I'm Gonna Be Ready

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Ore.

Lewatle and I dropped Sabs at his house then we drove home. I was annoyed after seeing Anele, I greeted the family and went to my bedroom. Oratile and Lereko followed me to my bedroom.

Oratile gave me a hug and asked how my trip was, he leaves saying I must freshen up for dinner.

Lereko asks if he and I are good. I tell him that we are fine then ask him to leave in order for me to get ready. He kisses my cheek and leaves me. I call Vuyo then freshen up and put on the yellow dress from his grandmother. I take pictures and leave my room. We use 2 cars to leave, I sit next to mama and Lewatle.
“You took long. I’m starving.” Anele. I raise my eyes from my phone and look at her before focusing on my phone again.
“Isn’t this dress that one from your status?” Oratile.
“Lewatle, did that girl call you?”
“Yes nana, thanks for the referral. She came with her brides maids.” Lewatle.
“Anytime, may I please have your rump well done and chips with a rock shandy. Bring it with my food please.” I tell the waitress, who has been taken orders.
“Who is the boy you were with in that red car?” Oratile.
“Who said it was a boy?”
“You are bisexual?” Anele. I ignore her question.
“It was a friend papa.”
“Tell the friend I want to meet him or her. They must come here.” Papa.
“You are serious?” I laugh.
“Yes.”
“Okay, I’ll organise that meeting. Is the lunch still on?”
“Yes, on the 1st.” Lereko. I nod my head and focus on my phone. Our food comes and we eat, everyone is chatting on the table, I’m minding my mouth.
“Are you okay? You’ve been quiet.”Mama.
“Yes, I am good thank you. Papa thank you for the dinner.”
“Anyone who wants dessert?”papa. Anele, mama and Lewatle order cake. Lereko tries to convince me to get some, I refuse. We leave for the house and I ride with Oratile, mama and Lewatle.
“What’s with you and your skwiza?” Lewatle.
“She must stay away from me as I am her. She’s here for her man and mama not me.”
“She is trying nana.” Mama.
“That is the problem, why is she trying? She can talk about me to strangers and now I must laugh with her? What if she was the one who sold the story with my injury pictures?” mama gasps and says it’s not possible, Lewatle gives me a knowing look. Arriving home I post the pictures of Lewatle and I on socials.“You should really stop trying to impress Nkosi, it’s over.”
“Drop the charges against Nkosi.”
“Was she pregnant?”
“Hands off Ore.”
I forgot to turn off comments on the pictures. Lewatle knocks on my room and she gives me a hug and a gift bag. She put a frame with the sonar and a picture she took of my son at the hospital, she included a vest and hat written his name. The frame is white and she had a candle with his picture.
“Thank you so much. These are beautiful.”
“Anything for my little ngwana. Sleep we have grocery shopping tomorrow. Tell your boo I want my Uber money.” Lewatle teases and she runs to the door.I take a picture of my gifts and make it my profile picture captioned: You are loved and missed. Thank you Mamogolo.  I get into bed and put my phone on mute, the guilt makes sleep impossible tonight. I try to pray which also fails and I play music and lay in bed with my eyes closed.
I am woken up by papa, with a cup of coffee the following morning. He lays with me in bed and Lewatle joins us. An hour later everyone is up in the house. Lewatle and I clean the house, mama makes breakfast. They eat on the table and I take a bath to avoid Anele. I eat after bathing and I wash my plate and wait for Lewatle in her car. Vuyo calls me as we drive to the shops. The shopping takes longer because Lewatle goes into every room. We pass a tombstone store, she follows me in. She and I split the 7k bill into and pay for the tombstone. Lewatle says we need to pay for the permit and send it back to the store. It takes us 30minutes. We have lunch after all the errands are done then she drives us home.
“I love you and thank you for being my sister.”
“Eh, are you dying?” Lewatle.
“You had to ruin it, didn’t you?” she burst into laughter.

Khanya