Oyama: Her Story

CHAPTER 36

Its been about a week and its New Years Eve. Max has only come to see me twice since I was here, that damn dog doesn’t love me anymore. Jizas. Yoh. We had Christmas how, I wouldn’t expect on the Eve we went to my father’s homestead, there was 5 of us including me. Lwandle was there, so was Qhawe, Mogale, and Mzi, we left in the Black G wagon.
This was the first time, I had to pack my own bag before. They parked outside and waited for me to come out with my bag, reason being, ‘We don’t wanna disrespect your father’s house’ so they just parked it outside and waited for me to come out, it took me a while to pack with the bruising around my ribs.
Then on Christmas we were all woken up early so we could go to church, apparently their moms are really religious especially Qhawe’s mom and Aunt, they make them go to church once a year and that’s on Christmas, for Christmas mass.
I put on some makeup to cover my face bruises and put on a nice church dress and they all wore black suits with black ties. They looked so identical, like little groomsmen. I also didn’t know that they were Catholic, like Cathedral, pews with statues of the Virgin Mary and a father in a huge colourful robe.
One thing was clear, they were all forced to be here, because after about an hour of being there, they all leaned to the side and just fell asleep all of them even their fathers. By the time mass ended, I wasn’t sure if it was the bruises on my ribs or the hard wooden pews that hurt more.

It was definitely clear church wasn’t these boys strong suit. But once that was over, we drove back to his family house and every time I see this lodge I’m just surprised at how big it is. I can see why that reporter was so judgmental in that interview. This house is beautiful and not by a little bit, by a LOT.
I mean its design just stands bold and GREAT. When we got home, they all took off their blazers, and either grabbed a Beer or a snack then all went to the Cinema room and played Play Station. Except for Lebohang he went to the stable and pulled out a horse and rode off. Nobody knows where he went, but he came back safely that’s what’s important.
Qhawe along with his bab’Lethabo started making Christmas Lunch, which I must say was DELICIOUS, bab’Lethabo is the only person in the family that can keep up with Qhawe and not only follow orders but give them as well.

By midday, the house was alive with the sounds of pots clattering, voices echoing from the kitchen, and music playing softly in the background. The contrast between the somber, stiff atmosphere of the cathedral and the warm, buzzing chaos of this house was staggering. Bab’Lethabo, with his calm yet commanding presence, had turned the kitchen into his personal domain. It was a dance of precision—knives chopping, pots sizzling, and Qhawe moving with a focus I rarely saw outside of his usual playful demeanor.
He and Bab’Lethabo worked like a well-oiled machine, the occasional banter between them punctuated with laughter.
“Where’s the thyme, Qhawe? I told you to have everything ready before we started,” Bab’Lethabo grumbled, though there was no real annoyance in his tone.
“You act like I’m your sous chef, baba,” Qhawe shot back, pulling the herbs from a corner of the counter and tossing them in his father’s direction, “Relax, everything is under control.”
“Under control? You didn’t even salt the lamb yet,” Bab’Lethabo replied with a raised brow.
I sat at the large kitchen island, quietly observing the dynamic between them. For someone as formidable as Qhawe could be, here in the kitchen, he was just a son trying to keep up with his father. It was endearing to watch.

But today is New Year’s eve and apparently, bab’Thapelo’s birthday is literally on New Year’s. I also found out their birthdays and ages who’s parent is who’s:
Kagiso(30): July 21st (Thapelo and Lerato)
Qhawe and Mogale(29): May 8th(Kea and Noma)
Mzi and Mazwi(28): November 10th(Lethabo and Lindy)
Lwandle(26): April 13th(Kea and Noma)
Thapelo(26): August 7th(Lethabo and Lindy)
Mandla(25): September 21st(Lethabo and Lindy)
Lethabo(23): July 18th(Thapelo and Lindy)
Lebohang(17): October 24th(Kea and Noma)
Moqhaka(15): February 27th(Lethabo and Lindy)