SIMPHIWE: HER LAST

Chapter 11

KGOMOTSO

Tumelo has fallen asleep on my lap and it's not even 6PM yet.
It has been a long day and I'm just glad to be on my way home.
Today was an eventful and memorable day. I enjoyed every minute of it.
But in the back of my mind, what Lebone did still stuck with me.
I mean, yes, the day was enjoyable, but seeing Lebone talk to Rele like she's never done anything upset me.
I take it she didn't tell him.
She still has six more hours to do it before the day ends.

We're driven by Mahlodi who's playing Pedi music.
I thought she doesn't listen to such music.
But then again, re Mapedi and we have to be proud of who we are.
I've spent three years being surrounded by Tswana people that I almost forgot that I am Pedi too.
Matome is next to her in the passenger seat laughing and making noise as usual.
Tiyane is looking out through the window, Tlhalefo is next to her on his phone.
Tumelo is seated in the middle seat, whilst my mother and I are between him.
We're in the V-Class by the way.

I'm finally 26. Never imagined my life being like this at 26, but hey, it is what it is.
I still have the box Yonela gave me earlier on. I haven't opened it yet. I have no idea why.
Maybe I should open it and feed my curiosity.

"Do you need help, Ma?" Tlhalefo asks when he sees me struggling to open it.

Kgomotso: "Here." I say handing him the box.

After what feels like years of him unwrapping it, he finally opens the box and he hands it to me.

Kgomotso: "Thank you."

I take out what's inside.
The first thing I see is white box from Browns. It's Browns, the jewellery store.
Followed by three boxes from Gucci, a box from Chanel and a small paper bag from Louis Vuitton.
Yonela did this??? For me????
Oh my word!
When I get home, I'm definitely going to text her!

LEBONE

We made it to Dobsonville to drop Lebo's mother and sisters off.
Modiegi and her friend came with since we have to drop her friend off too. We told her friend to come with her bags since her sleepover has basically expired.

"You guys should invite us to your place sometime." Lebo's sister, Mmabatho says as she gets out the car.

"That would be really lovely." The mother says.

I don't know her name. All I know is that she is Lebo's newly-found mother.

"Yah no, definitely. In fact we'll invite you over for dinner next week Saturday." Lebo says.

Excuse me??? So he just decides there and then what should be happening???
Really???

I smile because I've got no choice.
I'm putting on a façade to hide my guilt and shame.
Nothing will ever take this feeling away from me.
I can't tell him. It's too difficult to.

"Thank you so much for everything, Rele." The mother says.

Relebogile: "You're welcome Ma. I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Alright, papa."

That was short. I thought he was going to stop here and let us stay for bit.
But oh, I remember we have Modiegi's friend to drop off.

KGOMOTSO

"What do you mean this gift wasn't from you, Nela?" I ask her over the phone.

I'm all sorts of confused right now and I'm slowly getting agitated over this.

Yonela: "Look, mmata. I lied, okay?"