Zamageda his heart

chapter 19

The drive to the airport is short, filled with an uncomfortable silence. He sings loudly to his maskandi playlist, but I can't bring myself to join in. Normally, we'd sing together, but everything he does right this moment nauseates me. When we arrived at the parking lot, I mutter, "Ngilambile". He ignores me and begins unloading our suitcases."Uyasala?" he asks gruffly when I remain in the car. I glare at him, still fuming from when he scolded me for opening the door myself. He walks over to my side and opens the door, and I reluctantly thank him.

I leave him behind with our luggage and head to Wimpy to wait for my order. He finds me sitting there and asks, "Ngikwenzeni, Mama?" (What did I do wrong?) in an apologetic tone. I dismiss him, knowing he is aware of why I am angry. "Akyona ilutho lena, Zama", he says, shifting next to me, but I moves away.He sighs and lets me eat in silence, paying for my food without a word. As we walk to the boarding gate, "Lwazi and Xoliswa are picking us up, and we'll have lunch with them. Can we talk this out before we get to them?" I reply, my voice hushed, "What's there to talk about? You've been ignoring this situation with Pearl. Now you want to talk?" He looks dumbfounded, and in this moment, I felt like lashing out at him.So, this is about Pearl?" he asks, his tone aggravating me further. I feel tears welling up, and I struggle to hold them back. "Ukhalelani manje?"  he asks, concern etched in his voice."Baby, I told Pearl off before we left," he explains, his apology weak. "I'm sorry it took me longer; I've been sick and didn't have the energy to deal with her." He pleads, "Ngyaxolisa, nhliziyo yami" (Forgive me, my heart).He wraps me in a hug, but I pull away. "Uyanuka, bra"  I say, trying to hide my emotions. He chuckles and kisses my forehead, but I cringe at his touch.I sleep through the flight, exhausted from the emotional turmoil. When we land, he wakes me up with gentle kisses. "Asambe" (Let's go), he says, taking my hand. We walk to baggage claim, waiting for him to collect our bags.

"Skwii" As Xoliswa envelops me in a warm, flower-scented hug, I feel the tension melt away. Her embrace is a sanctuary, a motherly haven where I can surrender my emotions. The anger and frustration dissolve into tears, and I sob softly against her chest. She holds me close, gently stroking my back, whispering soothing words in my ear: 'It's okay, baby, let it all out.' As I calm down, she guides me to a sleek black matte G63, and we settle into the plush rear seats. Xoliswa's voice is laced with concern as she asks, 'Are you okay now?' I nod, still feeling a bit vulnerable, and she wraps me in another comforting hug.

'Ukhaliswa yini?' she asks again, seeking to understand the depth of my emotions. I open up about the Zipho and Pearl situation, and she listens attentively, her expression empathetic. She doesn't dismiss my feelings or tell me I'm overreacting; instead, she seems to genuinely understand my perspective. This validation comforts me, and I feel grateful for her presence in my life.

'Nishawa ubani manje?' Lwazi asks, furrowing his brow as they climb in, a parking ticket in hand, eyeing his wife's crimson face. 'Buza lo!' she snaps, her gaze darting to Zipho, her anger palpable.Zipho sighs, his eyes filled with genuine remorse. 'Mama, I'm sorry,' he says, his voice laced with regret. I nod in acknowledgement.just then, Lwazi chirps in, 'Ayy, nawe kodwa!' and the couple launches into a playful teasing session, their earlier tension dissolving into laughter and banter as they drive out of the airport

As we arrive at a stunning beach house in Salt Rock, Zipho emerges with our bags, his expression unreadable. 'Aren't you taking me home?' I ask, feeling a pang of uncertainty. He responds with a curt 'no' and walks away, leaving me puzzled.Xoliswa bursts in, excitement radiating from her voice. 'We're staying here for the holidays, away from the kids!' She barely contains her enthusiasm. 'We should go buy groceries later, but for now, we're going out!' She drags me along, despite my exhaustion. All I crave is a warm meal and a cozy bed, my energy is depleted, despite sleeping throughout the flight. I trail behind, feeling disoriented and unsure of what's unfolding.