug.
“It slipped my mind.”
“I find that hard to believe, Magcina. But we will talk about it later.” Now I feel like a kid about to be reprimanded. Thanks Pamela.

My friends go on to fill me in on what’s been happening during the weekend while I was away, but they focus on less serious topics because we will have a real briefing tomorrow morning. They also tell me that a bartender is dating one of the waitresses. Well I have to call the both to an informal meeting so that we don’t have a problem going forward. When we are done eating, both Mitchy and Lineo take the dishes to the kitchen and Lineo comes back.

“It’s Mitchy’s turn.” I long forgot about turns.
My brother gets up. “I will go help her.” He heads to the kitchen.
“So any Durban romance or fun you wanna tell us about?” Nqobile asks in a low tone. Fuck, a lot happened this weekend. I grin and she squeals. This girl.
“Wait. Lemme grab wine first before we talk.” Lineo stands up and opens the small cabin here in the dining room and takes out one of the wine bottles. The glasses are already in the table, so she just pours for everyone and serves us. “Now spill.”

“Okay. So Friday night I went out for dinner at Signature Restaurant. Their food is nice. A bit overpriced but their chef is one of a kind, so I understand. And I met this guy there. He was cute. He asked if we could go to Black for drinks. I agreed because I wanted to let loose and I didn’t have to go far.” I start off.
“Didn’t offer to pay the bill. Mmm. Continue.” Lineo chirps in taking a sip of her drink and we just laugh. He didn’t offer but I wasn’t offended because he was just a passing thing.

“He was with his friends, so we went to BLACK and drank. We were touchy Feely and had a quickie in the restroom that was too quick for him, if you know what I mean.” I continue and their eyes pop out.
“Mitchy is going to kill is for talking about this while she’s not here. But she will survive.” Pamela says.
“I am just still shocked by you having a quickie. That is so unlike you, but I approve.” Nqo states with a naughty smile. What was I expecting from her?

“After the quickie, I made a run for it while the guy was preoccupied and headed to my suite.” They laugh.
“Shame. Poor guy. I am sure he was so confused by your actions. He thought maybe you were connecting. With your private parts.” Nqo. I just roll my eyes.
“And the following morning I went to the beach for some peace and quiet. When I came back, I met this fine man who took me out for breakfast and bought flowers and a watch for me. It was so weird. We have been texting and he asked to take me out on a date on Friday.” I don’t want to reveal his identity. Not yet. Maybe he is just lusting over a forbidden fruit and it will pass soon. Hopefully because I don’t need the drama in my life.

“The mysterious soon to be husband doesn’t have a name?” Pamela asks and I groan, rolling my eyes.
“Nope. No husband here. Plus he is too good to be true. Who buys someone a watch worth over two thousand rands on a first meet up? Swindler vibes. I don’t want to be a victim, lovies. Not in this lifetime.” I reply and they chuckle.

“So what is the handsome, rich stranger’s name? Where does he live and is he married? Surely you covered all that in the breakfast date. But something tells me it wasn’t the first time you two met.” Nqo pries. Eyy this girl.
“I won’t be disclosing his name any time soon. So stop asking. He is divorced and lives in Durban. But I don’t think anything will happen between us. He is too old for me.”

“How old?” Lineo asks quickly and we all look at her. “Yey, don’t be like that. Love knows no age. As long as the souls are communicating. Buka omunye was impregnated by ikhehla who is in his seventies while she was a twenty something virgin? Worse she caught feelings. So yeah as long as it can still get up.”
“Are you a sugar baby, Lineo?” Pamela asks.
Lineo rolls her eyes. “We are on Hle here not me. How old is mkhulu bae and what is his occupation?”

“Probably in his fifties and is a chartered accountant at some firm.” I lie through my teeth and hide my facial express by sipping on the wine.
“Then go for him. You have nothing to lose, expect gain a few orgasms and gifts in the process. What’s next? Maybe a Daniel Wellington jewelry set? Or a car?” Nqobile is the queen of exaggeration.
“I don’t want to talk about him anymore. Let’s just leave it as it is. If something happens, it will happen but I am not betting on it.” I cut them off as Mitchy and Mndeni rejoin us with dessert.