Unhinged Love

CHAPTER 37

UNHINGED LOVE
CHAPTER 37

The next morning, I wake up in a good mood with my head held up high. I am excited to meet Melisizwe again. It’s weird how I miss him. We have not been together in that sense or for that long for me to miss him. But he has become an important person in my life and it is only normal that I miss him, right? Plus giving him a chance means I have to be openminded about a lot of things, including feelings that I might have for him. After showering, I head to the kitchen to find my brother busy preparing breakfast. By that, I mean him cooking porridge. I don’t mind. I enjoy it. I am an African child. It is something one eats from time to time, no matter the background they come from.

“Morning sisi. Did you sleep well?” he asks and I smile at him as I make coffee. It’s not that cold outside but a morning cup is a compulsory.
“I slept well, thanks for asking. How was your day?” we didn’t have time to catch up last night. Ntando and I went for a few drinks after that event and I think I came back home around 10pm. My brother was still up. I just wished him a good night before going to sleep.

“Fruitful. I made a few friends. I don’t know if I can call them that, but yeah. I saw a few gents and we connected in a way. I needed to get out and explore. They told me the dos and don’ts around here. Which places are safe and which places I should stay as far away from. If only they knew I have survived one of the worst cities in South Africa. But I had fun. It was nice to let lose without hoovering around.” I gasp. How can he? He just laughs. “Not in that way, but you are always there, Magcina. I am not a child. I can take care of myself. You don’t need to hold my hand all the time. Yes, I am new in town but I need to figure some things out myself without you worrying that I might get lost or something.”

I pout. “Excuse me for caring.” He stops dishing up and comes to my side. He hugs me.
“I love you and I love that you care about me. I know if roles were reversed, I would be worse. But I am a man, dade. Tone down the worrying. Nothing bad is going to happen to me. And I am not going anywhere. I am here with you.” I soak in his warmth and allow myself to calm down. He is right. I shouldn’t be hoovering over him like he is a child who can’t take care of himself. But I can’t help worry. If I don’t worry about him, who will? He breaks the hug and continues with what he was doing.

“So, what happened with Mitchy?” when I woke up yesterday, she was already gone. I thought maybe we would have breakfast together since she was in no rush seeing it was her weekend off.
“She had an emergency at her place, so she had to rush off. Also, she hadn’t meant to sleep over. She was just tired.” He answers and I try to see his facial expression but it’s unreadable.

“Yes, she is a deep sleeper and she has the tendency of dozing off anywhere when she is tired. This one time she dozed off while we were at the movies. We had to pretend as if she had fainted so that someone could help us carry her out.” His eyes pop out.
“That’s a bit dangerous, don’t you think? What happens if she dozes off while she is still driving?”

I roll my eyes. “She does not have a sleeping disorder or something like that. Anyways, my day was very nice.” I start telling him about all the activities we did yesterday as he hands me my bowl. We eat and catch up. He is the housemate I never thought I needed until now.

“I am glad that you had fun.” My phone rings from my room and I rush to get it. I smile when I see that it’s Melisizwe.

“Mnguni how are you?” I answer the phone.
“I am doing great Ntokazi. How are you this morning?”
“I am fine. I just had a great catch-up session with my brother. He is the housemate I never thought I needed.”

“You stay with your brother, huh? I guess I shouldn’t keep you out for so long if I don’t want to get on his bad books. Noted, KaMabuyakhulu.” I laugh. The drama. “Anyways, I hate to do this to you while our thing is still fresh, but Zama came home last night and she is going through a break-up. So, I have to be there for her. I need to comfort her. Times like these, I wish I were more violent because I would pull up to her ex’s house and beat him up.”
I don’t know whether to laugh or sigh. Somehow, this situation makes me very much aware of our age difference and how his kids will always come first. He is a great father and I admire him for that. But now this situation is making me sceptical. “I hear you. That means we have to reschedule our date, right?” I ask the obvious question.

“Yes. I am sorry. I know how I fought for us to go on this one and it is still going to happen. It’s just that it will happen a week later than intended. And we can go to any place you want. I can even come to Richards Bay. Whatever you want, Ntokazi. I am sorry for disappointing you this early in our soon-to-be relationship.” I can hear remorse from his voice and I understand where he is coming from.

“I do hear you. Anyways, go and do some fun activities with your daughter to take her mind off things, okay?”
He chuckles. “Mbulelo suggested that we go to bounce. My old knees can’t handle that but anything for my princess.” That name is like an ice bucket being thrown in my face.
I laugh just to cover my disappointment. “Do you, we will chat later, right?”
“Yes, we will.” He responds and I hung up.

I throw myself in the bed and sigh. Melisizwe is a father. He is not just a father to a two-year-old or a ten-year-old. His first born is 24 and he happens to be my recent ex. I don’t know how I thought I could do this. my moral compass might have taken a seat back when I agreed to give him a chance. Of course, he is going to mention Mbulelo from time to time. He is his son, not his enemy. Do I really have the courage to continue with him knowing that my ex’s name is going to pop up every know and then?

A notification pops up from my phone and I frown when I see,

‘NEDBANK CARDLESS WITHDRAWAL. GET R2000 WITH VOUCHER **********…’

Then it is followed by a text message from Melisizwe,

‘I know I can’t be there with you, but please find someone to go out with. It’s my treat. Take care, Ntokazi’

Fuck. How did I end up in this messed up situation? I might be second-guessing my decision to give him a chance after a reality check, but I am no saint. When you sent me free money, I will spend it. I text Mitchy and ask her if she is busy and if she wants to hang out since she is off and she responds by saying she is game. Mtunzini, here I come. That’s literally the first place that popped up in my mind.