JOYS OF LIFE -2 [NOT EDITED]

76

SWELIHLE MAJOLA

The whole car ride home was silent. My head was pounding with all the thoughts I had about him. He had came back from wherever, apologised and told me that those pictures were taken years ago when he was still involved with that woman. He even opened his phone and made me page it and i found nothing suspicious. Even though he had hurt me the way he did those months back by disappearing and the bet with his friends, my heart just wouldn't let me let him go. I forgave him and allowed him to be present during my last trimester but I specified that there would be nothing going on between us anymore.

Somehow today after our doctor's appointment, I was craving beef stew and rice so he offered to cook for me. I decided to let my guard down and let him invite me in his house. We got there, he let me relax in his lounge area with a snack platter while he slaved away in the kitchen. He only joined me when he had served me the food. It was delicious, exactly what I had needed to satisfy my craving. We then chilled afterwards watching a movie, somehow it all ended up in his bedroom with the both of us naked, panting out of breath and a tingling sensation in my private.

Dev: "I'm sorry." I glance at him and look back outside the window. Honestly the s-x was good and I missed it especially after battling with my crazy hormones.

Dev: "I shouldn't have taken advantage of your pregnancy hormones like that." He was talking but I just wasn't really listening or even interested. I didn't care, I just wanted to be home right now.

Me: "Thanks for the ride." I say as soon as he parks in front of my home. I get out of the car without another word. Just as he drives off, my dad's car drives in. The gate opens and the car drives inside the yard while I follow behind.

Dad: "Swelihle."

Me: "Hi baba." I greet shyly. Ever since the hiding i got from this man, I have been very careful of how I do things and very cautious too.

Dad: "Who's car was that, dropping you off?"

Me: "Devone."

Dad: "Oh?"

Me: "He asked me if he can be present for the doctors appointment today and I agreed."

Dad: "That's okay. He is after all the baby's father so we wouldn't want him in future saying we denied him his child." This was shocking to hear especially from him after how he dealt with Devone and his buddies.

Me: "But he can't keep coming and going as he pleases."

Dad: "Tell him I want to see him, yezwa?" I nod. He wraps his arm around my shoulders and leads me into the house.

Dad: "Let's go pack and go home."

Me: "Now?!" I was really hoping that I could get some sleep right now.

Dad: "Yes, your mom is expecting you home today. She is worried since you're in your last trimester."

******
Me: "What about Xoli?!" I ask as we drive through the city of Johannesburg. It was now, noon and the sun had long set. We were driving home now after the longest three hours of flight for me.

Dad: "She will come down with her mother." I nod.

Junior: "I am hungry."

Dad: "We are almost home now and I'm sure my wife cooked." The rest of the drive is filled with some deep house music.

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Mom: "Ohh my babies!" She chimes as soon as we walk in with dad. She hugs Junior and kisses him before doing the same to me. She brushes my stomach while baby talking to it.

Mom: "He is growing." She says smiling.

Me: "Mom, it's a girl." I mean that's what the doctor told me.

Mom: "Doctors make mistakes too. I'm telling you, this is a boy." I chuckle letting her be because she is really determined that it's a boy.

Iyana: "Seh!" She screams running to me. I try as hard as I can to bend and hug her. I hear the others trying to stiffle their laughter behind us and I know they are laughing at me.

Me: "Swe missed Iyana." I say kissing her cheek.

Iyana: "Iyana missed Seh!" She then pulls me by hand to the lounge and instructs me to sit. She disappears for a few minutes before emerging from the kitchen with a packet of marshmallows and Zizwe stumbling his way behind her. I chuckle. Ever since my pregnancy, these two have been my biggest buddies. I'm always eating junk with them and they are always crowding my room too.

Iyana: "Mii." She hands me the marshmallows.

Me: "Ngiyabonga mamah."

Zizwe: "Maa!" He says and claps excitedly.

Mom: "Kobe usubuyile phela nomsindo walamakatshana akho!" She says handing me a bowl of rice and tin fish curry, I gladly accept it with both hands.

Iyana: "Nawe!" She responds cheekily to mom, making us laugh.

Dad: "Ngizokushaya wena." Sis'Ntokozo and I exchange greetings as she sits next to me while holding two smaller bowls of food.

Iyana: "Anipha?" She asks looking at my food then back at me.

Sis'Ntokozo: "Here's your food Iyana."

Iyana: "Thank you mommy." Yes, somehow sis'Ntokozo is mommy to her and also the only person she listens to everytime without any hesitation.

Sis'Ntokozo: "Woza Zizwe."

Bhuti Fana: "Sanibonani layikhaya!" He shouts walking in. I notice sis'Ntokozo rolling her eyes and giving bhuti a stink eye.

Dad: "Wasifikela nomsindo ebsuku nje wena!"

Fana: "I missed y'all nje." He says chuckling while staring at his baby mama who is just focused on feeding Iyana and Zizwe.

Mom: "mmhm." A text from Devone comes through. He promises to come by tomorrow to see dad.

Fana: "Sweswe, usumngaka?!" He exclaims dramatically. He's so annoying sometimes.

Mom: "Yini kodwa Fana?!" She asks holding in her laughter.

Fana: "I'm just surprised to see Swe this big. What size do you wear now?! 40?! 42?!" He continues, annoying me further. I think i forgot to mention how him and bhuti Sqalo enjoy getting on my nerves by teasing me.

Dad: "Fokof! Awuyeke ingane yami wena!" He shouts when he notices that I'm crying. I just leave my food like that and go to my room.