Oyama: Her Story

CHAPTER 27

I love my boyfriend don’t get me wrong, but damn, OK I get it, I told you to wake me up at around 5am so we can get on the road early, why are you waking me up at half past 4. Hai ke sana, no man. Worst part he didn’t sleep in my room when we where at my parent’s house, he slept on the couch, while I slept in my room, his reasoning was he’s not gonna disrespect my fathers house, even if my father has passed away this is still his house. So he slept on the couch. I actually found that hot and sexy, because what do you mean you respect, ancestors and those that come before you. Mh. In Christian religion, it is really frowned upon to communicate with those who have passed away, but I don’t care, I’m a Christian, but there’s no way I’m not gonna acknowledge my parents or grandparents, there’s no way. Qhawe is also the same, but he said their mothers used to force them to go to Church until they were 14, then they gravitated more towards their fathers who were a bit confusing to following, for example, Keabetswe: Qhawe’s father follows the Abrahamic Religions, meaning Judaism, Christianity and Islamic religion, but he also follows African Spirituality like honoring and Acknowledging your Ancestors. Lethabo: Mzi’s father he follows African Spirituality. Thapelo: Kagiso’s father was Agnostic and also followed African Spirituality, so the boys have their own religion or belief system that they follow. So here we are on the road to Mthatha at 8am. We have been driving since 6 and we just left Makhanda or better known as Grahamstown.

He’s been controlling the radio, because I have been fading in and out of conscious, because I’m so tired, worst part is we decided to call it a night at 2am, because we were watching TV next thing I know, 2 hours later someone is shaking me asking me to wake up because we need to leave, never have I been so irritated, YERR. They have been cleaning the house too, but my parents room has been locked because, only I have the Key to the room, so they have been cleaning it, I don’t know how often but it smelled nice. Back to my road trip to Mthatha with my Vampire of a Boyfriend, because no normal human should be this efficient with only 2 and a half hours of sleep, its not normal. I sit up from my fading and look at the freeway, he’s going 120km/h and he’s playing, ‘So Into You’ by Tamia and he looks over and sees I’m awake and he’s singing all energetic, he pulls my arms out sitting in my hoodie pockets and waves them from side to side singing along and singing to me. He’s smiling, I look at him irritated and side eying him, he’s so unbothered at my looks, he’s even smiling and laughing.
Is this the stage where you start hating your Boyfriend?
Now he’s singing, ‘Ngam’ketha’ by Nomfundo Moh, “Uyabona mna ngendakukhetha nokuba bebephelele”(You see me, I would choose you, even they are all perfect) he says in a high pitched voice, and I start laughing and looking down shaking my head.
I don’t think, I will ever reach the, ‘I hate my Boyfriend stage’ with him.
“Uyahleka, angi dlali mina”(You laughing, I’m not playing) he says smiling.
I smile at him and put my hand behind his head, “Nami, ngendakukhetha nokuba bebephelele”(I would also choose you, if they were perfect).

He pulls out his phone, and calls someone on the Bluetooth, it rings it says, ‘Lwandle’ looks like he’s arranging his transport.
“Sho” says Lwandle his voice raspy.
“Dingtsang”(Wassup) Qhawe says.
“Mh mh ke botsesa wena”(I’m asking you) he says.
“Keng kehona otsoga?”(What did you just wake up) Qhawe asks.
“mh mh, ah mfana mokgalabe hang mpone joh”(Ah bro, the old man doesn’t see me) says Lwandle.
“Dingstang, wereleng?”(Wassup, what did he do) asks Qhawe smiling.
(Man this man, wakes me up at 4)“Monna da manne joh ong tsosa ka 4 ore, I forgot to tell you we are vaccinating the Calves, I need you to oversee the procedure, kere, ‘Hebanna why ompotsa nou?’(Yo why you telling me now) a re, ah bafans ne ketlo botsa mabane mara eish. Ah mfana papao joh aow man”(Ah boy, I was gonna tell you yesterday. You see your father boy) says Lwandle.
I don’t know what they are saying but Lwandle sounds upset and really tired.
“Eish boy hade”(Sorry bor) says Qhawe, “Kgane o robotse kanoko mang, mabane?”(What time did you sleep last night)
“Ke robetse ka 12, ke buwa le’Madam(Slept at 12, talking to Madam), cause she said she’s coming to visit her family, so a re maybe reka kopana”(she said maybe we can meet) says Lwandle.
“Otswa kae kgae?”(Where she from) asks Qhawe.
“Mthatha, so maybe during the week, ke tlo moshepela draai”(I’m gonna see her) Lwandle says.
“Mh mh, ah mfana ne ke kgo ke kgopela hore otle ong late”(ah boy, please come and pick me up) says Qhawe.
“Waar ko Airport?”(Where at the airport) asks Lwandle.
“Nah, eish ke drive koloi ya madam, so eish ketla bona hore otlong lata ko kae”(Nah, I’m driving madam’s car, so I’ll see where you need to pick me up) says Qhawe.
“Eh banna, why didn’t you fly here?” asks Lwandle.
“Eish monna Mokgekolo o ogane a re, re dere road trip hore ka kua kgagabo baska mpona…”(Eish this old woman, didn’t want so we did a road trip, because she doesn’t her family to see me) says Qhawe.
“Wago fihla?”(She’s hiding you) asks Lwandle.
“Monna kere bang fihla ay monna watseba keng”(Like bro you know what) he shakes his head.
“Mkhathini, I may not understand Sepedi too well, but I know when I’m being gossiped about” I say shooting him an annoyed happy look. Lwandle starts laughing, he looks over at me, feigning innocence.
“Who, me? Gossiping? Never!” He flashes that charming smile, but I can see a hint of guilt in his eyes. This man really thinks he can play innocent with me.
“Hello mama” says Lwandle.
“Hello Lwandle” I reply.
“Hai mfana ere ke bereka, otlang phonela hore ke shifte”(Ait bro you’ll tell me when I should start moving) says Lwandle.
“Hai na flopo, shap”(No problem, shap)
“Shap” and they hang up.