Unhinged Love

THE END

Final Chapter – Part 2: The Ball and the Breakthrough

The ballroom glows in soft gold and emerald — the colours of triumph. Tonight isn’t just a celebration of my MasterChef win. It’s a celebration of survival, of growth, of becoming. I can’t believe I did that. This ball is to celebrate my victory and success. I am smiling from ear to ear. I walk in wearing a sleek emerald gown, my hair swept up, my heart light. The room is filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and the scent of gourmet dishes prepared by former contestants. Judges mingle with guests, and the energy Is electric. I honestly still can’t believe I won by just being myself and believing that I can do it. I was up against some of the most respected and experienced in the industry but I came first. I wish I can say it was all me but I know God made it happen. He might not have pulled through when I wanted him, but He came through when I needed him and he made things happen. It is His trust in me that brought me this far.
Nqobile and Pamela flank me, radiant in champagne silk. Mndeni is here too, looking sharp in a tailored suit, his arm around his girlfriend, Mitchy. Lineo is also here. I didn’t know that they will be flying in but I guess it is a surprise. I squeal and hug them all. My brother holds me tight and whispers a prayer that brings tears to my eyes. I never dreamed of him being here in my moment and witness me rise and prosper. “You did it, sis wami. I am so proud of you, Magcina ka ma.” He whispers and words elude me. I just hold him tighter to indicate that I heard him.

“We all bought gifts for you but they are back at the villa.” Nqobile says when I finally break away from my brother. “It seemed futile to bring them here because tonight we are celebrating and we are going to get sloshed. Thank God nobody is pregnant” we all laugh. Yeah, pregnancy would ruin a lot of fun. Plus I am lucky that I have a man who has enough kids. He literally kept on reminding me to go for my family planning appointment because he understood how a child would distract me during this time even though I would have a present partner. Speaking of my man, he is standing near the stage, speaking to one of the judges, but his eyes find mine every few minutes — and each time, I blush.
During a toast, the head judge raises a glass, “To Hlengiwe Mabuyakhulu — the woman who didn’t just win MasterChef but redefined what winning means. May your story continue to nourish the world.” Applause erupts. I smile, humbled and proud. The party continues and I interact with other chefs, some whom I know and some I am only seeing for the first time. This is my world and I can literally swim in it. One of the chefs, the richest, suggests a culinary experience round the world and others are quick to jump in to the opportunity. I would also like to go but I need to speak to my team first and actually talk more about going forward and expanding while making sure we don’t lose the gist of what our brand represents.
Then, I see him. My father. In the midst of all the guests. He stands near the entrance, older, prouder, but still carrying that air of entitlement. My stomach knots. He walks toward me slowly, eyes flicking between me and Mndeni who is by my side in an instant. He stops before us and smiles.

“Congratulations, mtanami. You have raised the Vilane flag so high and I am so proud of you.” Somehow the words coming out of his mouth don’t bring any joy to me. I just want to punch him in the face and spit on his expensive suit. But I cant do that here. Not in front of all these people supporting my success.
“Let’s go somewhere quiet.” I say before walking off the ballroom into the quiet corridor. I take a deep breath and head into a private lounge. I stand near the couches, not bothering to sit because I wont be here for long. Mndeni walks I first and Lethuxolo walks in behind him.
“Let me start by saying…” Lethuxolo starts off but is interrupted by a mean punch from Mndeni. He staggers back but doesn’t fall. “Maybe I deserved that. I know I don’t deserve this moment. I wasn’t a father. I was a coward. I hurt you. I abandoned you. And I’ve lived with that shame every day.”

“Don’t, Lethuxolo.” I look directly in his eyes, “You are not about to apologize to me or show some fake remorse. I know why you are here. You saw me on national television along with everybody else and the opportunist in you thought you could swoop in and take credit for my success just because you can. Just because you are that selfish, but I am not going to allow you. I am not going to give you any time of the day. I will tell you something that you probably don’t deserve but I need to say it. I forgive you. Yes, I forgive you for all the bad things you have ever done to me, to my mother and mostly to Mndeni. I am forgiving you for myself, so that I wont walk around this earth carrying a grudge for a man who doesn’t give a flying fuck about me.

“I found a man, your friend, and honestly I don’t know how you guys became friends in the first place because he Is the kindest, loving and most honest man I have ever encountered in my life. Sometimes I am envious of the love Zama gets from her father. The type of relationship and bond they have. Because I never got that with my father. But I am not holding a candle for you. From this day on, I never want to see you, Lethuxolo Vilane. You are dead to me. Even when you die, don’t include me in your will because I want nothing from you. Me forgiving you doesn’t mean I will forget what you are capable of. I hope you treat your other descendants much better than you treated us. If not, let them go so that they will find love somewhere because you are incapable of that fatherly love.”

I take a breath, steady and slow. I feel so light. For the first time ever, I feel so free. I want to break down into tears because I am finally letting go of the hatred I have for this man in front of me. Of the resentment I have been harbouring for years. I finally said what I have wanted to say from the moment I thought I had lost my big brother. But I won’t break down. Not in front of him. He must not see any sign of weakness because he feeds on that. He had always told us to suck it in. That tears are for the weak. So I wont cry in front of him. Not to please him, but to show him that I am stronger now and nothing can shake me.

Mndeni steps forward, voice sharp. “I don’t forgive you. I don’t want peace with you. You left me to die. You don’t get to come back now and ask for grace. I’m not interested. I wish I can see you take you last breath. But maybe I will if you die of natural causes. I will be standing by your bed and looking down at you and I will repeat the words I am about to say right now. You are nothing but a coward, a weak pathetic man who doesn’t have a heart. Just a puppet master who thinks he can control everyone around him but jokes on you because the strings have been severed. And unlike Magcina, I want you to sign your legacy to me. Then I will burn it to the ground and not honour you for a second because you don’t deserve it.” He clicks his tongue and takes my hand before we walk out, closing a door on the one chapter of our lives that has been wide open for a long time. It feels good. I feel empowered. And with this new kind of power, I can conquer the world.
When we are about to re-enter the boardroom, Melisizwe steps out and looks at us both. He doesn’t say anything. He just opens his arms for me and I rush to him. He embraces me and I instantly feel safe. I hold him tighter, squeezing him and he doesn’t say anything. He just lets me be. After a while, I pull back and look up at him.

“Are you okay, Ntokazi?” he asks and I smile.
“Now, I am okay.” And I really am. I have let go of the past and I am ready to start the next chapters of my life.

We re-join the party and I get to speak to the judges. Some give advises while others joke around but it is a great atmosphere and I am loving every second of it. Later before the party gets wilder, I am called to the stage to say a few words. That brings some anxiety but I breathe and tell myself I got this.

“My name is Hlengiwe Mabuyakhulu but I am known as Chef Hle to the world, Magcina to my brother and Ntokazi to my man.” People laugh and I see Melisizwe blushing. “There is nothing as satisfying as living your dream and watching it bloom everyday. I have always wanted to be a chef, but not your regular chef. At school, I studied to be a nutritionist. I already had a culinary background but I wanted to go deeper into the food industry. I discovered that nutritionist actually teach individuals or groups about healthy eating habits, food choices, and how nutrition impacts physical and mental health. And I wanted to blend that with world class cuisine and food for everyone. That’s how Healthy Eats was formed. Through it all, I gained a family. My employees became my sisters. Nqobile, Mitchy, Lineo and Pamela. They all became my shoulder to lean on and people I could actually rely on in times of need. Then this year, God decided to bless me with a man who doesn’t only love me, but believes in me and wants me to shine brighter than the sun. I also reconciled with my brother and since that, I have been content. Then I also won MasterChef SA, but who is counting?” everyone laughs again.

“With the money I won, the first thing I will do is buy myself a car. I earned it. A nice sleek beast that purr at my command.” I hear a few cheers and some laughter. “But most of all, it has been my silent dream to open a Culinary Academy that will provide free culinary arts classes for all. Of course I will drain your pockets because I need sponsors, but the money I got here will help me start this dream and I hope that one day, the Ndiyema Academy will grow into one of the biggest food schools in the world and will produce only top level chefs like the ones I am seeing here today. Thank you so much for the opportunity MCSA and thank you to my family and my man who have supported me through and through. And to a girl or a woman who is watching this and has the same dream, please know that it is possible. Just believe and work hard. It will happen. Thank you.”


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