Unhinged Love

CHAPTER 44

I am with my friends in my office and we just finished with the last-minute preparations of the launch. We were sorting out the menu and making sure that we will buy enough food to cater for all our guests. All the investors and their family members are invited. The current farm workers, our friends and families, some food influencers and we also invited our local press which is Zululand Observer, Bay Watch, 1KZN TV and Icora FM. I didn’t want it to be a huge thing but this is a big deal for Healthy Eats and it should be celebrated. It’s been five months since we opened the restaurant and acquiring a farm this big is a huge step for us. The launch is in a week and a half and we are ready.

We are currently having a platter which was prepared by the kitchen staff before they left. My team had the afternoon off so that we could iron out all the preparations. Mndeni went to Checkers Liquor to get a 24 pack of Bernini Mimosa. So, we are eating and drinking. We are sitting down on the floor.

“Updates, relationship wise, I think Phelelani wants to make things serious between us.” Nqobile starts off and we all look at her. She chuckles nervously. It has been a while since she dated one man and stuck with him.

“And are you ready for that?” Pamela asks and I am also interested in her response.
Nqobile shrugs. “I don’t know. I think so. I mean he is the best I have ever had in any way. Never mind that he is a doctor and his job is demanding, but he makes time for me. Even when he cancels plans because of the hospital, he makes it up to me. He is attentive and very present. Like whenever I see him, I just wanna open my legs and let him fuck me without a rubber. Not because he is too handsome but because he is a good man.”
“You were flowing nicely until your mentioned him fucking you.” Lineo comments and we all laugh.

“But I am happy for you, Nqobile. Yes, you are young but soulmates come once in a life time. You can’t let yours get away from you just because of age or fear of commitment. If you love him and you can’t see yourself living without him, then let go and allow him to love you. Don’t let your evil alter ego screw things for you.” I tell her and she smiles before coming to hug me. She then sits on my lap and we all laugh before I push her off. Typical of her.

“Well, I am actively dating Mndeni.” Mitchy drops a bomb on us and I am shocked. Sure, I suspected that he had feelings for her but I was not expecting that.
“Mitchy, you don’t do that. You don’t drop a bomb like that on us. You have to ease it in.” Pamela comments looking at her. “When did it even start? How come we didn’t see you guys flirting? Yoh, ufihla yonke into. (You hide everything.)” it’s no laughing matter, but we laugh at her tone.

Mitchy clears her throat. “It’s been going on for a month. He is a great person. He has been through a lot in life but he let me in and I just embraced him. He is very kind and loving and protective and I just like him.” She shrugs with a smile. That doesn’t seem like ‘like’ to me. The girl is far gone.

“Shame, you are in love. That is so adorable.” Nqobile plays with her cheeks and Mitchy hits her hands before laughing. “Love looks good on you. Even though Mndeni is the boss’s big brother and that automatically makes him our big brother also, if he hurts you, I will break his balls.” I laugh at the threat because I know how crazy Nqobile is. She can do that.

Mndeni on the other hand, all his documents finally cleared out and he got a job offer from one of Mbulelo’s friends. He started work last week and he has been so excited about getting his life back. When he went to the interview, which was more of a formality since he had already gotten the offer, we prayed all night and when he came back telling me he had signed the contract, we stayed up again and cried together. He has been through a lot in life. At some point he gave up because he didn’t think his life would get back to normal, but here we are. I am happy for him and I am happy for Mitchy. She is one of the good ones and I know she is not with him for the money or something like that.

“When are you getting a new car?” Lineo asks and I frown. “No. Don’t give me that look. The 1 series is very cute. She is our ancestor at this point, but life is coming together. Rewarding yourself with holidays is not enough. You need a second born.”
I chuckle. “You do know that calling a car ‘cute’ is a lowkey diss.” I ask her.
“She is right though. It’s high time you changed your ride. We are not saying get rid of the 1 series, but get another one. If you are a big fan of BMW, look at the X series. It has a variety that you can choose from.” Pamela states.

I roll my eyes. “Y’all sound like SMG salespeople right now.” They laugh. “But if you must insist, I will consider looking at cars after the launch of the farm.” They all scream and come to hug me. Bunch of bullies.
“Are you finally going to tell us about your man? I mean we don’t mind you being all mysterious about him like Nhlanhla Nciza, but are we ever going to know him?” Mitchy asks and I sigh.

It’s not like I am ashamed of my man or anything. He is handsome. He is kind. He is successful and very loving. I just don’t want people to judge me. I don’t want my friends giving me looks. But I have been through a lot with these girls. They won’t judge me for this, right?

“His name is Melisizwe Mzimela.” I start off.
“That name is familiar.” Mitchy is the first to comment.
“Even the surname.” Lineo adds.
“YOU ARE DATING MBULELO’S FATHER?” Nqobile asks, absolute shock written all over her face.

I clear my throat. “I know it sounds bad. Well, it is bad. But I tried so hard to ignore him, to squish the feelings I had for him. I even ghosted him but he came here guns blazing and brought me back to his life. He is so kind, so loving, so selfless. He loves effortlessly and even though he has never told me he loves me; I can feel it. He is the best man I have ever dated and I am even beginning to fall in love with him.”

“But he is your ex’s father. This is not a novel or movie where taboo is cute. You loved his son and slept with his son. In what reality is your relationship acceptable?” Pamela asks. She is right. She is completely right. Even though I like Melisizwe, our relationship is very taboo.

“I know it is not acceptable. I know if Mbulelo finds out, he will hate me forever and might even not speak to his father for the rest of his life. This is not revenge in any form. Mbulelo and I parted amicably. There is no love lost there on my part. Fuck, this is a disaster, I know, but I can’t help it. I am in too deep and I don’t wanna get out because that man loves me. That man sees me. That man makes me feel like I can be vulnerable and not fear him using it against me in the future. He is so emotionally intelligent and, fuck.” I wipe my tears. “Sorry about that.” I sniff.

“Don’t apologize for that or anything really.” Mitchy says, holding my hand. “We are your friends and we only want what is best for you. If he is best for you, then we will stand by you and fight off his family if we have to. But before we but on our gloves, is it a forever thing or it’s just a fling?”

“I wish it is a forever thing. I can actually picture myself marrying this man, and that is not something I have ever done on my previous relationships. You know that. I see a future with him but I need a way to talk to Mbulelo without having this blow up in my face or even damage the reputation of Healthy Eats. You know how the internet or black Twitter rules the world these days.”

“We love you and we are 100% behind you. If you think he is your person, then the only thing we can do is support you all the way. Don’t worry about publicity or whatever. Any publicity is good publicity because if someone decides to make you trend for this, they will have to come here and they will have to order food from us. That means more customers for us.” Nqobile murmurs and I just chuckle. Why does she have to be crazy all the time?

“Now when are we meeting the silver fox?” Lineo asks, wiggling her eyebrows and we all laugh. Now that I have spoken to my friends, I would love to formally introduce him just like he did with his friends. So that my crazy ones can interrogate him.