Oyama: Her Story

CHAPTER 1

Gqeberha. Port Elizabeth. PE. Call it what you want it’s home, to me. I’m driving in the parking of Baywest Mall. There is a parking open for me, I indicate, a black Ford Ranger zooms through and parks there. WTF. I step out, and out walks out a tall, fairly built man, with a clean shaven face and a low fade. He’s dressed nicely, black slacks, oxfords, sweater. A gold chain and watch. I walk up to him, I’m so pissed off right now. Who the fuck takes another person’s parking? “Xolo”(Sorry) I say, he looks at me, while typing on his phone, “Awuzange undibone ndisiya kulandawo?”(Did you not see me going for that spot). He has rather large ears, he stares at me, he looks at me, I can see his eyes piercing through me. I don’t know, if he is undressing me or looking into my soul.
“Do you not speak Xhosa?” I ask.
“Thobela”(Hello) he says, OH MY DAYS he’s Pedi, “Nka kgo thusha keng?”(What can, I help you with) he asks in Pedi.
Shit, I can’t reply, I don’t know any Pedi. He starts walking away, “Did you not see me indicate for that parking?” I ask.
He looks at the parking, “I didn’t know people over here, cry over parking spots, good to know” he says.
“I’m not crying I’m just saying, you could definitely see me taking that parking spot” I say.
“It’s a parking spot there’s a hundred of them” he says, “There’s one over there as well” he says pointing with a smirk and walks off.
“Excuse you, I’m still talking” I say, he keeps walking. You know what, I will teach him. I’M NOT THE BITCH TO MESS WITH.

I get in my car and park him in, I get out and walk into the Mall. I walk into Boho-Girl so I can get some clothes for my sister-in-law’s baby shower, in Johannesburg. I don’t understand why my brother moved so far away. I know the opportunities are vast for a Mining Engineer over there, but hai it’s whatever. Oh I forgot, I have to meet Xolani. I mean he hasn’t been to the hospital in about a week, because he was on vacation. To think they forced him to take a vacation, because he was working too much. I mean we are Doctors, are we not supposed to work overtime. Don’t get me wrong, I know a tired Doctor is worse than the plague. I mean, for example, if a Surgeon makes a mistake in surgery, it could be the end for my patient. I mean being, a doctor is cool and all, but damn it can be stressful.

I look around, and there’s nothing I like. Hey don’t get me wrong, there are some good dresses but none of them scream out to me. I walk out and walk to Mr Price, I have 30 minutes till my meet with Xolani. I walk into Mr. Price and browse around, well would you look at that, I knew you can never go wrong with Mr Price. I get a green and white floral dress; I have the perfect sneakers for this dress. I walk to the till to pay and walk out. My phone vibrates, I look it’s a text from Xolani, “I’ll meet you at Spur and I don’t wanna hear any complaining. I’m paying” he texts.
I send him a thumbs up emoji.

I walk out, now time for some grocery shopping. I walk to Woolworths, and grab a small trolley. I walk around the aisle, grab some steak, lamb, pork, and chicken. I walk around and grab some vegetables and fruit’s, then I grab myself a little treat for my cheat meal dessert. Going to the gym and dieting is fun and all, but it’s also draining too. So I grab the Cookies and Cream Oreo Ice Cream and some Oreos too. I grab some pasta and walk to the till. I pay and now it’s time to meet my best friend.

I walk to Spur pushing the trolley, he waves and walks up to me and hugs me, “How have you been?” he asks in Xhosa, I mean we do live in the Eastern Cape.
“I have been good, and you?” I ask.
“Tired” he says.
“Tired? you have been off for a week. I should be saying I’m tired” as we sit.
He laughs, “How’s work been?” 
“It’s been something, you know the drama never ends over there, last week, some guy had a heart attack while at his side chicks house, you can fill in the blanks” I say.
“Hai wena, don’t lie” he says.
I nod, “And then they finally caught, Mabuza with Skonza together shagging, as we speak their hearing is still ongoing” I say.
“Why do these things happen when I’m not there yoh?” he asks.
“I’m actually happy you weren’t there I mean, what were you gonna do when those girls where fighting, hape even Mabaso, was standing still watching” I say.
“Hebanna the chief was standing and watching” he says, laughing.We order and start eating.

“Sir you can’t go through there” says someone, we look back.
He’s standing in front of me, “You think some piece of paper is gonna keep me from you” I just keep my head.
“Eh, Ayanda leave, she’s done with you” says Xolani standing up.
“She’s done, when I say she’s done” he says, “Ucinga indoda, izakubamba amabele akho ashwabeneyo ngathi ngamabele enkomo yaseKapa okanye amathanga akho atyebileyo”(You think a man, will touch your saggy breasts that are like the breasts of a cow in the Cape or your fat thighs” he whispers. My weight, the one thing, I’m insecure about. Because of gym, I now have a smaller waist, but my thighs just stay at one size. He always knew what to pick at to get in my head. I just keep my head down, why did I have to attract a psychopath into my life.

“Leave or I will call the cops” says Xolani.
He looks at him, “This isn’t over not by a long shot” he points at Xolani and walks away. I wish I could cry, but I don’t think I have any tears left, because of him. A year of bullying, and emotional and sometimes physical abuse has left me like this. Unable to cry. I know it’s unhealthy but what can I do, I have cried enough; in the shower, in the car, before going to work, leaving work, a few blocks from the house. I’m done with crying now.

“You ok?” asks Xolani.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine” I say and continue eating. Everyone is looking at us, I release a heavy sigh, Alright Oyama, you don’t have time to be sad, you have a life to live. “You going back to work?” “Yes” I’m guessing he thinks that because of the Scrubs. I end up ordering a take away because I don’t want to cook when I get home.
I put the food in the trolley and push it, “I’ll see you next week” he says walking in the opposite direction.
“Bye” I wave.

I walk push the trolley, hai mara, Ayanda naye. Like I said I’m done crying, I’m done being any man’s punching bag. I walk out into the parking lot and there’s the Pedi boy, he’s on his phone. He’s sitting on the back of his car, feet dangling, he starts talking on his phone and smiling. I push the trolley to the side and carry the bags to the car, he looks at me and hang up his call. I open the boot and place the food in the back. He hops off his car and leans on the hood of my car. “Get off my car” I say closing the boot.

He smiles, and rubs the side of his face, “You know what you did was, super unnecessary”
I look at him and walk towards him arms folded, “Maybe this will teach you to stop stealing peoples parking spots, this is not Gauteng, we have respect here. OH, and the next you wanna mess with a woman make sure she isn’t Xhosa” I say irritated.
He smiles at me, why is he smiling, there he goes again with those eyes, “So you went to Spur, ate, then came back, just to teach me a lesson, least you could’ve done is bought me a burger; I have been standing out here for two hours” he says, how’d he know I ate at Spur, dammit forgot the bags. I roll my eyes and he smiles again, that stupid smile, STOP SMILING FOR FUCK SAKES. “Why are you smiling?” I ask, it’s so annoying and cute.

He stops, looks down, and smiles again, “This is really funny” he says. I give him a crazy look, “Yintoni ehlekisayo?”(What’s funny) I ask.
“That just like me, you aren’t going anywhere” he says.
“Oh yeah and who’s gonna stop me,”  I ask, “Is it gonna be you, big bad, Mr. Tough guy” I mockingly say.
He chuckles and then smiles, “You are gonna stop yourself, standwa sam” he says. I roll my eyes, I can’t believe he is hitting on me. I get in the car and he stands there; arms folded, I start my car, he kicks my front tire and the car shows a tire sign. Did he just deflate my tire in front of me, no there would’ve been a ‘shhhhhh’ sound. I step out, he says with his eye, ‘look down’. I look down, “HAAII MAN! Yintoni ke, why would you do this?”
He laughs, “I told you, you’re the one who’s keeping you here”
“A clamp, are you serious?”
“I didn’t do this, I mean, did you buy your license, you know this is wrong” he says smiling. It’s not even a smile, it’s a smirk he’s smirking, I grab the attention of the security guard.
“Xolo bhut, can you please unclamp my car?” I ask politely. Mr Pedi man is in the back smiling and licks his lips. “it will be R400” he says. I shoot the Pedi man a look, he smiles, I pull out my purse. Shoot, I forgot, I don’t usually hold cash. Maybe I have some in my cabinet, nothing.
“Can I please go withdraw it” I say.
“Ausi, no, I have a long drive ahead of me” he says, pulling out his wallet, he pulls out the R400, “No I don’t need you to pay for anything” I say.
“Listen, I’m all for fake feminism, but I really have a long drive” he says, he hands the guard the cash.
“Please hurry up” I say and get in the car.
“You should teach me Xhosa, I hate to be in this situation again, unless it’s with you” he says leaning on my window and smiling. I shake my head and drive off.

MEN AAGGHHH